Accidentally wrote in Marco into my novel...

[u/[deleted]]

[u/lighthouseskies]

Don't do your readers the disservice of explaining everything. If they go and find it for themselves it is much more rewarding as a reader.

[u/lafoiaveugle → u/lighthouseskies]

Oh never going to explain everything — it’s more fun to see how many references they catch!

[u/Someone-is-out-there → u/lafoiaveugle]

The person is also sharing advice.

If they're all homages, don't offer backstories at all.

"If you know, you know" doesn't mean "but if you don't know and want to, I'll tell you."

[u/lafoiaveugle → u/Someone-is-out-there]

I don’t see where I said that, but okay? Also not sure the question I asked is being understood. But uh. Thanks for the advice

[u/Someone-is-out-there → u/lafoiaveugle]

Wasn't intending to be rude, so I apologize for not doing better with that.

I'll start with making sure I understand the question: You have readers who are wanting more of Marco's homage. A backstory, even. You are asking if you should provide that and try to skirt the line of ripoff and homage even further than you are. If I understood that correctly, my suggestion and advice is the same as what the person said already: stick to your blueprint. I imagine you already have a story, basically, so stick to it.

If they're still asking when the content is over, pull out the wink-nod and point out that it's already been done and they gotta go find it. Even if they're frothing at the mouth, they are frothing because they enjoy your content. Don't get derailed from your original plan to pursue the ambitions of people who haven't finished the story yet. One of the first rules of any kind of entertainment is always leave them wanting more. And it's almost always better to let them want more than to indulge it.

[u/dragon_morgan]

Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan has a snarky Mexican-American kid who uses humor as a coping mechanism to deal with the tragic loss of his mother, which turns out to be tied directly to the actions of the main bad guy. He also flirts with everything that moves but is the only member of the original group not to have a romance with someone else in the original group. And his dad’s a scientist/engineer.

You’ll be fine.

[u/AlternativeMassive57]

Legally, I can give no advice here.

Narratively? Lean into it as far as you can.

[u/lafoiaveugle → u/AlternativeMassive57]

Oh for sure already have. Book 2 talks about how the young blonde bestie of the first book’s MC reminds him of Rachel. Not sure what that’ll become if anything!

[u/Space_Dwarf]

If you want to further explore him without getting into legal trouble, rely more on Marco’s knowledge and experience rather than his abilities. Such as how his experience from the Animorphs might be applicable to what ever is happening in the book, or have him give advice. What’s your novel called?

[u/lafoiaveugle → u/Space_Dwarf]

He's canonically bisexual, has the biggest comic collection as he's been collecting since the 1990s (it's 2120s in the book), still great with computers and technology, and will likely become more important as the time and space traveling Academy becomes more villainous.

Currently just titled Wayfarer's Paradox — hoping to finish up and work on finding a publisher this year!

[u/BushyBrowz]

You're allowed to write homage characters. Obviously, none of us are legal experts so you'll need to talk with someone on that if you plan on publishing but my advice is write it how you want. Later you can go edit it if needed.

[u/lafoiaveugle → u/BushyBrowz]

I’m not sure why people think I’m asking from a legal standpoint? It’s more of a “do I tell them so they can read the series” or “develop them into my own character further.”

[u/lafoiaveugle]

Deleted the post as the purpose was misunderstood. I wasn’t looking for legal responses. Jokes on me!

[u/lafoiaveugle → u/[deleted]]

"I wrote Marco into my novel and now people want him to be a bigger character, accidentally," doesn't work as well wording wise, idk my dude