Can I read fanfiction?

If you plan on writing sequels to your novels and/or using the same characters again, I would say it's not a good idea. However if you plan to only write single standalone novels that are unrelated, I don't see why not.

The issue is, if you are using characters or universes over again, whether or not you are getting "ideas" from the fanfic. If you are reading fanfic and then happen to come up with something close to a fanfic for your next book in a series, then you've got a problem.

I wouldn't worry a whole lot about this. Most writers never become well-enough known to have to contend with it.

- Victoria

Can you? Sure you can.

Is there risks involved? Of course there are.

There was a huge lawsuit in days gone by where a fan writer sued Marian Zimmer Bradley over a plotline that appeared in one of MZB's Darkover novels that matched a story the fan had written submitted to MZB's magazine. As I recall (and I could be wrong) MZB lost the suit.

Anne McCaffrey authorizes (I believe she still does, she did at one time) clubs for Pern. One of the requirements is to send her a copy of everything produced by the group. Not for her to read, but for her lawyers to go through.

So, it's really up to you and how much of a risk you're willing to take.

Mercedes lackey also has an authorised zine where you sign a disclaimer saying your work is Au (alternative universe).

read it?

I still *write* it!

i'm not sure if you'd want to read fanfiction based on your writing. most of it is pretty terrible. fanfiction, that is.

I'd don't know for sure, but I did read on an author website once that the author didn't read fanfiction of her work for legal reasons. Not sure what those are, but I have a feeling it's like others have said already: if a fan plotline matched one of yours, it could become a problem.

blackpen said:

i'm not sure if you'd want to read fanfiction based on your writing. most of it is pretty terrible. fanfiction, that is.

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Most writing is pretty terrible, as per Sturgeon's Law: 90% of everything is crap. But there are some excellent ff writers out there, whose work reflects honorably upon the source material.