• Opinions on Fanfiction
    15 replies, posted
I've been reading fanfiction (and actually writing one right now), and just want to see what you guys think of the whole process. Hate it? Like it? Kinda disgusted by it? Tell me what you guys think in general about fanfiction. Can be on anything you want.
I'm fine with original characters and scenarios within established universe. But, mingle with canon material, I then DEMAND RESPECT and CARE or I won't TOLERATE THEM. Otherwise, writing an engrossing story is hard, so get writing!
Fanfiction is a good starting point, but there are two issues I have with it. It can easily be a bad incentive especially if the fanfiction includes canon characters or a universe designed as a challenge to traditional genre tropes. It helps generate this idea that something is 'yours' which has slowly infected many fandoms in such a way that if the original creators change even one thing slightly, they get bombared so while you write always remember that whatever you're writing is non-canon, is not sanctioned and doesn't change the core story.
Fanfiction's something that's useful as a tool, especially when you're starting out. It's good to have a franchise you know fairly well that you can use as a playground to develop your ability to actually write coherent sentences, develop plots etc, while not being tied to it as one of your own special creations. There's nothing inherently wrong with fanfiction, unless you start getting... creepy with it. Personally, I can see the appeal of wanting to make something in a universe that you like. I've wanted to do something Fallout-related for a while now, but I'd never try to wallow in much that's already established lore. If you're someone who can already write decently enough, it's important not to wallow in characters and environments that already exist - take the universe and do something with it that only you could do. Having said that, it's something that can easily hold you back. There comes a point where you've got to come up with your own worlds, so that you're not constrained by the rules of other people's universes. There's a hell of a lot of people who could potentially be pretty good, but literally the only thing they do is focus on writing their fucking sonic the hedgehog AU or whatever.
Fanfictions are great. I've seen a lot of people who are biased because of all the usual prejudices, but it would be a shame not to consider taking a look at what's available for a universe/story you like. Personally the fanfics I value the most are those that try to expand a known universe while staying relevant and completely true to canon, for instance by telling backroom dealings, flashbacks (or even harder; a plausible sequel) but those are few and far between.
There is such a low barrier of entry to fanfiction that anyone can do it regardless of talent to do it, and the result is a lot of trash. More so than regular fiction. But it can be a good tool for trying to practice writing within the rules of a universe, making sure you don't pull something out of your ass.
I think fan fiction can be a good way to get some writing exercise by using already made characters and settings. And some settings are rich enough in lore and detail that it only makes sense to have stories outside the official material. The issue is that most fan fiction communities shut down any and all criticism towards their work. I also have an issue with people making fan fiction about real people or groups. You wouldn't believe how much One Direction fan fiction there is. And there is good fanfiction out there. I'm guilty of having read some of it myself.
From the perspective of someone who doesn't read much fan fiction, and what they have read is complete trash: I guess there's some potential for it to be okay? There's a lot of bad stuff out there that is fan fiction but in reality trash writing is something that transcends whatever medium it's featured in. I've yet to read a fanfic I've (unironically) enjoyed but I've seen other fan projects which at least seemed to have relatively good writing that aren't just fan fiction, so I can see it as something that is possible. I have yet to see anything that's actually quality yet, though.
Totally agree. There are some real good ones out there, sometimes in the weirdest places. And sometimes the fanfic's world is so much better than the canon makes it so I want more of the new stuff.
I love fanfiction, because I love the already established worlds that can be expanded upon. Worlds like Fallout, Elder Scrolls or Mass effect already have so much detail you can use them to create really good stories that can focus on other things. And on the other side you have "MY OC IS TEH MOST SUPER AND BESTEST PERSON EVER"
They say 90% of fanfiction is shit, but really it's more like 99%. It depends on the fandom, really. Some writers seem to have forgotten what they had read when they read the original material (or never read it to begin with). Harry Potter is notorious for this, with endless piles of shit like "evil Dumbldore stealing all of Harry's money", "golddigging Molly Weasley" and "super speshul noble houses Harry Potter", and people in general just shitting on the themes in the source material. Some fandoms also have huge problems with wank. Despite my best effort (and I've spent a lot of time looking), I have never read a good Halo crossover fic. Every story I've read inevitable features the author jerking off about how great the UNSC, MAC guns and the Master Chief are, and how much better they are than every other scifi series race/faction. There's also endless garbage featuring continuously recycled and unoriginal themes. This is more common in the big fandoms. That said, when you find a good fanfic it can be very enjoyable. If you're looking for a good place to start, select one of the fanfic writing forums like Sufficient Velocity or Spacebattles (I know it didn't start off like that, but it basically is now). The forums aren't perfect, but they do a better job keeping their authors away from crap than sites like ff.net or AO3. If you're looking for HP stuff head over to Dark Lord Potter (I know, cringy name, but we aren't changing it). DLP has compiled what is probably the better HP fanfic reading lists (assuming you stay away from the stuff added during the early days of the list) and a few of the fandom's better works started there.
Crossover fan fiction is especially terrible, everyone just tries to mash everything with everything else without considering if it works.
I think the reason FanFic has a reputation of being terrible, is because it’s often written by teens or beginner writers. Writing is hard work, though i think FanFic is actually a good place to start. Just don’t expect that what you’ll be writing will be brilliant, unless you’re very good already. If you decide to show it to people. Find the people who will give you honest critique, and try not to take it personally. You got this!
Typing in my name in Ao3 gives you what I've done so far. https://archiveofourown.org/users/Mattchewy I'm kinda just using it to make my writing better and have fun with it.
Fan fiction is sustainable, just look at Rogue One.
To continue somewhat on topic, I do see most fanfiction as 90% trash, but some of it can have some gold in it.
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