random post re:fanfiction and pro-writers

[permetaform]

So, I wonder.

Sometimes I don't get pro-writers, and their virulent hatred towards fic. I think, perhaps is that they feel all defensive and threatened.

I wonder, because for me, fanfic is like singing; I don't sing all that well, and I don't sing professionally. But I sing because it gives me joy, I sing because I can't *help* singing. And granted, most of my singing is in the bathroom or in the car, but I'm not going around going "OMG COPYRIGHTS" to people who sing for fun, 'cause while I sometimes sing tuneless songs most of the time I sing songs made by professional songwriters/artists. And sometimes I do riff and trills and grace-notes to decorate the song because it's fun to. Because I can't help it, because it bring me joy. I make no profit from singing, and I would say that most people who sing don't do it for profit.

Will the anti-fic people wish to rail against karaoke bars now, too? For violating the copywrite laws of singers/songwriters?

This post brought to you by metafandom and silly people.

[edit] "pro-writer" in the context of this post is referring to those who are using it as their label instead of "anti-fic", in particular the group that thinks that writing isn't valid unless you're getting paid for it (or eventually getting paid for it), and that anyone doing it for free is at best absurd and at worst a thief.

Comments

[scarletseraph.livejournal.com]

I know that with my own writing, I'm far less concerned about copyright than I am misuse - which is why I try not to write fic if I don't feel I can get the characterizations down, and why I feel guilty on the occasions that I give in to things that aren't strictly 'right'. There are some of my characters that I'd take fic of as a compliment, or simply be amused by, regardless of the nature of the work - and then there are others that it would devastate me to see put in situations that aren't appropriate for them. Mostly the ones that I RP, since I view them differently than I do those that are only in prose-type pieces - though it's hard for me to explain the difference.

[permetaform]

::nods:: I can understand this 'cause I get pissed about bad characterization often. But sometimes there's stories that people need to tell, and it doesn't particularly matter the original casing that the story-props come in. I understand about the idea of it being proprietary, a sense of "this is my space"; but...I guess it's sorta like the presentation of oneself. You can present yourself in a certain way and hope that it gets read that way, but some people will always see you in a different way and there's nothing really that you can do to prevent that.