Originally posted by Akamaimom
View Post
I’m going to preface this by saying that my response is full of generalizations of fanfiction in the Stargate fandom and in other fandoms, and it is only reflective of my personal experiences that shape my opinion. No disrespect is meant to others who may write or read fanfiction for books/shows/movies other than Stargate.
I love fanfiction. I love reading it (though I don’t review nearly as much as I should! ), and I love writing it (though not much sees the light of day).
However, though I’ve dabbled in reading fanfic for the other shows that I enjoy (Sherlock, Downton Abbey), I’ve found that Stargate fanfiction just works … better. The premise of the show is easier to write fanfiction for (since fanfic writers can write their own episodic adventures), implicit character development on the show gives fanfic writers the opportunity to dramatize it, and (and this is the biggest thing), the writers are people who treat the characters with respect and often try to write stories with intelligent plotlines.
I’m not saying that all Stargate fanfiction is great (but by now I know where to look for the good stuff!), but in general, I see the authors using care when they write stories for Stargate, which I have found is not as present in other fandoms.
In fact, when I go looking for fanfic for other shows, I’m usually inundated in fanfiction written by (forgive the stereotype and the generalization) “those” people that your Facebook friend/acquaintance described. Sherlock is the best example that I can think of, because there is so much that’s been written, but most of what I’ve found is very poor writing, very childish ideas, or stuff that’s just plain smut. (P.S. If any of you read Sherlock fanfiction and you’ve found good, well written stuff with no smut, send it my way! )
Obviously, like I said, even my own experience with other fandoms is a generalization. I have found some great Sherlock fanfic (in fact, I just found out that Sally Malcolm wrote a couple pieces when the series first came out!), it’s just that I had to sift through so much crap to get to get to it so I finally just gave up.
But in essence, I don’t have a problem with fanfiction. I truly believe that it’s a natural inclination that people have when they read a book/watch a movie or TV show that they like. They want to know what happens next, so the lazy fans demand a sequel, and the creative fans write the sequel themselves.
Fanfiction has existed much, much longer than the internet has been around. I know that I just mentioned on the Sam/Jack Fanfic Thread that Jane Austen’s family used to speculate on what eventually happened to the two unmarried Bennet sisters, Kitty and Mary, after the end of “Pride and Prejudice” (If I remember correctly, those speculations were written down by one of the family members). That is fanfiction, even if it isn’t identified as such.
Another example: right now, I am working as a dramaturgical assistant at a regional theater. For whatever show we’re working on, I do a lot of research on the script and the characters, and I’m amazed at the number of actors who spend a lot of time speculating on what happens to their characters after the show is over. They may not realize it, but that kind of speculation is fanfiction.
Like everlovin said, everyone has their own ways of expressing their love for something. I don’t do too much cosplay, I can’t make fanvids or artwork, and I don’t post a lot of fanfic, but in case you haven’t noticed (), I like to analyze everything in a TV show and then discuss it with others. My mom always says that I “think deep thoughts,” and I like to think deep thoughts about things that I love. That’s why I’ve been on GW for so long, because so many other people like to do the exact same thing.
Ultimately, I find it very disheartening that there is such a stigma surrounding fanfiction as a whole, since it can be done very well. There are many talented fanfic authors out there – people who have majored in creative writing, gotten their works published before, or just have a great grasp of storytelling – and I think it’s so sad that those stigmas regarding fanfiction are applied to them as well.
I don’t read or promote the less-than-great fanfiction that exists out there (though I love that many young people use fanfiction to practice their writing), but I’ll never condemn fanfiction as a whole. I’ve found way too many great authors and stories out there to do that!
Comment