Fanfiction and Me

[jasonandrew]

The topic of fan fiction came up this afternoon with a writer friend and how it can benefit the sales of a writer.

She asked me hypothetically if I would ever approve of Dylan and the Dream Pirates fan fiction provided it was picked up by a publisher.

Cut provided so that my wife doesn’t kill me.

I answered my usual answer that I’d give the same generic implied consent that J.K. Rowlings gave Harry Potter fan fiction. I very much believe that Rowling’s acceptance of fan fiction helped drive her sales to amazing levels. I am not saying this was the only thing that made Harry Potter a success, but I think it really helped early on. Truthfully, that is how I first heard of Harry Potter and I own all of the books. More than one copy for some of them.

And if people were writing fan fiction about my stories, they were reading my novel and a consumer of my fiction.

And then I added that there were less opportunities for fan fiction since Dylan and the Dream Pirates had mostly male characters, but that if it happened, I’d be thrilled and dancing all the way to the bank.

Note: Yes, I know that half of fan fiction is M/M romance, but the other half does include M/F.

And then my friend pointed out that Dylan and the Dream Pirates had talking cats and living ships and that where there is a fandom, there is a way.

People are strange.

And that's not always a bad thing.

Comments

[pink-siamese.livejournal.com]

Truthfully, that is how I first heard of Harry Potter and I own all of the books.

Me too! It's the only fandom I ever got into through the fanfiction.

[highway-west.livejournal.com]

I think a lot of that has to do with Rowlings encouraging people to run with it.

Whereas other writers go crazy at the thought of it.

[pink-siamese.livejournal.com]

Whereas other writers go crazy at the thought of it.

I know they do. I don't understand it. People in fandom are the people who buy every book, every season, every installment in the movie series. Also, it's flattering! If people are writing fanfic about your stuff, that means the story really works.

[highway-west.livejournal.com]

Yeah.

If that ever happens to me, I'll be quite happy.

[pink-siamese.livejournal.com]

If that ever happens to me, I'll be quite happy.

Me too. :)

[highway-west.livejournal.com]

And I will say that sometimes fandoms make me check stuff out.

Highlander: the Series for example.

Seeing someone else love something well enough to write about it can be enough to give it a second look.

[pink-siamese.livejournal.com]

Seeing someone else love something well enough to write about it can be enough to give it a second look.

I agree. Things that have a thriving fandom tend to be interesting, at the very least.

[highway-west.livejournal.com]

And even the old forgotten one.

I met a lady during a convention that listened to me talk about short stories that was very into The Greatest American Hero.

Made me remember that series with fondness.

[sasjhwa.livejournal.com]

Man I loved that series. I want the t-shirt.

[talithakalago.livejournal.com]

I've always thought of fan fiction as quite flattering. I'm not sure why people are so anti fan fiction at all.

I would object to people making money off fan fiction though.

[highway-west.livejournal.com]

Well yeah, of course.

Like that fool that sold the Star Wars fan fiction.