Why do you write fan fiction?

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

Thursday, October 9, 2003 3:22 PM

This is a message to all of the talented (and prolific) fan fiction writers on this site.
Question: Why do you do it? Why write stories based on other writer's characters and universes?
Why not write stories based on a universe that you create?

I am asking this because I have been a part-time fiction writer for over 20 years, and I have never understood why anyone would spend all the time and effort to create something that they can never publish, or even legally "own".

So, what drives you all to write fan fiction? Is it “divine madness” as one writer once called his obsession with writing, or just your love of the original work? I think many of us would like to know.

---
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

STILLSHINY

Thursday, October 9, 2003 3:32 PM

One simple word...E S C A P E.

As for using pre-existing characters & scenarios? I guess It's because we all have situations we want to see played out with those characters. And in the case of Firefly...having only had that handful of episodes...to keep flying!

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

JAVIDRHO

Thursday, October 9, 2003 3:43 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by stillshiny:
One simple word...E S C A P E.

As for using pre-existing characters & scenarios? I guess It's because we all have situations we want to see played out with those characters. And in the case of Firefly...having only had that handful of episodes...to keep flying!

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

To me, that explains why people like to READ fan fiction, but not why you/they write it. My brother likes to read my work, but he doesn't want to even try to write anything. He likes the mystery of finding out what will happen on the next page. Writers already know what will happen next, which takes some of the "fun" and "escape" out of it.

---
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

STILLSHINY

Thursday, October 9, 2003 3:45 PM

I'm gonna sit on this a bit and see what a few others say.. Good Thread.

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

JAVIDRHO

Thursday, October 9, 2003 4:26 PM

I hope that no one takes the nature of this thread the wrong way. I am, by no means, saying that writing fan fiction is easier than writing "original" fiction. In fact, I would think that it probably balances out.

Fan fiction writers do not have to go through the effort of creating all of the background stuff like believable characters, places, technology and language (which is very difficult - I worked almost a year on this before writing a single word of my current story) but I think this is probably balanced by the fact that you have to write in the "voice" of the actors who played the original parts, and there are high expectations from the readership. They already know these characters as well as you do (some better) and if you write something out of character, they will know it, and probably tell you. I applaud anyone with the talent (and guts) to attempt it.

---
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

MANIACNUMBERONE

Thursday, October 9, 2003 4:32 PM

I don't write much fanfiction here, none really, but I can see how escapism could play into the writers world as well as the readers. When writing, you go through lots of different scenarios, imagining, losing yerself in the Firefly world. The writer prolly has a better experience than the reader.

SHEWHOHATHAPEN

Thursday, October 9, 2003 5:05 PM

Good thread.

It's a funny question for me specifically to answer because I write original fiction primarily and for a long time I didn't really understand the whole writing fanfiction thing either. I had the same questions you have now. The point of it as a whole was pretty much lost on me.

I've since realized it was because I'd apparently never loved a fictional media as much as I love Firefly. With me and Firefly it is a huge, huge part needing to see the story continued and while reading fanfiction is something of a balm, sometimes there's a story you want to see told but no one else is telling it, so it falls to you.

From there on out it's just natural.

Writing is just as much of an escape as reading is. I truly believe that I enjoy my stories exponentially more than my readers do. The whole process makes me giddy, really, everything from random dialogue playing out in my head to that moment when the perfect new plot thread makes itself known and snaps right into place to the realization that that wonderful/horrible/scary thing has to happen and will. I just love every second of it, as I'm sure is obvious by my rhapsodizing about it.

Basically, while knowing that something that you wrote is all yours and it's possible that you could get it published, etc. is nice, in the end it's not always about ownership or even how good a use it is of your time when you could be writing something that you would own.

It's about the experience. I love writing fiction so much that it doesn't much matter what kind of fiction it is. My subconscious decides my focus most of the time, I just go along.

---
"I'm very sorry if she tipped off anyone about your cunningly concealed herd of cows."

JAVIDRHO

Thursday, October 9, 2003 5:31 PM

SheWhoHathAPen,
I guess when I think about it, all of the Mutant Enemy writing staff are, in some broad sense, fan fiction writers, since they didn't create the characters or universe they are writing about - Joss did. They are following his outline, and then extrapolating and adding to it.

So, in this same broad sense, the best of the fan fiction writers here are not much different from those who actually created Firefly. The real difference is that the later got paid for their creativity, while the former (fans) do it for the pure fun (and love) of it.

That's a shiny way to look at it, isn't it? (pats himself on the back)

---
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

CHANNAIN

Thursday, October 9, 2003 5:40 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by JavidRho:
So, in this same broad sense, the best of the fan fiction writers here are not much different from those who actually created Firefly. The real difference is that the latter got paid for their creativity, while the former (fans) do it for the pure fun (and love) of it.

That's a shiny way to look at it, isn't it? (pats himself on the back)

very well put - here, let me do that

pat pat pat.

another thing about fan fiction, there's not the same amount of pressure involved as occupational writing. it's been said that writing is easy; all you have to do is stare at a blank piece of paper until blood forms on your forehead. I would add that publishing is the truly hard part, and with fan fiction, there isn't the 6-8 week waiting period spent staring into the empty recesses of your mailbox, wondering why the rejection letter hasn't come yet. plus you get to purge the story out of your brain that's been bugging you for weeks on end - bonus!

Firefly Artwork Series
http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7922

JAVIDRHO

Thursday, October 9, 2003 6:02 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Channain:

another thing about fan fiction, there's not the same amount of pressure involved as occupational writing. it's been said that writing is easy; all you have to do is stare at a blank piece of paper until blood forms on your forehead. I would add that publishing is the truly hard part, and with fan fiction, there isn't the 6-8 week waiting period spent staring into the empty recesses of your mailbox, wondering why the rejection letter hasn't come yet. plus you get to purge the story out of your brain that's been bugging you for weeks on end - bonus!

Firefly Artwork Series
http://www.mnartists.org/artistHome.do?rid=7922

All good points, Channain.
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...

In regards to publishing, I do not have a need to be "published" through a traditional publisher either. I went that route several years ago with two game publishers - they made a lot of money off my product, and I made squat. So, I am actually considering self-publishing next year, both in electronic format (illustrated ebook) and in traditional paperback book form (on-demand printing). I think it is the next big wave of the future. Just like in the music industry, most of us are tired of allowing a few to decide the fate of the many (star trek reference there for any true geeks in the crowd ;)

---
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

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