My two cents - I am a professional writer. True, it's journalism, but
I make my living by writing. So... when someone tells me to stop
"messing around" I start laughing.

I am INTENTIONALLY messing around. That's what it's ABOUT.

I write fanfic because I can kill braincells that way. I can aim at a
niche market that I wouldn't be able to publish for, and frankly,
it's a heck of a lot easier than messing with editors (I love mine,
really I do, but there's times I could strangle him cheerfully), and
have a heck of a lot more freedom. And I get lazy when I write
fanfic... hail, hail the typo queen. But I don't have to get yelled
at by the editor... 

Um, mainly it's professional issues. Fanfic lets me be unprofessional
and as ELL seemed to be saying, a bit childish.

I've found it interesting that fanfic is viewed so negatively. True,
there are copyright issues, but really, there's a certain... amount
of fun and lack of STRESS associated with it. At least for me.

Fanfic is FUN.

Not to mean I won't do that novel someday... but I'll still play with
fanfic, because it's an artform of its own. And it definitely helped
get me to where I am. ^_~ And it still helps, because every now and
then someone brains me for something... which I need. I get so lazy.
I learn things I don't learn from my editor, which is why C&C is
appreciated.

As for why I don't FB, it's already been stated... the "offlist"
thing. Time, and the fact I don't follow the major FFML fandoms. But
considering I only read maybe four things that come through a
month... and reply to maybe one... it's not hard to keep up with my
FB responsibilities. If everyone replied to one thing... that old
game.

~ Aishuu

--- milo@winternet.com wrote:

LSMcGill wrote:

... In DB's case, I haven't read
or commented on his latest works mainly because he's a good

enough writer he

doesn't need my rather inexpert help, and because I'm still of

the opinion

he needs to stop wasting his time writing ONLY fanfiction.  Same

with Krista

Perry and a small handful of others.  Fanfiction is great

practice, but it's

not an end to itself.  ...

... (comments to Krista Perry)
Dear, stop writing fanfics. you're way too talented for this.

Write an

original with this kind of flair and you will be a best seller.

This

combination of adventure and romance would make a novel worthy of

Foster,

Anthony, or Cussler. You deserve that kind of name recognition...

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?

Persons A and B each write stories about their favorite American
comic
book characters.  Person A posts the stories on a web site, for
other
fans to read.  Person B is writing for the comic book company that
publishes the character.

Persons C and D each write scripts for television series they
enjoy. 
Person C submits the work to a print 'zine, where it's mailed out
to
many other fans of the series.  Person D has been contracted by the
producer of the series to contribute a script.

In each of these cases, there are obvious differences in the legal
and
financial issues surrounding the creative works.  Yes, the
fanfiction
writer enjoys much more freedom.  On the flip side, the
professional
working in this manner gets to see their work distributed in a more
respected medium and they get paid actual money! ^^ 

But in each case I don't see much difference in the act of writing
itself, in the process of creating a story.  There is also not
necessarily great difference in experience or skill.  One assumes
that
the professional has gotten the commissions due to sufficient skill
and
being able to meet the customer's requirements.  But as we've all
seen,
there are a number of writers we know through fanfiction who were
already excellent or have become so, and continue to work hard to
further improve.  That's a necessary characteristic of a real
professional, whether or not your efforts ever garner money.

Of course, none of this says that fanfiction writers *shouldn't*
pursue
their own original creations.  Not at all!  There are a number of
names
I've learned through fanfiction, that as soon as I see them at the
bookstore, I'll be dropping more money.

Back to the original topic -- I'll beg off on the reasons already
given.  Couldn't state it better myself.

Laurie
milo@winternet.com
http://www.winternet.com/~milo


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Then I would change everything
These bitter days shall remain

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