Ten Fanwhore Commandments

[acadine]

So, I read this, and blinked. I know Dex of old, you see; hell, I used to be Dex of old, kinda, but that's a long story, and -- well, let's just say that I was an annoying comics fanboy when I was sixteen and leave it at that. Yes, a fanboy. Fangirl/fanboy really have nothing to do with gender, do they

Comments

[lasultrix]

First off, YOU ROCK.

Second off, the Flashficathon NEEDS YOU. Deadline in 7 hours, girlie!

[musesfool]

Thou shalt not call thyself a writer or, god forbid, author, until thy works have actually been published.

This I disagree with.

If one writes, one is a writer. One may not be a *good* writer, but still. I find the people claiming to be artistes or auteurs annoying, and being a writer doesn't confer some god-given right to skip spellcheck or not make sense (which is how some people use it, I know), but I just think making it based on publication is harsh and offputting, and damaging to *good* writers who are trying to be published, but due to the fucked up state of publishing, may never be.

[kassrachel]

Generally, I'd say that if you write, you're a writer; but "author" requires an object, as in "author of," and is therefore the term which implies (and shouldn't be used without) publication. Then again, in fannish terms, posting a story to an archive or mailing list or webpage may count as publication, so the boundary blurs here a bit...

Anyway. Excellent commandments; I enjoyed them very much.

[musesfool]

Generally, I'd say that if you write, you're a writer; but "author" requires an object, as in "author of," and is therefore the term which implies (and shouldn't be used without) publication.

Okay, this distinction I'll agree with. Though yes, it does get fuzzy with "publishing" online as a fanfic author.

Excellent commandments; I enjoyed them very much.

Yes. I should have mentioned that. *g*

[tevriel]

What you said.

A writer is one who writes - that's why we're free to use adjectives like "bad". And one is the author of a work of fiction if one wrote it; I am the author of such works of fiction as I have written, fanfic included. Though I wouldn't call myself an author in the abstract, unless I put the word "fanfic" in front of it. (And "occasional" in front of that, but that's something else entirely.)

These words, they have shades of meaning. English is pretty like that.

[mecurtin]

What she said about the rocking. And ruling.

[slytherincesss]

Great post! I'll have to link to it from my LJ. Everyone should read it.

[nmalfoy]

Word McWord.

You rock. I don't know you, but slytherincess linked to this on her LJ. This should be required reading for everyone who is thinking about entering the fandom.