There was an piece here on publishing, and then I realised it was a) a pile of wank, and b) it was basically a pile of wank. So it's gone, because really... who cares.
Write because you love it. Stop if you hate it. Everything else is bullshit.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
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Tina - I agree with you for the most part. My issue is the testing of the waters as you put it only to pull the story once it is several chapters in for the sake of exploring the possibility of publishing it. It was posted as a Twilight FF, therefore, I so not see how it can be concidered original.
ReplyDeleteIf you are using characters created by SM then you forfit the right to consider it an original piece of fiction. IMHO. It pisses me off when a story is pulled part way through, with the only reason given is to explore the possibilty of publishing it.
Further to that, other sites continue to display banners for the story that only sends you to the story page indicating the author has pulled it. Very disappointing. As a reader and sometimes author I believe work that is intended to be original should be kept off of sites like fan fiction and the author should go through the process of trying to have it published, not tease the readers with a few chapters and then yank it off. Again only my opinion.
I wish all authors luck when trying to publish original work, but rewriting pieces of a story that has already been displayed in the FF world feels wrong to me. I believe it reflects poorly for the author and discredits the hard work of SM.
I'm done rambling now!
Lots of Love Ladies!
By the way Welcome back Lucy, I hope your vacation was fantastic, can't wait for the next chapter of TLM.
Pam - PJJ0930
Could not agree more. Maybe this issue will pass by fairly quickly but I doubt it. Many readers are mixed on this issue. While I can see both sides of the issue, as both a reader and writer, it is no less frustrating.
ReplyDeleteI have to say if a writer that I really enjoyed, such as IDoE, posted that she was going to be releasing an original work I would follow whereever she indicated to get my hands on it. Just because I love her stories on FF and believe an original would be just as good, if not better.
And if Lucy decides to publish something I will be first in line to grab it up!
Again my best wishes to those that are trying to publish original works.
Lucy
ReplyDeleteI completely respect you for your opinion, I just can't agree with it. I feel like a broken record that no one can hear, so I'll just say it like I see it. I believe we're witnessing the destruction of the fandom, because I truly don't think that there are those that wanted to see Twilight FF come to any of this. It's what it is. Twilight Fanfiction. I can't and won't ever read another all human tale using these characters again. They weren't human to begin with. I believe some are abusing a priveledge. And we'll wake up one morning and it'll all be gone. And now I sit, and I wonder, why is even the thought of writing anymore just a waste of time, if I can't share it with those who love it for what it was supposed to be. It's in my head, so I'll always have it, and maybe that's just where it's best to be left.
Tina,
ReplyDeleteAhhh the chicken or the egg - the eternal question! Not to be confused with the 'how long is the piece of string' question... he he!
I in no way consider myself a publishable author, and I have no intention to write something at that level - I barely have the time to sleep right now, let alone dedicate myself to something like that. One day? Who knows! I might win the lottery or get fuckawesome at poker and then have gazilion hours, cash, and free time, and an idea I'd love to try, as I sip endless frappe lattes at my own personal table at Nero's! And maybe someone to bring me rum. lol!
TLM was actually a writing sample from school that I worked into a fic. I still have the original piece I wrote for my coursework kicking around somewhere... on floppy disk no less! I had to track down a machine with a drive that would read it... not fucking easy, I tell you! lol! I'll dig it out one day - I'm not sure anyone would recognise it. But even still, I wouldn't consider the story I've generated some it 'my own' it starts off part way through Eclipse! It, like that other piece I've been chatting about with you, were purely examples. It's late, I'm trying to write a report on this Haiti quake still - I'm not sure if I answered your points... chat with me when I emerge from the weekend about this whole thing ;)
I completely agree that stories that are too close to the original idea SM had, or use too much 'cannon' should definitely not be publishable. The debate should be considered on a story by story basis - there is no arbitrary line that can be drawn as a whole on this issue, and the question of 'originality' is a massive fucking black hole.
But there are stories out there in the fan fiction community that are different enough, in my opinion, that I would buy if available - some are better than books I've paid good money for, or borrowed from the library! There are others I wouldn't. But that's what free choice is about. I do understand your point on whether they can even be considered 'original' works. I guess you'd have to ask each author and hope they're honest with you. The whole issue is a mess, but it is important it's raised, especially with the publication of more and more stories, and the availability to do so through technology available today.
I guess the lesson with stories that are being pulled, is to make sure you have copies for personal use - I like to have things to read on the train when my 3G and wifi goes poof! I'll be ctrl+V'ing and ctrl+C'ing when I get a chance *wink, wink*
I, like you, just hope these issues don't cause any negative ramifications for everyone who enjoys reading and participating in this community.
L xxx
Pam,
ReplyDeleteI agree - nothing chaps my ass like an unfinished story, but I'll always PM an author to try find out what the deal is. There are a few I've seen that have been continued (by themselves or someone else at a later date), or an author is no longer happy with the direction it's taking, and that's ok - there's nothing worse than reading someone butcher something you love just to finish it.
We might not like it, and yeah it sucks ass if you get invested in something and it disappears - but it's their blood, sweat, and tears, and so, their choice sadly. I'll still moan for the a good hour on twitter first... (someone should really beta my shit on there) but then I'll have a click around and find something else. If I waited for a story to be completed before I picked it up I'd be waiting forever, and I'm an impatient b-iatch sometimes. I love the run to my browser when an update comes into my inbox, it makes me all giddy!
It's the problem with chapter by chapter posting, especially if you're dealing with a story that wasn't originally planned out *cough* TLM - first 8 chapters, 3 days *cough* (read the two articles tagged as writing on TLYDF http://discerningficster.blogspot.com/search/label/writing anyone who hasn't *points at past self and drops head*). I did hear of an author out there who completes the full thing, and then posts a chapter each week - and damn it, if I was that organised and patient I'd follow their example (name anyone? It's lost from me right now sadly.)
L xxx
p.s thanks for the welcome back - I need another holiday already... lol!
K,
ReplyDeleteWriting is never a waste of time, but you should only do it if you enjoy it. The moment it stops becoming fun i'll be out of here like a shot. This is my fun, my hobby, my little secret that makes me smile in the middle of a shitty day.
You're right, it is a privilege, and I hope this doesn't become a wider spread issue. It'll be interesting to see if more self publishing groups spring up, and how they choose to select stories for publication. I completely agree that stories that are too close to the original idea SM had, or use too much 'cannon' should definitely not be publishable. The debate should be considered on a story by story basis - there is no arbitrary line that can be drawn as a whole on this issue, and the question of 'originality' is a massive fucking black hole.
But there are stories out there in the fan fiction community that are different enough, in my opinion, that I would buy if available - some are better than books I've paid good money for, or borrowed from the library! There are others I wouldn't. But that's what free choice is about. I do understand your point on whether they can even be considered 'original' works. I guess you'd have to ask each author and hope they're honest with you. The whole issue is a mess, but it is important it's raised, especially with the publication of more and more stories, and the availability to do so through technology available today.
I guess all we can do is sit and wait. Which nobody likes to do (insert inappropriate joke - i've got so many WW2 ones I could go with, but this would trigger an apocalypse on here I fear - some commentors have lost the ability to discuss in a calm and rational manner lol)
Much love as always,
L xxx
Tina!
ReplyDeleteAh ha! Janna Banana! Yes. Shit, we should all be like her, and that crazy lamb with her spreadsheet of fics ;)
Oh and Merina too! That is definitely something we can all learn from if you're not doing it already. Fuck... everyone else probably is aren't they? *facedesk*
As always, I bow to your font of knowledge.
L xxx
I'm just not that organised lol!
ReplyDeleteAnd I would never tailor my story to reviews. I'm writing what I enjoy - if other people like it, that's awesome. If they don't then whatever. I'd still finish even if nobody read it - I find it quite cathartic, I can get completely lost in it and black out RL when I sit down to write it. I'd recommend it to all commuters ;)
p.s start answering my questions wrong then, or with a non committal shrug of your shoulders - I'll stop asking you things if you give the impression you don't know shit ha ha!