Q&As About 'Star Wars': How do writers get to write a 'Star Wars' novel?

© 2017 Marvel Comics and Lucasfilm Ltd. (LFL)

From what I understand, the rules for being allowed to write published and canonical Star Wars fiction have not changed much since Disney bought Lucasfilm in 2012.

First, you must be an author with an actual track record in the publishing business and a literary agent. If you have written a legitimately published novel (not a self-published effort or “fan-fic”) in the sci-fi or fantasy genre or have worked in the comic book business, Lucasfilm will invite you for an interview and listen to a story pitch.

Second, you have to sign all kinds of non-disclosure agreements and play by Lucasfilm’s rules. You also need to abide with the established canon, be able to get stuff done on deadlines, and not try to reinvent the wheel. Furthermore, you will work with editors at Random House and have to be aware what other writers are working on so you don’t contradict their stories.

What you can’t do is write a fan-fic novel or short story and send it to Lucasfilm and hope that Pablo Hidalgo likes it enough to say to his peers, “Look, somebody sent us a great manuscript about how the Prequels were merely a bad dream Obi-Wan had after drinking bad blue milk.” It doesn’t work that way.