So, I don’t know about the rest of you, but I know enjoy reading fanfiction, particularly in over the last decade or so. Most of what I’ve read has been Harry Potter fanfiction- it seems like the Harry Potter world is set up well to allow for so many different ideas.
I’ve also tried my hand at writing a couple fanfics set in the Harry Potter universe (with elements of my own making incorporated). I never actually finished those stories, as life has a way of getting busy and what little time I had available to me should likely go to my books. That said, the ideas I’d had for my fanfics never really went away, and recently I pulled one of them up. I’m hardly saying the writing is perfect (I actually saw several spots where it could use work), but I did find myself captivated by the potential of the story idea.
I give this background as a way to set up a question that has been rolling around in my head for a while. Should I finish this fanfiction, even though it would take time away from my series? I keep going back and forth on what the ‘right’ answer is, and I’m still not entirely sure.
From what I have heard and decided over the years, arguments for fanfiction are that it would
- Serve as practice with writing, plotting, etc.
- Allow the author get feedback on my writing without first requiring a fully publish-ready status, and
- Allow the author to writing in a less mentally-intensive manner (given that fanfic operates with worlds/characters that are already designed).
In contrast, arguments against fanfic include that
- It is not original work (and in some people’s view, thus not really art),
- It takes time and energy away from creating original work (and is thus “a waste” of talent/skill/etc), and
- It’s not something you can publish/sell (and thus some people ask, why do it?)
Honestly, I’ve read some fanfics that are just as well put together as the original stories, if not more put together. I am not convinced that fanfiction is as terrible as some people seem to think. All this talk of “original ideas” being most important seems to go out the window when compared to people like Shakespeare. Most of Shakespeare’s plots were not “original,” nor were they meant to be. People went to see his plays to see what spin he put on their favorite stories.
Not everyone has the desire to become a published author, but that doesn’t mean their stories should be any less valid. It seems that perhaps the most important element to the question of whether to write fanfiction comes down to the story. Is there a story to tell? And is that story worth telling?
For me, I know the answer to the first question. I’m still trying to decide the answer to the second. We will see…
What are your thoughts on fanfiction? Do you read or write any? Do you have any advice to help with my dilemma of “number of ideas” vs “amount of time”time?” I would love to hear from you!
~ Theresa
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