When do fanfictions go too far?

[Daaaah Whoosh]

So, I've been developing this idea for a graphic novel for a long time now, and it's getting close. It has a lot to do with ethics, religion, and the effects of prolonged warfare on the mind, as well as some pretty snappy fight scenes. The design is starting to shape up, I'm beginning to understand the intricacies of the human form, and I've been working with a wide variety of pens now. This really could turn into something good.
http://daaaahwhoosh.deviantart.com/art/Covenant-Sangheili-Space-Recon-203360485

Only problem is, it's a fanfiction. Believe me, I know that's a dark path to go down, but I just felt that there was such a good famework, and one hell of a plot hole to fill, so I thought I'd go for it. I make almost no reference at all to the story of Halo, and none of the main characters ever show up. I'm just using the universe as my foundation, the house is basically all mine.

What I'm asking, basically, is can a fanfiction ever be taken seriously as a standalone story, or will it always be cast as a strange fantasy written by a die-hard fanboy? Because if that's the case, I might still be able to change it.

 

[Wireframefool]

When fan-fiction goes to far? Well, My Immortal is a pretty good example.

 

[Ryengu]

When it completely ignores the established material in exchange for a shallow, low-quality, wish fulfillment block. Go look at a Harry Potter fanfic called "My Immortal", it's pretty much an itemized list of what makes fanfiction bad. Not all fanfics are going to be that putrid, but it gives an idea of what things to look out for.

 

[ZeroMachine]

When there's sex between two characters that should NEVER EVER EVER HAVE SEX.

 

[SaetonChapelle]

Personally? I dont take fan fictions seriously. I like the work done by the original authors and in my mind, they will always just be the work of a fan. I dont want to spend time on work that isn't cannon, and that will never be.

Thats not to say that the work isn't creative. A lot of time and energy goes into such deep works. However myself, I probably wouldn't take the time unless cited by the creator.

 

[Super Toast]

When there's sex between two characters that should NEVER EVER EVER HAVE SEX.

Pretty much what this guy said.

Also, anything like My Immortal is bad. No exceptions.

 

[Falconsgyre]

If you want to be taken seriously, don't make it fanfiction. It can be good practice, though.

 

[Daaaah Whoosh]

...My Immortal...

Wow. Seriously, that was horrible. Thank you for that, now I know my story isn't that bad.
I mean, my GOD, that was terrible.

If you want to be taken seriously, don't make it fanfiction. It can be good practice, though.

Yeah, I agree with you there. I started writing fanfiction when I was in the fifth grade, and my first one was a total of 150 pages. I learned a lot from it.

 

[Saelune]

When made by Uwe Boll

And Wolverine: Origins.
(Basically when used to make money. What you write for yourself that you dont share is your own buisness)

 

[HalfTangible]

Well, if you're writing a fanfic, stay as close to the source material as you can while keeping your main story idea intact. Otherwise the same rules apply as normal literature: story structure, show-don't-tell, plot, etc etc...

Fanfics CAN be well written, thought provoking, and genuniely entertaining literature. However, they rarely are and thus are generally thought of lowly by most readers. If you want it to be a fanfic, then that's your choice. Just be prepared for backlash from those who don't actually read it (and some who do, but that's general advice for an author)

In answer to your question, a fanfic goes too far both in the same cases as standard literature (sach us writing tis badlee) as well as under any of the following conditions:

1) Self-insertion (meaning, you take someone directly from real life - basing a character on yourself should be ok)
2) Obvious wish fulfillment (such as a sex scene between Marik and... let's say Harry Potter)
3) Altering canon (well, when it seems largely unneccesary - such as forgetting Warhammer 40K navigators have a third eye. Altering to make something make sense, or making something up before actual canon is invented to contradict it is fine)
4) Out of character (sorta a tie in with three but this one hits really hard - for example, making Truth an open minded prophet.)

 

[Spade Lead]

Personally? I dont take fan fictions seriously. I like the work done by the original authors and in my mind, they will always just be the work of a fan. I dont want to spend time on work that isn't cannon, and that will never be.

Thats not to say that the work isn't creative. A lot of time and energy goes into such deep works. However myself, I probably wouldn't take the time unless cited by the creator.

I am writing a fanfic about a Sith Lord that I created, and even I don't expect it to go anywhere. It is how I kill time when I am bored. He is a Marty Stu with unlimited resources (He leads a Sith Empire) and infinite power (he is 35,000 years old). I write space battles, lightsaber duels, and ground combat, all in his name, but as a marketable item, even if George Lucas would add a hidden Sith Society that falls in the shadows of all his original work (Darth Mobius WAS Darth Plagueis, and HATED everything Palpatine stood for, and even helped the Rebels win the Battle of the Second Death Star) he still is just too powerful to be interesting. Even when he dies, he just possesses the body of his son and resumes leading his empire. Who wants to read about a Sith Lord who is both benevolent and undying?

 

[FalloutJack]

"No John. You ARE the demons."

Actually, that's fucking hilarious, especially when they made the Newgrounds flash of it. But in all seriousness, I think a good fanfic is a homage, something that plays with the original stuff in all the ways that they would (Namely, do NOT break character.), and put them through something that could happen in their world, but never did. Like an untold tale that doesn't alter the world...but is like an expansion.

Doing otherwise...is probably bad.

 

[Anarchemitis]

Go for it brother.

 

[The Wykydtron]

When it defies the canon for no reason or has atrocious grammar and spelling...

Other than that everything is fine.

When there's sex between two characters that should NEVER EVER EVER HAVE SEX.

Hey that can be pretty hilarious, you need to see the Amnesia Mr Face/Daniel/Shadow yaoi fanfic ASAP

 

[Rooster893]

Personally, I don't think fanfiction is bad. If you just keep an open mind, some of it is actually awesome.

I don't mind self-insertion (which is probably bad but YMMV).

Steer clear of bad language, though. Trying to read a fanfiction when the grammar and punctuation is shit is just unbearable.

 

[Wargamer]

Fanfiction goes too far the moment it involves established characters.
If you want to write your own story, go ahead. Do so. But 99% of fan fiction writers do not have any real clue about the characters they are writing about.
They are forcing themselves into that characters skin and thus the entire thing is instantly ruined.

If you feel you absolutely have to write something then just skip using established characters. You can use the setting and universe without raping the main cast.

One of the better fan fictions I have read was a side story to the real book. It referenced the main character and during a huge battle scene it had a few lines of the fictional character seeing the main cast do their thing. But there was no interaction, no forcing the main characters into their story. It was totally separate.

I agree with this entirely; Fanfiction, I feel, is there to complement the main story, not make itself a part of that story. For example, where 'good' Harry Potter Fanfiction to exist (it doesn't, but we'll pretend it does) it would seek to give us a wider view of the Wizarding World. It would show us things we never saw in the main series, or expand upon things that were only briefly glimpsed.

It would not involve the main characters in any way. At most, it would be a passive reference, done only where appropriate (ie: Wizards being oblivious to who Voldemort is would be stupid, but so would Voldemort having a pivotal role in the plot).

 

[MelasZepheos_v1legacy]

Given that any writing not undertaken by the show/game/film/book's original creator technically counts as fanfiction, yes of course fanfiction can be taken as standalone stories within the framework of the universe. Yours in fact sounds about how I would classify the best sort of 'official' fanfiction, that which doesn't just slaver over the main characters and twist them to your own purposes.

 

[Togs]

I've yet to read fanfiction that wasn't godawful.

There I said it.

I'll leave now.

 

[Ddgafd]

If the writer inserts his/herself in to the canon universe, where he does stupid shit, like have sex with a main or a side character or is related to one of the characters. Also Mary/Gary Sues.

FYI, there are far worse fanfics than My Immortal out there. Maybe not in terms of absolute Mary Sueing and story fuck ups, but in terms of actual events and describing of them. Go and find Bennett the Sage, he did a Masterpiece Fanfic Theatre series where he reads terrible and disgusting fanfics. There's some real gems there.