(no subject)

[liptonrm_backup]

Had a very strange dream last night. I was at some hospital/asylum for some sort of program and it turned out that what was actually happening was that the government was engaging in a little psychological programming. I found out about that right before I was scheduled to leave and so I told everyone else in my group and we were all shocked and amazed. The whole dream had this weird edge of pain to it. It was all very strange.

Very much enjoyed the King Kong trailer last night. Giant apes and dinosaurs, oh my.

I have no desire whatsoever to see War of the Worlds. The increasing insanity of Tom Cruise coupled with yet another big budget alien invasion just makes me cringe. Plus it looks like Miranda Otto is only in it for a couple minutes and that just sucks. As does that line in the trailer where Cruise's character is telling his son not to get involved in the Resistance because there's no hope that they'd win? WTF!? If aliens are trying to invade your planet you do everything in your power to defeat them and you bloody well JOIN THE RESISTANCE! This is why Mr. Cruise has no part whatsoever in the RHAR.

Apparently Robin Hobb, a fantasy author with whom I have a passing acquaintance, has written a rant against fanfiction (it's over here) and while I can see where she's coming from the best response I have is "Why pay for books when I can get better written stories for free?" She's a decent author but her main character is a big ol' honking Marty Stu if I've ever seen one and the books themselves are so angsty and bitter that I kept expecting some emo boy to jump fully formed from the pages just so he could kill himself in front of me.

On the opposite side of the spectrum MaryAnn Johanson has her own idea of the role fan fiction plays in modern pop culture. We fic because we love.

ABC's ancient Rome miniseries Empire starts tonight. Even if it's horrible I will still watch every episode because I am that big a history nerd. mmmmmmm roman history guuuuuuuuuh

Comments

[hiyacynth.livejournal.com]

Isn't it reassuring to know that PJ is totally on the side of the RHAR and Cruise will be squashed like a bug? I find that really satisfying.

Robin Hobb needs to take herself less seriously. Debbie and I spent one cold winter evening bouncing ideas off each other about what kind of fanfic would be inspired by our book--what pairings, what AUs, etc. It was very entertaining.

[writerj.livejournal.com]

I was intrigued by Empire because of how Octavius is a hot Hispanic boy is the hero when most accounts fictional and not have him at least as a conniving manipulator and at most a downright arsehole.

Have you been watching Into the West? Has it gotten any better?

[elendiari22.livejournal.com]

You know, I've read Robin Hobb's books, and they aren't the greatest thing to hit the earth. And personally, if I were a published author I'd wonder what I was doing wrong if people *didn't* write fanfic about my stuff. True, there are some *really bad* fics out there, but there are also some *really good* ones. There are writers in the LOTR fandom who could make serious money selling their fics if LOTR were in the public domain. Sigh.

I'm going to be watching "Empire". History nerds unite!

[lil-banik-slave.livejournal.com]

In defence of fanfiction

One of the arguments is that writing fan fiction is using someone else’s character and world and just adding a story.

I agree whole heartedly. If I were to write a fanfiction about Enterprise I am using characters created by Rick Berman and Brannon Braga, and a world originally designed by Gene Roddenberry. The only thing I own is the original idea and actual prose for a story be it a missing scene or a full piece of fiction.

Now if we enter a small side world for a minute where permission and contracts etc don’t exist, how would I writing this piece of fanfic make me any different from Mike Sussman or Fred Dekker or Manny Coto. Let me explain this statement, my University application I stated that I write fanfiction, and by doing so am practicing not only writing but writing within preset parameters, using characters that are written by someone else and therefore require careful study. To create a proper piece of work I am writing to very strict restrictions and (I hope) demonstrating that I can do this creatively. I know that I am not Mike Sussman or Fred Dekker or Manny Cotto, but I would like to be one day. It’s good practice. I’m pretty sure that this helped my application, and who knows when in my career as a writer I may be asked to write a script for Stargate SG1 season 27 and suddenly need to come up with a story that convincingly uses these characters. If anything fanfiction can therefore harder than original story. When writing an original story I can write a character that fits the story I want to write. When writing fanfiction I have to shape my story to fit the character. I want to have a flying character, but Frodo can’t fly, so I need to find a way to make him fly in Middle Earth. Ah, eagles.

Fanfiction can also help people work up their confidence. I doubt if I would be as confident with my writing as I am if it had not been for fanfiction. I have really experimented with different writing techniques and because of that I am now I think at a better place with the novel I am working on (which is entirely me own work) than I was five years ago, when I had never even heard of fanfiction.

IMHO Fanfiction is a harmless piece of writing put up on the Internet or in a fanzine by someone who is just being creative, perhaps entertaining themselves or entertaining some friends. It does not set out to make money, or to harm the studio. In fact, some of my interest in several shows, namely Numb3rs, has been STARTED by seeing some fanfic that a favourite author of mine had started writing. Robin Hobbs feels that fanfiction writing lessens the quality of the authors work and therefore puts people off. I have never been put off the work of something because of the fanfiction. They are separate mediums. Personally I hate most of the fanfiction in the “Master and Commander” section but I still watch the movie and am hunting for the books. The only thing that has put me off Robin Hobbs is the attitude presented in this essay. Everyone had a right to their own opinion at the end of the day, and I am not saying that Robin Hobbs is wrong to express this opinion. What I am saying though is that my ability to look the other way and live and let live will be exercised, which is probably a shame.



BTW, when my book is finally published I am expecting some mighty fine fanfiction from you lot. Ego starvation can cause a major headache *LOL*

[lil-banik-slave.livejournal.com]

Ah you wrote a book *bows is awe* what sort of book? Was it published?

[hiyacynth.livejournal.com]

You bow to no one, my friend! *helps you up* My friend and I cowrote a novel that is what used to be called "beach fiction"--the kind of romping fun story you'd want to read on your beach vacation. We're shopping it around now. Fingers crossed for future fanfic, please!

[obeliamedusa.livejournal.com]

Arrgh, the anti-fanfiction people annoy me so much. Don't they have any idea how self-centred and pompous they inevitably sound?!

[lil-banik-slave.livejournal.com]

*fingers crossed*

[liptonrm.livejournal.com]

It is immensely satisfying. When the Invasion comes all we have to do is head to New Zealand and start up the new society. And Cruise will be crushed when the aliens take over LA and he deludes himself into worshipping them.

See, fic is love. I always thought it would be an honor to be ficced.

[liptonrm.livejournal.com]

Yeah, Empire is definitely alt-historical. But who wants to root for a dumpy and balding conniving and megalomaniacal Octavius when they can root for a really, really hawt heroic and forthright one.

Into the West hasn't gotten much better. Not that it's ever been bad, just mediocre. Matthew Settle is still great, however.

[writerj.livejournal.com]

here are writers in the LOTR fandom who could make serious money selling their fics if LOTR were in the public domain. Sigh.

And a lot of them are on this flist! *giggle*

[liptonrm.livejournal.com]

Exactly, there's a lot of bad fic out there and, unfortunately, if an author were to google her own name or story she'd probably find the bad stuff first. However, Ms. Hobb isn't looking beyond the badfic and she's certainly doesn't understand what a great compliment it is to her, her characters and her stories that people were moved enough to wanted to spend more time with them, to have fun with them and use them to tell their own stories.

*sigh* I guess that's what happens when you take yourself too seriously. ;-)

History Nerds Forever!

[liptonrm.livejournal.com]

Yes, yes, I do have impeccable taste. *wink*

[liptonrm.livejournal.com]

It really makes you wonder if they really see how humourless they sound when they say things like that. I mean, just look at Anne Rice, she has her fans but most people think she's a pretentious dingbat because of the sorts of things she says.

Oh well, I'm sure in real life she's a charming person or whatever.

[baylorsr.livejournal.com]

OMG you dreamed about THAT PLACE!!! *claps*

Also, you know I can't resist a movie where the whole world is on fire. Yay!

[writerj.livejournal.com]

*singing ethereally* World's on fire/ It's more than I can handle

It's the 'Into the West' theme song, ya know. And features on my Special Limited Edition BoB Mix.

[liptonrm.livejournal.com]

I KNOW! But there wasn't any chocolate pudding or applesauce! My subconscious obviously hates me. *pouts*

Well, there is that. If only Tom Cruise would get blowed up, that would be sweet.