astridv | (no subject)

So,

kradical, a pro writer who also writes tie-ins, wrote a post pointing out differences between fanfic and tie-ins. Personally I found the post perfectly unoffensive, reasonable and interesting, but as it happens when a pro writer as much as mentions the word 'fanfic', people are kneejerking in response all over LJ.

I mean, I disagree with at least a dozen points of his, but I don't see why that should be reason to feel offended. But hey, everyone's entitled to their frothing... it just kinda makes me think something along the lines of, "Get off my side, you make my side look really insecure and defensive." Seriously, I'm wondering if that many people actually read the post they're getting worked up about in its entirety - because I just don't see it.

Well anyway, now the inevitable Lee Goldberg chimed in, in a post titled 'Inferior' that links to the OP's. And I can't help getting an image of Lee, with a stick in his hand, poking a huge anthill just for shits and giggles.

But, wank aside, in the comments to

kradical's post there's actually a lot of interesting discussion to be had regarding the differences between the two genres.
...
However, I have to stay away from all that for now because I'm only two pages away from finishing my book, and I think it can be done today. yay
[eta: only one more scene to color. And it's only 01:34. I can totally do this!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I didn't think that the OP was particularly offensive either, though I can see why some people read it that way. But there have been several interesting responses come out of it.

I didn't think that the OP was particularly offensive either, though I can see why some people read it that way.

I honestly can't; I'm just boggling. Ah well.

But yes, some very interesting discussion, at least in the original post. As for the reaction posts, I clicked on a few links but didn't make it far... there was just too much... I don't wanna say 'rage' but, yeah. Too much negativity.

This discussion has been going on for so many years that there's not really any radically new insight coming out of it, but one thing (somewhere in the comments of kradical's post) really amused me: That where fic writers are insulted at the insinuation that they're not real writers... some tie-in authors are just as miffed at the insinuation that they're not real fans. That's actually a new one, not something I'd given much thought to.

I'm actually in the mood to post some meta myself, on the whole fanfic vs profic, and on badfic, concrit etc. I have all these fragmented meta thoughts and would like to get them out of my head. It just takes so much time.

I printed out Krad's posting and the comments for later reading. I skimmed it, and ITA: looked reasonable and although I disagreed with him on several items, overall nothing to call out the hounds for.

Still: anytime Lee Goldberg (who really is The Imperfect Ass) rails in on anything, watch out! He can make the virgin mary look like she's not.... :-0

I have krad's post on tracking, but was only skimming the new comments for the past days because there was just too much and I was too busy. But I'll print the thing out myself now, and read it when I'm at the gym. (Because last night I (ta-daa!) finished my book. And now I have time to read again.)

There was also a post by

alixtii and one by

legionseagle that both look very interesting.

Goldberg... sigh. Krad spent the past days assuring everybody that no, he didn't mean to say that fanfic is inferior and then Lee links to him saying just that. With such friends, who needs enemies. ;)