Reading Fanfiction
The other day, Jamie over at Fiction Scribe posted on the subject of fanfiction, and it got me to thinking about the genre. I have read a great deal of fanfiction in my time. At one point, I even wrote a bit of it. I have some friends who are writers of magnificent fanfiction. (Frankly, I think that they’ve spoiled me with their Stargate SG-1 fics…but I digress.) I have even read fanfiction that became an official tie-in novel (Susan M. Garrett’s Forever Knight tie-in Intimations of Morality. I have both versions.) Lately, I have been reading way too much Doctor Who fanfiction. (No surprises there.) There is such a variety of skill level and topic out there, even within just the one fandom. I have encountered some incredible imagery and several well-plotted adventures. Of course, there are also those stories that make you want to tear your hair out, but after a bit you get a feeling for authors that you like. Then, as with any other genre, you can find similar authors, and go from there. For me, the allure of fanfiction is the chance to see what might have been, or to get into the mind of the character. In case you are interested in reading some fanfiction yourself, Fanfiction.net has a wide variety of topics, and is bound to have something for everyone. What is your opinion of fanfiction? Do you read it?
Fiction Scribe, fanfiction, Susan M. Garrett, Intimations of Morality
January 18th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
Thanks for the link.
Maybe I should take up reading it again, but it just doesn’t do it for me most of the time.
January 18th, 2007 at 7:07 pm
You are definitely not alone. There are a variety of sites out there for fanfiction, many specialty sites too. What I like about fanfiction is it gives a writer a safe way to start writing. If you think about it, the premise is done, the characterizations are done and all one needs to do is just write. I advise potential writers to try fanfiction until they stop thinking so hard about how they write something and can simply write. Fanfiction gives you a way to do just that, with some of your favorite characters until you gain enough confidence in your writers voice to strike out on your own.
Interactive fanfiction sites offer the writer something else, the chance to read feedback in real time… not in reviews months after the fact. It is a wonderful use of the internet and a terrific way to learn a craft. Right away a writer can gauge if what they wrote had impact, or the impact they were intending. In other words, it definitely has its place not only as an source of entertainment, but a way to grow and learn as a writer.
~Starbuck
http://www.romancefanfiction.net
January 19th, 2007 at 2:45 pm
Jamie - I would think that it would depend upon the kind of fanfiction.
One of my friends writes SG-1 fic that would melt your brain. Ummm…in a good way.
January 19th, 2007 at 2:48 pm
Starbuck - Wow! Thanks for stopping by, and for the link. You have several good points there. Feedback *can* be very useful.
January 20th, 2007 at 8:42 am
shoooooebox.
all I’m sayin’
[why why why isn't there a new chapter!?]
January 20th, 2007 at 11:13 am
Sigh.
Shoebox. I love shoebox. (I blame you, Frances.) I want updates, too.