Not Sure

The thing about fanfic is, you can never publish it, so does it really matter what you do? (Unless there are conventions within the fanfic culture that I know nothing about.)

In fanfic, you can write anything under the sun. It's not getting published, so there's no rules (it doesn't even have to be good. Preferably it will be, of course, but, there you go). Certain things may be liked more or less by various readers, but you can still do anything you want. And rape happens all the times in fics (along with every other kind of violence, and every other kind of sexual encounter).

While fics can never be published, and while I'd probably be better off doing writing exercises on original ideas, sometimes, when the ideas just won't come, and I'm sick and drained and want to tear my stories to shreds, writing a fanfiction is a wonderful release. It's fun. And any kind of writing is still better than no writing--you're still developing yourself as a writer. Just don't get so sidetracked by fanfics that you never get around to writing that novel (which is my problem right now XD ).

And hey, y'never know, if you're a really good fanfic writer and build up a fanbase, you've got a small audience already waiting to buy your book when it does come out. (seriously, it happens sometimes. but not all that often, so don't think you'll build your career on it. But there's plenty of great writers who started with fanfics).

Go to the Sci-Fi/Fantasy section of your local big box bookstore. See all those Star Trek and Star Wars titles? See those Halo novels?

Now, tell me that fanfic never gets published.

A better thing to say is that fanfic never gets published by rookies and wannabes.

In temrrs of the question, you can write anything at all. So is your concern one of reader appeal? Legalities? (As mentioned fic that infringes copyright makes this something of a moot point).

True, but as I've often said:

When I write a novel where Luke Skywalker is the main character, it's fanfic. When R. A. Salvatore writes a commissioned novel where the main character is Luke Skywalker, it's literature.

What's the difference between those two sentences? The words "commissioned" and "literature." It's all the same to me.

And I devoured the Star Wars paperbacks in middle and high school, and many of them were genuinely good books.

Oh, and the names of the authors. Those are different.

writerdog said:

I can't really find an appropriette place for my question, but I'd like to know if when writing a fanfiction novel it is alright to use a real place as a characters residence. Also, can I talk about controversial things ie rape, abortion.

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You can do it. It's good practice.

What did you do that you used up all of your confidence???

If you mean what I think you mean, you're just being silly. Get out there and get them.

In my experience, the number of people Kevin hates is rather small, and is mostly limited to the man who won't give him another beer.

Writerdog, I recommend you cultivate a healthy sense of humor. There's a lot of laughs going on around this place and it would a shame if you don't join in.

Writerdog, the others are playing and having fun. If their exchanges are bothering you, I suggest you avoid threads where people are joshing with one another like this.