Let's talk about fanfic.

[seanan_mcguire]

So I've had this lovely link about fanfic and why some people may not be comfortable with it and why maybe those are feelings that should be examined sitting at the top of my link file for literally three years. I mean that. Three years and a month, it has waited for me to feel up to talking about it

Comments

[geekhyena]

*applauds* To fanfic is human. Like Pratchett said, we are homo narrans. You are an amazing person.
Also, if all the authors in the world did Yuletide, I think their collective fandoms would explode with delight.

[ankewehner]

Does that make me not human because I do not want to make up new stories about existing characters? -_-

[ext_1073638]

Not all fanficcers use existing characters. Some of us prefer to write our own characters in existing distinctive fictional universes. And can you honestly say you have never been consuming fiction and had even fleeting thoughts along the lines of "I could have done better", "What if X happened?", or "Y should have done Z"?

[elialshadowpine]

I generally don't write fanfic about existing characters. I do like to play in the world settings. There are times that something in a setting will make me think, "Hmm, what if..." that the author clearly has no interest in exploring. Fr.ex, my partner was talking to me in some depth about the Wheel of Time setting (because it is one of their favorites and they were trying to convince me to read them, plus generally geeking out to someone who would listen *g*) and the magic of the world being gender-constrained. So, of course my first thought was, "How would this work for a trans person? Or someone otherwise gender nonconforming?" Not that I have actually read the books, but to give an idea of what I mean by "playing in the world setting and addressing things the author has not."

[adaptation]

Have you ever read fanfic about your work? Say, Newsflesh fanfic? I'm just curious, because I heard authors/screenwriters weren't legally allowed to do that because they might open themselves up for lawsuits.

[elialshadowpine]

The legal issue, as far as I know, goes back to the MZB case in 1992. Which, because the fan author in question has now posted her version of the story on the internet, is a little murky. What most people have heard is that MZB was threatened with a lawsuit by a fan author because she read the fan author's story and wanted to use the fan author's ideas. This is at this point contested now that, basically, the internet exists and people who didn't have a voice before have weighed in

[elialshadowpine]

This is true, but until 50 Shades, I've never seen it used as a selling point by the publishers for the books. I've seen two or three contracted since then where the publishers are trying to use "fanfic for Twilight, just like 50 Shades!" as a selling point. That's more what I meant.

Best selling author on fanfic

[livejournal]

User eoforyth referenced to your post from Best selling author on fanfic saying: [...] 't knock fanfic speaking out, here is a link: http://seanan-mcguire.livejournal.com/574901.html [...]

[teddyradiator]

Thank you for this. As a writer of both fanfic and original fiction, I appreciate both worlds and enjoy writing both equally. I know it's looked down upon by many, but I think you are absolutely right: "Fanfic is fixing the things you see as broken, and patching the seams between what's written and what is not, and giving characters who got cheated out of their happy endings another chance."

it's also a great way to hone your craft, to experiment with different styles and tenses and moods, and to find your true writing voice. It is my absolute wish that, when/if my novel is published, it will be worthy of fanfiction, even, as you say, I'm unable to read it at the time. I wish you all the best success in the world.

[seanan_mcguire]

All this!

[azurelunatic]

I still remember the absolute delight that you radiated that one time when I mentioned that one of my fish was up to something that you couldn't read for a while.

[seanan_mcguire]

Yes!