Fan Fiction vs Original Fiction

[Xortberg]

I've been meaning to make this topic for a while, but I've been too lazy. Luckily, I was lazy enough to wait until the SFOConomy started, which means that I might be able to justify it to myself as a wise investment of my time

So, basically the deal is this: I know at least one of our members (although I've been lazy for too long to remember who, I seem to recall that it might be KKStarfox) generally does not approve of fanfiction, in favor of writing original fiction. I've come across this sort of mindset before, and the general consensus is that fanfiction is an inferior practice because it's easier and any time spent writing fanfics could be spent writing your own original work, which you could then possibly make money from. In short, the belief is that fanfiction is a waste of time.

I disagree, but since I'm not sure what the community here as a whole thinks about it, I'm gonna leave it at that until we get a bit more input.

[Psygonis]

Hum.

Well, as an original content maker myself, I'd tend to say this domain allow more creativity than "hardcore" fan-work.

I also think doing good quality fan-stuff takes more efforts because you have not to betray the soul of the material you use as a reference AND provide somehow a new insight on it.

[Xortberg]

Well, as an original content maker myself, I'd tend to say this domain allow more creativity than "hardcore" fan-work.

While creativity is kind of subjective, I see where you're coming from. In original work, you get to create everything and make your own rules, while in fanfiction you work with pre-existing stuff. But...

I also think doing good quality fan-stuff takes more efforts because you have not to betray the soul of the material you use as a reference AND provide somehow a new insight on it.

Providing new insights on already existing, possibly stale, concepts can be an amazing creative exercise. Plus, working with pre-existing worlds lets you do interesting things like flash-fiction, which would be much more difficult if you had to explain the characters and the setting and all that. I was able to do a 300-word ponyfic purely because it was fanfiction and thus the setting and characters were already established, so I got to instead of focusing on that aspect focus on trying to actually tell a story in 300 words or less.

[Milkyway64]

My opinion is simply that fanfiction is easy mode. People interested in the source material are much more likely to read it. It also means that you're more likely to get empty praise or bitter hate for just referencing their favorite characters or not doing things justice respectively.

Original writing has neither of those pros or cons and is the basis behind fanfiction anyway (everything there is fanfiction for was an original writing once) so while both are legit, I lean towards original work more.

[Gene Inari]

I've come across this sort of mindset before, and the general consensus is that fanfiction is an inferior practice because it's easier and any time spent writing fanfics could be spent writing your own original work, which you could then possibly make money from. In short, the belief is that fanfiction is a waste of time.

I also disagree, writing is writing, whether it is a work of fan-fiction or an original creation. There are really amazing pieces of fan-fiction floating around for the SF community if one looks hard enough; to call it an 'inferior practice' and a waste of time is insulting. True, a lot of fan-fiction is really lacking in quality, but there is a little thing called Sturgeon's Law; that 90% of everything is crud.

Personally, I really don't differentiate between fan-work and original material when it comes to judging a work, they're both equal to me.

[Psygonis]

Oh, did you mean original fiction, like... out of anything else?

I though the "original" you used was like "original" characters... in the universe of Starfox. 'Cause in that case, you still have to follow the guidelines of the universe you're inserting your material in (or else, it could be anywhere else and it'd loose a fair part of its strength).

[Xortberg]

My opinion is simply that fanfiction is easy mode. People interested in the source material are much more likely to read it. It also means that you're more likely to get empty praise or bitter hate for just referencing their favorite characters or not doing things justice respectively.

Making fanfiction is just as easy mode as making original fiction is. The real task isn't making it, but making it good, or great. It's easy to just throw some familiar characters in a generic situation and call it a story, and fanfic authors and original authors are just as likely to do it. The only difference between the two is that you know the original characters by the archetypes they represent instead of by name. The difficulty you face in making original fiction - creating your own worlds for things to happen in, following the laws of that world, making identifiable and likable characters - are extremely similar to the difficulties of fanfiction. Where making your own world for original work means you automatically know all the rules and laws, fanfiction requires you to know them all beforehand and be able to follow them. Where original work gives you the daunting task of creating good characters, fanfiction gives you what's possibly an even more difficult task in keeping existing characters true enough to themselves that fans will like it. So no, I don't quite think fanfics are easy mode.

Also, empty praise is empty praise and you'll get it anywhere. I've gotten plenty for my original work on Fictionpress, as well as for my fanfics.

Original writing has neither of those pros or cons and is the basis behind fanfiction anyway (everything there is fanfiction for was an original writing once) so while both are legit, I lean towards original work more.

I could argue that lots of "original work" is just loose fanfiction based on pre-existing concepts, but that's another debate.

Oh, did you mean original fiction, like... out of anything else?

I though the "original" you used was like "original" characters... in the universe of Starfox. 'Cause in that case, you still have to follow the guidelines of the universe you're inserting your material in (or else, it could be anywhere else and it'd loose a fair part of its strength).

I meant original work as in sitting down and writing your own book, making your own world, and creating your own characters.

[kkstarfox]

HA! So xort remembered some snide remark I made in the past!

Although I too started my writing career, at least my first "serious" attempt at writing a novel,writing fan-fic I still believe it is inferior. If that is a launching point for you, good! Then write on! I do not discourage any sort of writing or reading, in fact i do the exact opposite! However, it would be much more beneficial and satisfying in the long run to write your own material. I say this because all the proceeds and credits go to you as the write. Also because it is your work, or the writers work, he can do anything inside his universe that s/he so chooses.

Does it lack imagination? No, it takes imagination and dedication to write anything fan-fic or no. But there is a certain zest, a certain oomph, a certain je ne sais quoi that leads to greater satisfaction when you write your own material. As a writer you are the god of your universe. You make the birds, the plants, and hoo-mans or what ever sapient beings run your universe. It is the sense of creation, building up from the floor up, the literary world you create - that fan-fic lacks. And I say this because i have done both. Original material is just plain better. For the author and the reader alike.

[Psygonis]

I meant original work as in sitting down and writing your own book, making your own world, and creating your own characters.

Well in that case, I persist and sign! Original fiction for the win! \o/

[Xortberg]

HA! So xort remembered some snide remark I made in the past!

Nothing personal. I don't even really have a problem with that mindset, as long as you aren't an asshole about it (which you aren't). It just got me thinking and wondering if I agreed with you or not, so I decided I wanted to make a debate out of it.

However, it would be much more beneficial and satisfying in the long run to write your own material. I say this because all the proceeds and credits go to you as the write. Also because it is your work, or the writers work, he can do anything inside his universe that s/he so chooses.

While in general, you are right, but there are always exceptions to the rule. Fanfiction can occasionally be just as profitable as original work - look at the Wicked series as an example. It's essentially The Wizard of Oz fanfiction, but it's a bestselling book with a couple of sequels and a Broadway musical to show for itself. Now, you're not likely to really have that happen every time you write a fanfic, but imagine some guy who writes all the nice little FiM fanfics that follow a sort of episodic format, like the show itself does. Say he gets really popular in the community, and the team behind the show notices. Who's to say they wouldn't ask him to help them write for the show, or to use some of his ideas even?

As I said, exceptions to the rule, so totally not the norm, but exceptions indeed.

Does it lack imagination? No, it takes imagination and dedication to write anything fan-fic or no. But there is a certain zest, a certain oomph, a certain je ne sais quoi that leads to greater satisfaction when you write your own material.

This, I think, is actually a lot more dependent on the writer and not really stateable as a fact. The stress that comes with creating a world and characters combined with the fact that I'm a huge self-critic makes me actually kind of detest the idea of writing my own work. I find much more satisfaction in working with characters I already know I love and just trying to bend my mind in ways that'll let me figure out how to "realistically" manipulate them into different situations.

Original material is just plain better. For the author and the reader alike.

And again, I think this depends on the individual rather than being a stateable fact. If I compare my experiences reading the best original work I ever have to reading the best fanfics, I generally got much more invested in fanfiction. Fanfics allow me to instantly identify with the characters, which means there's less exposition and all that jazz, and it often challenges the way I think about things which is always fun for me.

[Psygonis]

You raise an interesting question there.

Doing fanfiction has something satisfactory (when properly done) for readers because to can enjoy a depiction of characters you love in new situations, in a new way that hopefully complete (or tastefully go against) the official material. And for the author, you don't engage your soul, using an already built base, only your touch and insight about it. And that is a "safe" thought.

But building your own world (even inside another one that already exists) has something rewarding, when you see your creativity turning into credible foundations for a new universe people may enjoy discovering.

These indeed are different kinds of satisfaction, and it's up to each author to seek the fun where it can find it! ;)

[ballisticwaffles]

Not sure if this has been mentioned.

Fanfiction has been around longer than most of us realize. The Aeneid, The epic tale of the Mythical founder of Rome, Used charecters and even the styles of both the Illiad and the Oddysee. EVen the opening line reflects both of these epic tales.

I am a fanfic writer, and the Limits of preestablished works helps we keep myself from jotting down my more exacerbant ideas. And while the source material is enevitably good enough to spawn fanfiction, The fanfiction helps either Stretch the universe out, or turn it in ways one owuld never find possable.

Plus you come with the knowledge of the charecters and the universe, so lenghty exposition isnt needed, Or if your like me you use fanfiction to judge how cool a series looks. Its how i got into Warhammer, Naruto and Neon Genisis EvanjellyDonut. I find Fanfiction is better than the Source is most cases.

I am not talking about bad fanfiction, which is a catagory in its own right.

[kkstarfox]

Borrowing style from different authors and meshing them into your own style is not fan-fic but utilizing a new technique. Its like scientist who test the theory of other scientists. Authors test the style and skill of other authors, and if they find that the style or technique works they use it too.

[Rin]

Writing is writing. I, personally, write whatever comes to mind. That includes fan fiction, from time to time. I don't see how it's an issue. Sure, it's a bit more fun, and more "original" to create your own characters, and your own world, etc. But fan fiction can be just as fun to write, and the few good gems out there are well worth it.

[myu]

I don't have anything against fan fiction. That's how I started out (I think, I don't really remember) but now I prefer original writing and kind of shudder at the idea of doing fan fiction (seems kind of weird coming from me, someone who does fan ART), but that isn't to say that fan fiction writing is easier. Sure, you have all the characters and the world already laid out for you, but you have something else as well - standards that fans expect you to meet. Personally, it's rare for me to come across any really good fan fiction and I've seen so much mind-numbingly bad stuff out there, which leads me to believe that it's exactly the opposite of being an easy task. You always hear people talking about all these great published works they've read, but you (or just me) hardly hear someone rolling off a list of excellent fan fiction. I wonder if people's thoughts would be different if fan fiction could be published.

I know a lot of people just "do it for fun" and don't spell check or bother to keep people in character, or they're just fulfilling some OC-canon character pairings - I'm actually curious about what people think of that, but that's a topic for a later date - but I mean, a lot of good, published writers do that as well, just with original characters instead. I guess the only real difference is that there's some kind of... prestige? that comes with creating an entire world and cast of characters on your own.

[Prince Elite]

Well i think it's dependant on your situatuion. Myself, i like to write, it's my hobby. but i mostly always write fanfictions because it's a lot easier to work with. I don't intend to sell my work, so that portion is covered. If your writing fanfictions as a hobby, then it's alright. But if your going to try and sell it, then there'd be legal issues so you'd be best making your own work. There's points of merit on either side.

[chaos_Leader]

Both have their place.

Trying to say one is inherently better than the other (outside of personal opinion) is an impossible task. How do you quantify the "quality" a given work of literature, fanfiction or otherwise? The vast array of written work out there is mind-numbingly monumental.

I started off a while back in a position of absolute opposition to fanfiction; I loathed the very idea of it as ludicrous; I've seen the field of 99% crap that makes up the overwhelming majority of what constitutes the cesspit that is fanfiction. I got into fanfiction for one purpose and one purpose only, but that purpose seems to have grown into a larger beast.

As for what's easier or harder, I will testify here from personal firsthand experience: Writing a good fanficion is ridiculously tricky to do. At least in Star Fox, there really isn't a whole lot for a writer to pick up on and use. This whole notion of the fanfic writer "creating a story in a ready-built setting" is absolute bullpucky. A good Star Fox fanfic --a truly well written and thought out work-- pretty much has to build the setting from the ground up, because the games and what precious little material there is gives next to nothing for the writer to work with. And in a skeletal setting like Star Fox, a [good] fanfic writer has many many many opportunities to delve into other aspects, and unearth fresh and engaging insights to explore and develop; the process can be loads and loads of fun and intrigue for the dedicated writer.

I will grant this however: the fact that there are known characters and at least a skeleton of a setting allow the crap faucet to flow more easily. It is very easy for a mediocre writer to slap some characters together whilst handling them poorly, whip up a jumble of a nonsensical plot and call it dandy. There are also huge swaths of fanfic-fandom with unbelievably bad taste who eat the crap up like candy, further propagating the fanfiction stereotypes.

I may write fanfiction, but I could probably dig my old flamethrower out of the closet and go on a raving rampaging ragefest about the kind of crap I have to contend with out there.

[Drasiana]

You can get hired off of fanfiction.

In the television industry, an important portfolio piece is a spec script. This requires writing for an existing television show. Why? To prove that you can write in-character and in-tone based on someone else's existing world and characters. This is a necessary skill for projects that are often composed of multiple writers, and it's important to make sure the guy you're hiring onto your new crime drama can write crime dramas; so it's helpful if he has some CSI fanfic script just sort of hanging around.

However this leads into a thing I dislike about fanfiction, in that the grand majority of it is not akin to the tone or characters found in the original world. This is not a fault of the craft itself, merely a result of the primary pool of fanfiction writers being an immature lot whose greatest fantasies comprise of hanging out with (or having sex with) their favourite Harry Potter/Sonic/Anime/etc. character. You will not get hired off a spec script about your amazing self-insert having sex with Rainbow Dash from My Little Pony.

If you do not write in tone, if you do not write in character, if your fanfiction is so damn AU it's hardly at all related to the original material, then why not just make it an original project?

I write both spec scripts and original material, both have their merits and both have their fallbacks. Crappy fanfiction exists, crappy original material exists, and all those degrees of crappiness boil down to the same artistic shortcomings on the writer's part.

[kkstarfox]

Yes, crapy crap exists. But I want to a paid and published author. That is my dream, and soon to be my reality. I can't get paid or published for writing a fan-fic. And writing novels take time, energy, and emotion. I'm not going to waste that on a fan-fic, which if i do write I will get attached to, and in the end no one will get to enjoy it because it won't be published.

[chaos_Leader]

So you want to be a professional novelist? Good for you. I wish you success and prosperity in your chosen career.

I on the other hand have other immediate career goals ahead of me. Even so, I still find writing to be a wonderful hobby, one that is both a worthy challenge for me to take on and overcome, as well as an excellent creative outlet in what would otherwise be a more-or-less mundane life. And so what if it's fan-fiction? The reason I chose to write for Star Fox and not something else was because I saw an opportunity to tackle an issue that nobody else (to my knowledge at least) has seriously attempted. So maybe a publisher isn't going to have it marketed and sold; okay, I can live with that, I'm not going to starve because of it. I know there are plenty of people perusing the sites where I post my work who read and appreciate it . . . right?

[Xortberg]

Yes, crapy crap exists. But I want to a paid and published author. That is my dream, and soon to be my reality. I can't get paid or published for writing a fan-fic. And writing novels take time, energy, and emotion. I'm not going to waste that on a fan-fic, which if i do write I will get attached to, and in the end no one will get to enjoy it because it won't be published.

While in general, you are right, but there are always exceptions to the rule. Fanfiction can occasionally be just as profitable as original work - look at the Wicked series as an example. It's essentially The Wizard of Oz fanfiction, but it's a bestselling book with a couple of sequels and a Broadway musical to show for itself.

Yep.

[Vy'drach]

It's easy to just throw some familiar characters in a generic situation and call it a story.

*cough*"Cupcakes"*cough*

Imagine some guy who writes all the nice little FiM fanfics that follow a sort of episodic format, like the show itself does. Say he gets really popular in the community, and the team behind the show notices. Who's to say they wouldn't ask him to help them write for the show, or to use some of his ideas even?

Once again, "Cupcakes." I still say A Party of One was influenced by "Cupcakes."

Now, on to the actual discussion. Writing is an art, there's no "right" or "wrong" way to do it, really. Granted someone could take a work of Shakespeare, and replace the humans with ponies, and adding in horse related puns for names of characters/locations. But even that requires a bit of creativity and originality.

Generally the reason people do fan-fics is because they care about the characters and want to actively shape their destinies, even if only for themselves. They want to see a universe happen that normally wouldn't if left up to the original creators. What's that, a dimensional rip happens in Marvel and DC land and all the heroes and villains get sucked into Equestria, and it's up to the heroes and ponies to defeat the villains to save Equestria? Why the fuck not? Because that sounds pretty damned amazing (also, Pinkie meeting the Joker could be the source of so much win that I would shed tears of joy, do it Xort).

Also it's not so much what you do that determines quality and whether or not it's "easy mode" so much as how you do it. Most people look at abstract art as easy mode, throw paint cans at canvas, ?????, profit. But a lot of those artists are actually trying to accomplish something, and won't stop until they feel they did, even if no one but them can see what it is, and to the rest of the world the failed projects look identical. They actually put effort in to their art, and it just wasn't appreciated. Then there's people who spray-paint electrical appliances green, add some faux-mentally deep title to the "collection," and get their "work" featured in museums.

Granted you likely won't get much from writing fan-fics over trying to write a novel or short stories, but how many painters have their works featured in museums? Not many, as most painters do it merely as a hobby. The bowl of fruit already exists, but they want to capture it in their way, because they enjoy it, and perhaps others will as well if they choose to share their art.

[Xortberg]

(also, Pinkie meeting the Joker could be the source of so much win that I would shed tears of joy, do it Xort).

I would love to, but I don't know much about comics and don't feel I could adequately portray the Joker ;_; It would indeed, though, be an amazing combination.

[chaos_Leader]

Now, on to the actual discussion. Writing is an art, there's no "right" or "wrong" way to do it, really. Granted someone could take a work of Shakespeare, and replace the humans with ponies, and adding in horse related puns for names of characters/locations. But even that requires a bit of creativity and originality.

Knowing the guy who's in charge of picking the shows at the theatre I work at, and the choices he's made in the past, something like this is actually not totally outside the realm of possibility. (but I don't think he's thinking about it) You could very easily take any one of Shakespeare's comedies and stick it in that cartoon, I think Midsummer Night's Dream might do the trick.

Generally the reason people do fan-fics is because they care about the characters and want to actively shape their destinies, even if only for themselves. They want to see a universe happen that normally wouldn't if left up to the original creators. What's that, a dimensional rip happens in Marvel and DC land and all the heroes and villains get sucked into Equestria, and it's up to the heroes and ponies to defeat the villains to save Equestria? Why the fuck not? Because that sounds pretty damned amazing (also, Pinkie meeting the Joker could be the source of so much win that I would shed tears of joy, do it Xort).

Yes to the first part, not so much at the second part. Then again, it is MLP. Give me a few shots of whiskey before reading it, and I'd probably appreciate it properly.

Also it's not so much what you do that determines quality and whether or not it's "easy mode" so much as how you do it. Most people look at abstract art as easy mode, throw paint cans at canvas, ?????, profit. But a lot of those artists are actually trying to accomplish something, and won't stop until they feel they did, even if no one but them can see what it is, and to the rest of the world the failed projects look identical. They actually put effort in to their art, and it just wasn't appreciated. Then there's people who spray-paint electrical appliances green, add some faux-mentally deep title to the "collection," and get their "work" featured in museums.

Hey, that's dadaism, and they were like the premiere trolls of their time. They made a whole art and literary movement designed specifically to make uppity people angry at them. Dadaists/Absurdists can be so much fun this way sometimes, other times they're a pain in the backside.

Here we have one of the masterpieces of such a style: "The Fountain"

And yes, it's a urinal, but it's also somuch more :troll:

[Fira-Astrali]

Yes, crapy crap exists. But I want to a paid and published author. That is my dream, and soon to be my reality. I can't get paid or published for writing a fan-fic. And writing novels take time, energy, and emotion. I'm not going to waste that on a fan-fic, which if i do write I will get attached to, and in the end no one will get to enjoy it because it won't be published.

True, you can't get paid or published... okay that's not even true as Xort has shown, but that's somewhat of an exceptional cercumstance. But I don't think any type of writing is a waste of energy. Fan-fiction is always a good place to start, because you can ease into writing and focus more on developing your style than worrying about whether or not you can cram everything in the first time around.

Also, it can be a good spring board for your own original work, at least that's what happened to me. I made a filler character because I didnt like that Starwolf and Starfox weren't evenly matched, and it grew into something that is workable as an original piece. You can't value the writing based on the subject matter, because it all gives you a chance to hone your skills.