Is Fanfic worthwhile?
- Thread starter RevdKathy
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That is very interesting because my experience posting fan fiction has been the exact opposite. Over the last ten years I have been constantly amazed and delighted by the surprisingly large readership and the numerous recognitions (ASC Awards) received by the Star Trek bodice-ripper, cotton candy fluff my co-author and I have created purely for our own enjoyment.
In fact, when real life obligations cut into the number of stories posted I end up with e-mails making sure my co-author and I are still writing new stories. Even more surprising is the amount of feedback on the stories that comes from men who read and enjoy my fan fiction stories.Warmest Wishes,
Whoa Nellie
Whoa Nellie's Picard/Vash Romance Fan Fiction Website is at:
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Galaxy/7926/
Whoa Nellie's Sci-Fi Romance Fan Fiction Website is at:
http://www.geocities.com/whoa_nellies2000
Whoa Nellie said:
That is very interesting because my experience posting fan fiction has been the exact opposite. Over the last ten years I have been constantly amazed and delighted by the surprisingly large readership and the numerous recognitions received by the Star Trek bodice-ripper, cotton candy fluff my co-author and I have created purely for our own enjoyment.
Warmest Wishes,
Whoa Nellie
Whoa Nellie's Picard/Vash Romance Fan Fiction Website is at:
http://www.geocities.com/TimesSquare/Galaxy/7926/
Whoa Nellie's Sci-Fi Romance Fan Fiction Website is at:
http://www.geocities.com/whoa_nellies2000
Totally agree!
It's worth taking into account how many people read actual books. Of the books published each year in the UK the majority of them sell, on avergae, a measly 18 copies! I'm pretty sure more than 18 people read Vesta each year.
Why are the two mutually exclusive?
I started writing my fanfic series, Vesta, in mid 2001. To date I have written 43 episodes. In the same amount of time I've also written 2 non fanfic novels and a multitude of other stories (some fanfic some not).
Re the original question :
Everything I've written, from the 100 word fanfic drabble to a 190,000 word non fanfic thriller has helped to make me a better writer, and when I am published someday- and make no mistake I will be, by hook or by crook, then I will owe my publications to lessons learned, in part, by writing about a rag tag group of Starfleet officers aboard the USS Vesta.
So is fanfic worth while? It is to me and, frankly, that’s all that counts :thumbsup:
[OT]Dulak's post reminds me of a cartoon I used to have where a priest is saying to the groom at a wedding "You're supposed to say 'I do' not 'I'll try'!"[/OT]
Having written a great deal of material in the course of both studies and my work, I always found fanfic writing to be a little pressure valve. I could let out a little steam, write something silly and then go back to that essay, sermon, piece for a magazine or even my book.
Having written a great deal of material in the course of both studies and my work, I always found fanfic writing to be a little pressure valve. I could let out a little steam, write something silly and then go back to that essay, sermon, piece for a magazine or even my book.
DrGojira, there's only one real way for you to find out why we do what we do--you've read some of our stories, but that only gives you a partial picture. Now, I'm going to up the stakes.
As personal experience is often the best way to truly understand something, I'm issuing this challenge to you: It's probably too late for this month's challenge--and in any event, comedy is incredibly difficult to do and do right; but, if you really want to understand why we do what we do, then I challenge you to submit a story for one of the upcoming monthly challenges. See for yourself why we do what we do--and you'll perhaps see also how challenging and rewarding it really can be. So...what's it going to be...fish or cut bait?
As personal experience is often the best way to truly understand something, I'm issuing this challenge to you: It's probably too late for this month's challenge--and in any event, comedy is incredibly difficult to do and do right; but, if you really want to understand why we do what we do, then I challenge you to submit a story for one of the upcoming monthly challenges. See for yourself why we do what we do--and you'll perhaps see also how challenging and rewarding it really can be. So...what's it going to be...fish or cut bait?
It has been argued that many great works of art were inspired by that time's popular culture. For instance, Beethoven's 9th was said to have been inspired by German tavern songs and Turkish folk music of all things.
The composers Dvorak and Tchaikovsky were inspired by Slavic folk music.
It would seem that high culture draws on low culture for inspiration.
The composers Dvorak and Tchaikovsky were inspired by Slavic folk music.
It would seem that high culture draws on low culture for inspiration.
Having great respect for Falkayn I can only say that Dr G needs to put up-and not worry too much about criticism-we like to help not hurt. But what can you do? In my arrogance I wrote what I thought was a great story-and I included an insane character as a sane one, a dead one as living, and mis-spelled a characters name. If it was "pro" none of that would have got by but this is am-fanfic. C'est la vie. Its still a good story. A Death In The Family-go read it. 
RobertScorpio
Pariah
Yes. It is a hobbie that many people like to do. Will it ever be canon? No. But who cares. We have all been touched by TREk and if this is how we want to express our love of TREK then....who cares?
FANFIC is good.
FANFIC is good.
The comedy contest will end at the end of the month, then whoever wins this contest will set the bounds for the next month's challenge. But you are most welcome to enter it and I encourage you to do so because, as I said earlier, experience is the best means of achieving understanding.
I also give you my word--speaking for myself at least, but I have a feeling the others will feel likewise--that your work will receive a fair and honest reading.
I also give you my word--speaking for myself at least, but I have a feeling the others will feel likewise--that your work will receive a fair and honest reading.
Guess I'll chime in regarding the original question: "Is Fanfic worthwhile?"
For me, the answer is yes. It is a hobby, a pressure valve, a way of sharing the fruit of my over-active imagination. If no one read it but me, it would still have value for me.
Certainly, I do hope that people read and comment on my stories. I've found that to be the case on this board. (My ego thanks you, one and all! ). Whether my writing adds value to their lives, I cannot answer. Hopefully it provides some meager entertainment value.
I do not write fanfic in the hopes of being "discovered" and published. I have a masters degree and doctorate and have been published in the non-fiction world. I really don't want to write for some publisher of fiction and meet deadlines, wrangle with editors and so forth. To me, Fanfic is just fun! If someone doesn't care to play in my sandbox, I'm okay with that.
For me, the answer is yes. It is a hobby, a pressure valve, a way of sharing the fruit of my over-active imagination. If no one read it but me, it would still have value for me.
Certainly, I do hope that people read and comment on my stories. I've found that to be the case on this board. (My ego thanks you, one and all!
). Whether my writing adds value to their lives, I cannot answer. Hopefully it provides some meager entertainment value.I do not write fanfic in the hopes of being "discovered" and published. I have a masters degree and doctorate and have been published in the non-fiction world. I really don't want to write for some publisher of fiction and meet deadlines, wrangle with editors and so forth. To me, Fanfic is just fun! If someone doesn't care to play in my sandbox, I'm okay with that.
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