Fanfiction: It's Like Rape! And White Slavery!
If you haven't already heard, Diana Gabaldon, of "Outlander" fame, has compared writing fanfic to a whole host of icky things. So far, making the list of things that equal fanfic: thievery, breaking and entering, stalking, seducing her husband, planting pot in your neighbor's backyard, and WHITE SLAVERY. But not any other sort of slavery, I guess.
I probably could write an entire thesis on the probable legality of fanfic, and how I think it falls more into the fair use and creative commons circle than copyright violations, but I have actual work to do. I will point out, however, that authors like Jim Butcher and Mercedes Lackey have recently revised their own positions on fanfic. Basically, "as long as you don't make money off of it, and don't try to take credit for an idea that I might use, it's cool. Just don't send me your fic, thanks." This is a sound policy.
And, to be honest, any author has the right to say, "Hey! Don't like, don't want, knock it off." But comparing fanfic authors (and your own fans) to lazy bitches who try to steal your husband, stalk your daughter, plant pot in your backyard, and SELL YOUR CHILDREN INTO WHITE SLAVERY (I find this the most amusing comment from Gabaldon)... Well. That's just silly. And insulting. And a really, really bad PR move on the part of someone who has been around the intarwebz for a while.
If you've got the time, check out the comments on Ms. Gabaldon's blog, among other places, because there are some good ones. Mmm...wank.
And, while we're on the subject of published authors getting too big for their britches, did anyone see this article on Nicholas Sparks? I LAUGHED MY ASS OFF. You know why?
1. He doesn't write romance novels. He writes love stories. Romance is icky, yo.
2. He writes drama, not melodrama. Melodrama is for imbeciles, and he is no imbecile.
3. Sparks compares his writing to (and I shit you not): Sophocles, Shakespeare, and Hemingway. ALMOST IN THE SAME BREATH.
4. Sparks IS HIS OWN GENRE, BITCHES. No, really. No one else is writing what he writes. He's special.
5. When asked what his favorite coming-of-age story is, he names one of his own books. Yes. He does.
I am amused, y'all. I've read a couple of his books, and he's no Shakespeare. Also, he writes melodramatic romance novels without the happy ending. Which is why I don't read his books anymore.
I probably could write an entire thesis on the probable legality of fanfic, and how I think it falls more into the fair use and creative commons circle than copyright violations, but I have actual work to do. I will point out, however, that authors like Jim Butcher and Mercedes Lackey have recently revised their own positions on fanfic. Basically, "as long as you don't make money off of it, and don't try to take credit for an idea that I might use, it's cool. Just don't send me your fic, thanks." This is a sound policy.
And, to be honest, any author has the right to say, "Hey! Don't like, don't want, knock it off." But comparing fanfic authors (and your own fans) to lazy bitches who try to steal your husband, stalk your daughter, plant pot in your backyard, and SELL YOUR CHILDREN INTO WHITE SLAVERY (I find this the most amusing comment from Gabaldon)... Well. That's just silly. And insulting. And a really, really bad PR move on the part of someone who has been around the intarwebz for a while.
If you've got the time, check out the comments on Ms. Gabaldon's blog, among other places, because there are some good ones. Mmm...wank.
And, while we're on the subject of published authors getting too big for their britches, did anyone see this article on Nicholas Sparks? I LAUGHED MY ASS OFF. You know why?
1. He doesn't write romance novels. He writes love stories. Romance is icky, yo.
2. He writes drama, not melodrama. Melodrama is for imbeciles, and he is no imbecile.
3. Sparks compares his writing to (and I shit you not): Sophocles, Shakespeare, and Hemingway. ALMOST IN THE SAME BREATH.
4. Sparks IS HIS OWN GENRE, BITCHES. No, really. No one else is writing what he writes. He's special.
5. When asked what his favorite coming-of-age story is, he names one of his own books. Yes. He does.
I am amused, y'all. I've read a couple of his books, and he's no Shakespeare. Also, he writes melodramatic romance novels without the happy ending. Which is why I don't read his books anymore.