*sigh* Wow, this got REALLY long.

[rhienelleth]

Let me start this by saying, I LOVE the Outlander books.  So much, that reading DG's recent post about the moral evils of fanfiction, kind of hurt.  Now, to be fair, the impetus for her post was a young woman auctioning off a to-be-written fic specifically involving James Fraser (of Gabaldon's series) with proceeds from the auction to go to help

Comments

[kayjayuu]

She has an update post -- well, half of one, she had to go to the doctor so said she'd finish later -- which is far less grating. I'll be interested to see what else she has to say.

But she did mention that writing fanfic "out of love of the characters and the story" never crossed her mind. Really? I mean, really? How could one who lives, eats, breathes their own characters, and has them take over her life, how can she not know that someone else can have that spark and passion as well?

Honestly, I don't know how professional writers who know nothing of fandom can live without the "squee". It's such an integral part of being in fandom, being a part of a whole, rather than living alone in that ivory tower of being "the author" and having "fans," instead of "friends."

In a way, I feel sorry for people like that.

[rhienelleth]

Yes, I saw the update. You mean, people actually write fic because they love the characters? For fun? You don't say!

I'm totally mystified that this is apparently shocking and baffling news. Why else would people spend their valuable time writing fic or making vids?

I just...ugh.

[dragonsinger]

I don't think I could have written a post more eloquently than you have here. I completely agree with your rebuttal and your reasons. I fell into fanfic for the same reasons you gave.

As a teenager, I had pretty much stopped writing original stuff. The well felt like it had dried up. And then, at 18, I discovered Highlander fic. I realized, other people make up stories about their favorite shows, too. And it's okay to write these stories down?

And so I started writing again...and it was empowering.:)

[rhienelleth]

Yes, totally empowering! :) I still remember the feeling of "I really CAN write. I'm not just spitting in the wind with this."

Reading the sort of assumption DG and other authors make about fandom in general and fanfic in particular is just injurious. It hurts. They've invariably jumped to all of these erroneous conclusions about why we write fic and what fandom is, without bothering to look any further than what they see is disrespectful behavior, when the reality is, we love and cherish the characters we write about. I woiuld be unspeakably flattered to find people writing fic about my characters, be it gen. het, slash, you name it.

Okay, so I do have issues with certain types of noncon and rape fic, but that's a personal preference.

Anyway, flattered. Unspeakably. IMO, ficcing and vidding are among the highest of compliments. People love your characters as much as you do!

[dragonsinger]

I know. I'd be amazed if something I created had a fandom. I'd have a Sally Field moment - "You like me. You really, really like me."

[rhienelleth]

Wow, that was a VERY interesting read! Awesome, thank you!