Fanfiction

[Debz]

Originally Posted By: Jaine

Since at least two members write fanfiction I thought I'd add a discussion topic specifically focusing on it.

Here, those writers who are unfamiliar with fanfiction and its origins can gain insight into the genre and its many sub-genres like slash.

So, the first question that comes to mind to ask a fanfiction writer is: why write it?

[Debz]

Originally Posted By: Debz

Why write fanfiction? Thats a really good question.

I think, for me personally, I love to explore aspects of the characters which are hinted at but never fully revealed within a film or series. I'm really big on characterisation, as I've mentioned in the "Why I Want To Be A Writer..." topic, so I find it interesting to anaylse a character's motivations. Why do they do the things they do? Why would they take this path but not that one? In a given situation, how would they normally react and what aspects might make them react differently?

I really think thats why Suzy and I write so well together - we both like to psychoanalyse characters, either pre-existing ones or those of our own devising. Plus, she's got a great psychological insight so I'm sponging all the information from her that I can.

I think its for the love of the characters that we write fanfictions - though I'm a cruel writer, I love to torture the characters in ways the shows and films haven't, couldn't or wouldn't just to intuit what their reactions woulld be. *lol* Anyone who's read any of my work can instantly tell I have a sadistic streak. Jaine, you may recall the hanging scene? I absolutely adore Jake, love him to bits, so I've tortured him so terribly! *lol* Bad, Debz!

Have any of you other members here ever been tempted to write fanfictions? Obviously, I know Roz (I spelt your name wrong before!! Sorry!) and Suzy have, and naturally, you can tell I have. How about you guys?
Neil? Jaine? Juls?
*grinz*
Debz.

[Debz]

Originally Posted By: Roz

I generally write fanfiction because the characters intrigue me - I've only written ff for TV before, so what I tend to do is take a certain character from that universe and focus entirely on them. You usually always have a 'main' character in TV shows but, in my opinion, you don't often get the same depth in the show as you would in written prose.

To put it simply, I just love to get in my favourite characters' heads for a bit. lol! Basically, Debz has put it really well in her post: it's for the love of the characters that we write fanfiction, something which is definitely true for me.

When I write fanfiction I tend to focus on bringing out the character's dark side (surprise, surprise) whilst not going too OTT and out of character. It's all about challenging the character's morals/beliefs and seeing how far they can be pushed before they snap. So much fun

What really bugs me about fanfiction as a reader is unnecessary (and really, really badly written) sex scenes and real person fiction, both of which creep me out I have to say. People who write such rubbish give fanfiction a bad name, but I really wouldn't be working to be a writer today if I hadn't started by writing fanfic

P.S. Don't worry Debz, you can spell my name either like 'Ros' or 'Roz', I just spell it with a 'z' because it's cooler lol

[Debz]

Originally Posted By: Debz

*lol* Ahh, yes, the dark sides are always the most fun to explore - moral corruption and things. I think its actually good training, too, to write fanfictions, since you learn to write within the constraints of the character(s) you focus on. I honestly think it helps to prevent you running away with a character when creating your own, thus making them more believable.

And I heartily agree with ya, Roz (I got for the Z on my name too, but only 'cause I'm peculiar and want to be different, not cool ) about the unnecessary sex scenes. I don't know if that makes me prudish or whatever, but I always find things more... enjoyable if anything more than kissing is siimply implied, but thats only my personal opinion. I'm also very much a hater of slash scenes, especially if its waaaay out of character as it is with most fictions.

Roz, by real person fiction, do you mean when someone puts their "real" selves into a story alongside the characters? If so then yeah, that does make for some pretty bizarre reading.

Hmm, I'm also kinda hioping the thread's not been corrupted too far, yet. *lol*

Debz.

[Debz]

Originally Posted By: Roz

Real person fiction can mean when someone puts themselves in a fanfic story, but the general definition is where someone writes not about, say, the characters in a film but the actors who played them - for instance, there's a big RPF community for Zach Efron and Vanessa Hudgens (apologies if spelling is incorrect...I just hate them lol) from High School Musical.

There's also a lot of 'bandslash', where people take band members and write what are usually *very* sexually-charged stories, hence the slash part of word I guess lol. This is what I find totally creepy - it's alright to write about fictional characters but real people are *real people* (lol)...I was dismayed and weirded out one day when, whilst having a browse around LiveJournal, I came across a Muse bandslash community. It was fairly disturbing to me, especially since they are my favourite band lol! I think there's a fine line, with fanfiction, between fandom and obsession, and real person fic just crosses over to obsession in my book.

P.S. Yay for thread corruption! lol

[Debz]

Originally Posted By: Jaine

Some very interesting observations and comments from both of you.

I have to agree with you Roz regarding 'real person' FF - I find it very unsettling and I'm extremely broad-minded. I think it is crossing a line that shouldn't be crossed...it's almost like 'prose stalking' LOL

I have tinkered with the odd fanfiction but I lose interest. I think that I get a good idea and start sketching it out and then think, I can use that in an original-character story and so abandon it. That said, I had an interesting idea for a 'Supernatural' story the other day adn have decided that instead of writing it as a prose FF story I'm going to use it to write my first TV script - but not until after I've finished the script I'm working on now, of course Gotta finish it, gotta finish it....ad infinitum...

It's also interesting that you're both interested in the darker side of the human experience/psyche...do you think that's because they are only tentatively touched on in the mainstream programmes you use as source material? (I do remember what you did you poor old Jake, Debz: ouch! Has he recovered yet? )

It must be quite an emotional drain on you both as writers to focus primarily on the dark side of human nature?

[Debz]

Originally Posted By: Debz

*shudders* Ohh, so THATS "real person FF" - I've encountered one or two of those but like you, I found them somewhat disturbing.

I guess you find fanfics a better training ground because it opens up new story ideas for you - hence why you don't feel the need to embark too deeply on fictions, eh, Jaine? They're a means to an end, seemingly. I tend to spot opportunites for other stories, but I'm also very attached to the characters I write, whether in fanfics or not, so I find it hard to let go of them.

I think you're right in a way - in TV shows or films, they're limited to how dark they can allow many mainstream characters to go which is why, I guess, so many FF writers tend to delve into the murky depths of the characters.

To be honest, I find writing darker aspects of characters is cathartic. Its a little like exorcising your own demons - putting them down on paper or what have you tends to make me feel better. I've got a lot of negative aspects to be and if I can't expunge them through writing on occasion, I sometimes begin taking them out on others - and thats NEVER acceptable so I have a secondary need to write besides needing to get the stories out of my head. Though, as you so astutely observed, hunny, it can be a heck of a drain on the emotions, really. I love to play around with the positive emotions too, but I always get drawn back to the dark side.

*grinz* Yes, my poor, abused pirate Jake is recovering nicely and is ready for the next round of torture Suzy and I are ready to subject him to. *lmao* That section was truly heartbreaking to write (I was crying openly while writing it, I felt so deeply for Jake) and the reactions from fans when they read it, and even from those like yourself, Jaine, who are unfamiliar with the character, made it all worth all the effort.

Anyway, I think I'd best go... I was going to bed 20 minutes ago! *lol*
Take care!
Debz.

[Debz]

Originally Posted By: Roz

Writing darker aspects of characters is *definitely* cathartic for me; I like to push the character and see how far they can be stretched I actually don't find writing this way at all emotionally draining; for me, it's almost liberating to feel that I can write like this without any repercussions...to think that there is a rationale behind the character behaving in a certain way makes me feel better not just about myself, but about others around me. In essence, it's like finding the method behind the madness

It's true that TV shows/films are limited in how dark they can take the characters, and I agree with Debz in that this is why many fanfic writers do tend to explore the more questionable sides of the characters, or instead write more about the villains of the series in question. Also it's often more fun to speculate as to why a character might behave rationally and humanely in certain situations but more selfishly and cruelly in others - it does give more depth to the character and, from my experience, often heightens the experience in reading the book/watching the show/movie, as you can then apply the extra dimension you have written about when you see/read about the character.

...that's just a very long winded way of saying I ♥ fanfiction lol