Eh. I judge fanfic like any other work of literature. If it's bad I will ignore it or mock it, if I think it's good enough I'll read it and maybe enjoy it. I have a hard time with the specific example in the OP though; then again, that's probably just because I despise romance novels.
Fan Fiction: Is it a problem?
- Thread starter lion el jhonson
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I can't say it is a problem, since I have never come across any, nor do most people who aren't consciously looking for it. Besides, I think fan fiction can be a good place for experimentation, in theory, since there is a lot more freedom to do what you choose with a pre-existing universe than what the official storyline might allow.
Of course, there is the issue that many inexperienced, novice writers are drawn to write fan-fiction because a lot of the work is already done. They don't have to build up characters or a universe, because they are already familiar to the reader. It's a good way to practice writing, and build confidence when crafting your own style, but a lot of the early results will naturally be awful due to lack of experience.
I'll avoid the whole problem of 'a lot of it is just pornography with text,' since plenty of other people have pointed that out.
Of course, there is the issue that many inexperienced, novice writers are drawn to write fan-fiction because a lot of the work is already done. They don't have to build up characters or a universe, because they are already familiar to the reader. It's a good way to practice writing, and build confidence when crafting your own style, but a lot of the early results will naturally be awful due to lack of experience.
I'll avoid the whole problem of 'a lot of it is just pornography with text,' since plenty of other people have pointed that out.
No joke, and you can choose to believe this or not-- I used to write fanfic for a PnP RPG I loved (but only showed my efforts to my wife). A month ago, the editor for their tie in series of novels gave me a thumbs up for my outline. I was, to put it mildly, pleased.
That said, most fanfic, including the stuff I kept to myself, is truly awful. But that's okay! If you transcribed the dialogues most gaming groups have, the improvisational stories they come up with would be filled with cliche and generally unfit for human consumption. Yet, they're having fun.
Fanfic is just another outlet for the human need to tell stories.
That said, most fanfic, including the stuff I kept to myself, is truly awful. But that's okay! If you transcribed the dialogues most gaming groups have, the improvisational stories they come up with would be filled with cliche and generally unfit for human consumption. Yet, they're having fun.
Fanfic is just another outlet for the human need to tell stories.
"And thusly I begin the tale;Da Orky Man said:
It begins, like many others,
At the beginning when it starts,
Then it continues on until
It finds its climax near the end,
Whereupon the events after
It has transpired are chronicled,
And it all comes to its end, or,
If you will, a new beginning."
This is one of the most awkwardly written things that I have ever read.
I don't know, seems pretty harmless, as long as it stays fan fiction, and doesn't turn into anything more (like, for instance, the Tales of Monkey Island 'sequels'). Because, if ff writers begin earning money, then it would kind of be a dick-move on their side, unless they've acquired the rights and everything. But even then it could be argued that it's still wrong and that they should leave the original stories as they are. I mean, there's nothing worse than seeing a beloved movie or game franchise being molested by a bunch of smug, self-centered idiots, who think themselves capable of creativity... Just saying.
If a person cares enough about something to write fanfiction, more power to them. I don't read fanfiction.
The problem with fanfiction is that it's all mixed in together, good and bad.
All fiction is not good. The Nostalgia Critic has been going for four years based on the concept that a lot of kids movies are crap, but if you asked most people they'd remember liking kids movies. This obviously isn't because of overwhelming quality, it's because the popular stuff is all pushed by big companies who know exactly what they're doing. For every Beauty and the Beast there are nine Titanic: the Legendary Journeys or Care Bears 3.
Sturgeon's Law: 90% of everything is crap. Most of the time you don't see it because of marketing schemes or popularity issues, but sites like fanfiction.net show the dirty side of creativity. Lots of people may be creative, but most of them are also rubbish.
Obligatory plug: http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2151039/MelasZepheos
All fiction is not good. The Nostalgia Critic has been going for four years based on the concept that a lot of kids movies are crap, but if you asked most people they'd remember liking kids movies. This obviously isn't because of overwhelming quality, it's because the popular stuff is all pushed by big companies who know exactly what they're doing. For every Beauty and the Beast there are nine Titanic: the Legendary Journeys or Care Bears 3.
Sturgeon's Law: 90% of everything is crap. Most of the time you don't see it because of marketing schemes or popularity issues, but sites like fanfiction.net show the dirty side of creativity. Lots of people may be creative, but most of them are also rubbish.
Obligatory plug: http://www.fanfiction.net/u/2151039/MelasZepheos
Always a pleasure to meet a fellow Eisenhorn fan. Dan Abnett is a fantastic writer, especially when you consider just how many novels and comics he has a hand in.OhJohnNo said:
As for fanfiction, I've read a fair bit and it mostly ranges from the pornographic to the comically awful. Only two have stuck with me as being really good. One was a solid back story for Sarevok from Baldurs Gate and one a based in the Fallout universe. Both were well written and entertaining.
FanFic is a mixed bag. Mostly just schlock, but there exists the occasional gem. Also, there exists the occasional "so bad, it's good" gem, for example:
http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/bt/the-sage/fanfic-theatre/22486-cloud-mows-the-lawn
I too recommend it, but not for reading. It is best experienced as read by Bennett the Sage for Masterpiece FanFic Theatre:TizzytheTormentor said:
http://thatguywiththeglasses.com/bt/the-sage/fanfic-theatre/22486-cloud-mows-the-lawn
I actually write my own fanfiction, mostly for Disgaea and other very choice works that could use some expanding upon their universes, and I'd like to say my works are generally (I've got my share of awful writing posted on the web, believe me) better than most of the rest, although on the other hand, I've also read a lot of fanfiction... I'd say about... 40% of it is generally what everyone says: awful, crudely written, plot that makes no sense, while the other 60% is at least competently put together and a genuinely good story altogether. And maybe I'm just lucky or something, but I've never read a fic that had a self-insert written into it (although I HAVE seen many Mary Sues/Gary Stu's, I've written my own in one unfortunate case)
I have no illusions of pursuing writing as a career, it's just something I do in my free time.
OT- I don't think fanfiction is any more a problem than say, amateur painting or any other non-professional work of art. If you don't like it, don't look at it.
I have no illusions of pursuing writing as a career, it's just something I do in my free time.
OT- I don't think fanfiction is any more a problem than say, amateur painting or any other non-professional work of art. If you don't like it, don't look at it.
some of it is horrible for example blatant self-insertion like Twilight
some of it is creepy as fuck like a dramatic reading I did with a few friends that included a yaoi scene between Sora and Riku WHO WERE 15 YEARS OLD that was just creepy...
some of it is hilariously bad like the stuff written by Johnney space boots (you can find his fics on the mech form of 4Chan sometimes) or HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH (yes there is a fic with the name it involves groinsaws)
and some of it is pretty good one of my friends is a brony and he really likes Fallout Equestria.
might as well throw in a dramatic reading of HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
some of it is creepy as fuck like a dramatic reading I did with a few friends that included a yaoi scene between Sora and Riku WHO WERE 15 YEARS OLD that was just creepy...
some of it is hilariously bad like the stuff written by Johnney space boots (you can find his fics on the mech form of 4Chan sometimes) or HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH (yes there is a fic with the name it involves groinsaws)
and some of it is pretty good one of my friends is a brony and he really likes Fallout Equestria.
might as well throw in a dramatic reading of HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH
@OP: Fanfiction is great as a practice tool for future writing works. It allows one to build prototypes of characters they could use in their own original stories later (in the form of OCs) and provides an already-existing framework so that world building isn't quite as intensive. Fanfics are not problems.
Admittedly though, your friend is right that, 9 times out of 10, fanfics are going to suck because if a fanfic writer is good at world-building, characterization and all that, they'd be writing their own books instead of making fanfics.
Admittedly though, your friend is right that, 9 times out of 10, fanfics are going to suck because if a fanfic writer is good at world-building, characterization and all that, they'd be writing their own books instead of making fanfics.
I like fanfics. So long as they don't mess with the canon of the game or story they are based on. Which unfortunately, many of which do.
I even wrote a couple of fanfics for Valkyria Chronicles.
I even wrote a couple of fanfics for Valkyria Chronicles.
Holy shit. That actually does sound awesome. 0_oTree man said: