Fanfic: At The End of the Day
The Internet seems to be having one of its periodic cycles of wank about fanfic -- or maybe it's always there and I only notice it periodically -- so this would probably be a good time to mention that I used to be anti-fanfic (and personally squicked by the idea of people writing about my characters), but no longer am. I've seen people pointing out that my original feelings on the matter were rendered pretty hypocritical by the publication of Plastic Jesus, and they are right. I wrote Plastic Jesus during a spell of creative bankruptcy and am not proud of the book (except for the illustration of Amsterdam -- I wish I had the original of that). If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't publish it. (Not to take anything away from readers who enjoyed it; I've learned that one should always appreciate enjoyment of one's work. Took me a while, but I think I've got it now.)
It's not so much about Plastic Jesus, though; it's just about getting older and encountering real troubles and realizing that, as theferrett eloquently pointed out today, people being inspired by your characters and wanting to play in your world is a pretty goddamn luxurious "problem" to have. It doesn't matter, it doesn't do harm, and the loss-of-copyright bugaboos that scared a bunch of authors (including me) some years back appear to have been inaccurately reported and (probably) wildly exaggerated. So I hereby apologize to everyone I've ever been a douchenozzle to about fanfic. I hope I wasn't too much of one; I know I've expressed some very cranky general opinions, but I don't think I've ever actually been mean to anyone who wrote/wanted to write about my characters. (I imagine the volume of PZB fanfic is minuscule compared to most fandoms anyway.) I still don't want to actually read it, but obviously the world has moved on in regards to this issue and my attitude needs to catch up or else I will only needlessly insult readers or would-be readers. The FAQ on my website does not reflect this change in attitude because I'm a lazy bum who never updates my website, but the next time I do, it will.
It's not so much about Plastic Jesus, though; it's just about getting older and encountering real troubles and realizing that, as theferrett eloquently pointed out today, people being inspired by your characters and wanting to play in your world is a pretty goddamn luxurious "problem" to have. It doesn't matter, it doesn't do harm, and the loss-of-copyright bugaboos that scared a bunch of authors (including me) some years back appear to have been inaccurately reported and (probably) wildly exaggerated. So I hereby apologize to everyone I've ever been a douchenozzle to about fanfic. I hope I wasn't too much of one; I know I've expressed some very cranky general opinions, but I don't think I've ever actually been mean to anyone who wrote/wanted to write about my characters. (I imagine the volume of PZB fanfic is minuscule compared to most fandoms anyway.) I still don't want to actually read it, but obviously the world has moved on in regards to this issue and my attitude needs to catch up or else I will only needlessly insult readers or would-be readers. The FAQ on my website does not reflect this change in attitude because I'm a lazy bum who never updates my website, but the next time I do, it will.