Post by [don't]fear[the]reaper on Jun 9, 2008 15:49:24 GMT -5
Here's summat I wrote for the paper. Enjoy, kids.
Fanfiction. It's a word that, in our society, is synonymous with 'loser'. It's sad, actually, that fanfiction authors have such an unfortunate reputation.
"Fanfiction", more commonly referred to as "fanfic", is any piece of writing (poetry, script, story, etc.) that takes place in a universe not of the author's creation, but in the universe of another, more well-known author; this original story, or series, is referred to as the 'source'. A fanfic can use canon, or already established, characters, or original characters (OCs) created by the fanfic's author. It can take place at a canon location, at a new location, or even in an alternate universe. It can happen before, during, or after the canon storyline; some authors even dare to create a 'fic where the canon events have never happened!
There is a ton of creativity thus afforded to the author in question. A good example of this would be a Harry Potter fanfic. The Harry Potter series, in this case, is the 'source story'. The author can use Harry and his gang of friends, or create a group of new wizards. It can be fifty years before Harry, fifty years after Harry, or, dare I say it, after Voldemort kills poor Harry. The options are endless, really.
I should know. I am, happily, a fanfiction author myself. The options are truly limitless. I can write a romance, a horror tale, a "fluff" (a cute, sugar-sweet tale), anything I please. I can write a canon romance (a romance confirmed in the 'source' story), a "fanon" romance (a romance confirmed in various other fanfics or a community of 'fics); anything, so long as I didn't create the entire thing myself. The only rule in the world of Fanfiction is that it must have a root in another, non-fanfiction story, show, or such.
Many fanfiction authors are aspiring writers who, lacking any inspiration for their own creations, base their works off of those of others. Some source-authors, most notably J.K. Rowling and Joss Whedon, encourage fanfictions of their creations. Others, such as Anne Rice, vehemently discourage fanfiction, even sending letters of "cease and desist" to those who refuse to stop. Some fanfictions are incredible, well-written and believable to its readers. Others are so loosely written, with plot holes, Mary Sues ('perfect' characters), and poor writing in general, that readers refuse to read them. But fanfictions bring people together, all with the common trait of writing in the same fan-universe ("fandom").
So why is fanfiction, and its authors, so mocked?
Perhaps it's because people commonly see fanfic authors as fangirls/boys who are so obsessed with one particular series or subject that they devote their 'lives' to writing them. Perhaps it's because, yes, we really are obsessive fangirls/boys who write stories about fictional characters that we'll never really meet or see except in their own particular worlds. But not all fanficcers are obsessed. Indeed, some of us are simply people who see or read something and get an idea in our heads. What if Harry developed feelings for Hermione? If Wash and Zoe, of Firefly fame, were to have a sudden, messy divorce? If Ash Ketchum suddenly wound up in a Pokemon battle against Ron Weasley?
Fanfiction authors are not 'pathetic', either. We don't spend our days in front of the computer screen, typing like mad. We have real lives, believe it or not. We don't write romantic 'fics because we're desperate and have no love lives of our own, but because we want to.
Why has fanfiction become a 'bad word'? Because we write. Because we, the fanfic authors, write and do what so many others would not do. We risk violating copyright laws with our prose. We dance a delicate dance, moving words across the page or screen, creating worlds, tales, that are not wholly our own, but are still ours.
When did creativity become illegal, a thing to shun people for? When people ask me what I do, and I reply, "oh, I write fanfics," I get funny looks, as does anyone who dares to admit their hobby in broad daylight. Our crime is that we use our imaginations and writing skills for a hobby, a hobby that is alternately criticized and praised.
Fanfiction isn't a 'bad' thing. It's a good thing, perhaps dangerous and questionably legal at times, but it provides an outlet for people like me and my Harry-Hermione-pairing colleagues. We write, people read, and we feel that we are making a contribution, however small, to the literary world. Perhaps one day, our fanfics will be used by the real authors in their own stories. They can be a veritable treasure trove of ideas, after all.
Though I hope Ms. Rowling doesn't bring Pokemon into Hogwarts. That would be messy indeed.
Fanfiction. It's a word that, in our society, is synonymous with 'loser'. It's sad, actually, that fanfiction authors have such an unfortunate reputation.
"Fanfiction", more commonly referred to as "fanfic", is any piece of writing (poetry, script, story, etc.) that takes place in a universe not of the author's creation, but in the universe of another, more well-known author; this original story, or series, is referred to as the 'source'. A fanfic can use canon, or already established, characters, or original characters (OCs) created by the fanfic's author. It can take place at a canon location, at a new location, or even in an alternate universe. It can happen before, during, or after the canon storyline; some authors even dare to create a 'fic where the canon events have never happened!
There is a ton of creativity thus afforded to the author in question. A good example of this would be a Harry Potter fanfic. The Harry Potter series, in this case, is the 'source story'. The author can use Harry and his gang of friends, or create a group of new wizards. It can be fifty years before Harry, fifty years after Harry, or, dare I say it, after Voldemort kills poor Harry. The options are endless, really.
I should know. I am, happily, a fanfiction author myself. The options are truly limitless. I can write a romance, a horror tale, a "fluff" (a cute, sugar-sweet tale), anything I please. I can write a canon romance (a romance confirmed in the 'source' story), a "fanon" romance (a romance confirmed in various other fanfics or a community of 'fics); anything, so long as I didn't create the entire thing myself. The only rule in the world of Fanfiction is that it must have a root in another, non-fanfiction story, show, or such.
Many fanfiction authors are aspiring writers who, lacking any inspiration for their own creations, base their works off of those of others. Some source-authors, most notably J.K. Rowling and Joss Whedon, encourage fanfictions of their creations. Others, such as Anne Rice, vehemently discourage fanfiction, even sending letters of "cease and desist" to those who refuse to stop. Some fanfictions are incredible, well-written and believable to its readers. Others are so loosely written, with plot holes, Mary Sues ('perfect' characters), and poor writing in general, that readers refuse to read them. But fanfictions bring people together, all with the common trait of writing in the same fan-universe ("fandom").
So why is fanfiction, and its authors, so mocked?
Perhaps it's because people commonly see fanfic authors as fangirls/boys who are so obsessed with one particular series or subject that they devote their 'lives' to writing them. Perhaps it's because, yes, we really are obsessive fangirls/boys who write stories about fictional characters that we'll never really meet or see except in their own particular worlds. But not all fanficcers are obsessed. Indeed, some of us are simply people who see or read something and get an idea in our heads. What if Harry developed feelings for Hermione? If Wash and Zoe, of Firefly fame, were to have a sudden, messy divorce? If Ash Ketchum suddenly wound up in a Pokemon battle against Ron Weasley?
Fanfiction authors are not 'pathetic', either. We don't spend our days in front of the computer screen, typing like mad. We have real lives, believe it or not. We don't write romantic 'fics because we're desperate and have no love lives of our own, but because we want to.
Why has fanfiction become a 'bad word'? Because we write. Because we, the fanfic authors, write and do what so many others would not do. We risk violating copyright laws with our prose. We dance a delicate dance, moving words across the page or screen, creating worlds, tales, that are not wholly our own, but are still ours.
When did creativity become illegal, a thing to shun people for? When people ask me what I do, and I reply, "oh, I write fanfics," I get funny looks, as does anyone who dares to admit their hobby in broad daylight. Our crime is that we use our imaginations and writing skills for a hobby, a hobby that is alternately criticized and praised.
Fanfiction isn't a 'bad' thing. It's a good thing, perhaps dangerous and questionably legal at times, but it provides an outlet for people like me and my Harry-Hermione-pairing colleagues. We write, people read, and we feel that we are making a contribution, however small, to the literary world. Perhaps one day, our fanfics will be used by the real authors in their own stories. They can be a veritable treasure trove of ideas, after all.
Though I hope Ms. Rowling doesn't bring Pokemon into Hogwarts. That would be messy indeed.