relauthor

A relauthor is a person who creates a revised or newly authored version of an existing work, or the process of producing such a version. The term can apply in publishing, media production, localization, and fan-driven rewriting. A relauthor may reinterpret the original material for a different audience, era, or medium, or may significantly reframe its voice, structure, and scope while retaining core elements.

Relauthoring can involve substantial edits, additions, or removals, and often includes updating language, shifting point of view, reducing or expanding length, and recontextualizing themes. It may be used to modernize a text, adapt it for a different culture or platform, or repurpose material for a new format such as an edition, screenplay, or interactive work. In localization, relauthoring encompasses cultural adaptation alongside translation to ensure relevance and coherence in the target context.

Relauthoring is distinct from standard editing or revised editions in accounting for more than surface-level corrections. It can resemble adaptation or remaking, though it may retain recognizable core elements. In collaborative or derivative contexts, the relauthor is sometimes identified as the editor or new author, while original rights and acknowledgments are addressed to respect copyright and authorship.

Legal and ethical considerations include copyright permissions, attribution, and clarity about the relationship to the source work. In fan communities and professional settings alike, relauthoring raises questions about authorship, ownership, and audience expectations. Examples range from updated editions and alternate-narrative rewrites to culturally adapted versions for new markets.