A Brief Defense of Fan Fiction
All fiction is fan fiction. Okay, hear me out… there are a set number of words, set number of character archetypes, even set number of settings, and all writers are just reshuffling those according to what they love, what they are curious about, and what they feel led to do, while trying not to plagiarize or imitate overmuch. Fan fiction is just honest in that the writer is saying “I want to see what will happen if Harry Potter marries Pansy Parkinson, and I’m not going to rename him Shmarry Blotter and make him a lawyer – I’m going to openly acknowledge my debt to JK Rowling.”
“But I invented this character and I should get to decide what happens to them!” Yes and isn’t it great that your character is so vibrant that people want to keep writing about them?! You have created a self replicating brain virus (but in a good way!) Also like with your kids just because you want them to turn out a certain way doesn’t mean they WILL or that they might not have dreams you don’t know about.
“But I invented this character and nobody else should profit off of them!” I do get this but if someone is profiting off their fan fiction (besides 50 Shades of Gray turning fan fiction into something else)… how?!!
“A real writer comes up with their own characters.Writing fan fiction is a waste of time.”
I think of fan fiction as a really good exercise in plot development, dialogue, etc with known characters. It doesn’t mean the writer won’t come up with their own great character or great plot line. In the other hand, if writing beautiful fan fiction that makes people change their lives is their calling – GREAT!
Fan Fiction by Another Name
What if instead of fan fiction we called it “pastiche melange collage homage literature?”
Because we could. We could rename it something fancier and more socially acceptable. But we don’t need to. They are just words. And this is an art form that deserves and demands to exist.
Because as long as there have been people, we have been borrowing, retelling and embellishing other people’s stories.
This site has excellent examples of “mainstream” fan fictions and a lovely defense of the art form:
http://thesaucywenchesbookclub.blogspot.com/2013/02/fanfiction-youll-never-believe-whos.html
Position on AI Writing
I doubt I will ever use AI for writing because I trust my own skills and voice. However, I do know people have always feared and reacted to new technologies that then became universal. (People besides scribes writing!The printing press! The typewriter! The computer! The laptop! The iPad!) I initially felt a pang about AI and how it would impact the writing world, but I realized even if AI turns out the same thing I do, there is a joy in writing it myself.
For writing fan fiction, poetry, short stories, and novels – part of the joy of writing is doing the work. Creating a product to be consumed is an additional benefit.
Also, I do not think AI can replicate the sense of human connection between author and reader.
So go ahead,eat your tasty AI fast food fiction, but you’re going to still want some “home cooking.”
In terms of school and papers, I think professors and teachers will need to figure out other ways to assess knowledge and competence. Professors and teachers are creative and adaptable and I have full faith in them.
SiRNita Fan Fiction 