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

[ninepointfivemm.livejournal.com]

I really don't get authors who are anti-fanfiction. They're squealching the creativity of some people who may, someday, be accomplished authors who just used the fanfiction as practice. Of course, I'm a big fan of JKR, Terry Pratchett, and Neil Gaiman, who are pretty laissez-faire about the whole fanfiction thing, but just the issue that someone is getting so upset about these characters being put into other positions is kinda stupid.

I mean, I'm of two minds, but not enough to justify being upset about fanfiction. The fans are not making money off it (or they shouldn't be), and they're sharing their love of a book/movie with others. I don't see how it's much different from the people who take something like Emma and turn it into Clueless. That could be construed as fanfiction, in a sense.

I just don't get people sometimes.

[permetaform]

::blink:: Clueless was Emma?? o.o

[ninepointfivemm.livejournal.com]

Yes. Clueless was based on Emma.

[permetaform]

Whoaa. That...makes more sense now.