Fanfiction - hate/love?
Hear me out before you judge me.
Okay, so I've said it: I really dislike fanfiction.
Not the way it's written or the things people do in it, but because of the way it puts prison bars around people's work.
If you'd just replace the names, and only the names, that one-shot would have gone waaay up in my estimation. Because then I know that you're actually envisaging people, characters. But put the name 'Gerard Way' and you're imagining a type, a stereotype, or an ideal. They're no longer a person and simply a stock item. It's like... putting on a puppet show and only using the same puppet again and again, but with different items of clothing. It doesn't feel real.
And I know you're probably going to say, it's fiction, it's not meant to be real, but the beauty of fiction is when it feels real, and reveals reality which we wouldn't have found otherwise.
I just feel so empty after reading something with the name 'Gerard' or 'Ryan Ross' in it. Because that character is empty, because they don't reflect the true character which goes with that name.
Please, please, please, do justice to your writing and swap the names for something new, because it deserves something better.
Okay, so I've said it: I really dislike fanfiction.
Not the way it's written or the things people do in it, but because of the way it puts prison bars around people's work.
If you'd just replace the names, and only the names, that one-shot would have gone waaay up in my estimation. Because then I know that you're actually envisaging people, characters. But put the name 'Gerard Way' and you're imagining a type, a stereotype, or an ideal. They're no longer a person and simply a stock item. It's like... putting on a puppet show and only using the same puppet again and again, but with different items of clothing. It doesn't feel real.
And I know you're probably going to say, it's fiction, it's not meant to be real, but the beauty of fiction is when it feels real, and reveals reality which we wouldn't have found otherwise.
I just feel so empty after reading something with the name 'Gerard' or 'Ryan Ross' in it. Because that character is empty, because they don't reflect the true character which goes with that name.
Please, please, please, do justice to your writing and swap the names for something new, because it deserves something better.
Posted on August 30th, 2009 at 09:41pm
Hi people. Thanks for replying. I knew some of you would fire off. There's always someone. It's only my opinion though.
And the fact that some people defend it by the fact that "not all fanfiction characters are the same for every story" - doesn't that make it even more pointless to call them by the same name?
I'm not saying it's awful writing - not at all, some of it is pretty good, but you'll never be able to publish it, and personally I don't enjoy reading it... So why bother? If you want to write something about being in a band etc. then make up a character, even if you base it on Gerard Way etc.
xXGreyWingsXx, September 1st, 2009 at 03:14:09pm
I think it depends. I've read some fanfictions that were positively amazing, and others that, as you said, felt empty, like they're just a shell and only the name is being used, no personality whatsoever. Then there are others that fill up that name with a really cool personality and little quirks and whatever. They can actually make you look at the actual celebrity a different way. But I can definitely see where you're coming from.
This Is Pointless, August 31st, 2009 at 10:26:32pm
I completely agree with you, in my opinion Original Fiction is much more interesting.
Blair Waldorf, August 30th, 2009 at 11:36:18pm
I not real fond of fanfiction either, but one of my friends, actually has an account on fanfiction, and she always defends herself with: "Fanfiction is like guide lines for me; I'm trying to get more familiar with writing, so I need practice don't I?"
I get that quote everyday, and it is so annoying...
But I think I'm going to have to agree with my friend. Fanfiction is practice for some writers
fallin dont catch me, August 30th, 2009 at 10:51:49pm
I understand what you're saying, and I know what you mean. But, for some writers (including me) it's hard to write a story about a character I haven't already seen.
I mean, I'm not one of those kinds of people who describe every last detail down to the color of the nail polish on the female character's third toe; in fact, I hate when people go to that much detail.
So, for me, it's just easier (and my stories end up better because of it) if I write about band members people already know and focus my attention more on the plot of the story, rather than the person it's about.
There are some fanfictions that actually seem real, too. All of my stories are about Avenged Sevenfold, and a few (most, actually) of them are about the band members and their actual girlfriends.
Anyway, this is going to be a long comment, so I'm just going to stop rambling now, haha. I wasn't trying to change your opinion, or argue with you, so I hope I didn't come across that way. I was only giving my two cents. =]
JessiVengeance, August 30th, 2009 at 10:25:23pm
Hate is a strong word.
Is fanfiction personally hurting you in some way?
I think dislike would be better fitting.
plastic Jesus, August 30th, 2009 at 10:19:52pm
I don't like it either. I wish there was more original fiction on here to read.
Jessie in Calalini, August 30th, 2009 at 10:00:32pm
I agree. I've always felt as though fanfiction doesn't have quite as much merit as original fiction; because it's easier to come up with a different plot revolving around pre-existing (even if only in other fiction) characters and places.
On the other hand, it's kind of cool to see what people do with putting characters into different situations.
Still, I prefer 10000x original fiction.
What gets to me about fanfiction is, fanfiction about real people. I mean, it's one thing to use a book or a movie...but I've had someone write stories about me and my friends, without consulting me, one of which was a sex story. And it's one of the most incredibly awkward and off-putting things I can think of.
TheNewFoShizzle, August 30th, 2009 at 09:49:56pm
I don't believe that the characters are all the same. For some authors they are, but their are authors that give their fanfiction characters different personalities. The people I write about, their personalities do switch from story to story and sometimes they stay the same. Not all fanfiction author characters are the same for every story. Even if the character doesn't feel real to you, it might feel real to someone else.
I'm frankly getting sick of these journals, even if you didn't say it directly, you were basically doing the same thing as everyone else who makes journals like these.
George Ryan Ross., August 30th, 2009 at 09:47:23pm
I like my writing. My characters are lively enough for me and the people who read. Like Spencer Smith, who my best friend and I completely recreated for our joint fanfics.
/shrug
St. Jessie, August 30th, 2009 at 09:43:30pm