The Old Fanfic Arguments
I've noted discussions about fandom and fanfic popping up in a few non-fannish locations of late, prompted largely by recognition of the Organization for Transformative Works on more mainstream blogs like BoingBoing and John Scalzi's Whatever. It has, of course, prompted the usual debates from detractors and defenders, and really there's nothing new under the sun in these arguments - I recognise exactly the same arguments that were hauled out in the last round of blogging on the subject in 05-06 and no doubt the those were repeats of earlier debates.
The one anti-fanfic argument that has always annoyed me most, however, is the argument that fanfic is not "real" writing, that people who want to write must invariably have the goal of being published/writing professionally, and that any form of writing which is inherently commercially unpublishable is therefore automatically inferior.
This argument's never made sense to me, simply because writing fanfic (and participating in fandom in general, but that's not what's in question) is a hobby. If you enjoy cooking as a hobby, you're not automatically expected to want to be a professional chef; if you don't want to be a chef, no-one turns around and derides your ability to cook or your enjoyment of cooking. People who play sports on the weekend or jam with their rock'n'roll roommates aren't sneered-at for not wanting to be professional footballers, for not seeking a record deal. Why is writing the only activity that can only be respected if you want to do it as your day job?
The one anti-fanfic argument that has always annoyed me most, however, is the argument that fanfic is not "real" writing, that people who want to write must invariably have the goal of being published/writing professionally, and that any form of writing which is inherently commercially unpublishable is therefore automatically inferior.
This argument's never made sense to me, simply because writing fanfic (and participating in fandom in general, but that's not what's in question) is a hobby. If you enjoy cooking as a hobby, you're not automatically expected to want to be a professional chef; if you don't want to be a chef, no-one turns around and derides your ability to cook or your enjoyment of cooking. People who play sports on the weekend or jam with their rock'n'roll roommates aren't sneered-at for not wanting to be professional footballers, for not seeking a record deal. Why is writing the only activity that can only be respected if you want to do it as your day job?