I've been wanting to comment, but wasn't sure what to say. I'm not a big "thinky" type - in that I think, but can never convey what I have in my head (which seems all neat and organized) into words (when it all goes to heck and makes me regret saying anything.) But I do like to try (it's good practice, if nothing else.)
For starters - I adore fanfiction, and was so thrilled to discover that it was possible to not only think up and write your own episodes to your favorite shows, movies, books, etc, but that there were places to post them. And I'd hoped that, one day, my own works would become popular enough for someone to want to do a fanfic story of them.
Then, I ran into less that savory stories and stories that had left me ill for days, and suddenly the prospect of seeing one of my works made into fanfic wasn't so nifty. However, though I've voiced the possibility of not opening my works to fanfic, knowing me and people in general, I know that's not going to happen. Which is why I liked the part where Scalzi said he's okay with people doing fanfic of his stuff... as long as he doesn't see it. That actually made me feel better, because I know I won't try to stop people from doing fanfic of my stuff: not only because it would be hypocritical of me, but also because writing fanfic is so much fun, and I wouldn't want to begrudge anyone of that.
So, like you, I'm conflicted about a lot of it. I do think fanfic is a good thing - it's fun, a good way to better ones writing style, and so on - but the directions people have taken the characters and stories, the things they've had the characters do, makes me sympathize with those writers who have no love for fanfic (for that reason, and not just because of money or copyright issues). I would hate to come across a story that had my characters doing things, or having things done to them, that left me sick for days.
Not that it can be stopped. Even authors who said "you can't do fanfic of my work" probably don't know that, somewhere out there, is fanfic of their work. But, still, I understand if the dislike comes from a need to protect what they had created.
At the same time, however, neither is it really fair to ban others, as you put it, "from playing in their sandbox" out of fear over particular squicks. It was only a few years ago that Ann McCafferty lifted the ban that didn't allow artists to do fanart based on her books. I found the ban unfair. I do understand if it was due to certain squicks, but that meant artists who respected her books and wanted to do fanart for that reason were also banned.
no subject
For starters - I adore fanfiction, and was so thrilled to discover that it was possible to not only think up and write your own episodes to your favorite shows, movies, books, etc, but that there were places to post them. And I'd hoped that, one day, my own works would become popular enough for someone to want to do a fanfic story of them.
Then, I ran into less that savory stories and stories that had left me ill for days, and suddenly the prospect of seeing one of my works made into fanfic wasn't so nifty. However, though I've voiced the possibility of not opening my works to fanfic, knowing me and people in general, I know that's not going to happen. Which is why I liked the part where Scalzi said he's okay with people doing fanfic of his stuff... as long as he doesn't see it. That actually made me feel better, because I know I won't try to stop people from doing fanfic of my stuff: not only because it would be hypocritical of me, but also because writing fanfic is so much fun, and I wouldn't want to begrudge anyone of that.
So, like you, I'm conflicted about a lot of it. I do think fanfic is a good thing - it's fun, a good way to better ones writing style, and so on - but the directions people have taken the characters and stories, the things they've had the characters do, makes me sympathize with those writers who have no love for fanfic (for that reason, and not just because of money or copyright issues). I would hate to come across a story that had my characters doing things, or having things done to them, that left me sick for days.
Not that it can be stopped. Even authors who said "you can't do fanfic of my work" probably don't know that, somewhere out there, is fanfic of their work. But, still, I understand if the dislike comes from a need to protect what they had created.
At the same time, however, neither is it really fair to ban others, as you put it, "from playing in their sandbox" out of fear over particular squicks. It was only a few years ago that Ann McCafferty lifted the ban that didn't allow artists to do fanart based on her books. I found the ban unfair. I do understand if it was due to certain squicks, but that meant artists who respected her books and wanted to do fanart for that reason were also banned.