[From the Archive] My Take on Fan Fiction
Originally written in 2010.
Quick announcement – I will be reappearing at the SUNDAY, APRIL 1st North Texas Comic Book Show (featuring artist Ben Dunn). Come check it out at the Arlington Hilton on Lamar.
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The topic that seems to be going around the writers circles this week is the subject of fan fiction. Fan Fiction is something that seems to spark great passion in both fans and pros alike. It’s all in the handling of it that makes the rounds.
First of all, fan fiction is, indeed, illegal. It is, indeed, copyright infringement. That said, there are many reasons people indulge in fan fiction (I did). It’s FUN. It’s fun to play in your favorite worlds with your favorite characters. I know, I did it – for years. I don’t deny my fan fiction, it did help me learn plot, pacing , and hone some dialog skills.
But along about 2000, I had my rear kicked to start putting those skills to use where I can make money. So I went to originals and never looked back – though if I were every offered media tie-in (licensed, legal fan fiction, I would do it in a heartbeat). However, I understand where some of the pros are coming from – and for the record, my fan fiction was television and movie based, not book based – when they get squicky about fan fiction.
Look, we know fan fiction is out there. We know that (legal or not) it’s going to happen if we get enough fans and coverage. But no matter how much the fans love the work and want to play – it’s still OUR universe, OUR characters, and OUR financial well-being. It’s flattering to have fan fiction. It might even be free advertising. But it’s still something we have to deal with as professionals on a professional basis.
In Hollywood, things move so very quickly with television and movie scripts that they don’t read anything un-agented. This isn’t to be pissy and elitist – it’s to protect themselves from some random fan/writer saying, “Hey! You stole my story!!!†It’s the whole “I didn’t read you because I didn’t want to be influenced†backhanded compliment. Guess what, it happens. Nothing’s original, a good idea to you will be a good idea to someone else. So, if you do fan fiction of something and the creator asks you (hopefully politely and professionally) to please stop. STOP. It’s not your world to play with, it’s theirs.
My personal stance on fan fiction as a professional is “Don’t Ask. Don’t Tell.†I’m not going to go looking/asking about fan fiction based on anything I write – so please don’t tell me about it. If I know about it, then I have to do something about it (ie., telling you to stop). And if you decide to do slash fiction about something I wrote – I REALLY don’t want to know. But if you start pirating my work, trying to sell your fan fiction based on something I wrote, you will be found out, and then it’s no longer fun. For anyone. Just think before you speak – pros and fans alike – it’s easy to let things get out of hand. No one wants that.