Pre-Birthday Holiday -or- In Defense of Fanfic

[dwgm]

Yay! Day off! Going to Disneyland with a number of my peeps tomorrow, so had to take a day for homework and bill-paying. These have not occurred due to being sidetracked when I clicked a link on alg's journal this morning and was transported to bookshop's fabulous post, I'm done explaining to people why fanfic is OK, written in response to a recent rant by Diana Gabaldon (!). There are many associated links, and the whole thing has ended up on Fandom Wank where the post has garnered something like 1600+ comments, lol. Interesting reading all around, but bookshop's list of great literature-that's-really-fanfic is a keeper -- check it out!

I have cookies and milk!!!! On my profile page, a virtual gift from celandineb. Many, many thanks to her.

I finally saw Ironman last night, ordered the DVD from Amazon, and it was very good, though I expect my appreciation would be enhanced by a familiarity with the Marvel comics. However, RDJ has always been a favorite of mine, and he did not disappoint. I expect we will be seeing Ironman 2 in the theater.

OK, homework and bill paying, coming up.

ETA: Drama Button! Just what I've always needed!

Comments

[felaine.livejournal.com]

Have fun tomorrow.

Yeah, someone needs to calmly explain to authors:
fanfic is speculation on possible interpretations of your characters and situations, a variation of book club and discussion groups for those interested in your work.
So don't have a cow, okay?
*end of rant*
;)
Felaine

[(Anonymous)]

First things first: Happy Birthday!!!!!

Another day older and deeper in debt, eh?

It was disappointing that DG went off on a rant. We all have our days, I suppose. I know she's been really down on it for a long time. I can see both sides of the issue. It would seem that it has had echoing repercussions throughout the realm.

Go and celebrate, and have a good time!! I know you will!!!

[djarum99.livejournal.com]

Happy Birthday again!

I love bookshop's metas, and I've added the drama button to my links :-)

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

I was surprised to hear she was so against fanfic, but really all she had to do was post a polite request to not write it. As it is, she's really stirred up a huge hornets' nest with her rather ill-considered remarks. Maybe she didn't realize just how many people write fanfic? And how good the quality can be, too.

Thank you for the good wishes, I'm looking forward to seeing Captain Eo, and Aladdin the Musical.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

bookshop really writes well, and that's a wonderful defense of fanfic.

Happy Birthday to Us!!!

[veronica-rich.livejournal.com]

I have to say, I never would have even heard of that jumped-up Harlequin romance writer if not for penknife's Lord John fanfic. Which means I wouldn't have bought that book. So she needs to shut up, sit down, and count the extra cash she has DUE TO fanfic. Christ almighty.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Well, yes, it is free advertising. I can't help but wonder if she realized how many fanfic writers/readers there are out there, and from some of the comments of her supporters it seems they can't have read much, if any. They seem to question the fact that fanfic can actually be better written than the canon material.

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the birthday wishes, whoever you are!

I know she's been really down on it for a long time. I can see both sides of the issue.

I wasn't aware she disliked fanfic based on her work - many authors are fine with it, and somehow I thought she was of that persuasion, mostly based on the emphasis on porn in her own work, and the slashiness of the Lord John series. I can see both sides, too, of course, but that's not the issue. If she'd just politely asked writers to refrain from posting Outlander fic that would have been one thing, but she said some very insulting things about the writers/readers of fanfic. Not cool.

[florencia7.livejournal.com]

Happy Birthday! ♥

Thank you for the link to bookshop's post! It's awesome :)

Have a wonderful day!!!

[geekmama.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the birthday wishes, and that great banner!

[trinityday.livejournal.com]

bookshop's post was the only thing I really paid attention to this kerfluffle. Mostly because I've had to add a few things to my "to read sometime eventually hopefully before I die" list.

[hereswith.livejournal.com]

I'm no fan of Gabaldon, but it was still depressing to read that whole thing, and the discussions that have followed on her journal. It's one thing to not want fanfic of one's work and another to make sweeping, disparaging statements about a whole group of people. I really liked bookshop's post, though!

I saw Iron Man 2 yesterday! It was a bit long, I thought, but worth seeing, and RDJ was as good as in the first movie :-)

[luvvycat.livejournal.com]

Quite interesting, this "flap" about Gabaldon and fanfic!

Of course, no one has yet pointed out the most blatant act of hypocrisy reflected by her stance on this issue. I recall reading, quite a while back, that Gabaldon herself has stated that her Jamie Fraser character was inspired by the "Doctor Who" character, Jamie McCrimmon (a Scots Highlander companion of the Doctor), played by Frazer Hines.

So much for her beloved "original characters" being so sacred, eh? She, herself, is guilty of "borrowing" characters created by other writers. Not so tolerant, is she, when the shoe is on the other foot!

(Not to mention the time travel aspect of her novels, that could also be seen as being totally derived from "Doctor Who.")

I have her first novel in my library, but have never got around to reading it. Doubt I will, now (though I have friends who are completely into Gabaldon's work) ...

-- Cat

[compassrose7577.livejournal.com]

LOL!!! It was me! I was using Scott's computer..... need I say more?

[compassrose7577.livejournal.com]

I've known DG for a while. She's always been death on fanfic. I'm not sure what all has happened since (obviously something, to her mind), but she hasn't flattered herself. It's rather disappointing, to say the least. None of us like to see our heroes falter.

[compassrose7577.livejournal.com]

She's usually very amiable and giving, and extremely supportive to anyone striving to be a writer. It's rather devastating to see her go off on such a tangent, and a highly emotional and not well thought out one at that. Just the amount of response would indicate she's struck quite a cord.

Your point on originality is a good one! Who among ANY writer can claim to be COMPLETELY original. After all, we're told to "study" other writers. Doesn't that mean we're "copying", in essence?