Flogging a dead horse

[maderr]

I really don't get why so many authors disapprove of fanfiction. Granted, I'd be a little O_o if someday I read a fic where Karmikel or Bastion or whoever was in a pych ward or being raped or went on a killing spree...but whatever floats the fanficcer's boat. I wouldn't be *rage and anger* about it. I've seen stranger stuff done to even more random chars.

I also know exactly what it's like to have someone slash your straight characters. *looks at the guilty party* I died laughing. Maybe something changes when you're raking in the bucks. Dunno. But I don't see why it's something to get upset about it. What makes me saddest, really, is that if I ever do make professional (hahahaha), I probably won't be "allowed" to read any fanfics of my stories.

Seriously. What's to get upset about? The fact that someone would donate hours, days, weeks, even months or quite possibly years of their lives writing about your characters? How dare they!

I'm making coffee. Decaf. Then laundry >_< And Dad I swear I'll get to those lists I ow you tonight. Should have them by the end of the week. So so so so sorry I've taken this long. You should yell at me or something.

Comments

the guilty party

[rykaine.livejournal.com]

*looks innocent* What?

Re: the guilty party

[maderr.livejournal.com]

You do innocence like Beej does normal.

Re: the guilty party

[rykaine.livejournal.com]

Those two are so canon, and if that's not an OT3, I don't know what is.

And dude, like hell you won't be allowed to read the fanfiction. I'm owning that fandom, and I'l make you read every last fic written for it. By god.

I don't understand this thing where we're disinclined to follow the crowd and be like them all, until we start researching the people who make up the careers we want and suddenly realize we don't act like any of them do and OMG I won't be able to do it then. Who the fuck cares what they do or don't do. That doesn't make it allowed or not allowed, and it doesn't make you unsuited to it.

It just means you're on a different side. ^_~

You're allowed to read whatever the hell you want to read. There are no written rules on that. So why concern yourself over it, or make it any sort of issue.

Canon!

[thealisonbailey.livejournal.com]

I'm with you. The reasoning behind it must be above and beyond me, 'cause I can't figure it out. Who doesn't get giddy over fan stuff? I'm sure it gets a little repetative and boring once you've got a larger fan following, but wouldn't you rather have fans doing work based on your characters than not having fans at all?

[maderr.livejournal.com]

Generally in a debate you're supposed to see things from the other side to better understand and counter...but I'm telling you, I cannot see another side to this. Why would you possibly be offended that people want to play? And how is it any different than rewriting Cinderalla a bajillion times? Or rewriting Peter Pan? Frankenstein? I've got two books on my shelf - one is a Peter Pan AU and the other is a story about Captain Hook as a boy. Tell me how those don't count as Fanfiction? B/c they're based on lit? The writer's not around to bitch? WTFever. And don't even get me started on Frankenstein rewrites. Why is it okay to make money fanning those stories but other stories, written voluntary and for no profit, with utmost adoration and enthusias, get ganked? It makes no sense.

[thealisonbailey.livejournal.com]

I can kinda' understand when people make money off of fanworks, but outside of that it make my brain hurt trying to figure out the logic.

Tell me how those don't count as Fanfiction? They're outside the 75 year copyright limitation laws, I guess. (I think it's 75...) In visual art, I think the rule of thumb is that you can use a copyrighted entity as long as you cange it by at least 75% (again, I'm relying on what I've heard from professors when I wasn't really listening), so maybe that rule can apply with written work as well.

[stardance.livejournal.com]

I plan to write new versions of the bible and the american revolution someday :D Do those count as fanfiction?

[stardance.livejournal.com]

You'll be allowed. Have your fans send you URLs rather than the stories. They can't screen your internets :D

Authors who don't treat their fans well annoy me. I understand that some people are creepy but I think it's disappointing how (for the most part) the more famous an author is, the less he or she likes his or her fans. I still make it a point to let people know when I appreciate their stuff, though. And the authors I hear back from (Lynn Flewelling, David Levithan and Neil Gaiman, currently) or who I know *care* about the people who are directly responsible for their success raise in esteem in my eyes :D

I think you'll be great.

[maderr.livejournal.com]

Good idea ^_^

Yeah. I know it's slim that I'll ever have a large following, but should it happen I like to think I wont' turn cynical or snotty about it. And if there is *ever* a notice that I want my stories removed? It ain't me, but a vile impersonator who will die a slow slow death.

[thecookietheory.livejournal.com]

Oh god. Ohgodohgodohgod.

a fic where Karmikel or Bastion or whoever was in a pych ward or being raped or went on a killing spree...

That's not something you tell me when I'm reading Kidnapped and I JUST GET TO THE POINT WHERE THEY GET WATER DUMPED ON THEM because then my brain goes OMGSIDEFICWHERE!?

[maderr.livejournal.com]

*laughs* You can write it.

[thecookietheory.livejournal.com]

Brain: *overload*

.___.;;

[twilight-angel.livejournal.com]

Honestly, I'd be flattered if someone wrote about my characters (you know, when I actually get published). In fact, I have this plan. After I've published, I'm going to write fanfiction for my own stories, just so that I can have someone flame me with "OMG, that's so wouldn't happen! You're so OOC! OMG!" ^___^

[maderr.livejournal.com]

Dude, that would be insane amounts of fun. Sekkret identity fanficcer! *dies laughing* I'd so write the most off the wall stuff I could, just so people could flame me for writing my own characters.

You are brilliant.

[sagesae.livejournal.com]

O.o I already *do* that! except for the part where I'm already published....yeah. That is some fun stuff there.

[reviewspider.livejournal.com]

My goal is to write a novel people write slash fanfiction for. ^.^ That would be the biggest compliment ever.

[thecookietheory.livejournal.com]

A friend's friend (yeah, I know) got to go see Neil Gaiman, and she was asking about how he felt with all the, *cough* fanfic about Good Omens, and he's like, "what, the slashfic?"

xD It was fun to hear about. I bet she squealed like a little fangirl.

[cairnsy.livejournal.com]

I think that, in part, I do understand the mindset. To me, it's a lttle like the Japanese artists who get annoyed when english speakers take their fan art and use them without their permission, when you've created something and people often totally disgregard either your right to it or the actual content itself, I'm sure it can make authors run a gauntlet of emotions. I found it a little weird when someone did that to my own fanfic a few years ago, and was surprised by the fact I had that response because of the whole being a fanfic writer myself bit ^^. For authors with no experience with the fanfic world I think it would come as a big shock, and the way that many, many fanfic writers (including myself in this) write pairings, concepts, ideas etc that directly contridict what the author has written, I can see how it becomes less a 'wow, these are such great fans' and more a 'WTF did they read, and what the hell are they doing to my characters?'

[maderr.livejournal.com]

I could see that, sort of. But I've never really viewed anything as set in stone. Stories to me are totally maleable. I'm sure plenty of stuff would upset me to some degree, but not to the point that I would demand they stop altogether. But fanart -- that's a tricky argument. So long as you're claiming to have done the work, I don't see a problem. But as I said, that argument can get sticky. Maile wrote a Kidnapped fanfic once, and my sister is totally playing with my pairings. It never upset me - just all in fun to me. But I guess if it's not a world you're familiar with, it would be rather upsetting. But I don't think it's any reason to ban all and sundry from doing it (or at least posting).

[amatsubu.livejournal.com]

Seriously. What's to get upset about? The fact that someone would donate hours, days, weeks, even months or quite possibly years of their lives writing about your characters? How dare they!

If I were a Professional Author and someone fanfic'ed my work, I think that I would feel the highest amount of accomplishment and be most honored. However, that is just myself and I have been told repeatedly that I am strange. *L*

[maderr.livejournal.com]

That's me. I mean, maybe my view would chane if I were professional? I doubt it though. Maile wrote a kidnapped fanfic once and it made me giddy. I just can't see why someone would get mad - even at the violent stuff. Fanning is fanning.

[mailechan.livejournal.com]

Mmmm...I think it depends.

Sometimes, a person puts their heart and soul into their characters, and it's hard to let them go, especially when you see someone do things to them that your upbringing or preferences has taught you is "wrong". Or when you've created characters meant for a younger generation and see someone take their innocence and twist it into something that you would consider ugly.

Also, there is some dispute on copyright of said characters, but I won't go into that. ^_^

Mind you, I do agree that some authors take their creations a bit to seriously and do not realize that when you share with the world, you give others creative freedom, no matter how hard you copyright the whole thing. They feel that only they have the right to create the stories. So like I said, it depends.

Okay, enough roundabout arguing. Maile go bed now.

[thecookietheory.livejournal.com]

All you have to do is change the characters' names and slap a "any resemblance to characters, real or fictional, alive or desceased, is purely coincidential" and you've got yourself and original fic. x3

(I'm spaming your journal. Oh noes.)

[syko-chan.livejournal.com]

I agree with you. What really don't understand are authors who are extremely anti-fanfic, and later publish what is essentially fan fiction. Unwittingly or not, it doesn't change what fan fiction is, and that is a work based upon a previously existing work by an author who did not write the original work. It makes me kind of sad, because the author I have in mind is one whose works I like to read. I first started reading them when I was twelve, and they kinda fueled my vampire-love. They are so alienated from their fans and their fandom.

[indigoraven.livejournal.com]

"Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

To imitate someone is to pay the person a genuine compliment—often an unintended compliment."

~The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition.