Fan Fiction?

[ice_fighter]

Can anybody give me a crash course in the conventions and syntax of fan fiction? Some handy definitions of key terms would also be really helpful - "shipping"? "Mary Sue

Comments

[thefuriouscynic]

I am absolutely MORTIFIED that I know what these terms mean. This is what comes of hating fandom so much that you end up becoming morbidly fascinated with it. Here's a dictionary to help with some of those terms

[ice_fighter]

you + me = discussion of fan fic theories ...

[electricland]

There's a ton of info on fanfic on Wikipedia, which normally I am loath to recommend as a source, but it'll get you started.

Teresa Nielsen Hayden has things to say about fanfic here.

Speaking as one who's on the sidelines, fanfic (and the community that writes it) contains multitudes. I would be very wary of anyone saying it's always about X or Y.

[electricland]

Oh, and here's Teresa on Mary Sues.

[ice_fighter]

Thanks! this was very helpful. Its got me cookin' up some fanfic theories ... hmmmm

[ice_fighter]

i've got a bunch more question/theories - but my wrist is a lil' busted so i'll send/post 'em soon. for now, do you happen do know the name of the japanese/manga version of slash? i saw it on jonathan ross' japanarama ... can't remember the name ...

[electricland]

Yaoi? Hentai? I hear so many terms, yet I am so frightened to look them up.

[electricland]

We disagree on the definition of a Mary Sue. We agree that they are idealized authorial-insertion wish-fulfillment characters, but you believe "universe the author hasn't created" is an essential part of the definition, whereas I do not. (Mainly taking my cue from TNH, I must admit -- see my second link above.)