Fan fiction is unworthy of you. Don't do it.
Author Robin Hobb (Meghan Lindholm) crushes fan fiction and slash writers, but her rant "does not include professional authors writing...Buffy the Vampire Slayer stories." To read the essay, enter the attic and click on the madwoman's red shoe.
"Romances are invented, gender identities changed, fetishes indulged and endings are altered. It’s not flattery...fan fiction becomes personal masturbation fantasy in which the fan reader is interacting with the writer’s character. That isn’t healthy for anyone."
In contrast, Joss Whedon has openly encouraged his fans to "Write fan fic."
Edited: On behalf of Robin Hobb's camp, I have changed the link because "her intent in posting it on her site is for people to access it through the madwoman in the attic, to get the idea that it's a rant and purposely over the top. Anyone accessing the essay elsewhere or via a direct link is getting it out of context."
March 18 2006
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Berry | March 18, 20:47 CET
KernelM | March 18, 20:48 CET
Am I going to be sued for copyright now? I didn't mean to get continued enjoyment without the creator's permission!
Marthatheimmortalwaitress | March 18, 20:48 CET
Kessie | March 18, 21:11 CET
ROTFLMAO!
I was willing to give her a chance but I can't get past this line. It's too funny! That's like calling a pin prick mass murder.
I will say this though. I don't read much fanfic anymore because what I was looking for was stories that continued the world, and oftentimes writers take liberties with the characters and settings rather than try to build faithfully off what the original author had penned. So oftentimes I come away with the thought that if the writer wanted to tell THAT story, why didn't they just make up their own characters?
All fan fiction has a right to exist. Even the slash. Even the badly written stuff. Especially the crossovers, those are the best. However, very little fanfic can justify its existence if the only measuring stick given it is quality. Most of it just hurts to read, because I catch myself thinking I coulda done better.
The draw of fanfic is that it has a readymade audience. I have characters and story ideas and settings I've created myself, but who would want to read any of that? If you tell a Star Trek tale, there are potential readers already on the same page with you. They already know when you type "blah blah blah Kirk said" you don't have to spend several paragraphs summarizing Captain Kirk's life. People already know. They even already know he's a captain. ...or admiral, depending on the time your tale takes place.
But I find I object to "Mary Sue" fanfic, and a vast majority of fanfic involves the author literally stepping into the shoes of their favorite character and behaving as THEY would in that situation, not as Buffy or Angel would. I'm guilty of that myself. When I have in the past attempted fanfic, I find myself drawn to writing from the perspective of my favorite character. I lean towards Xander and observe things from his POV in a scene. Still I tried to be true to established canon and not throw into the mix that say, Dawnie's favorite color is purple because my favorite color is purple.
[[for the record, there is a diff between Mary Sue and putting oneself in the character's shoes. I mean, how can a writer understand the character without doing so? True Mary Sue fanfic involves creating a character who is essentially a narcissistic mirror image of the writer him/herself. I'm guilty of this one too. Wrote a Buffy fanfic called "The Consecrated One." Guess who THAT was? Thankfully it's never seen the light of day and never will. But oftentimes writers will put themselves into a character so much that the character ceases being the canonical character and becomes Mary Sue in drag.]]
Okay. Lemme try to read a little more of it. I'm honestly trying to give her the benefit of the doubt.
"...then karaoke is the path to become a singer, coloring books produce great artists, and all great chefs have a shelf of cake mixes. Fan fiction is a good way to avoid learning how to be a writer."
Oh well. So much for that. This woman needs to cut back on the drug usage.
For many aspiring authors, writing fanfic is an excellent exercise in examining plot and character and all the elements needed. One can opt to dissect that which came before to see how writing successful stories is done. It also allows writers to explore concepts and ideas that they can't get out of themselves in other "original" ways. Then, hopefully, they'll someday take off the training wheels and manage to write original work that does get noticed. Although, the odds of being heard in the maelstrom of today's literary industry, with corporate interests controlling mass publication, is very slim.
That's what makes the Internet so powerful, while simultaneously further diluting one's chance to find an audience. It's not as easy as Robin Hobb tries to make it. She just dismisses all of it. Fanfic has a powerful place in the furtherance of storytelling for mankind's future.
One could argue that the tv series Xena was fanfic honoring greek mythology. The fact that greek mythology has never been 'protected' by copyright shouldn't dismiss this travesty of justice.
[ edited by ZachsMind on 2006-03-18 19:25 ]
ZachsMind | March 18, 21:16 CET
The thing that tends to throw me out of the fanfics I've read (and any of the Official books that I've browsed as well) is that they don't catch the voice of the characters. It's always difficult to write someone else's characters, but it's probably especially difficult in the Buffyverse, where each character has a very distinctive voice. Can you read a line of dialog and know who said it? If so, you've got it. If not, get out get out GET OUT!!!
MissKittysMom | March 18, 21:16 CET
Ya know, by this woman's standards, all the Buffy and Angel staff writers are fanfic writers. They just used Joss's characters, Joss's settings, Joss's mythology. Bunch of hacks.
MissKittysMom | March 18, 21:20 CET
[ edited by JoAnnP38 on 2006-03-18 19:33 ]
JoAnnP38 | March 18, 21:30 CET
Absolute rubbish. I admit i've read a number of Buffy and Angel fanfics where i've questioned if the writer actually knew anything about the characters they were using, simply because the developments in the story were so totally out of character is wasn't even funny, but i've read just as much very good fan fiction, some actually better than the published books, where it is very clear to me that the writers in question knew the characters they were using very well and stayed well within the realms of possibility that the series had established.
I've written a number of stories myself that, whilst hardly to the standard of Mutant Enemy, are absolutely true to what i have seen on the shows. No sudden romances between Willow and Giles, no having Jenny's death reversed, no making Buffy act any different to how she would have done on the show. I try my best to make the characters act and react exactly the way Joss would have done in my place.
The only form of fanfic i personally don't like is slash. Having Angel end up in bed with Spike or Buffy going down on Faith is not my idea of writing a good slayerverse story and i have no desire to read about that either. Buffy and Spike together, fine. Willow and Tara? Not a problem. If it had been stated that Xander had fallen in love with Clem i'd be all for that but writing characters whilst totally ignoring established facts such as sexuality holds no interest for me. Having said that, i'm not going to rant about how i wish others wouldn't write these stories. You want to? Go for it.
Much of what the author states in this article is technically true but when an author of fiction holds laws of copyright to such a technical level then i have to question whether or not she has forgotten about why it is so much fun to write in the first place and the real reasons why we are drawn to continue the stories of the fictional characters we fall in love with. Because creativity should never be stunted by laws or anything else. My writing a story to continue the events of Not Fade Away will never prevent Joss from doing the same and certainly will never get in the way of any financial or creative benefit Joss may gain from it.
Everybody has the right to write a story and everybody has the right to choose the content of that story. If a television show or movie has made such an impression on your life that you want to write something along those lines then you are entitled to do so. You are not entitled to make a profit from said story of course but then that isn't what fanfic has ever been about.
The Watcher | March 18, 21:30 CET
Guess she's never heard of a spec TV script, huh?
batmarlowe | March 18, 21:39 CET
As for saying that fanfiction doesn't help writers actually become writers is horse dung! I personally think trying to write for another verse other then your own is a 10 times harder. If it is your own verse the readers are going along on the ride with you for the first time. There is no back history that you must follow or dialogue that must fit the right character. When you do fanfiction you need to stay in character, follow the foundation that has already been laid. Ensure that when you have a character speak or react that it is indeed TRUE to that character.
If/when I get published (trying to think positive here) and my verse was as popular for fanfiction as BtVS, Ats, ST:TNG...etc. I'd feel so honored. I wouldn't look at is THEY ARE RUINING MY VERSE but rather these fans love my characters so much that they can't get enough of them. Sure they may not always be how I would write it but WOO HOO they love me! THEY REALLY LOVE ME!!!
LmR | March 18, 21:44 CET
debw | March 18, 21:48 CET
I am very picky about fan fiction. Again, not like it really matters, but I went to an arts high school for creative writing and now I am majoring in English with a concentration in creative writing in college. I won't just read "medicore" stories. It needs to be well written. Sometimes it is frustrating trying to find those gems of fan fic, but they are definitely out there. I seem to find them the best writers in the Remus/Sirius fandom from Harry Potter, but I may also just be more into that fandom so I find them more.
I have never read a published Buffy novel that I liked. No offense to people who like them, but of the ones I've read, the plotlines have been ridiculous and they are not at all true to the show and its characters. They use ridiculous words (also used in bad fan fic) to describe the characters (like "the red headed Wicca" instead of just saying Willow) and employ many other bad writing techniques.
I have better luck finding good fan fic than good published fan fic. Because that's all those Buffy novels are. Sorry, Robin.
fortunateizzi | March 18, 21:49 CET
I am an avid fic reader, not a writer, so I think I can be objective when I say that not one of the official Buffy books can hold a candle to some of the great fan fiction I have read.
Yes there is some bad fiction written. Its easy to tell and you simply can stop reading it. Story lines I know I won't like are usually warned about before you even start reading and you don't even have to start.
As far as canon, hardly any of the official Buffy books have followed canon. They either go alternate universe or they try to be canon but almost all of them eventually get "Jossed".
Fan Fiction feeds me. Sure I would like more Buffy verse, but I am most likely not going to get it. The official books don't do it.Comic books are like a piece of candy when you are hungry for a meal. Not cutting it.
Fan fiction writers are doing a person like me a tremendous favor and I am very grateful.
Xane | March 18, 21:56 CET
C. A. Bridges | March 18, 21:57 CET
Still, I don't see it as an insult to the creators of the characters and the premises of their stories. As long as nobody else tries to claim the fanfic as warranting monetary compensation, it's little more than a variation on the tradition of the telling of folktales by a campfire. People do it to entertain themselves and their friends close to them . If it inspires them to create and write for their own characters, then maybe it does serve the purpose of practice writing. If all they ever do is write for themselves and the few people who read it, and never progress beyond that, nobody is getting hurt - not even the originator of the stories that inspire fanfic. The originators still remain alive. Fanfic doesn't deprive them of food or shelter. Fanfic doesn't make them into bad parents, cause people to go on killing sprees, start wars, or invoke the wrath of God or nature.
The woman has lost perspective. Yes, her books are a result of a lot of painstaking planning and hard work, as are anyone's written works; but nobody is going to confuse fanfic with her own work.
Nebula1400 | March 18, 22:09 CET
Yes, some fanfiction sucks. Some of it is indulgent, but who doesn't have the right to indulge in a fantasy once in a while?
It's not about changing the author's original work--it's about asking 'what if?'
And no one connects fanfic to the original author. Puh-lease.
twa_corbies | March 18, 22:20 CET
That's what I was going to say. I've never heard of anyone confusing fanfic with the real thing, or assuming events in fanfic are canonical.
Grounded | March 18, 22:28 CET
I've created artwork based on your characters or world. Can I display it on my website?
Yes.
So... creating artwork based on another person's world and situations is fine, but basing stories around said characters and situations is a form of identity theft? What? Reading through this, it seems the only difference between legitimate work and fan fiction to Ms. Hobb is a commission paycheck. Your generic Buffy book on the newstands is more legitimate than the 1000-page opus a fan spent two years on because the book has a publisher's label on the spine?
I've spent roughly two years writing teleplays for Buffy/Angel continuations (*cough* virtual-mutant.co.uk), and I can guarantee I've put as much thought into the stories -- from individual stories to season-enveloping arcs -- as Ms. Hobb has into any of her original fair. And her Buffy books? I doubt she's stayed up for 48 hours straight to catch a deadline.
The Dark Shape | March 18, 22:46 CET
I'll write my Oz spin-off Full Moon Delight and my Firefly/Serenity continuation if I damn well please, thank you very much. I take writing these things as seriously as I do my own work...and yes, I also write my own original work.
Remind me to never read anything she ever writes. Ever.
UnpluggedCrazy | March 18, 22:55 CET
Ilana | March 18, 22:56 CET
vampire dan | March 18, 23:05 CET
i don't know, i just don't get her opinion at all!
i can't wait for people to slash my characters:) i think its fun/funny.
and yeah- it doesn't teach you to be a good writer. but thats not really what its about anyway...
Drusillaloveskyo | March 18, 23:28 CET
Erm, I have. I'm not much one for prose, but in terms of screenplays/teleplays, Buffy/Angel are my only ventures into fan-fiction. I know very well how much thought goes into an "original story."
The Dark Shape | March 18, 23:37 CET
In retrospect, it wasn't that great and the Simpsons folk were no doubt right to reject it, but it did give me an insight into how it was possible for the sheer volume of TV material to be generated. It in no way lower's my estimation of the many fine TV writers who work on other people's shows (then I would be denigrating Joss, David Chase and David Milch -- they all spent many, many years writing other people's characters) It's just really was a relative breeze compared to writing an original spec screenplay and is probably a big part of what allows them to churn out the sheer volume of material that TV requires.
bobster | March 18, 23:43 CET
delirium_haze | March 18, 23:48 CET
Can't say I agree with that 100%. Like others have mentioned, taking an existing character and pulling if off believably is pretty damn hard. Many of the tie-ins stories associated with this verse can't even nail it and they're professional writers.
ETA: I guess I should clarify...It SEEMS like it's hard since whether it's fanfic, tie-in novels or even the show itself, we often see times where you want to say, "Huh, why did they just do that? That makes no sense."
I enjoy fanfic. True, a great load of it IS written by what can often appear to be illiterate folk with some whacky fantasies. However, some of the stories I've read have been done quite well. In my opinion, some of the best delve into things we never got to see - ex: post Glory, BEFORE they bring Buffy back, etc. and explore what might have happened emotionally with the rest of the gang.
Also true, it's hard to tell what you've gotten yourself into when you start to read a fanfic, there are some doozies out there. I also agree that sometimes the writers should have taken that extra step and made the characters original, when they've taken characters we know to places they would have never gone in a hundred years and for unexplained reasons. Does that mean people shouldn't write fanfic? Heck no!
"and yeah- it doesn't teach you to be a good writer. but thats not really what its about anyway..."
I completely agree with that. People do it for a ton of reasons, and that probably isn't one of them! :)
Good or bad writing aside, I think fanfic IS flattery and agree with Joss on that one. People want the 'verse to continue and so it does.
[ edited by Grace on 2006-03-18 22:02 ]
Grace | March 18, 23:50 CET
I personally don't read fan fiction, or even the published novels, of my favorite 'verses. From my brief forray into the world of fan fic, I learned that I prefer cannon. That's my preference. So I can't speak to the quality of fan fic out there, but trying to say that writing fan fic will help you be a better writer is partially true at best. It's better to read works that you enjoy, dissect them for what you think is good/bad, well/poorly done, and find out what exactly makes them good. You can practice writing a scene with established charecters using fan fic to test the waters, I suppose, but saying it's going to help you learn to structure your own stories is silly. You don't need to learn how to seamlessly add essential details about what makes that charecter tick, because your readers already know the charecter. That work is done for you, and you're learning nothing by not doing it yourself.
This is not to say people shouldn't write fan fic. If it's something you enjoy doing, then do it. And if you know the author /creator encourages - or just doesn't care if people write - fan fiction, then put it out on the web and share it with others who enjoy reading fan fic. But it seems this author has made it clear that she doesn't appreciate it. I just wouldn't call writing fan-fic a right; the law pretty clearly states that it isn't.
She's stated right in the beginning, this was supposed to be a place where she can direct people who disagree with her view of fan fic to see her arguments against it. What she says is her opinion. I think she's defended it well, and now people know what she thinks and why. I can respect that.
Arielle | March 18, 23:56 CET
That said, while a fanfic avoider myself, I have a couple of points to add. When she permits artwork based on her writing to appear on websites she is expressly permitting actions that might otherwise be in violation of copyright. But by doing so, she's exercising her right to control her own copyright, in this case in favour of the public (which is nice of her). Most fanfic writers don't allow creators to exercise that right - they go and do it anyway without permission, which isn't a good thing.
The second point I'd like to make is that a certain Mr Whedon (never heard of him? Check the URL!) is on the record as advocating fan fic "I obviously can't read [fan fiction], but the fact is there seems to be a great deal of it, and that's terrific. " , because he realises that it builds audiences, communities and fills a creative need in some people. He's one of the good guys. But again, if that's how he wishes to exercise his copyrights, then YAY!, yet it's also a good thing to respect people who choose to exercise their copyright differently. They did the hard yards already, and if they don't want you coasting in their wake, then it's rude to the person who inspired you with their work in the first place to ignore that.
Finally, the reason I'm anti-fan fiction is that all the time taken to write it is depriving the world of time spent on more original stuff. Media tie-ins take up too much space in bookstores as it is, and they're pretty dire quality most of the time. Dammit - write your own stuff! It could make you rich, and it'll give me some else to read or watch or listen to or have my brain twisted by! I want to be hanging out in ZachsMindesque.com :-)
Blah blah blah. I do go on, don't I?
giles (yes, it is my real name) | March 18, 23:57 CET
UnpluggedCrazy: I don't want tp see language like that used here. Play the ball, not the person. We do not bash the writers of articles here.
Simon | March 19, 00:12 CET
I do also see her point, even if I tend to lean the other way. There's the legality of it and there's reality. In the defense of fanfic writers pretty much everywhere, almost every fic I've ever seen makes great effort to point out that they did not invent said characters, they're just playing. It doesn't make it anymore legal I suppose and yes, it's without permission, but I think the fan fic writers are showing their respect by making it that obvious they're just playing with a given set of existing characters. Should they go get original? Probably, but they're writing fanfic to continue this verse, not create a new one.
I was just talking to someone today about office sports "pools." This particular convo was about March Madness. Apparently there has been some talk this week about how much time and effort gets spent AT work filling out the brackets and wagering. That technically it's illegal. However, how can one crack down on it and is it worth it to do so? I think that unless a company specifically prohibits the wagering because of the cost to the company in lost man hours it's a lost cause. There is no global answer. I think this is similar. It may be wrong, but as long as the internet is out there, it's going to continue and unless someone is blatantly profiting from someone else's characters, all one can do is state their opinion on it, which is exactly what RH has done.
"Anyone who read fan fiction about Harry Potter, for instance, would have an entirely different idea of what those stories are about than if he had simply read J.K. Rowling’s books. In this way, the reader’s impression of the writer’s work and creativity is changed."
I agree with everything RH said about copyright, etc. but this one part I disagree on. I know the difference between fanfic and the "real thing." One doesn't affect my opinion of the other.
[ edited by Grace on 2006-03-18 22:23 ]
Grace | March 19, 00:15 CET
To be honest, quite a bit of the fan fic I read totally beats any of the BTVS books they sell. Of course, I only read highly recommended fan fic and I haven't read any bad.
spikeylover | March 19, 00:28 CET
Koos | March 19, 00:33 CET
I didn't mean to offend you or anyone else that runs the site, but that was my genuine reaction to reading her insane rant.
[ edited by UnpluggedCrazy on 2006-03-18 22:38 ]
UnpluggedCrazy | March 19, 00:35 CET
Part of me can understand where she is coming from, I can sort of see her point.
And then my inner beta-reader kicked in when I saw this:
You certainly have a free speech write to post your own fiction on the Internet or anywhere else, and I heartily encourage you to do so.
A free speech write
The woman is ranting about how fanfic writers aren't proper writers (such as she considers herself to be) and she makes a basic mistake like that.
*shakes head sadly*
Ms. Lindholm? Your point, such as it was, was lost in bad grammar.
[ edited by Mara on 2006-03-18 22:43 ]
Mara | March 19, 00:41 CET
Craig Oxbrow | March 19, 00:48 CET
The first "fan fiction" was inspired either by Sherlock Holmes or Jane Austen around the turn of the last century.
Now--about fan fiction and current copyright law. It hasn't been tested in court yet. Contrary to what this author is claiming, copyright infringement has everything to do with the market. You have to be able to prove damages--and although not publishing for profit does not necessarily clear you, it does make it more difficult to prove damages. A writer would have to prove that fan fiction fills a market niche that would otherwise be filled with the copyright material. A Buffy tie-in writer might claim this, but really, what fanfic writer wouldn't go out and watch a new episode if one came around? Fan fiction might lose, but it isn't cut and dried. It would lose for sure if it were being sold or presented as original.
Interestingly, parody and satire is completely protected by fair use. So, poke a little fun in your fics. It's good for everyone, and snark is *so* true to character. As for my own 2 cents, I would like to suggest that fan fiction represents an interestingly "pure" scene of writing--international communities form for the sole purpose of writing, discussing writing, critiquing writing, and discussing the work of others. If these writers were only writing criticism--even if completely wrong-headed criticism that misread all the works--it would all be protected.
In closing, any published writer who thinks he or she could possibly retain "absolute control" over published works has no understanding of what "reading" means. Everyone changes and interprets what they read or watch. Obviously. The better it is, the more open to interpretation it is. If you want absolute control, don't ever show your stuff to anyone. I would even say, if you want absolute control, don't write at all, because I don't think that's how language works.
bunnykitty | March 19, 01:16 CET
Some people just don't get it?
Numfar PTB | March 19, 01:18 CET
Nobody's saying that fanfic should replace source material, but how is wrting something rather than nothing not a good thing? I know three published authors who have all written fanfic, before and after publishing. Does that make them bad writers? No. In my opinion, their fanfic was as well done as anything they wrote professionally, and their professional work is as good as, if not better than anything out there.
Then there's the whole "what if I don't want to be a professional singer, artist, chef or writer? What if I just want to have fun?" Then what's the harm? Karaoke is only going to harm your voice if you're not careful, coloring books will only hurt you if you get a paper cut, cake mixes have transfats and high-fructose corn syrup, but still taste good. Fanfic? It's amusing and fun, and the only danger is to your high blood pressure when you read rants like this one.
Then you have the old argument about William Shakespeare, John Gardner (Grendel), & Gregory Maguire (Wicked)... co-opting other works is respected in some circles. Is Andy Warhol less an artist for painting soup cans? Does the fact that Henri Matisse used cut paper mean that no other "serious" artist is allowed to without someone calling them a rip-off?
There is poorly written stuff everywhere, published, authorized, scripted, fanfic. The trick, if you want to read it, is learning to sift through the dross. If you think you can write better published, authorized, scripted or fanfic works? Do it. Don't lambast people who try. If it makes you feel better about reading fanfic, consider it all AU, which it technically is.
Obligatory disclaimer: I write mostly fanfic, but I do write original fiction as well. And I sing, cook and make art, in addition to being around artists, chefs, musicians and writers all my life.
skripka | March 19, 01:23 CET
I think she has a point - the "masturbation" comment is why I avoid fanfic and slash/fic alike. I masturbate enough without fanfic help. Wait! Er... uh, I mean... oh, well.
She also encourages us to learn to write our own stories instead of ripping off others', which I think is admirable and something that needed to be said.
As a fan of hers, I can appriciate her careful construction of characters like The Fool. I would hate to see that painstakingly (and quite wonderfully) created character ruined in some fanfic who's only goal is to "answer" questions the author purposly left unanswered. So that's why I don't read it.
Fitz | March 19, 01:28 CET
Sure, writers have the right to protect their own work, and if they're uncomfortable with junior writers or amateurs using their material they should say so and amateurs should respect those wishes. On the other hand, those writers really have no right to tell others that their way is "the only way" to write. That's not possible - we're all individuals. We all write differently. And if someone writes well and gets paid for it, who are we to tell them that their way isn't working? 'Sides, some of those tv tie-in writers were fans first.
nina | March 19, 01:29 CET
I think the article is a rational discourse upon why Robin Hobb objects to people writing fan fiction of *her* work. I think many of the points are perfectly valid. While people may feel that someone else's world is a legitimate playground for their narrative skills, it isn't necessarily rational to DEMAND the person who created that world to feel the same way--and be "flattered," yet.
A lot of posters are taking an extremely narcissistic view of this. The fact that you would be flattered if someone else wrote fan fiction of your work does not mean that every author must feel flattered. The author is expressing how she feels about fan fiction of HER work, and of fan fiction in general, and both are her own, individual, valid opinions. Which means that you are free to disagree, but calling her a bitch? Is kind of losing it.
Ilana | March 19, 01:41 CET
Ha!
It's true that some fanfic is masturbatory (hey look, I made up a word...I think) but some is spectacular in telling a story, and should be credited with its due. That is where the problem lies tho, net publishing really has very little credence to it.
For example, I read a few years ago, a fanmade prequel to Gladiator, that was so much better than the original story. I encouraged the writer to contact the studios to see if there was any interest, as it was so freaking fantastic. She unfortunately recieved a cease and desist letter. I'd never encourage her to do that now, I know a little better. Mercifully she never did cease, and I got the end of that story and some new ones. I don't read a lot of fanfic, I like to be referred to it by others, but some of it I have enjoyed immensly.
Anyways...what's a little wank between friends?
nixygirl | March 19, 01:51 CET
A sticky situation?
In terms of fanfic, I'd argue that if the creator of a piece of art requests that no one writes fanfic based on their work then it is good manners to follow their wishes.
It may be that fanfic is a great tribute to a work of art or it may be that it is an imposition on the intellectual property of the artist. Of course not everyone needs to agree on the answer, but it seems narrow-minded not to acknowledge that it is a reasonable question.
Jon | March 19, 02:41 CET
So, here's my problem with this. People who read fan fiction based on, let's run with the example the writer has used here, J.K. Rowling's work are (more often than not) people who are already familiar with the Harry Potter Universe. The same (usually) goes for people who write fan fiction based in that universe. No one's idea of how the Potterverse actually is is being changed by the reading of the fan fic, because these are people who are at least vaguely familiar to the 'verse by way of either the books or the movies. So for her to assume that some newbie is going read them and start believing that that is what the writer's world is truly like...eh. She obviously doesn't know how the fan fic world works.
Besides, ff writers put up disclaimers for a reason, they are stating that what they are writing has nothing to do with the established canon of the universe in which the stories are based, that is, this is their own imagination running rampant, not actual canon.
I'm thinking that I didn't make any sense.
Emma Frost | March 19, 02:41 CET
She, of course, has the right to exercise control over her creations. I often think, however, that stifling fan-based activity is short-sighted. (I'm remembering all the -- was it XFiles, Star Trek? -- fan sites that were closed down in the early days of the Web. It was done in the name of copyright, but I think it was shortsighted.)
I think part of the issue here is the slippery-ness of the Web.Is it published if it's on the Web? It's not the same as something that sits in your diary at home, but it's also not the same as something that gets printed at the publisher. It's even less than a vanity press might be.
So where's the line?
XanFan32 | March 19, 02:50 CET
I think one thing to keep in mind is that many of the great works of literature were re-tellings or expansions of older stories. Some of the people who frequently did stuff like this were... oh I don't know... Shakespeare and Goethe. I wonder where they'd be with today's copyright laws.
I freely admit that most fan fiction isn't very good, but some is and fan fiction does motivate people to start writing when they otherwise wouldn't.
fr0g | March 19, 03:31 CET
Internet copyright has been a hot topic recently - as the controversy of Google having searchable public domain books is showing.
There was a whole huh-bub over electronic rights when e-books and downloadable texts started becominng easily accesible. Those rights had never been negotiated in contracts, and both book publishers and authors were asserting the rights to make money off of the new form. Now, electronics rights are part of the standard book deal, along with movie rights, and reprinting rights.
And Ilana, right/write is not a typo. It's using the wrong version of a word, which is a grammatical error. Typing "hyr" instead of "her" or "the the" instead of "the" is a typo. (And I have a friend who still insists that "teh" is a typo, no matter how intentionally I spelled it) /nitpicky-ness
As for historical examples of Shakspeare and others taking popular charecters/myths from history and writing stories about them - even modern copyright law allows for that. It's why copyright expires after 75 (I think!) years. The copyrighted material then becomes public domain and anyone can use it. You think Lexus pays the estate of of Mozart if they use a piece of one of his symphony's in their commercial? Nope. Because it's considered public domain.
[ edited by Arielle on 2006-03-19 01:55 ]
[ edited by Arielle on 2006-03-19 01:57 ]
Arielle | March 19, 03:52 CET
Exactly Emma Frost. It's not like someone just referred to Buffy would type "buffy" into google and get fanfic pages that look deceptively like canon material. I tried it with buffy and "Harry Potter" and saw nothing that could fool a newbie. You pretty much have to seek fan fiction out to find it, and even then it's clearly marked.
If I published "A Magical Night: When a Vampire and a Carpenter Meet" and said that I was Joss, then there would a problem. But I think in this extreme case, even new fans would know that Joss wouldn't write a story about Spike and Jesus getting together. Of all the fanfic I've seen, there hasn't been one that tried to pass itself off as being from a canon writer.
I think you're right, but as was mentioned previously, copyright law was not designed to protect authors from internet fanfic writers, so using it as an example of why those who do it are wrong is a bit of a cop-out argument on her part.
My advice to a person like this would be: "Dude, chill out". Now if you'll excuse me, the Savior and the vampire with a soul have some lovin' to do!
Caleb | March 19, 04:00 CET
Uh, I'm in the wrong thread, aren't I?
joss | March 19, 01:34 CET
From Joss in this thread. Re-posting here, so I can respond, not that I have even a candle of legitimacy to hold up to Joss, but here goes:
Collaborative writing like TV and comics may be a slightly different experience than writing novels. Someone who's done both would of course have a better idea than I, who have done neither. But from listening to people who have done both, I can see where a novelist feels a lot more ownership in their charecters than someone who has always collaborated with another artist - either other writers and actors when creating TV and movies, or pencilers and colorists when creating comics.
I'm not saying either opinion is more correct than the other. And Robin Hobb may be doing a disservice to her world when she dismisses fan fiction, but if she's never had to share how she sees her charecters and her worlds before, then at least I can understand how she has come to the opinion she has had.
Of course, this feeling isn't limited to novelists. Hasn't the illustrious Alan Moore removed his name from all movies made of his original stories, (correct me if I'm mistaken here) because he doesn't agree with the direction the directors and screen adaptors and actors took his work? Isn't that similar (of course not exactly the same) to what this author is saying about fan fiction? That she'd rather not have these charecters/this world used this way, and since it's her work, her name is inherantly associated with it?
Arielle | March 19, 04:30 CET
I particurlarly like the point someone made about fanfiction not being akin to drawing on the Mona Lisa, as Hobb said, but of making your own drawing of it.
I don't think I'd be as devoted to Buffy and Angel if it weren't for fanfic and the sense of community it engendered. Following a superb writer I found led me to Live Journal and eventually here.
I do some fanficing myself and what strikes me about the Jossverse is that almost every character that comes on the screen has a story that can be told. I've done drabbles about Rusty the security guard who was almost frozen and the girl Percy took to the party where Willow found a dead guy. I'm sure a whole story could be written about Merle, a demon at the wrong place at the wrong time. I mean, the well at Jossverse is very deep.
lycoming | March 19, 04:35 CET
Yes, this is the problem with Ms. Lindholm's arguments for me. People do practice a craft, or even a hobby, by copying examples they like in that field. Go to any art museum, and you'll see art students everywhere with easels or sketch pads drawing copies of the paintings on the wall. It is a good way to learn, so this argument does not hold up, as far as I'm concerned.
Also, Ms. Lindholm mentions that "we don't draw eyebrows on the Mona Lisa," but people do use the Mona Lisa in all sorts of ways: as satire, advertising, drawing practice, etc. Another argument that doesn't hold up.
I also agree with several people on this thread that it is easy to tell the difference between fanfic and something written by the original author/canon, and there is just no way to mistake slash for canon. I absolutely do not change my opinion of the original based on what I thought of the fanfic. I do have to agree most of the fanfic I've seen is not real great, but some is good; for example, I know that there was a writer of a few episodes of Xena who had started as a fanfic author. So, again, easy to tell apart, good training -- Ms. Lindholm's arguments do not hold up.
I can agree that Ms. Lindholm has every right to ask her fans not to write fan fiction based on her writing, because it is her personal preference that they don't. I don't think she has a
writeright ;-) to present herself as THE authority for all writers, or to address all fans of all writers.billz | March 19, 04:58 CET
I'm sure Robin Hobb knows perfectly well which the correct version is, but I suppose only someone who actually read her books would be sure of this.
Ilana | March 19, 05:11 CET
SotME is a Star Wars continuation novel, written by Alan Dean Foster. I love Foster's writing. Some of it's junk, but for a prolific career as he had, it was pretty fun stuff to encounter in my middle school years.
But Foster's SotME couldn't possibly envision where Lucas was going with his stories. Reading it after I'd seen ESB left me thinking, "Wow, that was a dumb story that didn't have any of the nuance of the real Star Wars universe." Mind you, I'm not a huge Star Wars fan--never read any of the novels, etc.--just a guy who watched the movies. (And, of course, someone who wishes Lucas wouldn't've jumped the shark with the Ewoks, but most of my favorite authors do that at some point...)
That experience pretty much convinced me that in general no one but the original author had any business writing a story set in another author's world. More specifically, no one has any business sharing a story they wrote using another author's world.
Thieves' World was cool BECAUSE it was written by a ton of different, good people. But the world was intentionally anarchic, so that the loose connections and continuity wouldn't be that big a deal. TW is a lot like many TV shows--the world is set, but each author gets to go off in whatever direction (within reason) he or she wants.
Currently, I'm reading George R.R. Martin's A Feast For Crows. It's got all sorts of room for backstory, because it's such a complex world and he tells so little of what actually happens. But I wouldn't touch any fan fic in that world, because I respect the author's integrated sense of a world.
Maybe there's a bit of my Role Playing heritage coming in here, but I have never attempted to recreate the characters and settings I admired--It would be so much more fun to make up my own world that captured the themes and ideas I loved out of other authors' works.
jclemens | March 19, 05:12 CET
This might suggest that those who prefer to avoid fanfic should simply do so and in many cases that's fair enough. Except, if an artist prefers that fans should not write fiction based upon their works then that should be their choice to make. If he or she believes that fan fiction dilutes or undermines their work then they should have the right to choose whether others write it. Right?
Jon | March 19, 05:29 CET
*snort* I thought you were referring to Charisma Carpenter but the Jesus thing would be really funny too.
______
You have all stated my exact thoughts quite succinctly. Now please edit them to be completely different opinions. They were mine originally and I don't appreciate you publishing them in this forum.
DejaThoris | March 19, 05:59 CET
cronopio | March 19, 07:03 CET
The only real difference is that there is so much fanfic that finding the gems means wading through a great deal more poo. Some may never hit those gems and only ever see the rubbish it's nestled in. It's unfortunate. Of course, you ever suffer though someone explaining her 12 part epic about Picard's secret love-child who is a new and fabulous Starship Captain who becomes the great love of Riker's life before they time travel to save the life of Kirk, and Riker and Kirk have to fight over her... you might have the will to wade stripped from you.
IMForeman | March 19, 07:24 CET
In the case of books, I do generally believe one should respect the wishes of the author. And most them just say 'no fanfic, please' and leave it at that. I've been semi-active in two such fandoms and in both cases the fans were very good about respecting the wishes of the authors.
I've read Robin Hobb's books in the past and quite enjoyed them... However, thanks to this ill-conceived rant I haven't bought her latest work, nor do I plan to. If that's how she considers her readers, I'll pass.
For another perspective, author Karen Traviss (who writes Star Wars tie-ins, among other things) has written several times on the positive aspects of fanfic.
fujikosmurf | March 19, 07:35 CET
Well, apart from fanfic in a weird cross-over event we like to call 'Survivor' over on the dutch sci-fi and fantasy newsgroup I read and post, where two women host a 'survivor' once every two years in which characters from our favorite on-topic tv-shows are placed on an island (or something similar). They write (often hilarious) daily reports of what happened, 'newspaper' and 'tabloid' articles about what's going on on the island and 'interviews' with the people that get voted off. There's bunches of websites and campains for the various characters/contestents done by the posters in the group (last edition, I hosted a campaign for our very own Fred and the edition before that I did the same thing for Giles. Yep.). Then, like in the actual survivor, we vote one character of the island each round untill we have one winner left. Now, obviously, that's not your standard fanfic (although the girls who do this are amazing writers who should consider writing professionally), but still. People have been known to take a day off from work to meet a voting deadline (because there's a whole lot a strategic voting going on which means it's better to vote closer to the deadline - no really, I'm not making this up), so it's very addictive and obviously has some quality and brings something new and fresh. 'Thankfully' it's only once every two years during summer (which, of course, makes it more special).
Uhm, wow, I've totally gone off on a tangent which is possibly highly confusing and not very relevant. Heh. Sorry guys.
Anyway, getting back to my point: sometimes (I'd actually say, quite often), fanfic is just a way to get to be with the characters you've grown to love. And the only way to do that is respect that canon that's readily available and build your way from there. Changing what you didn't like, or making the characters do things they normally wouldn't is certainly a part of fanfic. But it's not all the fic that's out there.
GVH | March 19, 08:21 CET
GVH, that *rocks*! It's like the thread where we've been debating Buffy versus Batman (which is also a form of fanfic, now that I think about it!), but taken to the next step. Awesome! :-)
billz | March 19, 08:38 CET
fanfic, feels like playing to me- they're playing with my characters, fantasizing, whatever.
writing a real book and getting it published, then they're hurting my characters- because then they're trying to say its cannon. whereas in comic books, other people will publish books with your characters all the time and make it cannon...
and that is why i will never be a comic book writer! i couldn't take other people doing strange things to my creations in an official manner.
Drusillaloveskyo | March 19, 09:21 CET
Caroline | March 19, 11:36 CET
Interestingly, it wasn't the bad fic that motivated me to try my hand, but the good. I knew I could do better than the worst I came across, but the good fic was inspirational because it was less daunting than anything written by a professional, but well done nonetheless. And having been accomplished by a peer -- a fan like myself -- meant that emulating their level of skill was a reach-for-able (if not necessarily attainable) goal. Plus, I made some awesome friends and contacts through correspondance dealing with fan fic that, if nothing else, would have made the involvement worthwhile.
Collaborating with other writers was extremely helpful to me in a professional capacity, as was beta'ing and being beta'ed. Learning to be clear and effective is vital when you're discussing the minutae of an established 'verse with people who a) live thousands of miles away and b) speak English as a second language. (And don't we all practice that skill here everyday?) Now I write and edit as part of my work, and I'm considering how freelancing outside of that could develop into something even more original.
To be fair, I can understand (or try to) the position of being an published author who, for whatever reason, is uncomfortable with the perception that others are "changing" her world/characters through their own personal interpretations. Even if I disagree with the perception that anything is actually being changed, she's certainly within her rights to request/demand that her readers not use her creations in any sort of adaptive or subsidiary manner. But to my mind, by doing so she's also attempting to circumscribe the degree to which her readers may feel able to "fall in love" with her creations, which actually hurts her more in the long run.
Joss has never told us how we should feel about what he's made, because I think he understands what loving someone else's creations is like, and how limits can't be placed on emotions stemming from private experiences of art. For all we know, there's fan fics on the web (even bad ones!) that've changed the course of someone's life for the better. Maybe a RH book has the power to do the same? Unfortunately I'll probably never feel compelled to find out, because just reading this article has made me feel as though there are rules to enjoying what she's created that I must, as a reader, be willing to accept. And I don't wanna.
Wiseblood | March 19, 13:18 CET
Whedonage | March 19, 13:48 CET
I think that's an interesting point, and not just on a theoretical level. There have been writers who have actively gone against writers dabbling in their universes; Anne Rice, not a paragon of stability, and her lawyers sent out cease and desist letters to stamp out all fanfic on the 'net about her vampire books. It caused a pretty big ruckus years ago and alienated a lot of her more hardcore fans, but she didn't care. I don't know whether that was within her legal rights, strictly, but just the threat of a lawsuit is enough to shut down websites, achives, etc.
I think the problem I have with Hobb's and Rice's position of authorial supremacy is that that sort of delicacy of feeling is sort of... irrational. Once a creator puts something into the world, in a very meaningful way it ceases to be his or hers entirely. I bet even more writers hate bad book reviews than fanfic, and yet they can't convincingly argue that newspapers and magazines don't have the legal right to print unflattering and subjective opinions to their work, though they might want to. Creators can't control how their readers interpret their work (here, I'm giving a small thought to Marx, an academic, who thought he was writing a treatise about the economic destiny of civilization -- you don't think if he could have he wouldn't have leaned out the window at the Bolsheviks and told them he didn't mean it). They can't control the physical body of their work once it's bought; I bet seeing the book you slaved over on the 25 cent table at the library sale stings. To have the sort of absolute authority over a created universe and characters that these writers desire is akin to me as them trying to get Amazon.com to pull some of their more negative reviews: understandable on a basic human level, but ultimately irrational in the real world.
I think the choice of whether or not to "pollute" the creator's vision (with fanfic or silver screen adaptation) lies with the consumer. Joss can happily and easily avoid the HP movies; many people in this thread have commented that they don't read Buffyverse fanfic. I myself am an avid slash reader but I don't enjoy Buffyverse fic myself -- I so vastly prefer the canon. And it's my choice to avoid the new V for Vendetta movie because the original graphic novel is my favorite Moore work ever and the reviews have not been promising.
[ edited by dottikin on 2006-03-19 16:54 ]
dottikin | March 19, 13:55 CET
What Robin Hobb (Meghan Lindholm) doesn't understand is that fan fic, fan art and fan vids tend to bring an added level of energy to a given fandom. Instead of fans talking about an author only when a new book comes out or an author makes an appearance, they have something they can discuss more often.
I also question why she allows fan art but not fan fic? Both are derivative works.
This article leaves me wondering whether I will purchase any more Robin Hobb novels.
Mycroft | March 19, 18:34 CET
I'd actually have to agree with her on this, at least when it comes to the Harry Potter fandom. I can't even count the number of people who think Draco Malfoy is sexy and/or a good person, but just misunderstood (think Spike or VMars's Logan Echolls). This is entirely because of fanfic. Jo Rowling has actually commented on it, amazed that so many fans see the little jerk that way. And then there's the Harry/Hermione relationship -- the two have never even been hinted at as more than good friends in the books (and Rowling has again expressed surprise that people can't tell Hermione likes Ron, not Harry), but tons and tons of fans are convinced they're going to end up together in the end (partly because of fanfic and partly because of the movies, which really give off that vibe). I haven't seen anything like this happening in other fandoms; maybe it's just that many HP fans are young and impressionable or something, but fanfic definitely does seem to have colored how many of them see Rowling's characters and world.
Cranberry | March 19, 18:37 CET
When I read this, I thought you were initially talking about Spike/Xander or Angel/Xander, which are not uncommon pairings for slash fic. Ick. Not meaning to demean slash writers, as there is some great slash fic out there and I've read a bit of it, but I really do feel that slash fic is the least defensible type of fanfic--even worse than the "Mary Sue" stories--falling closest to the masturbatory fantasy. I mean, come on. If you're going to write it at all, at least make sure it involves Willow in some way. (I am, of course, only partially joking.)
#2: As so many have previously pointed out, fanfic is NOT all garbage. If anyone here has read BtVS/AtS fanfic by Yahtzee, they will know exactly what I mean. Some of her stuff (and I single out her Angel fic "A Stitch in Time" for special mention) is good enough to serve as a template for episodes or miniseries of the show in question. Everyone who reads fanfic has had that magical experience of finding a story that takes you back into the universe, a story where none of the characters are ill-served and the plot is so breathtakingly perfect that you lean back and say, "I'm sure Joss (or Gene, or J.J., or whoever) would approve."
#3: In response to....
Oh, yeah. Joss is the Duke of Mainstream, baby! He's A-Number-One!
Sorry, but someone had to say it. Especially with Isaac Hayes in the news being a hypocrite.
#4: At times in her rant, Ms. Lindholm strays well beyond the bounds of rationality in ways that ill befit a published author. She is a bit like a person--very protective of her own lawn--who happens to see a person walking along the edge of it, and is worried that said person will somehow kill some of the grass and ruin her perfectly manicured lawn. While it's her right to feel that way, and while it's understandable, I maintain that anyone wold see it as bad form for her to lean out the metaphorical window and yell, "Hey! YOU! Get off my lawn right now or I'll sue you! This is private property! You'll wreck it if you don't get off! How would you feel if I sent a bulldozer over to YOUR house and drove it all over the lawn, and then demolished the house? HMM?!" and so forth. See, that kind of foaming-at-the-mouth reaction would probably get me to remain on the lawn for a few moments longer, and maybe even scuff my shoe along the grass. Sure, it's bad manners, but it tweaks someone who's being unreasonable, and I never get enough of that.
#5: Seacrest...OUT!
I wonder if borrowing catchphrases is acceptable...
BAFfler | March 19, 19:07 CET
catalyst2 | March 19, 19:39 CET
She has a right to her opinion.
I do not read fanfic. I do not write fanfic except occasionally in my head (because I have been doing that since I can remember. )
Kareoke, coloring books and cake mixes can be good tools for learning depending on your level.
Original thought: (trumpets sound)
I wonder what her opinion is of what Eric Flint has been doing with the 1632 series a la the Grantville Gazette. (http://www.1632.org/)
For anyone who is not familiar with it, he has organized the fanbase and more specifically the fanfic writers into potential contributors to the created 'verse. Fans can pick or create a character {Many are off limits as they are claimed by others. There is a chart.) write and submit a story on the forum that is specifically for that purpose. It will be read and evaluated on the forum. The author can rewrite the story as many times as needed and discuss it on the forums. If it is finally judged worthy it may be published in the official on line magazine The Grantville Gazette or one of the published books. Either way, it becomes canon.
I have read the Grantville Gazette and the stories really are very good. One does need to read the original books first to get the 'verse. After the original 2 books things are being told all out of order and all over the continent so it does not matter too much where you go from there.
I don't know, it sounded like a way for the fans to become better writers...and published ones at that, but what do I know? It also sounded like a smart way for a writer to control and expand his verse and do something creatively and educationally good for his fans. It sure beats complaining about them.
I also wonder if anyone will read this. I am always sooooo late to the party. Oh, yeah party on the other thread. Got to get back there.
newcj | March 19, 20:25 CET
I don't agree with Robin Hobb and other fanfic haters, but I'll respect her wishes and not read or write fan fiction based on their work. In fact, I'll avoid reading her work altogether, just so I don't accidentally get an idea that doesn't belong to me.
There are many pros who support fan fiction. I'd much rather spend my time and money on their efforts, rather than on someone who takes the time to write long rants insulting me.
*Goes to add Joss's latest quote to fanfic supporters page.*
Airawyn | March 19, 20:39 CET
It's sharing it.
There are a lot of excellent amateurs in any creative field--music, art, writing, whatever. They have teachers or trusted others (spouses, parents, etc...) who coach them, or perhaps someone who just happens to experience a finished work. They are then prompted to share their works, and begin to realize that other people actually like their stuff--they may have set out to be a professional, or they may have just been creating to satisfy thier own previously unmet inner need.
The gripes with fanfic seem to be that many of the people who write fanfic are completely devoid of humility--they share their own work, and actually have a narcissistic expectation that it might benefit or interest others--like bloggers of the creative world, if you will.
The line isn't really writing it or not; it's the discernment that so many fanfic authors lack, the insightfulness and humility to stay away from any attempt at publicity. Harsh? Not really. If the fanfic author "needs" to write, or is practicing to be a professional, or whatever, then his or her audience should be limited to trusted others, as my son's crayon drawings are only viewed by his preschool teachers and family. If, on the other hand, the fanfic author is writing for publicity, status (even within a fan context), or in aspiration of achieving professional status, then he or she should be open to any negative criticism the author or anyone else exposed to the material wants to level at it.
The problem with fanfic, as I see from these comments, is that there's so much bad stuff floating around which the authors don't have the insight or common decency to self-censor.
jclemens | March 19, 20:47 CET
And I think she's wasting her time. No matter how much manure she shovels out of her book barn, her horses, er, fans will simply produce more. Wiser authors, like our Joss, realize that even manure is good for *something*.
wissxwe | March 19, 21:39 CET
(Up spring 24 fanfic websites. Where not only do the authors masturbate the characters, but the characters masturbate the authors, and each other. It's a new kind of fic... I call it 'This Fic Has A Thing. Now die!').
gossi | March 20, 02:40 CET
Ctrl + F for "Mona". I wish there was picture to offer, but there isn't one available on-line.
Cranberry, I respectfully disagree that people see Draco Malfoy (or Spike, etc.) as a sexy, misunderstood character because of fanfiction. It has been my experience that people see what they want to in certain characters, just because this is the way they perceive these characters when they read the original stories (or watch the original show, or movie). A writer can be as explicit as they like when they create a character about that character's personality or motivations, but ultimately, it is up to the reader to understand the character as such. A reader is able to choose to disregard that portion of the description and, instead, super-impose their own beliefs about the character while they are reading the original story. In my opinion, fanfiction comes after that, when a fan has his or her opinion of a character defined, and writes a story to reflect his or her opinion. And that story tends to generate interest, typically, in other fans who share that opinion through their own, similar interpretation of that character.
[ edited by Judy on 2006-03-20 09:27 ]
Judy | March 20, 10:14 CET
Moscow Watcher | March 20, 21:48 CET
*goes back to feeling kind of old*
ruthless1 | March 20, 22:43 CET
There is Bible fanfic? Gee the original is never enough with any good book, I guess. ;-)
newcj | March 20, 23:15 CET
My indigntaion reaches Hobbe's level at the thought of Patricia May Dolling-Mann's decision to write (and publish) sequels to Far From the Madding Crowd and Tess of the d'Urbervilles by Thomas Hardy. Hardy, long dead, is my favorite author and I can't imagine why someone would decide to add their own continuation to two of the greatest novels in the English language one hundred years after they were published. It feels so wrong to me. Who has the right to decide what happens to Oak or Tess after Hardy has ended their stories? I think it is disrespectful to a classic author and I think it is a perversion of his truth. I think Hobbes considers fan fiction based on her vision a perversion of truth.
I feel similarly about fan fiction (thought not nearly as strongly), and honestly.. Hobbes needs a little love in this discussion. I respect and applaud her views on the control of her own work, and I think a true fan of hers should consider her commitment to the purity of her writing to be laudable.
Awkward Saw | March 21, 23:06 CET