fanfic diatribe

[veronica_rich]

By now most of you have likely heard about writer Diana Gabaldon's screed against fanfic writers as thieves and rapists cutting into her sales by writing fanfic about her characters. (Which I found pretty funny, since the only book of hers I ever bought I bought because of a crossover-with-POTC fanfic I read about one of her characters. I'd never heard of her or her characters prior to that. Well, she won't have to worry about me spending my thieving cash on any of the other books in the series, I assure her - not that I would have anyway, I wasn't terribly impressed with what I read).

pir8fancier, who is also a published author, says it all right here. My favorite part is at the end, which I will quote thusly: An artist needs to understand that fanfiction is an expression of admiration, of solidarity with other people who share their love of your concept. This is not a backdoor attempt to steal your readers. THESE ARE YOUR READERS.

That this is not OBVIOUS to an author (TV writer, filmmaker, any creator) in this day and age boggles me. IT'S FREE PUBLICITY, YOU NARROW-SIGHTED GITS. YOU GET SALES OFF OF THIS THAT YOU WOULDN'T OTHERWISE. Fanfic writers have been around for centuries; some have even been paid for their efforts (Laurie R. King, Carole Nelson Douglas, J.J. Abrams, William Shakespeare).

Comments

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

I can imagine expressing an opinion on the quality of fanfic on your own work ("I don't think a lot of it is very good/in character" "I don't care for the slash fic"), but to compare the act of writing to stealing your own husband or violating your loved ones? O.O