Discussion and News Round-up May 22, 2007
Community Relations Are Make Or Break.
Henry Jenkins, author of Convergence Culture, weighs in on FanLib. Quote: As fans note, however, FanLib's efforts to commercialize fan fiction represented the worst case scenario: a highly publicized, for profit venture which left fan fiction writers even more exposed than they have before.
Convergence Culture
FanLib entered the consciousness of much of fandom when Ivan Askwith brought it up on May 15, 2007, at convergenceculture.org. Thanks, Ivan!
"Crowdsourced" Novels
Assignment Zero, a journalism web site, has a series of articles on what they call the crowdsourced or open novel. The objects of their scrutiny are FanLib projects sponsored by Penguin and Avon (Harper Collins). Assignment Zero is looking for contributors.
We Call It Fanfiction. FanLib Calls It Viral Marketing. A special round-up of FanLib's activities since 2003.
As was exposed by rez_lo and chesyre, FanLib isn't a hapless throwback to 1999 dot bombs. Instead, FanLib has been cozying up to the RIAA while attempting to remake itself as the leader in a new type of viral marketing, formerly known as fanfiction.
December 2003
In this article archived at my2sentences, FanLib founder Chris William explains his plan: "There is this incredible amount of fan energy that is unharnessed by the creators, producers, and distributors of these existing properties," said Williams. "We thought why don't we marry the [online] technology and the audience and create a platform that will harness the energy in a way that can be controlled and moderated by the creators and distributors of that existing property."
December 2003
The Writers Guild is not amused by FanLib, reports a TelevisionWeek article by Wayne Friedman. Payment is required to view the entire article.
June 2004
Project Ferret, a collaborative Harry Potter fanfiction community, is an example of FanLib's early attempts to "harness the energy [of fans] in a way that can be controlled and moderated by the creators and distributors of that existing property."
March 2006
Chris Williams, FanLib CEO, was a featured speaker at a Digital Hollywood seminar. There, attendees could learn: "By integrating online marketing techniques, the networks and studios are finding that they can (& do!) influence offline behavior." Williams's bio at Digital Hollywood says, "As the media landscape has changed, Williams has channeled his unique expertise in the colliding industries of entertainment, marketing and online media by helping marketers and established entertainment companies make the most of opportunities arising from online and consumer-generated media."
2006?
"Colicky babies, toppling toddlers, terrible-two tantrums, kindergartners uttering obscenities (during parent-teacher conferences, of course) - the comedies of motherhood never seem to end! What can you do, except laugh and then write about it at In The MotherHood?" I haven't seen FanLib mention their venture with Suave personal care products and Sprint. Perhaps it's not sexy enough for the companies FanLib currently courts.
2006?
The HarperTeenFanLit web site, another FanLib production, mostly amused me because of its Thank you for censorship! page.
July 2006
This dry as dust Harper Collins press release makes it amply clear what FanLib is all about. Chris Williams, FanLib CEO, is quoted as saying, "Romance readers are one of the most undervalued audiences on the web. They represent a massive group of literate, well-educated women who spend an incredible amount of time online. Through our partnership with HarperCollins, Avon FanLit is the first exciting platform to bring these readers together in a moderated community setting that is also designed with marketers in mind."
April 2007
An Open Scrolls Archive fanfiction community member issued a warning about FanLib. "FanLib.com is currently going around certain fanfiction archives and basically 'poaching' members without so much of a nod toward the owners of said archives. Bad manners, IMHO, but if only it ended there..." A few days later, David Williams, a FanLib founder, responded: "But, based on the feedback we received from lotRFF members, we actually updated our TOS and Privacy Policy to further clarify that we claim no ownership over submissions." However, lotrfanfiction.com members seem far from satisfied.
2007
While we weren't looking, a new job description was born: writer in residence for FanLib "Fan Events". I'm not sure how to interpret this. Why the quotes around fan event? Is it because they are being seeded with paid participants?
March 2007
David Shen, a FanLib official advisor, keeps a blog. The month of March, 2007, when FanLib launched, is a look into the stressful life of an entrepreneur. Includes the ultimate tragedy, a lost iPod.
"A massive group of literate, well-educated women who spend an incredible amount of time online." Poor FanLib. They hadn't seen anything yet.
Henry Jenkins, author of Convergence Culture, weighs in on FanLib. Quote: As fans note, however, FanLib's efforts to commercialize fan fiction represented the worst case scenario: a highly publicized, for profit venture which left fan fiction writers even more exposed than they have before.
Convergence Culture
FanLib entered the consciousness of much of fandom when Ivan Askwith brought it up on May 15, 2007, at convergenceculture.org. Thanks, Ivan!
"Crowdsourced" Novels
Assignment Zero, a journalism web site, has a series of articles on what they call the crowdsourced or open novel. The objects of their scrutiny are FanLib projects sponsored by Penguin and Avon (Harper Collins). Assignment Zero is looking for contributors.
We Call It Fanfiction. FanLib Calls It Viral Marketing. A special round-up of FanLib's activities since 2003.
As was exposed by rez_lo and chesyre, FanLib isn't a hapless throwback to 1999 dot bombs. Instead, FanLib has been cozying up to the RIAA while attempting to remake itself as the leader in a new type of viral marketing, formerly known as fanfiction.
December 2003
In this article archived at my2sentences, FanLib founder Chris William explains his plan: "There is this incredible amount of fan energy that is unharnessed by the creators, producers, and distributors of these existing properties," said Williams. "We thought why don't we marry the [online] technology and the audience and create a platform that will harness the energy in a way that can be controlled and moderated by the creators and distributors of that existing property."
December 2003
The Writers Guild is not amused by FanLib, reports a TelevisionWeek article by Wayne Friedman. Payment is required to view the entire article.
June 2004
Project Ferret, a collaborative Harry Potter fanfiction community, is an example of FanLib's early attempts to "harness the energy [of fans] in a way that can be controlled and moderated by the creators and distributors of that existing property."
March 2006
Chris Williams, FanLib CEO, was a featured speaker at a Digital Hollywood seminar. There, attendees could learn: "By integrating online marketing techniques, the networks and studios are finding that they can (& do!) influence offline behavior." Williams's bio at Digital Hollywood says, "As the media landscape has changed, Williams has channeled his unique expertise in the colliding industries of entertainment, marketing and online media by helping marketers and established entertainment companies make the most of opportunities arising from online and consumer-generated media."
2006?
"Colicky babies, toppling toddlers, terrible-two tantrums, kindergartners uttering obscenities (during parent-teacher conferences, of course) - the comedies of motherhood never seem to end! What can you do, except laugh and then write about it at In The MotherHood?" I haven't seen FanLib mention their venture with Suave personal care products and Sprint. Perhaps it's not sexy enough for the companies FanLib currently courts.
2006?
The HarperTeenFanLit web site, another FanLib production, mostly amused me because of its Thank you for censorship! page.
July 2006
This dry as dust Harper Collins press release makes it amply clear what FanLib is all about. Chris Williams, FanLib CEO, is quoted as saying, "Romance readers are one of the most undervalued audiences on the web. They represent a massive group of literate, well-educated women who spend an incredible amount of time online. Through our partnership with HarperCollins, Avon FanLit is the first exciting platform to bring these readers together in a moderated community setting that is also designed with marketers in mind."
April 2007
An Open Scrolls Archive fanfiction community member issued a warning about FanLib. "FanLib.com is currently going around certain fanfiction archives and basically 'poaching' members without so much of a nod toward the owners of said archives. Bad manners, IMHO, but if only it ended there..." A few days later, David Williams, a FanLib founder, responded: "But, based on the feedback we received from lotRFF members, we actually updated our TOS and Privacy Policy to further clarify that we claim no ownership over submissions." However, lotrfanfiction.com members seem far from satisfied.
2007
While we weren't looking, a new job description was born: writer in residence for FanLib "Fan Events". I'm not sure how to interpret this. Why the quotes around fan event? Is it because they are being seeded with paid participants?
March 2007
David Shen, a FanLib official advisor, keeps a blog. The month of March, 2007, when FanLib launched, is a look into the stressful life of an entrepreneur. Includes the ultimate tragedy, a lost iPod.
"A massive group of literate, well-educated women who spend an incredible amount of time online." Poor FanLib. They hadn't seen anything yet.