Why do you write fan fiction?

POSTED BY: JavidRho
UPDATED: Monday, December 29, 2003 03:19
VIEWED: 9764
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STILLSHINY

Thursday, October 9, 2003 6:29 PM

By the way Javidrho I'm on Chapter 1 part 4. I'm usually a Fantasy reader and even then only a few Tolkien, Lewis & Lawhead. I read Firefly fan-fic cuz I need it. I gotta have my fix. I am enjoying your story so far. It's out there, but I like it. Like I said sci-fi is not my normal deal. The illustrations are impressive. So have these been published, and where can I buy the books if so? I know you probabaly answer this on your site. I might not have caught it. Anyway, I think I'm hooked. I'll pass the word on to a few of my other friends who are die-hard sci-fi nuts. They read all the time. Than I can brag that I know the Author, I'm pitiful.

Mal: “See how I'm not punching him? I think I've grown!”

JAVIDRHO

Thursday, October 9, 2003 6:41 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by stillshiny:
By the way Javidrho I'm on Chapter 1 part 4. I'm usually a Fantasy reader and even then only a few Tolkien, Lewis & Lawhead. I read Firefly fan-fic cuz I need it. I gotta have my fix. I am enjoying your story so far. It's out there, but I like it. Like I said sci-fi is not my normal deal. The illustrations are impressive. So have these been published, and where can I buy the books if so? I know you probabaly answer this on your site. I might not have caught it. Anyway, I think I'm hooked. I'll pass the word on to a few of my other friends who are die-hard sci-fi nuts. They read all the time. Than I can brag that I know the Author, I'm pitiful.

Mal: “See how I'm not punching him? I think I've grown!”

Thanks for the positive words, Stillshiny. I'm glad you are trying my story out. It's definitely not like Firefly (Cyberdrome is very "high-tech" and absolutely all technology is based on current research) but I am trying to make the story character-driven, so some FF readers might still enjoy it (maybe as a diversion while they wait for the movie).

To answer your question - no, Cyberdrome is only available on the website right now. The novel is about 85% complete, but less than 1/4 is currently available online. Hope that doesn't frustrate you. If you really like it, I might be looking for proof readers for the final manuscript within a few months. You would have to agree to a nondisclosure, of course. Let me know.

One last thing - there is also some digital nudity and also a minor sex scene coming up, but nothing to get too excited about (oops, my hit counter just spiked)

Returning to original thread now.
---
I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it, don't wait for it, just... let it happen. Could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot, black coffee. - Agent Cooper

LJC

Thursday, October 9, 2003 7:50 PM

Well, I've been writing fan fiction since I was 11 years old. I've been publishing it--first in fanzines, then online--since I was 16 years old. I'm now 30, and it's a major part of my life.

First off, I am constantly challenged by the unique aspects of fanfic--namely, taking characters and settings I did not create, and using them to tell a story that feels 100% true to the source material, while at the same time telling a new story that has the opportunity to explore topics, subjects, themes, and characterisations that the source cannot or does not. I've always, ever since I was a child, made up stories long after the credits had rolled. It took me discovering fanzines and other fan authors to realise that this happened all the time--and that there was a market for such fiction.

As for why I devote so much time and energy to writing fan fiction as opposed to trying to sell original fiction--most times, it simply comes down to what I am driven to create. I've written original fiction, but my passion is for derivative works. It always has been. Eventually, I will write more original fiction, and sellable fiction. But I'm not writing for financial gain. I'm writing for love. I'm writing because I have a story inside me that wants out, and because I believe there is an audience that would like to read it. But mainly, I write the stories I would like to read. And with media fandom, you get to explore so much more in the medium of prose, versus the very visual medium of television. You can tell different types of stories, in a very different way. if I had an idea that would make a better teleplay than short story or novella, then I would write it as a teleplay. You pick the medium best suited to the story. But for some reason, the ideas I get work better in prose.

I've written fiction for series which are dramatically inferior to other series. For example, "Star Trek: Voyager" (which was, prior to "Enterprise" easily the worst written and produced of the Trek series) because I was besieged with ideas--I wanted to explore their premise and characters in a way that the show itself seemed either incapable of--or completely uninterested in doing. So I did. But I adored "Deep Space Nine" and never wrote a word of fanfic based on that show--not because I loved it less (I loved it much more) but because the show itself gave me everything I needed. So there was no spark of madness that lead me to create new stories set in that place, with those people.

As for why I am not currently pursuing a career in writing--I already have a full-time career in web design, and I am a freelance journalist. That takes up 40-60 hours of my week already. Writing fan fiction is a hobby which gives me a chance to relax and enjoy and explore things my paying careers do not. Even with all of the hard work that goes into it--actually, *especially* because of the hard work--it is still "fun" and the minute it stops being fun, I will probably drift away from writing fanfic. But until that day, I can't imagine *not* writing. I don't care that I don't get paid, that I'm not professionally published, and that I only have a small core of maybe 1000 readers. Because my goal isn't fame and fortune and mainstream recognition. My goal is just to tell the best story I am capable of telling.

When I am filled with the same passion and drive for original fiction--be it teleplays, screenplays, short fiction or novels--then I will no doubt devote myself to that. But for the last 15+ years, fanfic has been my passion. Because it allows me to tell stories which cannot be told any other way.

Also, I completely and totally get off on the challenge of writing fanfic. Particularly of trying to capture a character's "voice" and personality. The very best compliment I could ever be paid is to be told "That felt just like the show." Because in the end, it's the show and the characters I love, and it's the show and the characters I want more of.

LIVINGIMPAIRED

Thursday, October 9, 2003 11:03 PM

I was very much into fan fiction back in high school. It was very much a bonding expierence for me. My friends wrote fan fiction, so I did as well, and we would compare notes. I found it a fun way to sharpen my writing skills, a tallent that seemed to come to me out of no where freshman year. Futhermore, my freshman year was the year I truely discovered Joss Whedon, who then became my writing hero. I suppose fan fiction was a way of bonding with him as well. Now I wrote other things as well, and some of them were published.

Then I got out of it. I went into a period of my life where I didn't write at all, and it was like an intellectual starvation for me. I realize now that my in ablity to write was a major warning sign of other things, but no matter.

Now I write again. This time it's rather different: I'm involved with the Firefly Sock Puppet Theatre, which is an interesting combination of Fanfiction and RPG. (I play Zoe). In a way it's another bonding experience, but in another way, it's also a healing experience. It's something of a source of amusement to me that when I started writing again, it was for Firelfy, since all the episodes aired during my creative dark age.

I write fanfic because it developes my skills. I write fanfic because I have to write so much boring stuff day in and day out that I need to be reminded that not all writing is boring. Mostly I write because I must.

________________

http://firefly.irev.net/about.htm

JAVIDRHO

Saturday, October 11, 2003 1:19 AM

These are such great stories. I hope all who write FireFly fiction on this site will be able to take the time to tell us the reasons they write. As a writer myself, I find these stories quite interesting.

---
I'm gonna let you in on a little secret. Every day, once a day, give yourself a present. Don't plan it, don't wait for it, just... let it happen. Could be a new shirt at the men's store, a catnap in your office chair, or two cups of good, hot, black coffee. - Agent Cooper

ARCHER

Saturday, October 11, 2003 3:47 PM

The most standard writer's response applies to me.

"I've got these damned stories in my head, and they won't go away until I write them."

Why write here instead of trying to turn a dime on it? Because here I don't have to jump through any hoops, satisfy any editors, or work to any deadlines beyond a bit of peer pressure.

Here I can talk to my audience five minutes after I'm done and posted.

I pondered a career of professional writing, but for me just cranking it out as it comes to me is much more fulfilling. I don't want to turn it into a job where I'm cranking out words just to make the final deadline.

The greatest satisfaction I get from writing is in connecting with my audience. If I write something for one person and it works for them, they see what I was aiming for, then I'm satisfied.

May all your verbs conjugate and all your participles undangle. May your infinitives ne'er split...

We don't know who put this cup of life into our hands. But when we go our bones will bake upon the burning sands. 'Cause we walk but once among the living, so no regrets and no forgiving- it's hard to dance when you're down upon your knees. And these are dark days indeed.

KAYTHRYN

Saturday, October 11, 2003 5:22 PM

I think one reason people (me at least) write fan fic instead of completely original stories is because of the challenge.

To write just any story that you have in your head can be easy in one sense, you form your own characters, you can have them do anything, say anything, or be anything and your readers will belive it. When writing fan fic you have characters that people already know, that already have a history. The challenge is to write your story but use these characters that already have boundaries set up. Your readers know that kind of language characters use, their pasts, and the settings. You have to write your story, balancing what is already known about the fandom and your new, creative story. Yes, you can write fan fic any way you want, with any story you can think of, but to make is believable is the hard part.

Plus, we love these characters.

-------------------------------------
Functional with flare!

STOPCALLINGMESHIRLEY

Saturday, October 11, 2003 6:50 PM

Can't answer for anybody but me, but I like it because it gives me a chance to say what the actual writers didn't, and oftentimes never will. Yes, you can get that from reading, but what if that author doesn't say it either? It's just daydreaming about your favorite show/movie/book/whatever and then getting to write it down.

I know I love words. I just love writing. If I have a pen and a pad of paper, or a keyboard, I'm happy. I don't even always need to be actually writing, as long as those things are available. It's relaxing for me. And I do fanfic because it just comes easier to me than original stuff. I do that more when I feel like writing. When I've been watching TV or need to relax, I do fanfic. The characters aren't mine, the universe isn't mine, but the plot sure is, and the emotions and words within the story are all mine. And that's what counts anyway.

It was a valid question.

Korey ~ don't

STOPCALLINGMESHIRLEY

Saturday, October 11, 2003 6:53 PM

Quote:
I truly believe that I enjoy my stories exponentially more than my readers do.

Right there with you. I don't even post everything I write - in fact, I don't post even a quarter of what I write. I do it for me, and i enjoy it immensely. I'm delighted that others enjoy it as well, but it's much more for me than it is to them.

Korey ~

don't

IDEFIX

Monday, October 13, 2003 2:06 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by JavidRho:
Actually, those are some of the reasons I have elected to post the first 1/4 of my novel-length SF book on the web. I like the feedback. Also, since I have decided to illustrate my story, it is the only way I can show it in it's intended form, at least until illustrated ebooks become common place. Mine just might be the first...

have you looked at www.mobipocket.com? they have an eBook format where you can add pictures, I think they even do comics in this format. and they do sell the ebooks encrypted. and as a bonus the reader software is very good, it works on almost all PDAs and windows PCs (don't know about MAC and Linux though) and it's free, at least the standard version.

...and now I'll go and bookmark your page. have to give the story a try. even if SciFi books aren't exactly what I read most.

...and I (only a reader, no writing whatsoever) actually prefer FanFiction over original stuff, because I already know the characters. same reason I prefer tv series and book series to movies and novels. I like to read new stories about people I already know. and I like to read/watch them multiple times. I often prefer to watch something I know and like a 5th time to watching something new. don't know why but that's the way it is. maybe that's also true for some writers?

Idefix

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