Roulette Girl (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
sparkfrost) wrote2010-05-06 03:39 pm
sparkfrost) wrote2010-05-06 03:39 pm
On fanfiction...
So, another author has come out against fanfiction. I have no problem with Diana Gabaldon declaring that she doesn't want fanfiction written about her Outlander or Lord John series. But I do have a problem with how she said it. Comparing fic writers to burglars, husband-stealers, and perverts trying to mack on her underaged daughter just pisses me off. Fandom Wank has a great round-up of all of this mess, and I'd definitely recommend following the link to ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
bookshop's post on the matter.
One of the reactions to Ms. Gabaldon's post was the writer stating that they would never read her books. Which, fair enough. If you've been offended by an author, why would you want to give them money? What confused me though, was one specific person's reaction- they said that Ms. Gabaldon had been added to their do-not-read list, which also includes Anne Rice and Laurell K. Hamilton, both of which are also anti-fanfiction. But, if I recall correctly, both were quite professional about their desire to not have fanfiction written in their worlds. No insults, no calling fanfiction immoral, just a statement that they did not want fic written about their characters. So that means that this commenter just dismissed authors solely on that basis. Why? There are plenty of authors who don't allow fanfic who I still like, read, and have respect for. Granted, I was disappointed that Robin Hobb was one of them, mostly because I had wanted to try to find and maybe even write fic in her Farseer verse... but I'm not going to burn my books now that I know she doesn't allow fic- I just won't write or look for fic. Same with George R. R. Martin. Still eagerly awaiting the next book in the series (and the HBO show!), even though he doesn't allow fanfic.
I don't know. What do you all think? Does an author disallowing fanfiction make you not want to read him/her?
bookshop's post on the matter.One of the reactions to Ms. Gabaldon's post was the writer stating that they would never read her books. Which, fair enough. If you've been offended by an author, why would you want to give them money? What confused me though, was one specific person's reaction- they said that Ms. Gabaldon had been added to their do-not-read list, which also includes Anne Rice and Laurell K. Hamilton, both of which are also anti-fanfiction. But, if I recall correctly, both were quite professional about their desire to not have fanfiction written in their worlds. No insults, no calling fanfiction immoral, just a statement that they did not want fic written about their characters. So that means that this commenter just dismissed authors solely on that basis. Why? There are plenty of authors who don't allow fanfic who I still like, read, and have respect for. Granted, I was disappointed that Robin Hobb was one of them, mostly because I had wanted to try to find and maybe even write fic in her Farseer verse... but I'm not going to burn my books now that I know she doesn't allow fic- I just won't write or look for fic. Same with George R. R. Martin. Still eagerly awaiting the next book in the series (and the HBO show!), even though he doesn't allow fanfic.
I don't know. What do you all think? Does an author disallowing fanfiction make you not want to read him/her?
no subject
Absolutely not. I can completely respect an author's right to say please just don't. And that alone would not make me lose any respect for them.
However, I was such a fan of Diana Gabaldon. I recced her books to everyone and after reading her blog posts (both in general and the recent ones) I can't do that anymore. The writing is still stellar, but I can't separate the writer from the writing, and she's just a mean and nasty person. She tainted the experience for me. You should read some of those responses she does on the compuserve message boards-- whoa-- I don't know how people don't run away crying when she talks to them. She's horribly full of herself and terribly insulting.
She lost a fan.
no subject
I'm so sorry that this came from an author you liked. I had been linked to some of the CompuServe responses, specifically the "white slavery" comparison. I just don't have any respect for this woman, but I feel bad for all fans who were hurt by her behavior.