The Diary of a Mad Editor tackles the fanfic issue. He says, in part:
[…]fan fiction isn’t a bad thing just because the writing’s
bad – it’s bad because it also undermines the integrity of the original
work […]Clearly, though, there is a difference between what Goldberg writes and what some acne-faced turd on Quizzilla.com or FanFiction.net writes.[…]See, Goldberg’s
writings are licensed by the original creators of the characters he
writes about whereas fan fictioneers are infringing on the original
authors’ copyright.
One form of writing is done by professionals for commercial purposes
and the other is done by delusional amateurs purely for love/self-love.
Here’s the problem — now the fanfic losers want copyright protection
extended to their “original” creations.
He believes that if the efforts by the Organization of Transformative Works to extend copyright protection to fanfic are successful, it could have a wide-ranging, negative impact on all writers.
If fan fiction receives legal parity with original work, it would
create a wave of frivolous lawsuits in which any author of fan fiction
could claim that the original author stole their ideas. As a writer, I
cringe at this very thought. Giving derivative works that kind of
legitimacy would destroy any value intellectual property protection has
for writers.
I think he sums up the fanfic issue pretty concisely when he says:
A 14 year old kid writing fan fiction is unfortunate but forgivable,
but when you’re 30 and still writing it, it is just pathetic. If you
want to be taken seriously as a writer and have full copyright
protection and all that good shit, write something original and worth
reading.
I have to agree with that last section. As a teenager, I wrote Man From U.N.C.L.E. fan fiction. But that was while it was still on the air and it never made it out of the house. I’m considerably older now and realize that appropriating someone else’s characters IS illegal.
Lee, again you leave out the parts you don’t agree with and quote out of context! He also says:
“writer Lee Goldberg constantly attacks writers of fan fiction on his blog. Ironic when you consider that Goldberg has written a number of “tie-in” novelizations based on the T.V. shows Monk and Diagnosis Murder — which, as far as I’m concerned, is practically the same thing as writing fan fiction.”
Well, he sums up *your* fanfic issue pretty concisely. That assumes that a) all fanfic writers want to be taken seriously as writers instead of, say, just writing it for fun or to be part of a community, and b) absolutely all fanfic, bar none, is unreadable crap. Both statements are untrue.
That said, I think the Transformative Works people are making a huge mistake by trying to force publishers and networks to accept a specific type of copyright infringement as a legal usage. Fan fiction has always held a “dont ask, don’t tell” relationship with the original copyright holders, even the ones who support it, and I just don’t see how forcing the issue will end up well.
You took it out of context, Kete. Here it is:
“I’m not the only one who isn’t fanfic-friendly: writer Lee Goldberg constantly attacks writers of fan fiction on his blog. Ironic when you consider that Goldberg has written a number of “tie-in” novelizations based on the T.V. shows Monk and Diagnosis Murder — which, as far as I’m concerned, is practically the same thing as writing fan fiction. Clearly, though, there is a difference between what Goldberg writes and what some acne-faced turd on Quizzilla.com or FanFiction.net writes. It is in this difference that I find myself torn between defending the authors of fan fiction and blasting them to hell. See, Goldberg’s writings are licensed by the original creators of the characters he writes about whereas fan fictioneers are infringing on the original authors’ copyright.”
The point Lee is making in excerpting The Mad Editor’s words is accurate. I’m not sure what your point is. The Mad Editor is clearly on Lee’s side in this “debate.” (Not really a debate, because everyone knows fanfic is mostly unreadable dreck from masturbating 12-year-olds or socially handicapped adults).
Maybe there’s a simple answer. You want to write fanfic, you pay for the privilege and buy a license from the copyright owner. No other rights conferred.
Well, the Mad Editor’s post was certainly decisive. But it describes exactly why I boggle at fanfic. Why spend time writing novel-length works you can’t hold a copyright on and could actually get into some legal trouble over? Yeesh.
Do you really think that most writers are doing so for any kind of credit or esteem? They do it for their own amusement, to stimulate their own imaginations and work on their general writing skills. And hey, it’s free publicity for the show. Yes, it’s technically illegal, but it doesn’t detract from the show and the show’s writers – why get so worked up about it?
I’m a 42 year old nurse who writes Janet Evanovich fanfiction. I’m not mentally or socially challenged. I enjoy a full life, and spend my free time among a group of very talented peers who also write fanfiction.
Evanovich gives her consent for fanfiction. She at one time had a fanfiction board on her website. I credit my fanfiction writing as the path to discovering a hidden talent, and possibly a profession as a writer. I know my legal limits, and I would never infringe on the copyrights of any published author. I know fanfiction rubs certain narrow minded individuals the wrong way, but my view is the ones that bitch the loudest are the ones that wish they could write something decent enough to elicit fanfiction.
Maybe you shouldn’t place all fanfic writers in a stereotypical mold. And until you read every fanfic in the free world, hold your opinions to yourself. It just proves you have too much time on your hands, when you should be writing what ever it is that makes you so superior to the other writers in the world.
“Yes, it’s technically illegal, but it doesn’t detract from the show and the show’s writers – why get so worked up about it?”
Because now they want their masturbatory fan fiction shit to have the same copyright protection as the movies or books or tv shows that they are stealing from.
“I’m a 42 year old nurse who writes Janet Evanovich fanfiction.”
If that doesn’t send a chill down your spine, I don’t know what will.
I write fan fiction and have for well over 12 years. I’m 36 and am working toward a graduate degree in history. I write it because I enjoy story telling and it’s fun. There is no pressure. It’s a hobby. Like stamp collecting or model air planes. And that’s how it needs to be looked at.
This group pushing for copyright protection for fanfic, needs to stop. Seriously. I would no matter expect to make money off my fic then I would expect to find a million dollars lying in the street.
Someone said they couldn’t see how someone could put that kind of work into something and not get anything monetary in return, I have this to say I don’t do it for the money, I never have. It’s enjoyable to me.
And most, responsible, fic writers know they will make no money, it’s just fun.
I am disturbed that fic writers are all lumped together as ‘acne faced turds’. You know if you have to call the other side in an arguement a name, you’ve already lost the arguement. A mature, intelligent person does not stoop to that. Broad based generalizations serve no one.
Yeah, there’s a lot of dreck out there in fan fiction. But the same could be said of just about everything else. At least fic is free and I haven’t wasted any where of 7 to 25 dollars on said dreck.
I looked in to writing the tv tie-in novelizations just to see what was required and found that it’s a completely closed group. Unless you know someone who knows someone, who knows someone and live in Hollywood or close by, don’t even bother.
That’s fine. Those are the rules of that particular industry. *shrug* But I will find another outlet.
For the record, I have written a handful of short stories that are not fan fiction and one novel length horror/suspense novel. I just haven’t looked into getting any of them published because I don’t want to go through the CRAP I would have to in order to get them published.
It’s not the money for me (as hard as that might be to believe) it’s telling the story.
Hey Skybird…I’ve got a bird for you.
Amy, I’m with you. I write both fanfic and original fiction – nothing I’ve tried to get published yet because I’m not ready. For me, it is just about having fun and making up for the time I don’t have new eps. At the same time, it helps with original fiction in some ways, almost like a writing exercise in a class where they start you with a story and ask you to continue. For example, it can be a strict tool to show you how to keep a character in character.
Yes, there is some bad fanfiction out there. There is also some good fanfiction out there, just like there are both good and poorly written books and good and poorly written episodes of the TV series the fanfiction is based on.
That copyright group is nuts and are taking what is supposed to be an innocent pasttime way too seriously. Sadly every hobby, group, and profession has its fanatics and they’re the ones that give the rest of us a bad name.
I completely agree with this post only because the OTW is seeking to disrupt the writer in everyone, both as professionals and as fans. This is very upsetting to push the issue of trying to out right slap fanfiction in the faces of the original authors.
I also agree with the other commenters here that say that fanfiction is a hobby. Fandom itself is a hobby that encompasses many activities to enjoy interactivity with others with the original creation. This includes not only fanfiction, but also fanart, critical discussion, costume play, textual role-playing (which is another way of practicing writing and exploration), and all around general enjoyment of the original creation of the work.
There’s already an establishment of understood rules/etiquette amongst fandom to ensure enjoyment without infringing on the rights of the original creator. The OTW is stepping over the line of that etiquette and appears to be driven by greed for extra-special recognition and rights that they should never receive. The OTW should just give up and shut down.
A socially backward would-be writer submits his fanfic to a writer’s blog. The moderator of the blog, who detests the idea of fanfics but is under the pressure of deadline, realizes the fanfic’s brilliance. After corresponding with the would-be writer and determining that he has shown it to no one else, he submits it as his own work. Of course, he must wipe out the trail of evidence…
I’m just waiting for the Fanfics-about-Fanfics genre to take off… 🙂
Skybird,
Contrary to your obviously male viewpoint, some of us are NOT acne-faced turds, as portrayed by the Mad Editor. I happen to be a 53 year old white female, mother of a 18 year old daughter and wife to a wonderful 53 year old man. I’m also a Certified Legal Assistant Specialist in Criminal Law and Criminal Procedures. I write fan faction (GASP!!!!)about an old 60s TV show that I grew up with. Why? I write it because I need to destress and because I fully enjoy it. Oh, and BTW, my writing partner and I have the full blessings of the copyright holder’s representative. Why? Because it happens to keep the memory alive, as well as possiblity of a new series. Oh, and btw, we also have the blessings of the actors of the show, who dearly love the fact that we’ve expanded and given more depth than the original writers of the series were EVER able to do. (It was the 6os, remember, and depth of characterization wasn’t looked upon with kindness.)
I think it’s very interesting the the very ones who are so against fan fiction are men, particularly in light of the fact that the majority of fanfic writers are women. Could it be that there’s a certain amount of jealousy at work? Quite frankly, I’ve read drek in both genres, pro fic and fan fic. And I’ve read great fic in both. There’s some fan fic writers out there that are heads above over some of the pro fic stuff. In reality, the ONLY real difference here is that one’s getting paid and one’s not. In reality, it’s ALL fan fiction.
As for the group trying to get copyright to extend to fanfic, I seriously doubt that’ll ever happen. Fanfic, either paid or unpaid, are deriviative works and unless the copyright holder grants permission (as in the case of pro fanfic writers such as Mr. Goldberg), I really don’t see their quest as holding water.
I write fan fiction because I enjoy it and because it’s fun. Considering that we’re now starting to take our fiction into a next generation, it’s more original fic than fan fic. One of these days, we’ll try to get it published…legally. Until then, I love doing what I’m doing, where I’m doing it. And I’m NOT an acne-faced turd. I don’t have time for such childish stupid people who characterize others as that.