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matilda36Ok, following from my previous post, here are the reasons why I do think fanfic is good training for aspiring writers:
1) Offers the writer the chance to work with ready-made three-dimensional characters, in a ready-made world. In this way, all the writer need to focus on is to keep the characters in character and develop their own voice.
2) A stimulating writing environment: challenges, collaborations, ficathons are good examples. The writer's block hits you? There are plenty of ways to wake up your muse out there. You can manage only short pieces? Write a drabble. Need a plot bunny? Take up a challenge. Need moral support? Write a collaboration. Talking about collaborations, I like what happens at d_s, were visual artists and writers often inspirate each other.
3) Visibility: communities, archives, web-sites, lj and most importantly word of mouth all offer you the chance to have your work read by as many (or as few) people as you want.
4) Feedback. Well written feedback is the blood of writing. It makes you feel read, while at the same time giving you the chance to improve your writing. It is usually written by people who are writers themselves, or as passionate about the canon as you are. Obviously flames exist, but I try to look at the bright side of life and look at the positive aspect of flame that is...
5)Makes your skin thicker. Being flamed, or involved in a fandom war, is the best training you can have to deal with editors, publishers, agents and literary critics. I do think that politics is the only place were you can find bigger sharks than fandom. Or maybe not. Some BNF could give lessons to George Bush. I am sure (even if I have no prove whatsoever) that Condy Rice relaxes and collect tips by reading F-W, ljdrama or fanficrants.
6)It's no strings attached fun, and gives you the chance to make friends who share your opinions.
Now, I know that probably for any of my positives there are at least 2 negatives, but this is a starter, and as before, comments welcome.
1) Offers the writer the chance to work with ready-made three-dimensional characters, in a ready-made world. In this way, all the writer need to focus on is to keep the characters in character and develop their own voice.
2) A stimulating writing environment: challenges, collaborations, ficathons are good examples. The writer's block hits you? There are plenty of ways to wake up your muse out there. You can manage only short pieces? Write a drabble. Need a plot bunny? Take up a challenge. Need moral support? Write a collaboration. Talking about collaborations, I like what happens at d_s, were visual artists and writers often inspirate each other.
3) Visibility: communities, archives, web-sites, lj and most importantly word of mouth all offer you the chance to have your work read by as many (or as few) people as you want.
4) Feedback. Well written feedback is the blood of writing. It makes you feel read, while at the same time giving you the chance to improve your writing. It is usually written by people who are writers themselves, or as passionate about the canon as you are. Obviously flames exist, but I try to look at the bright side of life and look at the positive aspect of flame that is...
5)Makes your skin thicker. Being flamed, or involved in a fandom war, is the best training you can have to deal with editors, publishers, agents and literary critics. I do think that politics is the only place were you can find bigger sharks than fandom. Or maybe not. Some BNF could give lessons to George Bush. I am sure (even if I have no prove whatsoever) that Condy Rice relaxes and collect tips by reading F-W, ljdrama or fanficrants.
6)It's no strings attached fun, and gives you the chance to make friends who share your opinions.
Now, I know that probably for any of my positives there are at least 2 negatives, but this is a starter, and as before, comments welcome.
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Date: 2005-08-24 03:13 pm (UTC)Also, having your own ground and owning it is something anyone can do. This can be a locked lj or whatever.
I also have a tight ring of friend/supporters and that's a key lesson to surviving the rocky side of creative endevours. In a way, that's what friending is. It's people to get your back in the often confusing and scary world of lj. So I have that and I think that's why I've ever been able to accomplish anything.
Friending itself often is a sign of who someone is...are they someone who 'unleashes' their flist on someone at the slightest excuse? Or are they someone who spends most of their time just having fun and ignoring the crap.
I've learned a lot just from watching all this and there are some people I really admire that seem to float above it all, positive and creative.
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Date: 2005-08-29 01:34 pm (UTC)It's all about balance and sometimes that takes a ong time to achive. Also, self-control.
It's easier to bitch than to just let things be, it seems.
For me personally, while I still have moments where I get sucked into the dungeons of the fandom I write in, I've managed to find a way to let most of it go and focus on my writing and friends who really want to exchange ideas, who want to enjoy themselves, and who are lookign for support and encouragement.
It's a shame that so many of us don't see the wonderful side of fandom and LJ.
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Date: 2005-08-29 01:44 pm (UTC)For those that might like to start a writing career of their own, I find that fanfic is a wonderful way to get started. The universe is created for you. The characters are complete. The technology and little touches are all crafted. All you need to do is make sure you keep the characters in character and write a sufficient plot of interest.
If you're lucky, you can usually find a really supportive and encourging group of people to help you along the way and in turn you can then give out support as well. I must say that I haven't been as successful in this area as others, but the type of fiction I write isn't the most popular out there. (GEN) But, for those that do find that niche, LJ, forums, lists, and archives can be great places to meet new people with similar interest and who will help you better your craft.
I can tell you that through betas, through episode and character discussion, and through learning and perfecting my writing is 10x better than it was a year agao. And a year before that. So on and so forth. Yes, it can be argued that we grow in skill as we do wisdom as the years go by, but I can't deny that fandom exposure hlped me with this process.
On the negative side, fandoms can make you lazy. You can skimp on character description since people already know what they look like. Some settings you don't have to describe. You don't get practive on making central original characters (mostly). You don't get practice on world creating. And, if everyone loves your fanfic, why bother to write something new and original?
And with orginal fic, you will not get instant feedback. No, you might not get any, if you even make it that far. Fandom is all about instant gratification, something that some writers take way too far and way too seriously.
So really, yes there are negatives and positives. You just have to balance yourself and train your mind. Be dedicated and determined, and fanfic and fandom will really become a useful tool in your writer's kit. ;)