Fanfic Saved My Life (or anyway, my sanity)catkoDecember 10 2017, 19:57:15 UTC
My feelings on this are strong, but inarticulate. Let's see how it goes.
I first discovered fanfic when I got involved in the Firefly fandom long after the show had ended and got pointed to various stories and sites. In those early days I assumed that Firefly fanfic was especially vibrant because the show was so short-lived and long-mourned, and that writers/readers were using the mode like I was--to fill the gap in longing for more show, more stories, more depth and background to the characters. Because I wanted to stretch out my Firefly experience, I held off watching the last 3 eps and filled in for a few months with fanfic instead. So many almost-novel length stories and series, interspersed by short (and sometimes sexy) vignettes.
When I did to back to watching the actual series, I found that my mental image of the characters had been strongly affected by their various portrayals in fic, and was actually a tad disappointed by their onscreen portrayals--mostly related to Jayne and Zoe.
Since then I go to the fic in parallel with the fandom, though not all fandoms have fic that sustains. I guess my second-favorite fanfic world is Sherlock BBC due to the slashy long-term and emotional relationship building that happens in fic and not so much on the show.
Did I mention that I fell into the Firefly fandom when my mom was ill and dying, and into Sherlock when my dad was? That's what I mean about saving my sanity.
RE: Fanfic Saved My Life (or anyway, my sanity)blue_sunflowersDecember 11 2017, 07:33:08 UTC
I found that my mental image of the characters had been strongly affected by their various portrayals in fic, and was actually a tad disappointed by their onscreen portrayals--mostly related to Jayne and Zoe.
Yeah, I found problems in realizing fanfic writers can write my obsession better than the original author(s) can. Like for Supernatural. This one fic was what I desperately wanted for Castiel, but of course the show ended up going nowhere near anything even close. Which eventually lead to me not watching the show anymore.
Did I mention that I fell into the Firefly fandom when my mom was ill and dying, and into Sherlock when my dad was? That's what I mean about saving my sanity.
I had that with Charlie on Lost, but of course they killed off Charlie, which made my situation worse. I'm glad Firefly and Sherlock worked for you!
RE: Fanfic Saved My Life (or anyway, my sanity)catkoDecember 11 2017, 14:09:37 UTC
Sorry about the Charlie/real life thing. And by "disappointed" I don't mean to say that A. Baldwin or Gina Torres are disappointing--more that they are well portrayed in fic and have less prominence as characters on the show, even though both the actors portray them well except I can't quite enjoy Baldwin as much due to all that has emerged about his politics...
RE: Fanfic Saved My Life (or anyway, my sanity)erinm_4600December 11 2017, 15:45:44 UTC
Firstly.. I give you a big hug for the real-world stuff. ♥
For all the folks who poo-poo the fanfic writers and readers.. I think what they don't seem to understand is just what you've described. Some of us have had real trauma, and fanfic has been that thing that helped us through a tough time. Whether it was writing your feelings out (push your weight onto a main character and have them work it out to a preferable end) or simply reading because it's a thing for you to escape for an hour and refocus yourself. Fanfic isn't BAD. It can definitely be badly-written, but it's never bad. <3
RE: Fanfic Saved My Life (or anyway, my sanity)madampresidentDecember 13 2017, 06:06:07 UTC
My original foray into fandom/fanfiction was at a formative time in my life also, I was in seventh grade and I had gotten kicked out of my friend group. My first fandom was Get Smart, the 1965 original, so all the other writers were older women and it was the sort of nurturing and supportive environment that I had really needed.
I first discovered fanfic when I got involved in the Firefly fandom long after the show had ended and got pointed to various stories and sites. In those early days I assumed that Firefly fanfic was especially vibrant because the show was so short-lived and long-mourned, and that writers/readers were using the mode like I was--to fill the gap in longing for more show, more stories, more depth and background to the characters. Because I wanted to stretch out my Firefly experience, I held off watching the last 3 eps and filled in for a few months with fanfic instead. So many almost-novel length stories and series, interspersed by short (and sometimes sexy) vignettes.
When I did to back to watching the actual series, I found that my mental image of the characters had been strongly affected by their various portrayals in fic, and was actually a tad disappointed by their onscreen portrayals--mostly related to Jayne and Zoe.
Since then I go to the fic in parallel with the fandom, though not all fandoms have fic that sustains. I guess my second-favorite fanfic world is Sherlock BBC due to the slashy long-term and emotional relationship building that happens in fic and not so much on the show.
Did I mention that I fell into the Firefly fandom when my mom was ill and dying, and into Sherlock when my dad was? That's what I mean about saving my sanity.
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Yeah, I found problems in realizing fanfic writers can write my obsession better than the original author(s) can. Like for Supernatural. This one fic was what I desperately wanted for Castiel, but of course the show ended up going nowhere near anything even close. Which eventually lead to me not watching the show anymore.
Did I mention that I fell into the Firefly fandom when my mom was ill and dying, and into Sherlock when my dad was? That's what I mean about saving my sanity.
I had that with Charlie on Lost, but of course they killed off Charlie, which made my situation worse. I'm glad Firefly and Sherlock worked for you!
Reply
Reply
For all the folks who poo-poo the fanfic writers and readers.. I think what they don't seem to understand is just what you've described. Some of us have had real trauma, and fanfic has been that thing that helped us through a tough time. Whether it was writing your feelings out (push your weight onto a main character and have them work it out to a preferable end) or simply reading because it's a thing for you to escape for an hour and refocus yourself. Fanfic isn't BAD. It can definitely be badly-written, but it's never bad. <3
Erin // Clubs
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