Poll: Fan Fiction and tie-in fiction: are you a writer, reader or dismisser?

[LostTimeLady]

Because we haven't had a fan fiction related thread recently:

Are you a writer of fan fiction?
What fan fictions do you write and do you publish them anywhere?
A reader of fan fiction?
Do you enjoy reading fan fiction, and that might even include tie-in novels etc for a particular show or book. What type of fan fiction do you read, either a particular genre or about a certain character or just a particular book or television programme?
A dsmisser of fan fiction?
Do you think that actually it's a waste of time and you'd rather just read or watch the stories that the writers of your favourite television or book series have written.

Discuss!

Personally I'm a reader and writer of fan fiction. Most of my fan fics are published on fanfiction.net and I mainly write Life on Mars and Doctor Who fan fictions although I dabble.
I also enjoy reading tie-in books such as the Past Doctor Adventures for Doctor Who and also the new Doctor Who series novels.
I think fan fiction is a great way for new writer's to test the water of writing and get into a style of there own and explore genres and themes without having to create whole new worlds.

 

[Blasphemous Rex]

I'm impartial, I guess. I don't read fanfic, but I won't call you weird or stupid for doing it.

 

[Zacharine]

Writer and reader.

fanfiction.net is where my stuff is at. I read stuff from there, and from stardestroyer and spacebattles forums.

 

[The Austin]

Dissmisser.

No, just no.

 

[The Rogue Wolf]

I'm a writer [http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1247996/The_Rogue_Wolf] and a reader. Despite what "conventional wisdom" on the Internet would tell you, some fanfiction is actually quite good. What I read tends to vary depending on my mood and what I've been watching/reading about recently.

If 90% of everything is crap, then by definition, 10% of it must be at least somewhat good. -Corrolary to Sturgeon's Law

 

[Pimppeter2]

I've written and read a very little bit. Mostly Elder Scrolls Fanfiction, mostly out of boredom.

 

[LostTimeLady]

I'm impartial, I guess. I don't read fanfic, but I won't call you weird or stupid for doing it.

That's good to here at least.

I'm a writer [http://www.fanfiction.net/u/1247996/The_Rogue_Wolf] and a reader. Despite what "conventional wisdom" on the Internet would tell you, some fanfiction is actually quite good. What I read tends to vary depending on my mood and what I've been watching/reading about recently.

If 90% of everything is crap, then by definition, 10% of it must be at least somewhat good. -Corrolary to Sturgeon's Law

I know what you mean. There really is some bad fan fiction out there (don't get me started on how bad I think slash fics are *shudders*) but I've been lucky enough to come across some amazing flights of fantasy that are that good I wish they were proper episodes etc.

 

[awsome117]

I have written a few Halo fanfics. The best one, I'm told anyway, is the one I never finished

 

[LostTimeLady]

I have written a few Halo fanfics. The best one, I'm told anyway, is the one I never finished

It's always the way. I'd say though, if you've been told it's good, keep going with it! I regret loosing motivation with fics that I've started and never finished.

 

[Griphphin]

The main thing that stops me is apathy. My laziness (and inability to write worth a damn) tortures my creative spirit that comes up with fun-sounding ideas for various mediums. I'm not much of a reader, but if that's your bag, more power to you.

 

[awsome117]

I have written a few Halo fanfics. The best one, I'm told anyway, is the one I never finished

It's always the way. I'd say though, if you've been told it's good, keep going with it! I regret loosing motivation with fics that I've started and never finished.

It's been awhile, two years ago really and last chapter too. I'm just too lazy to finish it.

 

[Xpwn3ntial]

I dabbled, but couldn't find anything particularly good. So, dismisser.

 

[LostTimeLady]

I have written a few Halo fanfics. The best one, I'm told anyway, is the one I never finished

It's always the way. I'd say though, if you've been told it's good, keep going with it! I regret loosing motivation with fics that I've started and never finished.

It's been awhile, two years ago really and last chapter too. I'm just too lazy to finish it.

Ah right. Well, you never know, the mood might take you again.

 

[Baby Tea]

I've written and read a very little bit. Mostly Elder Scrolls Fanfiction, mostly out of boredom.

Hey! Me too!
I wrote that a while ago, and have been thinking about stepping back into it.

I never read much fan fiction, but I always enjoyed writing it more then reading it anyways.
My problem with fan fiction, if I have any problem with it, is that it routinely falls into two categories: Erotic and involving the main characters.

My problem with erotic fan fiction is it's just not necessary, it's silly, and it's forced. Ew.
My problem with fan fiction involving main characters, is that people usually try and fill the blanks with how characters would act, and 99% of the time I'm thinking 'Gordon Freeman wouldn't do that.' or 'That is not what Minsc would say.' I think I find it a bit arrogant for people to take major, established characters and think they know how they would act. I would never write a story based on Drizzt Do'Urden, or Frodo Baggins, or Mario because I don't claim to know them better then their respective authors.

But that's just me. There is certainly no harm in writing fan fiction involving main characters.

 

[sephiroth1991]

I might look at them now and then but i wouldn't consider them anything but Fan Fiction

 

[Valkyrie101]

I don't play the tabletop game any more, but I sometimes read WH40K tie-in fiction, since, although there's a lot of mediocre stuff, some of it is actually very good. Other than that, though, I tend to steer clear of tie-in fiction, and I have no interest whatsoever in fanfic.

 

[Kimarous]

Writer and reader, although I haven't done much writing or reading of fanfiction for a while now. For a time, a forum I sometimes hang out on had a huge fanfiction kick using what I'd define as a "community development" style. Basically, people would create characters using an outline that the writer provided, then said writer would choose whether or not to use said characters in the story, make alterations as neccessary, and build the story around the provided characters. It has died out in recent times, though.

 

[blaqknoise]

I read it more than I write it. I've found some pretty good ones.

 

[cheese_wizington]

I've wrote some Fallout stories on here. Which some people said they liked, but I cannot find them.

EDIT: Ahh, here they are. http://www.escapistmagazine.com/forums/read/9.169505-Fallout-3-Stories#4612541

 

[Canadamus Prime]

Dismisser. I hate fan fiction.
I say anyone who writes fan fiction and then complains about a series or franchise getting bastardized or ruined by say Micheal Bay is a hypocrite.