MariusBonaparte

If I may...

I don't believe Fan-Fiction encourages a growth in writing. In fact, I believe people using Harry Potter or other fiction to create a cheap by-product of that fiction don't actually do anything to improve their grasp of writing. In many cases, it's a form, to me...synonomous with teenagers. It's everywhere, like teen angst. And it's usually crap.

What I like about this site is that it has a workshop feel to it, where actual improvement may take place. Fan-fiction stunts growth because people aren't using their own literary conventions or ideas. And yes, although the Romantic era and time preceeding that used a method of "improving upon" old work, some of it wasn't all that great. We live in a new world, albeit an economically charged one, where people are sensitive to having their work copied. Not only that, but the problem with fan-fiction today is that people AREN'T improving upon their own writing and usually they don't have the tools needed to "improve" on it.

And what good does it do a potential author to be writing fan-fiction? As it is, fiction, at least in the States, is a dying art form-- with few works pushed to the front. To encourage people to chase the dreams of others is foolhardy and again stunts their ability to think for themselves.

Keep in mind, this is all opinion. I don't really have anything against fan-fiction...but considering how many kids do it, like Hodge says, or disenchanted adult writers...you might as well open a teen-angst section, for what it's worth. Another thing to think about is the serialized nature that fan-fiction embodies. You aren't going to get many longer works done with any particular care, but you'll get lots of cheap imitation from a bunch of people who are doing this as a hobby because they are "fans". And most of them don't want to improve, they just want to do what their imagination and how they want the story to go...to go that way. "Fans" are just that..."Fans", they aren't the most static crowd. In fact, they are fickle and write Buffy stories to tide over fads.

If these boards care anything about people genuinely seeking quality reading or a community of collective minds attempting to better themselves and their art, then I strongly recommend against fan-fiction.

I don't mean to offend, these are just my observations. I'm sure there is excellent (and better yet, obscure) fan fiction, but that can be pursued elsewhere. And, last time I checked- we have short story and other areas to post such work in and people are capable of making a note that their work is a work of fanfiction. Maybe I'm just crazy though. Doesn't even seem practical as board moderator myself...but hey, what do I know?

Hawke

I have nothing against fanfiction. It’s a great arena for writers to try out plots, sentence structure and dialogue (etc.) without the need to create settings, main characters and background information. And really, they love their genre and some of them are truly talented. The thing is, WF was created for original works and everyone knows that when they join, including the fanfiction writer. Therefore, would it not be somewhat self-defeating in a sense to allow fanfiction on a site not only specifically geared to original works, but where the fanfiction writers themselves have come to try their hand at original work?

And lastly, in opening a fanfiction area (thus encouraging writers to take works and use them as they see fit) will we be, in effect, leaving our own works open to being “fanfictionalized”?

Just my thoughts.

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Firewriter23

I don't think that there is a reason to post fanfiction on here. If you want to right fanfiction and get reviews from it, go to www.fanfiction.net

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Bika

This is a writing forum. That alone is reason enough to have a fanfiction section.

Original works are not the only ones welcomed here.

Anything published, if popular enough (with even one person) is open to fan fiction, unless the author specifically states that doing so would be not in the best interests of the wannabe fan fiction writer.

We also have a number of teen angst sections - the Lounge, Debate, How Was Your Week ...

The only reason stated so far on this thread for not having one that holds any water is the lack of interest noted several times.

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Firewriter23

I get it that this is a writing forum, but a fan fiction section would just be too much, or at least thats what I think.

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Jolly McJollyson

No, I'm not referring to allusions. I've forgotten the technical term for what I described, but it is plagiarism by today's standards. I'll get back to you on the actual term for it.

Don't worry, I'm fully aware of what an allusion is.

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i_am_difficult

If we can justify a word games forum, then a fanfiction forum deserves a shot.

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Aevin

This thread was intended to see if there was the necessary support for a fanfiction section, not as a debate. The staff seems to agree that this support is lacking. Sorry to those who were in favor--there are still other resources for posting fanfiction.

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Pawn

I should note however that you are now perfectly welcome to post Fan Fiction in the existing forums.

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