E4mj
Bio
Hi, I've had a couple of really nasty messages over time from people reading my fanfics, and as such I don't tend to respond to PMs much at all anymore. I am also aware that I'm not particularly good at finishing things in any sort of prompt manner, and I have had more than a few people request to continue works that I have sitting half-complete, so in case I don't get back to anyone ... here's my stance:
We're all working in fanfiction here, and therefore are all 'stealing' ideas from major authors to explore on our own. Therefore I have absolutely no problem with people 'stealing' my ideas (in fact, it is rather flattering), so go ahead. In fact, I only write for myself, if I'm 100% honest, so if someone else is exploring a similar idea all the better, because I picked it in the first place because I found it interesting. My preference is simply that you reference it. Here on Ao3 they have the 'works inspired by' -- which is my first preference (... if only because I love reading a work I enjoy and then essentially getting recommendations for similar ones by way of what inspired them). But as long as you aren't copying my work word-for-word then a mention in Author notes will work just as well.
If you are just copying _general ideas_ ... then you don't need to reference me at all? That's what fanfic is? Taking someone else's general ideas and writing them in your own way ...? (I get a lot of --stupid-- complaints about this. My favourite of all time being a long email ranting at me because I 'stole' the idea of Harry travelling back in time as a do-over off them. _Really_. Riiiight. I definitely care. So much. No, really. Because no one in all of fanfiction (let alone literature in general) has eeeever thought of a character returning to re-do a plot. The person who sent me that email was the first. Definitely.)
In summary, copy away on ideas, but I'd love if you sent me a link to your fic so I can read it too :)