McAnally's (The Community Pub) > Author Craft
Fanfiction - Good or Evil?
Blitz:
One of the things I've noticed as a beginning writer is the temptation of fanfiction--writing stories in a previously created universe. It seems to be pretty popular among the teen crowd, and especially in the sci-fi/fantasy genre. I guess it's hard not to want to extend a favorite author's work, or alter it to what you think is the better story.
My question: Is fanfiction helpful to aspiring writers, or does it hurt? I've heard people vehemently opposed to the very idea, and those who gush over their latest masterpieces. What do you think? I suppose my opinion is that originality is always better, but fanfiction will help you in the way that any writing helps you: practice, practice, practice.
(And I know we're supposed to avoid actual fanfiction within earshot of Jim on the forums, but I figured a discussion about its uses couldn't hurt.)
spygrl:
I know a lot of people who have written fanfic and gone on to do their own original works. I mean think about how many different authors write X-men and Star Trek novels and get them published. Isn't that a form of fanfiction as well?
I figure as long as a person is writing and improving its not a bad thing at all. I know that some authors are bothered by it, but in my mind imitation is the greatest form of flattery.. and to be so inspired by characters that have been created to continue their stories is a great compliment to the author that dreamed them up. If they are so vivid that they so capture the imagination, then how can that be a bad thing?
Dom:
I think fanfiction is the writing equivilant to one band covering another band's song. You borrow some of their world, just to play in it a bit more after the story's finished, keep the story alive, or to learn from it, or as a tribute to the original.
I think fanfiction is a good way to get that practice, practice, practice in, your million crappy words or whatever a writer is supposed to put out before they have something good, but I also lean towards creativity in your own worlds being "better". But that's because of the genre I write in...I'm doing my darndest to do SFF novels, and that's my personal ideal. In that realm, fanfiction is largely worthless to me as a writer because I'll never get to publish it. Better to put time into my original stuff. However, if I step out of the realm of SFF novels, to, say, comics script writing, or tv script writing, or even movie script writing...those are all basically like professional fanfiction. You write stories...in someone else's world. As a collab effort. It's not a bad thing, it's just a different realm than original novel fiction writing. It's all writing, but it's different mediums of writing.
I do understand why some authors get upset at it. There's the legal stuff, and also, if SFF novel writers wanted to do collab...they'd go out and do collaberative works. Some writers write alone because they're protective of their hard-won ideas and efforts, it's very painful to let go of their babies, so it's understandable that they get upset if their world is played in. Visual artists similarly sometimes get upset when someone crops and changes the color of their work, for an icon or something...it changes the meaning of what they made originally.
But I also understand why the fans create fanfiction. And I do read it sometimes, because I too want to see a little more of this or that world, even if it's just a reflection.
I don't think fanfiction is bad or good, it just is. Humans like to imitate others. I think authors that accept fanfiction is inevitable in this era of the internet will have an easier time of it. And fans are generally respectful of an author if he or she puts down "ground rules" or provides a sanctioned outlet for fan's creative energy, a la the MUSH and MOO weyrs (or whatever they're called) surrounding Anne McCaffrey's Pern series.
BigMama:
I am not a published author, but it seems to me that if you are writing fan fiction, your concentration is on someone elses creativity, not your own. It seems to me it would be better to spend your time improving your craft by developing something creative that is your own, not a shadow of something that belongs to someone else.
Mickey Finn:
" I mean think about how many different authors write X-men and Star Trek novels and get them published. Isn't that a form of fanfiction as well?"
That's being contracted by the owner of the rights to write something ineir universe. It's sort of the difference between being invited in by the owner of a house, or just wandering in and making yourself at home while they're out.
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