what is the meaning of...fanfic?

[permetaform]

Q: Why does any piece of fanfic *ever* get written?
A: To scratch an itch, to satisfy a need.

So why is anyone surprised that some of the most popular fanfics are bodice-rippers?

::raises hand:: Hi! My name is permetaform. I like Underwater Light and Seeker To Seeker and various other fanfics of supposedly bad characteriazation. I like those anime-style pictures of HP characters, 'cause they're drawn in the artists' own hand.

Would it be better if I were a canon!nazi instead? Would it be better if I wrote slavishly like Rowling AND USED CAPS EXCESSIVELY; AND WITH SEMICOLONS; WITHOUT COMPLETE PHRASES.

Should I write like Rowling? Should Maya write like Rowling? Should anybody write like anyone else?

It would be quite boring if that were the case.

What is the meaning of...fanfic?

heh.

::gives BIG huge hug to every single writer on my flist::

'cause dude, even if you DID add something to that anonymous hate thread, you'd probably still need to have a hug. Probably more than others.

Comments

[mistressrenet.livejournal.com]

Anonymous hate thread? Whaa?

[permetaform]

yup.

[crantz.livejournal.com]

over at fanfic_hate

[lurkerlynne.livejournal.com]

*wanders over to site* Good lord, three days active and 700 comments. But what I wanna know is, why do they hate these fics? Hardly anyone explains what they dislike so passionately.

I now have the urge to start something over there. But hating a hate thread is... redundant. And I can imagine that there are quite a few people who can tell me, in detail, what a colossal waste of my time it would be.

*hugs to everybody*

lurkerlynne, a.k.a dyed-in-the-wool book-nerd.

[tacks.livejournal.com]

Bloody hell, girl. You are so...just *shakes head* great. I don't know anyone who feels so BIG as you; I mean, such a big heart, so ready to listen, to read, to experience, to understand, to absorb and try things. Amazing amazing amazing. I adore you. I feel like a better, more thoughtful person just by having you on my flist.

[madam-h.livejournal.com]

Yup.

You're so nice... in the best possible sense of the word.

[permetaform]

::blushes hard:: um. dude.

::glomps::

[treetracer]

I must've missed that hate thread; I avoid those anyway. Your 'answer' is pretty much why I write fanfic, and everyone's motivation is different.

Write to tell the story and to satify yourself. If that means bodice rippers, mpreg, RPS, or styling after a particular writer, so be it. I might not read it, but you're not writing for me, are you? :-)

{{BIG HUGS}} back to you, hon!

[permetaform]

I might not read it, but you're not writing for me, are you?

::nods:: exactly. The world would be a better place if each of those anonymous people opened up a rec journal for fic they *do* like and pimp them like mad and hope either that author writes more or enlightens a previous bad!fic author..

[potterwitch.livejournal.com]

Oh, is this in response to that OMFG I HAT U SO MUCH LIEK BUT IM TOO SCAR3D TO OWNZOR UP!! thing? Eh. I can't be bothered, either to post or to check if I'm on it. Because I never am, and that makes me sad. Why don't I have a hate club? *hugs back* Thankee, dear, and you're completely right; why waste energy hating something when you could love something else?

[permetaform]

and you're completely right; why waste energy hating something when you could love something else?

yup. had to learn that too tho, meself. It gets a bit interesting tho, reading the comments, because you could *hear* the "I can write *so* much better than they can, why am I not getting as much feedback, ::burningJEALOUSY::"

::shakes head:: overcompensation. You'd think that since we don't have penii we can get over that, but no.

[guede-mazaka.livejournal.com]

since we don't have penii we can get

*dies*

*glomps*

*merrily goes on her way, writing whatever*

[aelora.livejournal.com]

I had to point this exact thing out to one of my so-called 'fans' yesterday who sent a nasty email through FF.net, cussing me out because I hadn't updated this LOTR fic in a while. She said I was rude to my readers. I had to reply that I don't write for my readers, I write for myself. And when I get the inspiration to continue writing that fic, I will.

Things like that just piss me off. It's the kind of stuff that just makes you consider to stop writing fanfic.

[permetaform]

::boggles:: how incredibly rude. The only thing I think that might top that is the tone of certain reviewers for this one Dragonball fic who beg and plead and threaten and etc. for it to be complete and never quite bother to read the large and many times written messages below that pointed out that, hey, the author's died. ::headdesk:: not fandom's finest, them.

[nekofreak.livejournal.com]

teh wank- it slays me >.<

*hugs back* thanks! writers need more hugs ^_~
and a big Thank You for being such a wise, articulate, and eloquent speaker for people of all walks. the world needs more people that can see things from more than one point of veiw ^_^ *huggles*

[permetaform]

=)

[jellyfishkiss.livejournal.com]

You're right. Jesus shit, all of these hate lists are really starting to peeve me off. They're not fun, they're not witty, and if you have something to say to somebody, then say it and have the balls to sign your name after it. There's no righteousness in refusing to stand up for something you believe. Own your words, you anonymous pricks.

(Yeah, I'm not overly fond of Cassandra Claire's stuff, but I'm also not going to sit around whining about it either. Good on her, for giving people something to like.)

And the above are right about you. You are just. so. hugworthy.

[permetaform]

Heh, yeah, I never did manage to get into the Draco Trilogy but other's do and they leave me alone when I went on my merry way with posting Camera/Johnny ::grins:: it all works out.

[harriet-spy.livejournal.com]

Would it be better if I were a canon!nazi instead?

It would be better if, should one not be interested in using canon characterization (and I define 'using' pretty broadly), one not use the canon characters.

The hate threads are beneath contempt, but the people posting there aren't "canon nazis." They're just twits.

[permetaform]

meph. at this point I just read H/D because I can expect a certain dynamic from it; the reason I got drawn into the H/D (without having read a single book) was because of the hate dynamic and the contrasts. I *adore* pairings with these massive contrasts and H/D was just the good crack because I was guarenteed to have what amounted to original fic with content I can trust to push some of my fic!kink buttons.

[teardrop69.livejournal.com]

You, my dear, always are the voice of reason and light. I just love to read your posts.

Point the first: I read fanfic because I love the canon. That being said, I agree with you... if everyone wrote the same way, why would anyone bother reading any of it?

Don't let anyone tell you what to write or how to write it. It's for YOU first and foremost.

Point the second: I remember the first hate list. I thought it was a stupid idea then, I still think it is now. But honestly, my plate is so full. I can't imagine taking the time to post something hateful about someone, anonymously, at that. I have things I *enjoy* doing. I wouldn't waste the time complaining about someone I didn't enjoy.

Am giddy to see that you've got yourself up and running at T_M. Congrats!

[permetaform]

Point the first: I read fanfic because I love the canon.

yup, there's that urge for just *more*, for it not to *end* 'cause you don't want to leave whatever world that fandom's in.

And sadly, some people enjoy complaining, but griping is an artform and those people kinda miss that...

As for T_M, I'm just estatic that I finally found a character that I can actually write prompts for, like I can figure out unique ficlets to most of the past prompts! ::is excited:: The presenation is going to be tricky in some of them, but ooooo, it'll be fun.

[crantz.livejournal.com]

I'm still unsure of how ic is decided. I thought transfigurations was, but apparently a lot of others don't.

But thankfully my brain is my own so I can still read and enjoy. Such joy.

[permetaform]

::grins:: yup yup

[penm.livejournal.com]

*hugs*

You just put everything in perspective, like. I've been thinking about writing and such too, and why anyone does it, and you just explained it and, eh, I dunno, I guess I just want to say thanks.

:)

[permetaform]

and why anyone does it,

::grins:: fandom, collectively, just *cannot* leave well enough alone, which is why there's *always* be kerfuffles...

[randomfrog.livejournal.com]

That hate thread? Wanktastic to the MAX012Z.

I mean, seriously, it's one thing to constructively criticize a piece of popular fanfic that you don't think is too great-- after all, authors only improve if they know what they're doing wrong.

But when you factor in the anonymity, the rampant abuse of capslock, and the staggering vitriol of the posters? Christ on a popsicle stick, people, get a grip.

My favorite part of that thread is when people's criticisms are criticized and they try to defend themselves by re-interpreting their own remark "OMG I HATE THIS FIC IT'S SO BAD EVEER1 WHO READS IT MUST DIE" later as "It's good writing, but the characterization is off and I don't care much for it." Hypocrite much?

[stungunbilly.livejournal.com]

It's incredible how beautiful you are when you say the things I agree with. *g*
{Would it be better if I were a canon!nazi instead? Would it be better if I wrote slavishly like Rowling AND USED CAPS EXCESSIVELY; AND WITH SEMICOLONS; WITHOUT COMPLETE PHRASES.}
Hee. Personally, I think Kurt Vonnegut should stop mocking fast food and make up his OWN ORIGINAL cuisine to mock. And ditto Michael Moore, except with fast politicians instead of food.

[permetaform]

And ditto Michael Moore, except with fast politicians instead of food.

::grins helplessly::

[sillypants.livejournal.com]

*hugs back*

I do love CAPSLOCK!Harry, though :)

[permetaform]

heh, isn't he EXPRESSIVE?