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
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Recently I've taken to answered the "what do you do?" question with "I'm a writer", despite the fact that this invariably leads to the question, "What have you had published?" to which I have to answer, "I'm finishing my first novel at the moment." The inference: that one can only claim the label of writer if one has had things published. (Not to mention the commonness of, especially in spec-fic in Australia, the phrase, "Nothing in a paying market", suggesting that only sales that actually earn money are to be respected.)
Basically, you're nobody until somebody's paid for your work.
But isn't it the same with all artforms? Until you've sold a painting, you're just a dabbler. Unless you're playing gigs of your own original music and possibly have a CD available for purchase, you're not really a musician. Appearing in the community-centre production of Gilbert and Sullivan doesn't make you an actor.
Because these are things that everyone likes to have a dabble at, people subconsciously draw a line between those who dabble, and those who are serious (likewise, the difference between a cook and a chef). And one can be serious about one's hobby without intending to be serious about the pursuit of that hobby as a lifestyle/occupation. To bring it back to point: you can write great fanfic, and enjoy it, without necessarily wanting to be a "writer" for a living. That is, I think, part of what's great about fic and fandom, and something that comes back to me every time there's a "con crit" kerfuffle - because some fic-writers don't want concrit, because they're not here to improve or be serious about it.
I'm honestly not sure if I'm agreeing or disagreeing with you here. I'm just babbling. *G* Mostly, I think that the argument "fic isn't real writing" misses the point. No, it isn't, because fic is fic. That's the whole point of it. But it can be a very handy learning environment for those who do want to engage in "real" writing, whatever that may be defined as.
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There is no overt way to tell a happy hobbyist from a frustrated would-be professional.
Publication provides a simplistic metric for people to feel assurance that it 'matters.' Not fair, but there you go.
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...except when you have hobbyists themselves telling you that they're perfectly happy with their hobby and have no desire to be a professional, it's somewhat insulting to tell them that no, no, all hobbyists want to be professional and that their satisfaction as a hobbyist is tantamount to an admission of inadequacy.
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