I think a lot of writers are starting to get it, and perhaps have even come out of the fanfic scene themselves. Even if they weren't in fandom per se, I'd be surprised if there weren't writers who at one point rewrote a book's ending in another character's POV or wrote an imaginary television episode, even in their youth. I mean, before I heard of fanfic that's how I was - I just didn't know there was a name for it.
But with all the writers out there who look down on it, this is refreshing. I understand why a lot of writers don't understand it, but certain writers went far beyond not understanding and actually mocked fanfiction writers. That I have a problem with. I just think it's a shame that it is still misunderstood, so it's nice to see writers who are able to appreciate it.
Oh, it definitely sets my teeth on edge to see people really being mean and petty about it, like it's the laziest possible writing you could possibly engage in
( ... )
I think writing fanfic is just another form of interpretation in many cases as well. I forgot to mention this, but in high school many of my teachers made us write what was technically fanfic - stories based on the characters.
but I also did a hell of a lot of research and planning for all of my fanfiction,
I believe it. And if I recall correctly, you were right about a lot of things nobody else guessed - weren't people freaking out after OoTP because of how eerily similar your fic was? So it sounds like you did a lot of estimating and knew what you were doing!
My daughter gets so excited whenever a teacher is basically gives a fanfic assignment! She's written a fair number of Buffy fics for her creative writing classes, among other fandoms.
The weird thing about my fifth year fic was that it actually had a lot more in common with HBP than OotP. I guess I just assumed that JKR would introduce certain themes about a year earlier in Harry's life than she did, like Harry-the-stud-muffin. :snort:
Although stuff like Hagrid bringing a member of his family to Hogwarts after his trip to see the giants, and Harry meeting that relative in his fifth year? TOTALLY CALLED IT. :D My Snape actually gave Harry memories to see in a Pensieve, though, rather than Harry doing it sneakily and pissing Snape off. And geez--I saw Snape/Lily coming as long ago as the first book. 'Twas tres obvious to me after Dumbledore gave that half-assed explanation for why Snape hated Harry...
I came across a blog review of my first book where the reviewer said she felt the relationship between the two main male characters was "slashy." After an initial gasp of horror--well--I could see it. Ha! Kind of wish she'd written it out. I'd like to read it.
I was one of those people who wrote fanfiction many years ago without knowing what it was. (Starblazers fanfiction, heaven help me.) So I understand the impulse.
It's so hard for me not to see slashiness in a lot of male/male interactions after being exposed to slash fanfiction! And I just laughed when I found a fanfic of my fanfic, playing on the borderline-slashy (but never acted-on) interactions I had written between Harry and Draco...
I did acted-out fanfiction with a friend when we were kids. We created stories about Tom Sawyer and his friends, who interacted with Oliver and the Artful Dodger, who knew Jo March and her sisters, who knew... everyone else. And when we started throwing in characters from TV shows (my friend watched Doctor Who but I didn't) it got REALLY interesting. We had never heard of fanfiction. We were just having fun.
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But with all the writers out there who look down on it, this is refreshing. I understand why a lot of writers don't understand it, but certain writers went far beyond not understanding and actually mocked fanfiction writers. That I have a problem with. I just think it's a shame that it is still misunderstood, so it's nice to see writers who are able to appreciate it.
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but I also did a hell of a lot of research and planning for all of my fanfiction,
I believe it. And if I recall correctly, you were right about a lot of things nobody else guessed - weren't people freaking out after OoTP because of how eerily similar your fic was? So it sounds like you did a lot of estimating and knew what you were doing!
Reply
The weird thing about my fifth year fic was that it actually had a lot more in common with HBP than OotP. I guess I just assumed that JKR would introduce certain themes about a year earlier in Harry's life than she did, like Harry-the-stud-muffin. :snort:
Although stuff like Hagrid bringing a member of his family to Hogwarts after his trip to see the giants, and Harry meeting that relative in his fifth year? TOTALLY CALLED IT. :D My Snape actually gave Harry memories to see in a Pensieve, though, rather than Harry doing it sneakily and pissing Snape off. And geez--I saw Snape/Lily coming as long ago as the first book. 'Twas tres obvious to me after Dumbledore gave that half-assed explanation for why Snape hated Harry...
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I was one of those people who wrote fanfiction many years ago without knowing what it was. (Starblazers fanfiction, heaven help me.) So I understand the impulse.
Reply
I did acted-out fanfiction with a friend when we were kids. We created stories about Tom Sawyer and his friends, who interacted with Oliver and the Artful Dodger, who knew Jo March and her sisters, who knew... everyone else. And when we started throwing in characters from TV shows (my friend watched Doctor Who but I didn't) it got REALLY interesting. We had never heard of fanfiction. We were just having fun.
Reply
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