Some writers are against it and some are for it and others have mixed feelings. George R.R. Martin, author of The Game of Thrones said that "ever writer needs to learn to create his own characters, worlds, and settings. Using someone else's world is the lazy way out."
While I do agree with Martin I do also disagree with him. I will admit, I have written fanfiction before and have one (un-complete) story on fanfiction.net (link here for anyone who would care to read it). Writers writing fanfiction (or also known as fanfic) is embarrassing to admit. Fanfics has a reputation for being terribly (link here for the worst fanfic ever written) written and just being short stories about sick fantasies fangirls (and fanboys) have for their beloved fictional character.
On my fanfiction author page I wrote out this short Ode to Fanfiction:
"My brother once asked me why I write fanfiction. I love books and reading and writing. But fanfiction to myself is a challenge; I hope other fanfiction writers who are serious about writing will also see it as a challenge. Keeping characters in character, making sure your story matches up to the canon or make sure your original character makes sense and is in NO way a mary-sue. I find the challenge wonderful; it keeps me thinking and on my toes and more importantly keeps me writing. Fanfiction keeps me writing when I run into a dry spell with my original works. It keeps my imagination and creativity power.
Fanfiction introduced me to fandoms that introduced me to people as crazy as myself and are as passionate about these works of art. Although fanfiction and fandoms are seen as a bunch of over obsessed teenage girls writing and screaming over things that are irrelevant to this world, I see them as girls (and boys) who are passionate about something and are deeply in love with these fictional characters that have come alive in their heads.
This is why I write fanfiction; I don't write it in disrespect for the author or creator, but instead to celebrate them. To thank them for giving my fellow fangirls and fanboys something to love and keep our imagination alive."
I have read a LOT of talented authors on fanfiction.net and some not so talented. It was actually this author who got me into the Harry Potter fandom in the first place. She is a well written author and I even told her that I hoped she would write original stories some day.
Stephanie Myer said,"Fan-fiction has become kind of a mixed thing for me. like in the beginning I hadn’t heard of it and there were some that were…I couldn’t read the ones that had the characters IN character. It freaked me out… but there was one about Harry Potter and Twilight that was hilarious. And then there was one that was about a girl who was starring as Bella in the movie and that was funny. And uh, I hear so many people arguing about fan-fiction. This one and that one. It seems like they are not as much fun anymore. I don’t know…. People pour out so much energy and talent into them… It makes me frustrated. I’m like, go write your own story. Put them out there and get them published. That’s what you should be doing. You should be working on your own book right now.”
It is so true that so many creative and talented writers are pouring so much of their time in trying to write this story that they forget about original writings that they should be writing. But not all fanfics out there are 'horrible' or 'waste of time'. This author on fanfiction.net is simply amazing! She writes for mostly the Harry Potter fandom and the way she builds off of the Harry Potter world is simply brilliant!
Some writers have complained about the legal issues concerning the fanfiction world, but really there is no big legal issue. All stories are free and many authors I've read have put a disclaimer on the first chapter or every chapter of their stories. Many of us fans respect the authors and their wishes and we do not write fanfiction to put the author out of business, many of us do it out of respect and a salute to the authors.
(And yet ANOTHER link to Martin Freeman is Not a Hedgehog; Gina follows my blog and does as she explains "Investigating the phenomenon of fangirls - and fansquees - one Tumblr post at a time..." She writes awesome articles on fandoms and fangirls. So check her out!)
(And P.S. If any of you know where each of the icons from the picture up above come from, comment with your answers and give me your opinions on fanfiction and fandoms! :)
