opinions on fanfiction
Jun. 28th, 2005 09:11 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
seldearInspired by a rant by Robin Hobb which ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
chiroho linked on his LJ.
It's interesting to read another author's opinion of fanfiction. Particularly one whose books I've read. (I didn't much enjoy Robin Hobb's works: convoluted, dragged on too long, she whumped her main character over and over and over, but I know people who love her stuff.)
I'm in agreement with the people who feel that there is no such thing as a single creative vision. An author who writes holistically will write something with a broader scope than a single creative idea and if they write it well, fans will pick up on it and elaborate on those ideas.
Are fanfics self-masturbatory? You betcha! Every single one of them is written for the gratification of someone who is not the author/copyright holder for the original work. In the majority of cases, I'd venture to say that what is written is something that the original author would never write themselves, for whatever reason: not enough time, that's not how they see the characters, or they never even conceived such a scenario.
The justifications for writing fanfiction are many. There are some people who want to see characters in roles and positions that the author will never write, so they write it themselves. There are people who have creative instincts that can't encompass full novels from the point 'go', so they start with someone smaller. And there are people who need to use someone else's creativity to kick-start their own, so they borrow someone else's creations.
One thing that I always remember when reading these rants is that a published author has a vested interest in retaining ownership of their own work, and frequently a concern over liability if they do write a story along the lines of a fan work. (One more reason why Harry/Draco will never, ever happen. Too much fanfic.) For show writers and actors, it's a little blurrier, since they don't actually 'own' the characters although they may be associated with them. Then, too, the characters are more usually defined by the studio/production company, so the show writers don't even own them themselves.
Should I ever be published, I hope to be able to say in all equanimity (?): I haven't read the fanfiction for my characters, and I never will. There are surely stories out there that I would never condone, written by people who shouldn't be allowed near the written word on pain of death; but I'm fairly certain that there are works out there that would make me weep to read, and beg to be a better writer myself. I'm honoured that my characters have caught your imagination, but encourage you to move out of using someone else's works and creating your own worlds and universes. You have aspects of creativity that I don't and never will. I don't encourage you to write fanfiction, but if you must, then find your stride in it, then branch out into your own work and wow me.
And what you should remember when reading this essay is that I am a writer who found her stride in fanfiction. So I'm never going to say that I think that fanfiction is the devil's work. However, as a writer who's trying to get out of it, I will concede that it's a waste of time. A pleasurable waste of time, yes, but a waste of time nevertheless.
chiroho linked on his LJ.It's interesting to read another author's opinion of fanfiction. Particularly one whose books I've read. (I didn't much enjoy Robin Hobb's works: convoluted, dragged on too long, she whumped her main character over and over and over, but I know people who love her stuff.)
I'm in agreement with the people who feel that there is no such thing as a single creative vision. An author who writes holistically will write something with a broader scope than a single creative idea and if they write it well, fans will pick up on it and elaborate on those ideas.
Are fanfics self-masturbatory? You betcha! Every single one of them is written for the gratification of someone who is not the author/copyright holder for the original work. In the majority of cases, I'd venture to say that what is written is something that the original author would never write themselves, for whatever reason: not enough time, that's not how they see the characters, or they never even conceived such a scenario.
The justifications for writing fanfiction are many. There are some people who want to see characters in roles and positions that the author will never write, so they write it themselves. There are people who have creative instincts that can't encompass full novels from the point 'go', so they start with someone smaller. And there are people who need to use someone else's creativity to kick-start their own, so they borrow someone else's creations.
One thing that I always remember when reading these rants is that a published author has a vested interest in retaining ownership of their own work, and frequently a concern over liability if they do write a story along the lines of a fan work. (One more reason why Harry/Draco will never, ever happen. Too much fanfic.) For show writers and actors, it's a little blurrier, since they don't actually 'own' the characters although they may be associated with them. Then, too, the characters are more usually defined by the studio/production company, so the show writers don't even own them themselves.
Should I ever be published, I hope to be able to say in all equanimity (?): I haven't read the fanfiction for my characters, and I never will. There are surely stories out there that I would never condone, written by people who shouldn't be allowed near the written word on pain of death; but I'm fairly certain that there are works out there that would make me weep to read, and beg to be a better writer myself. I'm honoured that my characters have caught your imagination, but encourage you to move out of using someone else's works and creating your own worlds and universes. You have aspects of creativity that I don't and never will. I don't encourage you to write fanfiction, but if you must, then find your stride in it, then branch out into your own work and wow me.
And what you should remember when reading this essay is that I am a writer who found her stride in fanfiction. So I'm never going to say that I think that fanfiction is the devil's work. However, as a writer who's trying to get out of it, I will concede that it's a waste of time. A pleasurable waste of time, yes, but a waste of time nevertheless.
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no subject
Date: 2005-06-27 11:40 pm (UTC)I will concede that it's a waste of time. A pleasurable waste of time, yes, but a waste of time nevertheless.
As someone who writes fanfiction as a *hobby* (and who has no desire to be a professional, published author) I must at least say something in regards to my hobby being considered a 'waste of time'.
Writing brings me enjoyment, forces me to use my brain in a different and creative way that my 'day job' doesn't allow. I always enjoyed writing and this type of creativity while I was in school, but my career path took me another way. For me, writing is an opportunity to learn and grow, and to share with others. It lets me bring two characters that I love into a world where there is nothing keeping them apart.
For me, writing is no more a waste of time than knitting. It's my hobby. Now, if I was putting off writing my original characters and ideas to wallow in fanfiction, then perhaps I could kind of see it as a waste of time. Or maybe in the kinder terms of 'practice writing'.
Which also makes me wonder how these authors who feel so strongly against fanfiction view the world of the Trek books, Stargate books, or any of the numerous series that build on the characters of a TV show or movie. Or since it's been 'approved' by TPTB, it isn't the 'great evil'? Just a thought.
no subject
Date: 2005-06-28 12:03 am (UTC)But I did put the qualification "as a writer trying to get out of fanfiction" at the start of the sentence.
I admit, I envy the people who are happy with fanfic as their creative outlet. It would be such a relief to write fanfic and be content, instead of having the constant nagging to 'write my own stuff'.
I think Robin Hobb noted that she's not putting down the 'approved series' - from her POV, the formally-published corollaries retain the 'vision' of the author/creator - which she claims is her primary concern in this matter.
Personally, I think that's a little blurry for her. Somewhere in the morass of fanfic, there are stories that the original creator/author might read and say, "Yes, that is how I envision the characters acting or reacting in these circumstances. This writer has done what I cannot/did not, but would not be ashamed of saying myself."
no subject
Date: 2005-06-28 12:13 am (UTC)As you said, fair enough. :-) However, it does distress me that you would view your fanfic writing as being a waste of time. I would hope that all your writing is viewed as a way to grow and learn the craft--perhaps taking risks and trying new techniques in a venue where there is *less* risk--and perhaps a greater freedom for varying degrees of success and failure.
no subject
Date: 2005-06-28 03:44 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-06-28 12:05 am (UTC)Although that particular ranter seemed to think those books are okay because they have the permission of TPTB, I think that often the "official" books are watered-down versions of what they could be without the constraints of TPTB. With notable exceptions such as Peter David, the novelizers often lack the ability to really break out and take the characters to places we've never been able to explore on the show. The novels are just supposed to be "more episodes", and I haven't read any of the new SG novels yet, but I've read lots of Trek novels, and while the stories are often interesting, they don't offer the power that I've found in some fanfic.
no subject
Date: 2005-06-28 12:10 am (UTC)I just find it interesting that 'officially sanctioned' fanfic, so to speak, is apparently okay while the other isn't.
no subject
Date: 2005-06-28 03:47 pm (UTC)[lengthy, pointless examples omitted]