What do you think of Fanfiction?

[Timsup2nothin]

I can believe it. Almost every story I've ever thought to start, I later learned that someone else had written it.

Go with autobiography, that way no one can dispute the originality. I'll help you start.

"I was born a small pen knife, child of a chance encounter between an anvil and a passing armorer of no great reputation. No one present would ever have guessed that I would be the Cutlass I am today."

You'll have to take it from there.

 

[Tarquelne]

I can believe it. Almost every story I've ever thought to start, I later learned that someone else had written it.

Morley Roberts already wrote a story about that. Sometime before 1899.

The Anticipator (pdf)


I'll occasionally read a book or story with a brilliant, totally original idea only to later discover something, written earlier, containing what could very well be the seed of that "totally original" idea.

 

[Cutlass]

Morley Roberts already wrote a story about that. Sometime before 1899.

The Anticipator (pdf)


I'll occasionally read a book or story with a brilliant, totally original idea only to later discover something, written earlier, containing what could very well be the seed of that "totally original" idea.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

^ And that's not even the first use of that smiley to express disappointment.

 

[cybrxkhan]

Rule number one for authors regarding fan fiction. If you have fans, and they write fan fiction, do not read it under any circumstances, and make sure everyone knows that you don't and you won't. There is always a nutter somewhere with a story scrawled on a napkin that is 'clearly what inspired that best seller', so make sure you don't look too closely at napkins either.

Good point with that.

Of course I would wager that reading about crack ships in your fandom might also leave you a bit traumatized.

I can believe it. Almost every story I've ever thought to start, I later learned that someone else had written it.

That happens a lot to me too.

 

[Evie]

Rule #2 of writing fiction: Everything's been written...but not by me. (including that sentence)

Same basic story is not so much an issue if you manage to spin it your own way.

 

[CKS]

I'm thinking, is it possible for a writer to write fanfiction of their own work, even if under an alias? What would that even be called? Has there ever been a writer that's done that sort of thing? If I wrote something well known enough I'd write fanfiction just to mess around with my fans. Also it would be a good way to do silly things with my characters I wouldn't be able to otherwise.

While not exactly this, Melissa Good writes Xena fanfiction. She also wrote a couple of episodes for the TV show.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

While not exactly this, Melissa Good writes Xena fanfiction. She also wrote a couple of episodes for the TV show.

The difference is that she wrote fanfiction first. The show was extremely impressed with her writing, and invited her to submit a script, which was accepted and produced.

Now that she's got professional credentials, she should be playing by the pro rules. Mind you, I'm not sure how much that would matter with a show that's been out of production for many years, and unlikely to be revived or remade.

 

[Cutlass]

The difference is that she wrote fanfiction first. The show was extremely impressed with her writing, and invited her to submit a script, which was accepted and produced.

Now that she's got professional credentials, she should be playing by the pro rules. Mind you, I'm not sure how much that would matter with a show that's been out of production for many years, and unlikely to be revived or remade.

They'll make a movie of it eventually...

 

[Valka D'Ur]

One of those godawful American "reboots" with lots of explosions, fighting, pointless one-liners, mediocre actors, and no coherent story, no doubt.

 

[Cutlass]

How's that different from what Xena was already?

 

[cybrxkhan]

To follow a contemporary trend, it's also gonna be grittier and darker and edgier because that obviously makes the story deeper and more adult.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

How's that different from what Xena was already?

Some episodes were pure fluff, sure. But some were extremely well-written, with concise, coherent plots, and if an episode of a fantasy series can make me cry, it's a damn good one.

 

[Timsup2nothin]

One of those godawful American "reboots" with lots of explosions, fighting, pointless one-liners, mediocre actors, and no coherent story, no doubt.

One liners always have a point. They don't always make their point, but they have one.

 

[Valka D'Ur]

One liners always have a point. They don't always make their point, but they have one.

Filler for the lowest common denominator of what passes for humor during the last 20+ years, from what I've observed.

 

[Zkribbler]

Gotta disagree here. Google paid you for ad clicks, not the actual content of your site. And if you start saying you're paid to write fanfic and the creator of whatever universe(s) hears of it, he/she would have every right to call in a lawyer and hit you with a take-down notice. The one thing they do not forgive is someone profiting from their copyrighted work.

True dat.