opinions on fanfiction

[seldear]

Inspired by a rant by Robin Hobb which 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.

Comments

[stargatedragon.livejournal.com]

gotta disagree with the entire rant - especially the part about how it doesn't help you become a better writer.

granted, I'm not on the NYT top ten bestseller list, but I HAVE sold quite a few fiction pieces AND gotten a nonfiction book published by MasonCrest Publishing and I don't think I would have developed those skills by just hacking away at my own bad prose.

bah. humbug.

*waves her rant off into oblivion*

jmo, ymmv.

:)

[sjhw-tolerance.livejournal.com]

Nicely said, but I find I must jump in because of this comment:

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.

[seldearslj.livejournal.com]

Fair enough! :)

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."

[alliesings.livejournal.com]

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.

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.

[sjhw-tolerance.livejournal.com]

I must've missed in her essay where she addresses these types of books. And yes, those books do have to be approved by TPTB. But...(and just to be argumentative)...the authors are still technically using characters that they didn't create and putting them into situations they did create--which may or may not have been within the original intent of the creator/author.

I just find it interesting that 'officially sanctioned' fanfic, so to speak, is apparently okay while the other isn't.

[sjhw-tolerance.livejournal.com]

But I did put the qualification "as a writer trying to get out of fanfiction" at the start of the sentence.

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.

[matt1969.livejournal.com]

I've been writing since the age of 11. You just can't stop me, and those early attempts were original fiction. I didn't know about fanfiction until I got online - some 10+ years later.

I still want to write my original works. One year I want to achieve that NaNoWriMo target - although this year will probably be out as I suspect I'll have to work fulltime in November.

In the meantime, however, fanfiction teaches me two things. One is my grammar and language skills. When I look at my early attempts I cringe. The other is that I'm learning to keep a character consistent. A character has to be believable. When I read an SG-1 fic with characters who are nothing like I've seen them on tv I tune out. I don't want a reader making their way halfway through an original work and getting confused. If my character becomes someone unfamiliar to them or unbelievable will they want to continue reading?

[pixiesio.livejournal.com]

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.

Hee! Amen sista! One of these days I'll stop futzing around and get back to my novel. *sigh*

[sjshipper.livejournal.com]

Her rant makes perfect sense and I can understand the outrage and violation an author must feel. I think I draw a line between fanfic written about books and fanfic written about tv shows/movies. Since I only read the latter, for me it's simply wanting to see MORE. Since tv shows can only show a certain number of episodes, reveal a certain time frame, limit character interaction to what's seen on screen, there is no way to include everything into 13 60-minute sessions. Fanfic is a way for me to read more scenarios, adventures, and conversations than the tv show has time to explore. And sure, it makes up things that would probably never happen on the show. And a lot of fic does contort the characters' personalities; reading extremelly sappy or demonstrative s/j stories for example are def. a guilty pleasure on my part. But then there are a lot of really well written stories that would never have been written outside of fanfic, and that would be a shame. Someone pointed out in a thread a while back that the biggest pro for fanfic, fanvid's, etc. is that it garners interest for the show, sometimes in countries that have no access to the tv show other than online. I think that outweighs the cons, and for Stargate, the creators take it as a compliment.

[alliesings.livejournal.com]

I have to admit that I really used to struggle with the idea that my novels were languishing unfinished because I was just goofing off with this fanfic stuff. But I learned during NaNo last year that I can't force my muse to produce good profic on command. I know I was taught that writing is more about perspiration than inspiration, but sitting here perspiring (this room is a greenhouse in this weather) I can honestly say that the writing is more rewarding when it comes from a desire to write it, be it fanfic or something with my own characters. I'm a slave to my muse, and when my muse tells me all it wants to write is MiniJack crossovers, I have no power to stop it.

[alliesings.livejournal.com]

Well, I think her deal is that sanctioned novels don't interfere with the creative vision of the original work.

[lengthy, pointless examples omitted]