Can I write stories that are part of the public domain?

[Jen]

Hey all! Hope this isn't in the wrong place, but after looking through it seemed most appropriate to place it here.

So I recently became inspired to write a modern take on rapunzel. Because Rapunzel is in the public domain, if my research is correct this means I can legally do whatever I want with (within reason, I assume) the work, right? So I can retell this story, similar to how beastly is a re telling of beauty and the beast. So long as I don't steal things from other adaptations, such as tangled. Not worried about that bc my story is nothing like tangled.

Basically I wanted to confirm my research with fellow writer who possibly know a thing or two about this. This is okay to do, yes? Public domain works are legal to read and write about for free? If I sent this out to a literary agent s/he wouldn't tell me I'm stealing work? I haven't written it yet, but I want to make sure before I go to the trouble of thinking I could actually market this once it's done.

Thanks all :)

[Kat]

So long as you acknowledge what your story is based on, or something. Not sure though. There are tons of re-telling of these old stories so I don't think you're going to have too much problem with it. Kingdom Series Collection is an example. :)

[Jen]

Awesome! I as pretty sure of it, but I'm paranoid and wanted the validation. Lol

[Jessica]

I also suggest reaching out and asking a professional publisher. They'll probably have the most information regarding the legal aspect of it :-)

[♕ ❤ ♕ Princess pink diamonds posh bird LINZY.x.♕ ❤ ♕]

Hi Jen.
I found this.I hope it helps a bit.

http://www.publicdomainsherpa.com/pub...

Linzy.

[Sarah]

It's exactly what EL James of Fifty Shades fame did, her book was fan fiction of Twilight by Stephanie Myers. Though I can't see where the bondage and masochism came into Twilight, I thought it was fantasy, about Vampires and Werewolves!

Public domain means exactly that, it is no longer protected by copyright. Copyright protects work for the lifetime of the author plus 70 years, as Rapunzel was written long, long ago, and far, far away...you should be fine, just don't get too close to the Disney story line though, as that is protected!

[Jen]

Thanks for your responses! I have another question about it: In my story Rapunzel donates her hair and meets the girl who wears her wig.

Since Rapunzel's hair is very blonde and unnaturally long in my story she recognizes the wig as her hair right away...but I know that in real life this is a HUGE stretch. Donated hair goes through manufacturing, I'm pretty sure it's dyed a different color, etc. Basically, it's not possible for this scenario to happen.
BUT it is based on a fairy tale, and I personally believe that in books we have to suspend certain beliefs to enjoy the story for what it is. Like how in young adult books, the teen protagonist is always extremely competent and strong and that's not to underestimate teens or anything. These characters could probably beat professionally trained soldiers lol.

Is it okay that this one aspect of the story isn't really all that possible? Would you read a book that was sort of stretching the truth if the story interested you? Would an agent immediately dismiss it as implausible?

[Dwayne]

Jen wrote: "Is it okay that this one aspect of the story isn't really all that possible? Would you read a book that was sort of stretching the truth if the story interested you? Would an agent immediately dismiss it as implausible? "

All works of fiction (and sometimes even stuff called "non-fiction") contain things that may not be plausible in the real world. Go for it, anyway. Fairy tales are full of implausible stuff but they've lasted for centuries anyway. You're basing your story on a well-known fairy tale about a girl with incredibly long hair. I don't see it as much more a stretch to say that she somehow recognizes her hair when she sees it on someone else.