astridv | (no subject)

Argh. It's getting light out already. I just heard a bird sing its first tune. And I'm still not tired. But on the positive side, I got a whole page of artwork coloured tonight, whohoo. You can't stop when you're on a roll like this. So I think it's worth feeling like a zombie tomorrow (today).

Before I go to bed, here's a quick mini-wank from fan-favourite Lee Goldberg. leegoldberg.typepad.com/a_writers_life/2006/05/i_can_steal_fro.html#comments

As usual Lee just links to a fanfic writer doing something stupid and leaves the actual wanking to his minions. Nothing spectacular, just the usual sweeping generalizations. I like this comment:
These 'disclaimers' always give me a laugh. It's honestly hard to really believe that some people are so pathetic. And how come they are all such awful 'writers'? I'm still pressuring my one writer friend who does write fan fiction to stop doing so. She's got a 3 book contract, but it's hard to wean her off contributing to the crapfest that is fan fiction.

I mean, is that friendship or what?

Good night, y'all.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Oh dear.

I keep wondering: it's not like I've made any secret of my fanfic-writing or vidding, so what would happen to my non-fanfic writing if I got busted? For the moment I am content to fly under the radar. I don't think anyone's going to come after an obscure sf/f short fiction writer. :-]

He has an awful lot of time on his hands, doesn't he?

Well, I know of (counts) four or five published authors who also write fanfic, (one of whom is Mercedes Lackey, who copped to it in public) and lots more pro writers and editors who read it. And that's just in my pathetically small circle of acquaintence, so...

*Exactly.

I count five pro writers I know in RL who write fanfic. They do it because it gives them pleasure and because they get feedback, which rarely happens with a paycheck, and because with fanfic they can write to what they love, which rarely happens in a paying job.

Me, I'm just an artist, but all my fanfic is archived under my own name, because I love fanfic and don't give a flip who knows it.

ETA because I R spek bad

Mr Goldberg's pallor reflects his own fears: creatively, money-wise and as re: the LA dating pool. Aw.

(Reply to this)(Parent)

I never considered using a nom de plume. I have no problem with anyone knowing that I read - and on occasion write/draw - fanfic. The only reason I don't use my full name is that I don't want this journal to show up on a casual google search.

Lee Goldberg and the anti-fic cabal seem to be more like a fringe group to me. Joss, for once, loves fic and has stated so publicly on several occasions (probably to Fox's dismay, but hey). A lot of people are quite open to the idea of fanfic even if they don't read it and may not think much of its quality.

And no matter how often Lee&Co repeat that fanfic is illegal, fact is that its legal status is still undecided and repeating an opinion loud and often doesn't make it a fact. Until the matter actually goes to court, no one can tell for sure whether it's copyright infringement or fair use. And it would appear no one has an interest in taking it in front of a court (though part of me itches to hear the outcome of that.) As long as fic stays non-profit, I see no reason to worry.

Last time I counted I came up with about a dozen, and I didn't even have to venture that far from Buffyfandom. Recently I bought a DS9 novel just because I know the writer's fanfic, know that she writes my favourite character, and writes him well. I also heard through the grapevine that Cassie Claire got offered a YA book deal based on her HP fic, but I can't confirm how much of that is true.

Me, I'm just an artist, but all my fanfic is archived under my own name, because I love fanfic and don't give a flip who knows it.

Word.

Mr Goldberg's pallor reflects his own fears: creatively, money-wise and as re: the LA dating pool. Aw.

And, word again. Well, I don't actually know about the LA dating pool. ;) Is that a showbiz expression? Anyway, couldn't agree more. The whole thing as always looked a lot like a territorial issue to me.

because they get feedback, which rarely happens with a paycheck,

and good to know I'm not the only one who gets barely any feedback for the paid work...

Ditto. I've always published under my own name (or at least, I've never made a secret of my real name.)

I don't really worry about the legality of it, honestly. If that makes me evil, so be it.

I love how he paints all fanfic writers with a single broad brush.

I am proud to read it, proud to write it and a lot of fanfic easily surpesses much of the published stuff.

Hell, yeah!

I love how he paints all fanfic writers with a single broad brush.

I think his first encounter with fic was a Diagnosis Murder mpreg or something like that. He probably still hasn't recovered from the shock.;)

I love it even more how his blog readers comment so eagerly on an issue they apparently know little about. If their knowledge of the fanfic community comes from reading Goldberg's blog, they're not exactly seeing the whole picture. But it's nice and comfy on that high horse, I suppose. Whatever they need to feel better about themselves. *shrug*

and a lot of fanfic easily surpesses much of the published stuff.

I was reading chapters 3-6 of The Woman In The Riverbed the other day and it was so much more engaging than Buried Deep... And I won't even get started on the Buffy novelizations.

I second that statement. It just comes off as sour grapes. I wonder what he thinks of Caleb Carr's novel that's a fanfif of Conan Doyle's Sherlock Holmes novels? Are they okay fanfic because they're "novels"? What an asshat.

His more recent posts are really nothing compared to the vitriol he and his commenters spewed last year. My 'favourite' is still the one post which insinuates a correlation between Trek fandom and pedophilia (based on a newspaper article that was later discounted as a canard). One of his commenters, a David M. Montgomery, then proceeded to link fanfic to pedophilia and - being the creative journalist that he is - quickly invented a Harvard study that proved that correlation. Later, when called on it, he laughed it off by saying it was just a ~~lie~~ joke. I'd call it defamation, but hey, all's fair when you don't have to respect the opposing side by default.

So, compared to that, things are quite civil over there now. But I haven't forgotten about anyone over there who called us pedophiles, rapists (not making this up), thieves, and other things.

Here is the link (http://leegoldberg.typepad.com/a_writers_life/2005/04/what_is_the_lin.html) to the pedophilia debate. But I'd avoid going there if you don't want your blood pressure going up...