|
Post by themirrorthief on Jul 25, 2018 17:23:25 GMT -5
Although I write fan fiction it has bugged me for a long time as to why I do it, should I continue, is it a waste of time, etc etc etc.
Im pretty sure I will continue, at least in the immediate future. Obviously tons of others are doing it all over the web. I think it is just a good hobby for the most part. And usually a fun way to pass the time.
On the other hand I sometimes think I am stupid and a pathetic fanboy and its not really writing in a meaningful way although its certainly true many fan writers have gone on to publish stuff and make a success of their tales.
I guess I am really curious about why others write fan fics and even why people often read them which to be honest puzzles me a bit too. If you would like to say something about these subjects I would be very interested in reading them, maybe you can help me get my head around my obsession with writing and thinking about writing so much...I cant speak for anyone else but I have never been serious about getting published, I just do because? Maybe that is my problem, I am not goal oriented enough or whatever....I am def not an ambitious soul Ok, looking forward to your opinions, have a great day...
|
|
|
Post by zarono on Jul 25, 2018 21:09:54 GMT -5
As a reader, here are my fanfic Pros and cons: Pros: It's generally fun to read. It's free. It gives writers of all levels a chance to work with the characters and worlds they admire.
It can be pretty imaginative and occasionally make you think of new things about a character or setting. Cons: None far as I can see.
|
|
|
Post by Char-Vell on Jul 25, 2018 21:12:11 GMT -5
Does it bring you joy and delight? That is a reason to continue. If it goes any further than that it's a bonus!
|
|
|
Post by themirrorthief on Jul 25, 2018 21:33:50 GMT -5
hey guys those were really cool comments...thanks!!!! sometimes I just worry that people think you arent legit or that you really dont try that hard if you arent getting paid but I agree its just fun for the most part
|
|
|
Post by scottoden on Jul 25, 2018 23:31:07 GMT -5
Nothing at all wrong with writing fan fiction. My only caveat is, if you hope to emulate those others and sell your own work, then you'll need to devote some time to writing original works. By all means, explore *how* to write by working on fan fics. Then, take what you've learned and apply it to your own work.
I learned writing by re-writing Howard stories, typing them out from the old Ace paperbacks. Then I'd highlight the dialogue in one color, the exposition in another, the action in a third. I'd take phrases from REH, re-work them a bit, and drop them into my own juvenile stories. I wrote a barbarian character called "Konon", the "Hyperborean" -- stealing bits and bobs from ancient history, REH, and a bit of Lovecraft. Those early stories, barely more fleshed out than outlines, went into a wood stove a few years back.
Thing is, without emulating REH I'd not be half the writer I think I am today. So forge ahead, my friend! Write fan fics, and if you've a yen to publish your own tales begin applying what you learn to original works!
|
|
|
Post by themirrorthief on Jul 26, 2018 0:21:42 GMT -5
thanks a lot...I have definitely emulated Robert Howard a lot...why learn from any but the best??!!!!
whoa Scott, we live close to each other...who knew?
|
|
|
Post by Char-Vell on Jul 26, 2018 4:43:29 GMT -5
Nothing at all wrong with writing fan fiction. My only caveat is, if you hope to emulate those others and sell your own work, then you'll need to devote some time to writing original works. By all means, explore *how* to write by working on fan fics. Then, take what you've learned and apply it to your own work. I learned writing by re-writing Howard stories, typing them out from the old Ace paperbacks. Then I'd highlight the dialogue in one color, the exposition in another, the action in a third. I'd take phrases from REH, re-work them a bit, and drop them into my own juvenile stories. I wrote a barbarian character called "Konon", the "Hyperborean" -- stealing bits and bobs from ancient history, REH, and a bit of Lovecraft. Those early stories, barely more fleshed out than outlines, went into a wood stove a few years back. Thing is, without emulating REH I'd not be half the writer I think I am today. So forge ahead, my friend! Write fan fics, and if you've a yen to publish your own tales begin applying what you learn to original works! Konan is going to get you for throwing him into the wood stove, by Krom! There is much wisdom in your post sir. I feel my writing has improved since playing in the Hyborian sandbox. I'm trying to branch out into more "original" material, we'll see how hard I pursue getting published, I enjoy writing and i fear it would turn into work. I put a lot of time and effort into a music career to the point that now playing music is dead to me. Still love music, but I'd rather eat bugs than perform.
|
|
|
Post by finarvyn on Jul 26, 2018 6:14:07 GMT -5
Fundamentally, it's a matter of the fact that when you love a literary work you don't want it to end. And since authors are notoriously slow in putting out sequels, it's a natural inclination to write stories of your own about characters you love. The author has done the hard part by creating the world and the characters, but we all want to continue the adventures.
I remember when my sister first discovered Star Wars in the 1970's and she used to write all sorts of Han Solo stories. She never let me read them, so I can't say if they were any good or not, but she enjoyed being creative in the Star Wars universe.
|
|
|
Post by ChrisLAdams on Jul 26, 2018 7:47:33 GMT -5
Fundamentally, it's a matter of the fact that when you love a literary work you don't want it to end . . . For me it's all those 'red slippers', as Dennis L. McKiernan calls them - the little things left unsaid, or places unvisited. In one of Burroughs' Pellucidar novels, he referred in a sentence to this long journey the characters took, and that volumes could be written about their adventures. That's a red slipper. You can read McKiernan's own description here. The Conan I wrote was done so because the idea intrigued me to read an adventure where Conan faces off against the serpent men. Had REH written that next Conan, he might have done so himself. Who knows. A few years ago, I wrote three novels set in Burroughs' Mars that explore things ERB never got around to. I can't see the point of revisiting the same things the original author has already said and done, and much more eloquently than I could ever hope to. So for me, it's the draw of exploring those little hints they left open of adventures untold that make it a fun pastime.
|
|
|
Post by themirrorthief on Jul 26, 2018 11:16:26 GMT -5
thanks everyone, I have really enjoyed all the comments. When I have written Howard pastiche I always take pains to put in as much Howard as possible. I use places, words, descriptions etc that Howard came up with. By putting all that in there I feel he is actually co writing with me and I hope he would approve of the results
|
|
|
Post by scottoden on Jul 26, 2018 22:17:15 GMT -5
thanks a lot...I have definitely emulated Robert Howard a lot...why learn from any but the best??!!!!
whoa Scott, we live close to each other...who knew?
The South is rife with talent, mate I wrote and sold a novel to a Big 5 publisher that's pretty much a fan fic version of "Gates of Empire" with the serial numbers filed off ( The Lion of Cairo, Thomas Dunne Books, 2010).
|
|
|
Post by themirrorthief on Jul 26, 2018 23:52:49 GMT -5
I was born in Athens...Alabama, not Greece...ha
Gates of Empire is one of my fav Crusader tales by Howard...its more lively than most of the others IMO
|
|
|
Post by finarvyn on Jul 28, 2018 13:00:44 GMT -5
Fundamentally, it's a matter of the fact that when you love a literary work you don't want it to end . . . The Conan I wrote was done so because the idea intrigued me to read an adventure where Conan faces off against the serpent men. Had REH written that next Conan, he might have done so himself. Who knows. A few years ago, I wrote three novels set in Burroughs' Mars that explore things ERB never got around to. Honestly, stuff like this is why I'm so into role playing games. Rather than write things up as novels, I find it fun to put others in situations and let them express themselves. They could fight serpent men like Conan or explore the badlands of Barsoom … whatever they wanted. It's sort of like writing collaborative fanfic, I guess.
|
|
|
Post by Von K on Jul 31, 2018 10:06:12 GMT -5
Why write fan fiction?
Nostalgia Love of the original creator’s world’s and characters, and creative voice. Wanting to learn how they did what they did by studying and emulating them. Exploring potentialities left untapped by the original creator.
I think developing writers are also partly attracted to fan fiction because they have a great desire to tell a yarn, but don’t yet have a fully rounded enough skillset to deal with all the elements involved. With fanfiction the original creator does most of the creative heavy lifting (ie the way they handle genre, worldbuilding, characterisation, theme, style and narrative tone) leaving the fanfictioneer with fewer elements and creative decisions to deal with (generally - new plots, settings, and plot specific characters).
Plus most successful creations come after a great deal of experimentation and effort on the part of the original creator resulting in an optimised way of telling a particular kind of story, or an optimal blend of creative elements which combine together well - like an old traditional favorite recipe.
|
|
|
Post by themirrorthief on Aug 2, 2018 22:03:19 GMT -5
interesting points there Von...thanks
|
|