Plagiarism and reviewing

[louiselux]

I see the plagiarism argument has resurfaced on the old flist.

There's this idea that people who write fanfic are not only breaking the law but are somehow wasting their talent/time/precious souls to boot. I delight in using someone else's characters and derive vast amounts of entertainment from it, as long as the author doesn't mind. If they did mind, then I think I'd stop. Which brings me to a point - would you stop writing fanfic if the author asked you to stop? What would you consider as 'stopping'? Stopping distributing or posting it, or stopping writing altogether?

Another hoary old chestnut that nonetheless bothers me, because you really can't get away from it, is the idea that by attacking someone's fic you're attacking them as a person. I don't believe this is true, but I can see why some people feel it. It's hard receiving criticism, as hard as it is to give pain-free criticism. I think the same general rule applies to this as to any social interaction - practise common decency in reviews and LoCs. Personally, I try and be honest, think about the language I use, and think about my own motives.

Comments

[millefiori.livejournal.com]

would you stop writing fanfic if the author asked you to stop? What would you consider as 'stopping'? Stopping distributing or posting it, or stopping writing altogether?

I probably would stop distributing or posting, but if I want to write it for my own enjoyment (and possibly the enjoyment of a discreet few friends) that's none of the writer's business. For example, I have a couple of Dragonriders of Pern stories I started way back in the day, before I learned of Anne McCaffrey views. I may finish them someday, but if I do I won't post them on my website.

The thing is (and this may be an unpopular opinion), I feel like a writer attempting to control what fans think and do with the ideas/story/characters s/he gave them is disrespectful to *the fans* and when it happens, my tendency is to lose respect for the writer and drift away from the fandom.

the idea that by attacking someone's fic you're attacking them as a person. I don't believe this is true, but I can see why some people feel it.

It is awfully hard to accept that not everyone is going to like my stories. I think that can end up being a comfort though -- if someone who doesn't like my story publicly reviews/criticizes it they may have some valuable insight I can use as a writer, but a big part of it is probably going to be that they just didn't *like* it, and short of changing my entire writing style, there's nothing I can do about that. As for people who can't differentiate themselves from their stories, I don't know what the answer could be. But I don't think that fandom as a whole should refrain from discussing fic to humor the few who are upset by negative comments and/or take them personally.

Personally, I try and be honest, think about the language I use, and think about my own motives.

I like that -- particularly examining one's motives! In both RL and online, I try very hard to always treat people the way I myself want to be treated. I don't think I can do any better than that.

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

In both RL and online, I try very hard to always treat people the way I myself want to be treated.

I think this is the only way to go, and it's so depressing to see people attacking each other online, when you know that for the most part it's just because there's no chance of them meeting each other in RL.

I like that -- particularly examining one's motives!

Sometimes I need to step back and think about why I'm writing to someone and the way I'm writing it. Did they just get in the way of my bad temper that day? Am I not bothering to sweeten the pill because this is the tenth time I've seen something I don't like and now my dander's up?

The thing is (and this may be an unpopular opinion), I feel like a writer attempting to control what fans think and do with the ideas/story/characters s/he gave them is disrespectful to *the fans* and when it happens, my tendency is to lose respect for the writer and drift away from the fandom.

I think the best writers know this and realise that non-profit making fanfic is essentially harmless, depsite the copyright infringement. At the same time, if an author says no, then that's entirely within their right too, and I'd respect that decision. Having said that, I might still write things for my own private entertainment, but I wouldn't post them publicly.

[millefiori.livejournal.com]

I think the best writers know this and realise that non-profit making fanfic is essentially harmless, depsite the copyright infringement. At the same time, if an author says no, then that's entirely within their right too, and I'd respect that decision.

I was trying to think of how fannish activity could hurt a franchise and I just don't see how. I mean, even the very worst, most depraved, kiddie-rape NC-17 HP fanfic doesn't reflect badly on JKR or the HP franchise, you know? The only possible damage I can see is a situation in which the fanfic is notably superior to the original writing (*coughthesentinelcough*).

I agree with you that a writer has the right to say no, but good luck to them trying to enforce it. I think it's impossible to completely stamp out, and trying to ultimately harms the franchise, because it makes the writer look like a controlling bad guy and alienates fans. I have to admit feeling put off by writers who are anti-fanfic. As someone else said, fanfic is an intregal part of my fannish experience and I'm unlikely to feel comfortable in a fandom where TPTB are hostile to people like me.

And I think it's extremely hypocritical for fanfic writers, pro writers who have written fanfic in their past, or pro writers borrowing from works in the public domain to turn around and say they don't want their fans writing fanfic of their work. Sauce for the goose and all that.

[louiselux.livejournal.com]

And I think it's extremely hypocritical for fanfic writers, pro writers who have written fanfic in their past, or pro writers borrowing from works in the public domain to turn around and say they don't want their fans writing fanfic of their work.

Someone asked me if they could write a sequel to one of my fics once, to which I said, by all means, but would you mind waiting until I'd written my sequel first, to avoid confusion. In the end I never wrote the sequel, and neither did they because they were waiting for me. I've always felt guilty about that. But the point is, there is a point here, I promise, that it was the first time someone had offered to write fanfic of my fanfic, and it was incredibly flattering, never mind that I completely blew it in the end.