I love fan fiction. I really do. I've been writing it for about 6 years now. (I've been at ff.net for about 5) I don't see myself ever not writing it. Ok, yes, I'll spend more time on original stuff, and my own stories, and I may stop writing fics for the shows I do now, but I don't see myself ever quitting completely.
When I first heard about fan fiction I was obsessed with Passions. I watched the first episode, and was a faithful viewer for the first couple years. I was at the NBC Passions message boards (I don't even know if they're still around) and I heard about Coffeerooms. My old SN there was JavaPrincess. I started reading Ethan & Theresa fics, and Miguel & Kay fics. I was hooked! I completely fell in love with fan fiction. I started writing a fic, and then branched out to Days fics on ezboards. I met some of the best online friends I've ever had there. I am still in touch with one of them. To this day, even though I rarely ever write a Days fic, I get first glimpses at her stuff, and she will even beta my stuff for a different show.
Over the years I've taken hiatus' and left fics unfinished. That doesn't change the fact that I love fan fiction. No matter what happens in my real life, I always have those characters there to play with. I can go back in time on Days and put Mimi & Jason together. I can make Tristan & Rory fall in love during season one. I can get things off my mind, and create something at the same time.
Recently, I've heard a lot of former fan fic writers complaining about fan fics. Saying that it's a waste of time to use other people's characters, or bitching about someone else's writing skills. There's this one reviewer who, no matter what, bitches about something to EVERYONE they review. I've had flamers over the years, and I've had people who trust in my writing, and know that no matter what sucky turn I write, I'll make it all better.
I think everyone should take a moment to remember why they write fan fiction. Or why they write at all. For me, it started with an idea in my head. And that was that. God, I remember writing those AWFUL scripts. Thank God I only did that like, once.
The point is, everyone starts somewhere. For me, it was as a 14 year old girl with too much time on her hands. Was I a good writer when I started? NO! Am I now? That's debatable. You can make your own judgements. Just go to my ff.net account, and read one of my earlier stories... a So Weird or a Days or Passions fic from years ago, and note the improvement.
What really, truly pisses me off is when people make fun of fan fic. Someone will write a fic, and then decide "Oh, I'm too good for this, I need to be writing my OWN stuff." Yeah, that's fine, but don't say you're too good for fan fic. I mean, there are so AWESOME writers out there that only write fan fic. And there are some AWFUL writers out there that write their own stuff. It just truly irks me when people get all serious about it, or write it off.
For instance, one reviewer (Who has no fic of their own up at ff.net mind you!) bitches to EVERYONE about their fic. The "reason" for this is because this person takes writing very seriously. I think this person should go screw off. I'm all for constructive criticism. I love it! It has helped me immensly. But there's a line.
I love fan fics because they gave me my start. I've always loved writing. Always. The thing is, my family really wasn't ok with me spending time writing. They don't want me being a writer. I was always pushed to be a lawyer. The irony? I'm an English major, but intend to go to Law School after I get my English Degree. Fan fics gave me growth as a writer. They've given me practice. Not to mention, they were really my "life line" while my hubby was in Iraq. I would have gone crazy thinking all the time. I would have started smoking, but I don't want cancer. So I started writing again.
I guess the things I say keep going on in circles, and that's not good. Sorry about that. I'm just really... annoyed right now. Annoyed because people think they're too good for fan fics. (To them I say bite me!) Annoyed because new writers (who clearly state that they are writing their FIRST EVER fan fic) are belittled and told never to write again. Annoyed because people seem to have forgotten why they love fan fic.
In closing, I ask you this: Why do you write fan fic? Why do you love it? How long have you been writing it? Do you even remember these answers? If not, take a moment, think about it. And just... remember why fan fic is so great.
All right, now if I can clear the crowd a bit, I'll gladly step off my soap box and allow the throwing of tomatoes to begin.
1 comment:
Kudos to a wonderful defense of fan fics!
Fan fics are like anything else - they vary greatly in quality. One moment you could be reading a fic that is poorly written, the next you could be stumble onto one that blows away many published books nowadays. Simply because a writer chooses not to write for profit and borrows already established characters does not mean they have no talent. On the contrary, I've lost count of how many great fan fics I've read over the years. Some of them could even count as masterpieces.
Why borrow someone else's characters? Simple: because it's fun to play in a well established universe. It eliminates many of the pressures that come with creating an original novel (even though very few things are truly original anymore) and getting it published.
Some people are never satisfied though. Sad as it is, there are some invididuals who live to make other people miserable. Or, they get upset that the writer didn't cater to their specific desire. Just today I saw a Gilmore Girls fic that upset several readers because Rory had a summer fling with Tristan, but still ended up with Logan in the end.
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