Oh, Amazon. Kindle Worlds = FanLib, right?
I've seen it come up several times on Dreamwidth (haven't checked LJ yet), and I'm sure it's all over Twitter and Tumblr. But.
John Scalzi's breakdown of the Kindle Worlds licensed fanfic thing, and why it's not a good deal for fanfic writers.
You can check out Amazon's info on the subject.
I notice that they say that there are "content guidelines" for each fandom, but they don't link to the guidelines for the three fandoms that they've licensed. I wonder if they plan on forbidding f/f and m/m in the extremly heterocentric Vampire Diaries universe, for example. I mean, the majority of the show is built around that annoying love triangle. (You may love it! Feel free to! I don't actually hate it, but I am frustrated by how it's taken over so much of the plot.)
Also, I notice that there are no editing requirements, which. I am not going to pay for unedited drivel, okay? At least with free fanfic, I can back-button hard and fast if I uncover bad writing (or spelling and grammar). Maybe that's contained under the "we don't accept books that provide a poor customer experience" clause? They reserve the right to decide what constitutes that, after all.
Honestly, if you want to pay to read Vampire Diaries, Gossip Girl, or Pretty Little Liars fanfic, I'm sure you can find plenty of fans who would take your money. (I mean, hell, I would.)
Oh, Amazon. I do hope this gets shut down hard. I just don't see this working out well for the writers you sucker into it. I wonder if SFWA is going to get involved?
ETA:
fandom_lounge has also gotten in on the commentary about this.
This entry has been cross-posted to Dreamwidth (
comments). Comments are welcome on either post.
John Scalzi's breakdown of the Kindle Worlds licensed fanfic thing, and why it's not a good deal for fanfic writers.
You can check out Amazon's info on the subject.
I notice that they say that there are "content guidelines" for each fandom, but they don't link to the guidelines for the three fandoms that they've licensed. I wonder if they plan on forbidding f/f and m/m in the extremly heterocentric Vampire Diaries universe, for example. I mean, the majority of the show is built around that annoying love triangle. (You may love it! Feel free to! I don't actually hate it, but I am frustrated by how it's taken over so much of the plot.)
Also, I notice that there are no editing requirements, which. I am not going to pay for unedited drivel, okay? At least with free fanfic, I can back-button hard and fast if I uncover bad writing (or spelling and grammar). Maybe that's contained under the "we don't accept books that provide a poor customer experience" clause? They reserve the right to decide what constitutes that, after all.
Honestly, if you want to pay to read Vampire Diaries, Gossip Girl, or Pretty Little Liars fanfic, I'm sure you can find plenty of fans who would take your money. (I mean, hell, I would.)
Oh, Amazon. I do hope this gets shut down hard. I just don't see this working out well for the writers you sucker into it. I wonder if SFWA is going to get involved?
ETA:
fandom_lounge has also gotten in on the commentary about this.
This entry has been cross-posted to Dreamwidth (
comments). Comments are welcome on either post.