Why in the world is fanfiction "great practice, but ... not an end to
itself"?  Why declare Ms. Perry (just to use your example) "too
talented" for this type of writing if this is something she enjoys?

Very simple.

Fanfiction, no matter how good it is is a limited, exclusive, and extremely
underground market.

It cannot be sold, it can not be put on a shelf, and it can never, ever,
ever be considered an original creation.

Why do I call it practice?  Because these writers should be the Danielle
Steels, the Clive Cusslers, the Robert Ludlums and other big name writers
that everyone talks about.  These people should be on our shelves being read
by the populace at large, far more so than J.K. (boohoo I only made seven
million so I'm going to hold my next book hostage until I make more) effing
Rowling.  Every time I go to the bookstore, I find dreck and wonder where
all the GOOD writers have gone... and then, where do I find them?

Hiding in obscurity in fanfiction.

They are too good to hide here in the dark forever, no matter how much they
enjoy fanfiction.  DB Sommer deserves more reward for the story telling
skill he has than just an attaboy, he should be making the kind of money per
book that Steven King or Peirs Anthony pulls in.  Krista Perry should be
winning pulitzers, and having movies based on her works.

Take offense if you want, but writers like this deserve more than just a
"best fanfic award"  and so long as they write just fanfic, they will never
get it.

And we, as fans, owe them more than that.

So yes, much as I like DB's work, every time I see yet another fanfiction, I
sigh, and ask him when he's going to do an original.  Just ask him, he may
still have a couple of my emails.

And for all my work on Tears of a Dragon, I have a full novel done that is
looking for publication, and I will ALWAYS consider Tears to be my
experimental practice work, which is why I ask for C&C.  Feel free to rip it
to shreds, because every lesson I learn from it will go towards the novels I
write, and will hopefully publish.

Fanfiction is a wading pool, and some people really need to take the plunge
into deeper waters.

LSMcGill

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