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Fanfiction snobbery
I've once more been exposed to the "fanfiction isn't real writing" thing. And from a couple different directions. And while sitting quietly fuming, I found myself wondering why these nay-sayers don't make the same statement about television writers. You know, the ones that take "pre-determined" characters in a "pre-determined" setting with "pre-determined" circumstances and grind out a new script every week. How can that possibly be called "real writing"? Sure, they may throw in an OC now and then, or put the canon characters into a new situation, or delve more deeply into a canon character's psyche - but that's not "real writing". They didn't, after all, come up with these characters themselves. They didn't set up the premise by themselves. They're just taking what the original writer(s) made and taking it somewhere else. And with the added caveat that other people can come along and make them change things, or toss it all together - so they don't even have complete creative control over their "not real writing".
But nobody says television scripts aren't real writing. So apparently the only difference is that "real writers" are hirelings and fanfic writers do it for love.
How odd...
But nobody says television scripts aren't real writing. So apparently the only difference is that "real writers" are hirelings and fanfic writers do it for love.
How odd...
no subject
And it can be hard work trying to make sure that the characters sound / act like the characters from the show. And if we can do that well, and our readers are gripped with the story etc. etc. etc. then what is not 'real' about the writing.
In fact... huh? What is 'real' writing FFS? It's all writing... its how well that it's done - isn't it?
no subject
Of course it is - it's still creativity and imagination. Some people just need something to sneer at to make themselves seem more important.