(no subject)

[fpb]

As time goes on, I find that I get more touchy and less willing to put up with a great deal of fanfic bad habits. I mentioned a while ago the fics that spend a great deal of time and ingenuity in breaking up canon relationships and getting Harry in bed with Draco or Hermione. Another one that honks me off is the kind where Dumbledore is bad-mouthed - and I just stopped reading a particularly egregious specimen, in which the people who morally condemn Dumbledore are (get ready for this) several Marvel characters. It does not seem to have occurred to the self-righteous twit who wrote it that if we go through the Marvel canon, we shall find far worse than Dumbledore's supposed manipulative streak. That the writer him or herself was displaying appalling self-righteousness would not, of course, occur to him/her. And then there is the usual slash Draco or nice Draco bullshit. There are times when having fought with half Harry Potter fandom seems to me a positive badge of honour.

Comments

[elegant-bonfire.livejournal.com]

Back in the pre-internet days we used to call those "get'em" stories--fanwriter with an axe to grind uses their fic to do it. Most of the zine editors I worked with wouldn't take those fics.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

In what fandom did you use to be? I was involved in superhero comics fandom (hence I have encyclopedic knowledge of Marvel characters, which is more than this twit seems to) since about 1980 until 1999.

[elegant-bonfire.livejournal.com]

Hmmm, let's see...I started out as a STrek fan, then got into SWars, both of which I was heavily involved in for years, then I started getting into other media fandom--I read heavily in X-Files but never got further than a few plot bunnies.(or plot armadillos as my friend amedia calls them) I co-wrote a series in MiamiVice fandom and have also been active in Rat Patrol, Jag, and some of the other military fandoms. None of my stuff is on line, it's all in print zines. I don't really do much fanwriting any more, but I like to read fanfic and I love media conventions, as some of my best long term friends are my fellow fen.

I've sporadically read comics but it was never one of my hardcore fandoms, so I know most of the characters but I don't know all the backstory and story lines.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

http://fpb.livejournal.com/276242.html

[elegant-bonfire.livejournal.com]

That's some great artwork! Did you ever actually publish anywhere? I like the world-building aspect of SF and fantasy, which it seems you can relate to. Even with fanfic some of the fun is fleshing out the universe that the source material doesn't show you.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I published a small number of small press comics, but I never could break through to professional publication. There is indeed an extensive universe behind those characters. I also enjoy the opportunities that the HP universe affords - have you read my HP fics?

[elegant-bonfire.livejournal.com]

I actually have read a couple of your HP stories on fanfic.net, and liked them. There was one I particularly enjoyed, and I'm having brain fade right now as to the title, but I left a comment. Now I want to go read more of them. ;)

[fpb.livejournal.com]

FFnet has a few non-HP fics that I haven't published elsewhere (except here), including a couple of my best, Orpheus and What if Glory had won? However, you will find a lot more at FictionAlley, archived under "Fabio P.Barbieri".

[elegant-bonfire.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I will definitely check that out. ;)

[headnoises.livejournal.com]

Part of me says: Any good character will be badmouthed. To be expected.

The other part of me is too busy being pissed to type....

[super-pan.livejournal.com]

I don't really know much about too many other fandoms, but HP seems to really be full of some pretty silly ideas. I realize that at least one function of fanfiction is just fantasy, wish fulfillment, and some pubescent growing pains put into writing, but it can be hard to try and trudge through it.

[fpb.livejournal.com]

I would go further: I would say that whatever issues you may be working out - or not - with fanfic, I am under no obligation to have to endure it.

[baduin.livejournal.com]

Don't be offended, but actually why are you writing Harry Potter fanfiction? From what I've read, you are certainly good enough to write your own stories.

Moreover, Harry Potter books seem a bad source for fan-fiction.

The books are certainy a very pleasant read, but rather for some characters, and mostly for interesting action and sense of humor. They lack world-building which could exists independently from the novels: when you consider the world of Harry Potter on its own, it either collapses or requires elaborate explanation quickly diverging from the novels. This is by no means a criticism of the novels: the world fulfills its artistic function, and it would be a mistake for Rowling to over-develop it.

But when you try to write fiction in that world, you get mostly the short end of the stick: you can copy the world, which is not that useful; but you have to provide the sense of humor and the action yourself- in direct competence against the strong points of the original.

Your stories are of course quite good - but I don't exactly see what they gain from being fanfiction, except for some audience. But what good is a non-paying audience? And if you get fascinated by a character, isn't it better to develop him or her independently, in your own story or world?

[fpb.livejournal.com]

This is all built on what I am supposed to feel. Except that I feel nothing of the kind. As far as I am concerned, you are talking about things that do not exist. I do not want to sound offensive, but everything you say is the exact opposite of everything I experience and know.