Why isn't fan fiction allowed on here?

Mad Dog Smith · Mar 23, 2013

Sorry if this isn't the right place to post this. Maybe I over looked a more appropriate forum...

It seems strange not allowing fan fiction on here. I think it's a wonderful thing when someone is so inspired by popular works of fiction that they start making up their own stories.

And what a fun way to work on your craft.

writers for television benefit from this immensely. There is absolutely no way to write for television by sending in scripts for original shows.

You have to write for shows that are already running. ONly producers get a shot at actually starting new projects.

Anyhoozle, at the very least I think there should be a fan fiction forum.

Just my two cents.

Does anyone know why it isn't allowed on this forum?

the wrong idea · Mar 23, 2013

Because legal issues.

There may or may not be other reasons, but that's sufficient. Especially for a site that has more connection to copyright holders than to fan communities.

BethS · Mar 23, 2013

Another thread on the subject here. Basically it's a copyright issue.

Orianna2000 · Mar 23, 2013

See, technically, fan-fiction is illegal. At least, for works that aren't in the public domain. Not all fic writers realize this, and many think it's okay so long as they include a disclaimer that says, "I don't own Star Trek (or Battlestar Galactica, or whatever) and I'm not making any money from this story." But the truth is, they're still infringing on someone else's copyright.

That would be why discussing fan-fiction is generally discouraged on this board. You'll find a few threads here and there, but it's a topic that engenders strong opinions, both for and against.

HapiSofi · Mar 23, 2013

the wrong idea said:
Because legal issues.

There may or may not be other reasons, but that's sufficient. Especially for a site that has more connection to copyright holders than to fan communities.

I wouldn't bet on that proposition. Among other things, I know way too many professional copyright-holding authors who also write fanfic.

Cyia · Mar 23, 2013

Let's speed this up, shall we?

Fanfiction rocks!
No! Fanfiction stinks!
Fanfic is fun!
No! Fanfic is illegal!
I write it!
I won't ever!
I love it!
I hate it!
I'm flattered!
I'm offended!
You're stupid.
No, you're stupid.
So's your mother.
No, so's your mother.
Mac gets a headache.
Medi gets a bottle and some shots to start the AW fanfic drinking game.

*lock thread*

thothguard51 · Mar 23, 2013

Some writers like their fans to write fan fiction of their stories. Some writers are strongly against fan fiction for legal and other reasons.

What a fan does in private is their business, but once they start posting stuff based off the imagination and sweat of someone else, well, they are crossing a barrier that may or may not have consequences.

Look at it this way, a writer has a future book laid out but not yet finished or sold. A fan writes scenes that are similar to what the writer is working on. Then when the writers book finally comes out, with similar scenes, events or storyline, the fan cries foul because they feel the writers used their stuff. It has happened in the past and will happen again in the future...

kuwisdelu · Mar 23, 2013

Orianna2000 said:
See, technically, fan-fiction is illegal. At least, for works that aren't in the public domain. Not all fic writers realize this, and many think it's okay so long as they include a disclaimer that says, "I don't own Star Trek (or Battlestar Galactica, or whatever) and I'm not making any money from this story."

Well, that's not technically true, although the media industry has certainly been lobbying to make it illegal. Infringement is a civil offense, not a criminal offense. Enforcing copyright is the responsibility of the copyright holder. You do have to do it for profit for it to be a criminal offense in the US.

HapiSofi · Mar 23, 2013

Nah. I reserve the right to assign troublesome posters to go read a certain very long, knowledgeable comment thread about fanfic-related issues. It's seven or eight hundred comments long.

After they've finished reading it, they can come back and recommence arguing.

kuwisdelu · Mar 23, 2013

HapiSofi said:
Nah. I reserve the right to assign troublesome posters to go read a certain very long, knowledgeable comment thread about fanfic-related issues. It's seven or eight hundred comments long.

That's not nearly as sexy a punishment as I was hoping for.

PowerWriter · Mar 23, 2013

kuwisdelu said:
You do have to do it for profit for it to be a criminal offense in the US.

I assume this forum makes money; therefore, it is letting people post stories for profit. The poster might be fine, but the forum owner will be the target. Hence the ban.

the wrong idea · Mar 23, 2013

HapiSofi said:
I wouldn't bet on that proposition. Among other things, I know way too many professional copyright-holding authors who also write fanfic.

True. I probably should have written "publishing industry" there.

The non-connection to fandom was the main point, though. The places that accumulate fanfic are generally either neutral content platforms (e.g., LJ back in the day) or fan communities.

kuwisdelu · Mar 23, 2013

PowerWriter said:
I assume this forum makes money; therefore, it is letting people post stories for profit. The poster might be fine, but the forum owner will be the target. Hence the ban.

I could be wrong but I'm pretty sure Mac doesn't run AW for a profit.

In any case, it doesn't really matter. Lawsuits are problematic enough.

MacAllister · Mar 23, 2013

Mostly, there are a number of really terrific and supportive fan-fic communities, elsewhere, that do what they do much better than we could.

We don't have anything against fanfic; I read some, lots of us write some, but it's just not what we're about, here. We're just more ideologically geared towards writing for eventual publication, either for fun or profit -- and publishing fanfic is a whole other can o' worms.

That, and getting takedown notices always makes me grumpy, so I try hard to avoid it.

HapiSofi · Mar 23, 2013

kuwisdelu said:
That's not nearly as sexy a punishment as I was hoping for.

I fear you've misunderstood what we mean by submitting to editors.

kuwisdelu · Mar 23, 2013

HapiSofi said:
I fear you've misunderstood what we mean by submitting to editors.

Dry clean me.

MacAllister · Mar 23, 2013

Do we need a stickied thread somewhere for people to talk about and link to their favorite fanfic communities/sites?

kuwisdelu · Mar 23, 2013

MacAllister said:
Do we need a stickied thread somewhere for people to talk about and link to their favorite fanfic communities/sites?

It would probably help. Along with a brief explanation on the general policy on it here.

We might need a second sticky to direct people to the fanfic sticky.

DancingMaenid · Mar 23, 2013

I totally get and respect the legal reasons for not allowing much sharing or discussion of fanfic on here, but I'm afraid I don't necessarily agree that the existing fanfic communities provide adequate support for writers. At least, I've had a lot of trouble finding any.

I've had a really hard time finding good beta readers for my fanfic (am struggling with that a lot right now, actually), and it seems like most communities that spring up that are devoted to the craft of writing and/or critique just don't survive for long. It can be frustrating for me, because the sources of advice and support I can find for my original fiction can be much more difficult to find when I'm writing fanfic.

I have had a little bit of success recently in getting some writing support, but not as much as I'd like. I'd still really love to have a beta reader who's a good fit for me, for example.

Deleted member 42 · Mar 23, 2013

I'mma gonna go ahead and write an FAQ. So please recc some fan fic sites for me. I only know a few 'ships, so I'd like to be a bit broader.

I'm hopelessly biased against, and downright antagonistic, about real person fic; don't push my buttons.

You won't like me when I'm angry.

Deleted member 42 · Mar 23, 2013

DancingMaenid said:
I totally get and respect the legal reasons for not allowing much sharing or discussion of fanfic on here, but I'm afraid I don't necessarily agree that the existing fanfic communities provide adequate support for writers. At least, I've had a lot of trouble finding any.

I've had a really hard time finding good beta readers for my fanfic (am struggling with that a lot right now, actually), and it seems like most communities that spring up that are devoted to the craft of writing and/or critique just don't survive for long.

It's mostly about finding the really good readers. And that depends in part on what community/'ship the fic is related to.

PM me if you want, and I'll ask around. I know a lot of fan fic writers, and I help with tech support for a couple sites.

CrastersBabies · Mar 23, 2013

Ya know, I haven't read a lot of fanfic, so I'd be interested in seeing links to other sites. Just for curiosity sake.

the wrong idea · Mar 23, 2013

DancingMaenid said:
I totally get and respect the legal reasons for not allowing much sharing or discussion of fanfic on here, but I'm afraid I don't necessarily agree that the existing fanfic communities provide adequate support for writers. At least, I've had a lot of trouble finding any.

I've had a really hard time finding good beta readers for my fanfic (am struggling with that a lot right now, actually), and it seems like most communities that spring up that are devoted to the craft of writing and/or critique just don't survive for long. It can be frustrating for me, because the sources of advice and support I can find for my original fiction can be much more difficult to find when I'm writing fanfic.

I have had a little bit of success recently in getting some writing support, but not as much as I'd like. I'd still really love to have a beta reader who's a good fit for me, for example.

Well... fandom as a whole tends to operate on a "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all" basis, and when it doesn't things often get extremely nasty. Coupled with fanfic having a lot of novice writers (cf. the various "fanfic is how I discovered I enjoy writing" comments) the unfortunate fact is that you get a lot of people who are bad at writing and worse at critiquing. Furthermore, people don't generally read outside their own fandoms. It's hard to get a large group of fanfic writers who can all critique each other helpfully.

My impression is that the best way to get beta readers and helpful critique on fanfic is to first be a pretty solid writer already, be active enough in fandom to make friends with other pretty solid writers, and then share stuff with each other.

As a rule of thumb, any comments you get on a fanfic are meaningless in and of themselves. The way to tell how good you are overall is comparing the quantity of comments and how many people read your stuff to other fics in the same categories (length, tone, pairings if romance is involved, &c.).

Amadan · Mar 23, 2013

Cyia said:
Let's speed this up, shall we?

Fanfiction rocks!
No! Fanfiction stinks!
Fanfic is fun!
No! Fanfic is illegal!
I write it!
I won't ever!
I love it!
I hate it!
I'm flattered!
I'm offended!
You're stupid.
No, you're stupid.
So's your mother.
No, so's your mother.
Mac gets a headache.
Medi gets a bottle and some shots to start the AW fanfic drinking game.

*lock thread*

Good summary, but you forgot:

50 SHADES OF GRAY!!!!

SomethingOrOther · Mar 23, 2013

kuwisdelu said:
Dry clean me.

I need my bunny outfit dry cleaned.

Why isn't fan fiction allowed on here?

but it feels so right

Freelance Writer

Hagiographically Advantaged

Rewriting My Destiny

A Gentleman of a refined age...

Revolutionize the World

Hagiographically Advantaged

Revolutionize the World

but it feels so right

Revolutionize the World

Tired and worried.

Hagiographically Advantaged

Revolutionize the World

Tired and worried.

Revolutionize the World

New kid...seven years ago!

Deleted member 42

Deleted member 42

Burninator!

but it feels so right

-