Am I being stupid/obsessed because I write fanfiction?

Question

I don't generally count myself as obsessed. I try not to be.

But lately I started writing fanfiction. As part of a writing exercise, nothing more. And partly because I had a scene that I had to get on paper...

But this makes me a bit of a hypocrite. I despised fanfiction as stupid before. But I really like having people hanging on my every word, when I have the power to entrap them in my work, to draw them in and keep them spellbound while I weave stories for them.

I should probably work on my own stuff, and think about publishing later on, and forsake writing fanfics...

What are your thoughts? Is it stupid? Obsessed? Or is there something to be gained from it? I guess I'm just struggling with the hypocrisy part...

I think it;s hypocritical because for one, I'm 19 years old, too old to be obsessing over a book/series enough to write plausable interactions. And secondly, much of the fanfics I read were not wellwritten, either being very first draft or written by people who are younger.

So I feel like I am cheating standards I set for myself... If that makes any sense...

Yes, I am in college.... No I am not spending tons of time with this. I find it easier and faster to write fanfic, because the characters are done for you.

Sometimes just ideas are not good enough, and I actually need to get something written. So when I am cramped for time, I can write a chapter for fanfic in 15 minutes to a half hour. So I was only writing it to get something out there... And I've only got the one story so far... I'll only write more if they come to me, I think. I meant obsessed with the original work, not with fanfics.

Answer 1

Lots of great feedback here, so I'll only offer my two cents.

It's true that fanfiction can be used as an excellent tool for improving your own writing and, later, you can move on to focusing more on your own original ideas. But what everyone has so far glossed over is the power of fanfic to tap into a built in audience who will WRITE BACK TO YOU! For people who love to communicate their ideas in writing, there is nothing more satisfying than having total strangers write back in a relatively short time span. You very rarely get that from professional, published writing outside of your circle of friends and family. Or, I suppose that in these modern times, authors can have their own web sites where fans can post comments. However the time lag between the time when you finish writing and the piece gets published is much greater than with fanfiction. Performing artists can tell you that there is no other thrill than performing for a live audience. Well, posting fanfiction gives you that same feeling.

I wrote two fanfic stories about 12 years ago for the first fandom that I became obsessed about. I was in my mid-30's and had previously thought fandom was stupid. But I learned a great deal about writing fiction through those two stories. The all-time best fanfiction writer in that fandom has gone on to become a published author and I am honored to say that I "knew her when." Just a few weeks ago, she treated her fans with a new fanfic that she dashed off in between completing the final edits to Book 2 of her trilogy (for Tor Books) and finishing the rough draft of Book 3.

So while the young kids might be giving fanfiction a bad name, this is one vote for hoping that you never forsake writing them so that those of us who appreciate quality writing can continue to obsess together over our favorite works through this shared activity.

Answer 2

I am not a fan of fan fiction myself and I would never accept it from a CW student, but if it is helping you cut your teeth on writing, then go for it. However obsessed? Are you in college? Do you really have time to be obsessed with writing so much of it?

What I would do with you is eventually get you to start developing some characters of your own using some of the character study forms you can download and have you start writing some short fragments and eventually some short stories that were original characters.

Personally I have to admit I actually wrote a fan fic myself. It was for Stephen Colbert as a gift. I took my son to his show for his 21st b day and we had VIP seats, the works. As a thank you present, I wrote my one and only fan fic which can be read at The Colbert Nation. However I made it original by putting him in the scenario of a 1940's detective noir fiction story - my favorite genre. They've asked for a sequel. I don't know if I will or not.

Get yourself a black and white marble notebook and fill it with ORIGINAL ideas. Anything. Bits of poems, drawings, thoughts, ideas, descriptions of people you notice at the mall, scenarios that interest you. When the book is full, put it away for at least one month.

Then go through it and cross out all the goofy thoughts (yes, there will be some) and circle interesting ideas. See if you can write some short fragments using those ideas. Then try to piece those fragments into a few short stories.

The great thing is once you create your own characters, you can use them over and over again, sort of like your own fan fic. James Patterson has Alex Cross, Daniel Silva has Gabriel Allon, Michael Connelly has Harry Bosch, Steve Berry has Cotton Malone, Nelson deMille has John Corey, Dan Brown has Robert Langdon. I have a character I have written more than one book about, too. Consider it your own fan fiction.


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They're, Their, There - Three Different Words.

Careful or you may wind up in my next novel.

Pax - C

Answer 3

I can understand your thoughts, because I've had them, too, lately. I used to be obsessed with fanfiction a year or two ago, and I used to write a lot, too, but stopped because of academic stress.

At the outset, I thought fanfiction was stupid, too, when I looked at sites like fanfiction.net, which completely dilute the quality of writing. But, as I wrote only HP fanfiction, I discovered that the Mugglenet fanfiction and the forums are a HUGE help for writers of not just fanfiction, but original,too.

Although fanfiction ideas are derived from another person's universe, writing fanfiction helped me improve my writing A LOT, partly because the ready-made platform for a story helped me to focus on the writing part. Initially there was the guilt factor, but then I convinced myself that I wasn't doing it for any monetary benefit, just intellectual benefit.

Recently, a friend of mine said writing fanfiction was 'tampering with a classic' (he didn't know I used to write it), and I found myself rising to defend it... I began wondering if he was right, so I revisited those stories in Mugglenet I used to love... and rediscovered why I liked them so much... You needn't worry that you thought all fanfiction is stupid... but changed your mind. I did, too, and I changed my mind, too. I can give you links to HP fanfiction that provide a whole new perspective to it.

I've come to believe that writing fanfiction, a good fanfiction, is nothing more than paying tribute to an author... And it would be an honour to me if people chose to expand my stories... Think of it that way...

Answer 4

Most fanfiction that's online is pretty bad, especially at sites like fanfiction.net (which is known by many as the Pit of Voles, or just The Pit, because it's so exceedingly bad). However, I know several published authors who write fanfiction for fun. Their work is good, and it's something they enjoy. Fanfiction has a long history. People like Robert Bloch got started writing what was essentially fanfiction in the 1930s, although it was on paper as opposed to the internet. There are plenty of people older than you who write for fun.

There's nothing really to be embarrassed about, as long as you are trying to do your best. It gives you a chance to learn about writing and to share your work. One thing to be careful of is that the fanfiction community in general as averse to any negative feedback. If you want to improve, negative feedback if critical. You have to learn what you're doing wrong if you want to improve. Try to find an online writing community that allows you to work with people who are better writers than you and who will help you to learn. This is something you may find though fanfiction, or through original writing communities.

Answer 5

If you enjoy writing fanfic, then write fanfic. There is nothing wrong with being obsessed with a book, series, show, movie, or anything else you love and enjoy. There is no age limit on enthusiasm. I know this question is 7 years old, making you 26 now. And if you still enjoy participating in fandoms and writing fanfic, then I hope you still are. I mean, damn, I'm your age and I've been carrying on a roleplay with my friend for ten straight years. Never feel like you have to apologize for, or rationalize, or offer an explanation for why you enjoy something, or how you enjoy it. It's no one's business but your own. Changing your mind about something is okay, too. Just because you didn't used to like something, doesn't mean you're never allowed to like it. You're under no obligation to be the same person you were five minutes ago. Rock on. <3

Answer 6

I personally am a fan for sure.

One, it forces the author to create an intriguing story while staying within the boundaries of an existing title. Which makes the stories sometimes that much more pleasing to read. It's interesting to see how fans twist and change stories to make them their own (kind of like remaking a song, I guess).

Also, it allows budding- writers to practice the art of writing itself, without having to worry about coming up with an idea. Their focus can be on learning to write (and write well!) and then, when they begin to be comfortable with that, they can move on and use what they've learned to make their own original piece. Perhaps doing a better, more thorough job than they otherwise would have.

Also, the more they write, the more confident they become. Which I think is really important if you ever want to go pro; having a confidence in your own ability to write (and the stories you produce). Fanfiction, because again you're already using pre-existing characters, settings, etc..., allows you to write stories faster and with every one you presumably get better and better. The more you get a chance to write, the higher your confidence level.

And like you said, as is with any kind of writing, the author gets the thrill of leaving their audience hanging (especially with sites such as fanfiction.net, where reader feedback is so easy to recieve). Which again, can provide important constructive criticism, confidence, and drive the author to keep writing.

Just a thought.

Answer 7

I have to admit I don't like fanfic. I'm just not into it, but that's just my personal opinion! LOTS of people are into it. One positive thing is that it's getting a lot of kids/teens to start writing and reading, when they didn't have that interest before. As a book lover and someone who believes reading is really important, this is a great thing!

So I definitely don't think you're stupid/obsessed/etc just because you write or read fanfic! It gets your imagination working and if you like writing your own stuff, you could use it as a writing exercise. One of my friends is 26 and in university getting a creative writing degree. She writes fanfic for her classes as an exercise. Try adding a new character, or working on a certain theme or aspect. Give yourself a goal before you sit down. Such as... "write 500 words and encorporate a problem and an ending." Or, open the dictionary, point to a section and write 5 pages of fanfic with a theme around that word. Things like that.

Good luck and don't think of this as stupid - if this is what you enjoy then just look at it like you're trying to work on your writing skills. You have a full slate of characters already set out for you so you can work on your descriptions, plots, etc, instead of starting from scratch (which is harder).

Answer 8

I don't indulge in reading or writing a lot of fan fiction but I need to say that it can be an extremely good way of 'learning' to write.

To write about already existing characters in alternate universes helps expand a fanfic's writer to analyze the situation in greater depth. Understanding the portrayal of characters by the original writer also comes in. In fact, I would suggest it's a great way to start on with esp. for people who wish to publish their own work some day.

Your obsession is good as long as your invested effort is helping you learn something & you alone can determine how much are you gaining from this experience. On a personal level, I've always learnt more when I write fanfic, besides giving me the pleasure of giving the characters a taste of my own imagination.

Answer 9

If this "obsession" isn t hurting anyone else and isn t hurting you, then there is absolutely nothing wrong with it and you should never be made to feel like you have to justify your interests. It doesn t matter how old you are. You re entitled to whatever makes you happy as long as it isn t causing harm. I m 24 and I write fanfiction, and I know people in their 30 s and up who do it as well. If it s not causing problems in your life then don t stop unless you want to stop.

I realize that this question is very old and that you re almost 30 now, but I hope you didn t give up on it just because people told you it was immature. I answer with this for the sake of anyone with similar concerns of their own who might stumble upon this question.

No one has the right to tell anyone else that their passion isn t valid just because it s not formally recognized as respectable. If it makes you happy and isn t hurting anyone then it s above reproach regardless of what people might say.

Answer 10

It's a step toward your own career. Go ahead and enjoy the writing. One day you'll wake up with your own story that just has to be written and the fan fiction will drop out of sight.

Many top science fiction authors (Jeah Lorrah, Jacqueline Litchenberg, and Mercedes Lackey are a few) cut their teeth on writing Star Trek fiction back when you could not get it published. It was strictly fan fiction. If you ever get hold of a copy of Night of the Twin Moons by Jean Lorrah, you will see that fan fiction doesn't always mean poor quality. (And you'll know what happened after Sarek's little joke at the end of the Star Trek episode "Journey to Babel".)

You'll know when it's time to put the fan fiction behind you.