Pondering the fanbrat
Am I the only one who thinks the term "fanbrat" (and its derivatives) is an assy word to use? No doubt there are times it's an accurate descriptor, but when I read it in a post, I think of how silly a fanficcer I was back in the day--how I wanted to write goodfic but I had areas of stoopid that I just didn't see. Sure, I sucked, but not on purpose. And I think how many authors must still be like that. I'm not saying that mocking badfic is a bad thing; after all, it's poking the work, not the person who produced it. "Fanbrat" seems a much more personal insult.
Writers of sues and really awful fic might be more likely to be truly bratty, especially when the quality of their work is pointed out, but I don't believe that badfic alone justifies this term, even if it's really awful badfic. It bothers me. Makes me think of fannish entitlement, like readers are being insulted by the very existence of badfic, so they insult back. I don't expect to change anyone's behavior, but I don't think that's right.
Writers of sues and really awful fic might be more likely to be truly bratty, especially when the quality of their work is pointed out, but I don't believe that badfic alone justifies this term, even if it's really awful badfic. It bothers me. Makes me think of fannish entitlement, like readers are being insulted by the very existence of badfic, so they insult back. I don't expect to change anyone's behavior, but I don't think that's right.