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On FanFic, as if no one knows what I think...
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My feelings on fanfic are well documented. But since it's the topic of the day, I'll indulge myself.
I first became aware of fanfic on the Internets. Some people had written some stories based on characters from the various works of Poppy Z Brite. Being a horror fan (and Poppy, a horror writer at the time), I was curious. The fic was awful. Really, really awful. Spelling and grammar not quite as awful as teenagers write on Facebook these days, but it was close. I wasn't writing my own novels at the time, but I was incensed at the idea that people would write and post work with characters ripped off from "real writers." As such, I dismissed the very idea of fanfiction outright.
Years later, I met someone who was very into the fanfic thing. She wrote about in a fandom that I like (Harry Potter) and is, in fact, an evocative and engaging writer. She's popular in places where people go for fanfic, and in fact, has many more readers than I do. Many, many more. I briefly toyed with the idea of writing some fanfic of my own. But I couldn't do it.
In the end, fanfic feels like literary masturbation--especially considering that a lot of it is filthy. If I'm going to spend time writing, I want to spend it writing things I can share--things that are valid and relevant enough to make it worthwhile for people to read them. There may be a way to do that through fanfic, but I have no idea what that might be. It just feels like daydreaming or something. I just have this vague sense that fanfic isn't what writing is.
For the record, I would NOT want anyone to write fanfic based on any of my characters. If I want Sadie to end up someplace, I'll put her there myself. So if anyone is ever silly enough to do such a thing, for goodness sake do not post it on the internets.
My feelings on fanfic are well documented. But since it's the topic of the day, I'll indulge myself.
I first became aware of fanfic on the Internets. Some people had written some stories based on characters from the various works of Poppy Z Brite. Being a horror fan (and Poppy, a horror writer at the time), I was curious. The fic was awful. Really, really awful. Spelling and grammar not quite as awful as teenagers write on Facebook these days, but it was close. I wasn't writing my own novels at the time, but I was incensed at the idea that people would write and post work with characters ripped off from "real writers." As such, I dismissed the very idea of fanfiction outright.
Years later, I met someone who was very into the fanfic thing. She wrote about in a fandom that I like (Harry Potter) and is, in fact, an evocative and engaging writer. She's popular in places where people go for fanfic, and in fact, has many more readers than I do. Many, many more. I briefly toyed with the idea of writing some fanfic of my own. But I couldn't do it.
In the end, fanfic feels like literary masturbation--especially considering that a lot of it is filthy. If I'm going to spend time writing, I want to spend it writing things I can share--things that are valid and relevant enough to make it worthwhile for people to read them. There may be a way to do that through fanfic, but I have no idea what that might be. It just feels like daydreaming or something. I just have this vague sense that fanfic isn't what writing is.
For the record, I would NOT want anyone to write fanfic based on any of my characters. If I want Sadie to end up someplace, I'll put her there myself. So if anyone is ever silly enough to do such a thing, for goodness sake do not post it on the internets.
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You started out so close to hitting the deference between a writer of fanfiction and a "real" writer.
'If I'm going to spend time writing, I want to spend it writing things I can share'
And then you somehow ended up here.
The difference? A writer of fanfiction is more likely to have their writings read.
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That said, if you write well, people will want to read what you write whether it's fanfic or not. If you write badly, you need some other way to interest your audience.
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For me, the most important part of crafting a novel is theme. Theme is the answer to readers question: why am I reading this? Why is it important? With fanfic, usually the answer is that the readers wants to see people having sex who didn't have sex in the original mileiu. ;-]
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Haven't thought of her in years. YOU TRIGGERED THAT!
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The one thing I'll say in my experience with fanfic is that writing those 100 drabbles I wrote over the winter is entirely responsible for me actually writing my own story now. It really helped me get past the "it has to be perfect" roadblock to the "just write it down already" place I'm at now. I'm grateful for that.
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The "masturbation versus sex" metaphor is totally on the money:
Wanking may feel good, but sex actually brings forth the possibility of producing something original and wonderful. Just like you've done. :)
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When I'm super wealthy, and my intellectual vanity expands and increases, I'm gonna need to hire a Minister of Praise. You know, to tell me how great I am all day long. My hope is that you'll be looking for work right about that time. ;-]
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My rates are very reasonable and I do windows as well at no extra cost. ;)
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