Are Fanfic Writers Really Writers?
I find the attitude that some writers have to be pretentious and annoying, who are they to judge how writer is defined and who can fit into that definition? Is it because they create original worlds? Perhaps it’s because they have dreams of someone wanting to publish their work (as opposed to deciding to “publish” your work on the Internet). For whatever reason it’s wrong, no debate there.
Are all those idiot kids who blog about their day writers? Yes, they write a look into their lives, just because it’s boring and vomit-inducing doesn’t mean they are any less of a writer than I. The same can be said of fanfiction writers, many of whom are published writers or who have dreams of publishing their own works.
I believe it was Lissa who said:
Someone who can’t do art isnt as qualified to critisisize someone who does, they dont understand all the ups and downs of artwork and how its done therefore while not always, someone who doesnt at least know how to created a site that looks ok doesnt know how to accuretly judge mine.
We can turn that around to fit the fanfiction writers vs. “real writers” argument:
Someone who isn’t a real writer is not qualified to criticize someone who is a real writer. They don’t understand all the ups and downs of writing and how it’s done therefore, while not always, someone who doesn’t write professionally cannot write.
Pah! I am not a professional writer, I probably never will be (mainly because I am an atrocious writer, everything always sounds better in my head, honest). That doesn’t stop me from writing blogs to rant and rave about things that piss me off. I also don’t have to be a professional writer to tell you that the Harry Potter series is akin to the Walter the Farting Dog series in terms of quality and general feeling.
If you browse Fanfiction.net you’ll find that most of the writers there are children and teens who are expressing their like, or dislike, of a book, television show or movie. Why shouldn’t we encourage that? I say that anything that will encourage children to read and or write is a good thing, kids these days abhor books and look at them as something to fear and chuck into the corner. I find that attitude appalling and distasteful, we should be nurturing their talent, who knows they could be a best-selling novelist.
I no longer write fanfiction, but I still read it. House M.D, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Smallville and The X-Files, just to name a few. I’m not so much a fan of smut, some of it’s well-written but it’s mainly just the perverted fantasies of the author. I prefer me some nice PG-13 fanfiction, but I’ll never pass up a well-written piece of work (why deprive myself? I’m no prude, it’s not like the scenes are ever very titillating anyways).
To all the “real writers” out there: Please don’t try to take away this venue for imagination, it entertains and helps so many people. You, as a “real writer” should be proud that something you created has inspired so many people, has entertained so many people and even given people the push they needed to jump into writing. Fanfiction may not deal with characters or plot-settings original to the fanfiction author but they are none-the-less entertaining and the authors are no less writers than you are. At least you should try to accept it because it has become one of those icky facts of life, people will sing songs into a camera and put them on Youtube, copy dance moves and write fanfiction. They aren’t attempting to hurt you or your profits, they’re just having fun with something that they love. And that can’t be a bad thing.
Saying that someone shouldn’t write fanfiction (or even that someone who does write fanfiction is not a real writer) because the characters are your babies makes you no better than the RIAA for pulling a video of a talented hopeful singing a Britney Spears song. What it all comes down to is money, and if you’re doing it for the money then you’re doing it for the wrong reasons.
Oh and before I end this: I stumbled across a comment saying that people who come across fanfiction are less likely to want to read (that means buy) their books. Again I say Pah! You’re giving your fans, or potential fans, too little credit. I can certainly tell the difference between the jumbled, clumsy writing of a twelve year old and the real thing. Basing an opinion off of the work of a fan is like basing an opinion on The Last Supper off of a Vexel of a Banana. They’re both similar in that they are both art, but I wouldn’t scoff at Davinci because I didn’t care for the Banana Vexel.
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#1
I agree. Gosh, I spend hours reading fanfiction every day, I’m serious. (And hey… I LIKE Harry Potter.) I’m in love with most of the stories I read, some of those writers are pretty talented. And well, as long as everyone’s having fun, I don’t see the problem – nobody’s getting hurt. Oh my, that reminds me of the time there was a topic about slash fanfiction on DMB, and everyone went like ‘OMG EW THAT’S SO GROSS’. It annoyed me to no end. I do have to say… fanfiction about real people = scary.
Loving the purple by the way :)
#2
I do read fanfiction and yes, while there are teen writers there are some writers (usually in their 20’s) that I find are amazing. In fact, a lot of them usually end up publishing their own works. I agree with your blog for the most part but I can add another argument against the “people who read fanfiction won’t buy the original book/comic/whatever” comment.. people get INTO fanfiction often by reading the original series it’s hard to randomly click a story and read it when you 1) Don’t known the characers and 2) Don’t know the plotline in the original series. A lot of authors don’t bother to give background on characters in the original because they assume that readers will have already read the original.
Jenavie Aug 26, 11:01 AM Permalink
#3
There are lots of very talented fanfiction writers (my favourites being neutrallized, inell and tamlane – those are their LJ id’s if you’re curious), yet the majority of ff writers are kids, i.e. those who have enough time to write them.
I generally think of writers, as in a profession, but I suppose that anyone who writes can be considered one. A better or a worse one. True, I generally don’t tend to read what 12-year-olds write, due to their style lacking what I look for: detailed description, realistic story and if possible witty and funny situations. Far from me to discriminate against young writers, but you must need a certain experience in life as well as having read lost of books.
I even used to write fanfiction, though when I now look upon them I shudder at the thought of having proudly calimed authorship for them. I’d do it right now too, but it takes such a long time to “get it right”, that my last attempt… well I started it in january (dropped the story and wrote something else ‘cause I couldn’t make it a smut – it was for an story exchange on LJ) and it’s still not finished… but I DO want to, as it looks promising. :P
As for the accusation of only reading faniction. Well, I rarely buy my books (though this summer I spent a ridiculous amount on chicklit), generally get them loaned. However I never read fanfiction of something I don’t like or haven’t read/seen.
P.S. You plug Lissa waaaay too much ;)
#4
Were Shakespeare’s ideas original? It’s about the way he put words together more than his ideas. Now read something like the Da Vinci Code and you’ll find the plot is what drives the whole thing. Then the Grapes of Wrath and you’ll find both beautifully written words and an incredible story. Depends on the writer and the writing. If someone wants to write, they can go ahead. I don’t care what they write. Practice is practice, writing is writing—as long as it’s not flat-out plagairism (which it’s not, no one is claiming they’re original characters or whatever, and some authors even encourage fanfic), then who cares? I don’t personally read it, but whatever floats your boat.
And LOL @ the word titillate. We had it as a vocab word this year and we had some interesting sentances for that one… it’s now my favourite word. :)
#5
I looved walter the farting dog. Most awesome book ever. eveerrr.
Anyway, I dislike reading fanfiction, just because it confuses me and I’ll forget what stories are ‘actually’ a part of the series, and which were just fanfictions. Plus, I’m afraid of people murdering the character with a crappy plot and error-riddled text.
And yeah. I prefer the real thing.
My two cents? Hooray!
Hi I'm Becky, often referred to as The Knitting Hillbilly and Pussybear, owner of this site and general nuisance. I'm a knitter, serial complainer, known whistle blower and I run the ever popular
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