I'm thoughtful today
Oct. 14th, 2004 04:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
swatkatI wanted to write that post about archetypes in characterisation that has been eating my brain since, like, forever, but I ended up doing this instead.
I wanted to post this on the FFMB, but I'm not sure if I will – I don't know the OP and I wouldn't want to get into an argument with her (as well as another poster who agrees with her) and scare her off the board. The difference between an 'author' and a 'writer', well - when I was a kid (think really young, about 7 or 8 years old), I used to think 'author' was just a very nice way of saying 'writer', because the word sounds so much more impressive than a mere 'writer'; I always wrote 'author' in my answers and thought I was so smart because all my friends wrote 'writer'. And call me naive, but that's the impression I still have, that 'writer' and 'author' are two ways of saying the same thing. You know, pot-a-to, pot-a-to.
There is that age-old debate: does a person become an author only when he/she is published, and all amateur/non-published folks are actually just mere writers? Is writing fanfiction somehow less than original fiction? And is fanfiction just a stepping stone for published glory, and anyone else who doesn't *have* that intention in mind while writing their fics somehow lesser than those who do hope to be published authors one day? I've seen this debated to no end everywhere – fun debates, some flamewars, even (and people picking up their toys and leaving in a huff) – but none of it really holds any meaning for me, because to me, these questions themselves are quite pointless.
First, I don't think there's any differnece *at all* between a writer and an author, no matter what one says, so the idea that someone becomes an L337 Author (tm) only when they are published is, well, bullshit. Getting published is a great thing; I congratulate anyone who does get published, and my best wishes for anyone who hopes to become published one day. That said, just being published doesn't mean a thing – it took James Joyce *nine* years to find a publisher for Dubliners; Anne Rice gets published without an editor. As far as I'm concerned, even the teenie Mary Sue authors over at ff.net are Authors, even if they write very bad stories.
I don't understand why writing fanfiction should be something lower than writing origfic. So we're playing with someone else's chatacters – so what? Does this mean that fanfic authors can somehow get away by being less creative? What about the folks who spend days 'fixing' a plothole because TPTB couldn't be bothered doing it? And those who create elaborate alternate universes that are actually better than TPTB's half-baked plotlines? *None* of Shakespeare's plots *or* characters were his own – and he's still the greatest Author ever (note: not comparing. Just making a point).
And finally, the thing about fanfiction being the stepping stone to published glory: I'm sure there are people who do their fic writing with this in mind, but I think it is quite unfair to generalise anyone who *doesn't* have the intention to become a published author as someone who's not serious about their writing. There *are* people who don't want to get published: writing may just be a hobby – but someone writing as a hobby may not necessarily be any less serious than someone who wants to become a pro. An uncle of mine is an amateur wildlife photographer: I can't begin to tell you the amount of pains he undergoes to hone his skills and become a better photographer. And people do acknowledge this. Why should writing, writing *anything* at all, be different? A professor of mine writes mind-blowing essays. You know, the kind of essays that could easily find their place in a critical collection alongside all the Bradleys and Knights (dear God, when I grow up, can I write just like her?); and yet, when you ask her if she ever wishes to publish them, she will just shrug and say,"What for? I wrote it for you guys – I'm happy if you can put it to good use". And it's not like she doesn't work hard for them, it's not that she doesn't want praise – everyone wants praise, whether they admit it or not – just because getting published does not fall in her priority list doesn't make her, or anyone else like her, a lesser author. Not according to my standards, anyway.
Wow. That was long. And rant-like. *sheepish grin*
On a lighter note, I'm not one to make fun of people's appearances – but could Anne Rice look any more like Umbridge?
ETA:Keep the snark down, please. This isn't locked. *g*
I wanted to post this on the FFMB, but I'm not sure if I will – I don't know the OP and I wouldn't want to get into an argument with her (as well as another poster who agrees with her) and scare her off the board. The difference between an 'author' and a 'writer', well - when I was a kid (think really young, about 7 or 8 years old), I used to think 'author' was just a very nice way of saying 'writer', because the word sounds so much more impressive than a mere 'writer'; I always wrote 'author' in my answers and thought I was so smart because all my friends wrote 'writer'. And call me naive, but that's the impression I still have, that 'writer' and 'author' are two ways of saying the same thing. You know, pot-a-to, pot-a-to.
There is that age-old debate: does a person become an author only when he/she is published, and all amateur/non-published folks are actually just mere writers? Is writing fanfiction somehow less than original fiction? And is fanfiction just a stepping stone for published glory, and anyone else who doesn't *have* that intention in mind while writing their fics somehow lesser than those who do hope to be published authors one day? I've seen this debated to no end everywhere – fun debates, some flamewars, even (and people picking up their toys and leaving in a huff) – but none of it really holds any meaning for me, because to me, these questions themselves are quite pointless.
First, I don't think there's any differnece *at all* between a writer and an author, no matter what one says, so the idea that someone becomes an L337 Author (tm) only when they are published is, well, bullshit. Getting published is a great thing; I congratulate anyone who does get published, and my best wishes for anyone who hopes to become published one day. That said, just being published doesn't mean a thing – it took James Joyce *nine* years to find a publisher for Dubliners; Anne Rice gets published without an editor. As far as I'm concerned, even the teenie Mary Sue authors over at ff.net are Authors, even if they write very bad stories.
I don't understand why writing fanfiction should be something lower than writing origfic. So we're playing with someone else's chatacters – so what? Does this mean that fanfic authors can somehow get away by being less creative? What about the folks who spend days 'fixing' a plothole because TPTB couldn't be bothered doing it? And those who create elaborate alternate universes that are actually better than TPTB's half-baked plotlines? *None* of Shakespeare's plots *or* characters were his own – and he's still the greatest Author ever (note: not comparing. Just making a point).
And finally, the thing about fanfiction being the stepping stone to published glory: I'm sure there are people who do their fic writing with this in mind, but I think it is quite unfair to generalise anyone who *doesn't* have the intention to become a published author as someone who's not serious about their writing. There *are* people who don't want to get published: writing may just be a hobby – but someone writing as a hobby may not necessarily be any less serious than someone who wants to become a pro. An uncle of mine is an amateur wildlife photographer: I can't begin to tell you the amount of pains he undergoes to hone his skills and become a better photographer. And people do acknowledge this. Why should writing, writing *anything* at all, be different? A professor of mine writes mind-blowing essays. You know, the kind of essays that could easily find their place in a critical collection alongside all the Bradleys and Knights (dear God, when I grow up, can I write just like her?); and yet, when you ask her if she ever wishes to publish them, she will just shrug and say,"What for? I wrote it for you guys – I'm happy if you can put it to good use". And it's not like she doesn't work hard for them, it's not that she doesn't want praise – everyone wants praise, whether they admit it or not – just because getting published does not fall in her priority list doesn't make her, or anyone else like her, a lesser author. Not according to my standards, anyway.
Wow. That was long. And rant-like. *sheepish grin*
On a lighter note, I'm not one to make fun of people's appearances – but could Anne Rice look any more like Umbridge?
ETA:Keep the snark down, please. This isn't locked. *g*
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2004-10-15 01:10 pm (UTC)I'm a professional author, and usually use the word "writer" to describe myself, but obviously the label's not the real issue here. (Besides, I write TV tie-in novels, so many people consider me a fan fiction writer anyway :-).
There are differences between fanfic and professional writing. Pro writers have a number of advantages, such as pro betas in the form of editors, larger audiences, and advances. (I was able to switch from full- to part-time work at one point.) Where anyone can publish anything online or in their fanzine, pro fiction is selected from many possible manuscripts, and polished.
As you'll notice, I haven't included factors like talent, experience, originality, or TLC on that list. :-)
Like falling in love, getting published makes you think *everyone* should be doing it. :-) It's tempting to think of it as a "waste" when an obviously talented writer is only producing fanfic - you feel they deserve a bigger audience, and besides, so much utter crap gets professionally published, we need more good writers on the bookshelves. What's more, too many talented writers are too timid to give it a try, so it's natural to want to
pushencourage them in that direction. But not everyone *wants* to write for that wider audience, or to deal with the restrictions that the publishing industry will place on them. It took me a long time to understand that - that fanfic is not necessarily some sort of apprenticeship.I must confess that, as a newcomer to HP fandom, I have seen many defences of fanfic against charges of being "lesser" writing, but I haven't actually seen anyone say it was lesser writing. I don't think fanfic writers have any reason to feel defensive about their craft.
no subject
Date: 2004-10-15 04:36 pm (UTC)I'm a professional author, and usually use the word "writer" to describe myself, but obviously the label's not the real issue here.
Me too.
(Besides, I write TV tie-in novels, so many people consider me a fan fiction writer anyway :-).
Me too.:-)
no subject
Date: 2004-10-15 09:53 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-10-16 12:37 am (UTC)Ooooooooooo
Date: 2004-10-16 11:11 am (UTC)Sorry, couldn't resist. I was a huge fan.
Swatkat
Re: Ooooooooooo
Date: 2004-10-18 03:23 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-10-18 01:53 am (UTC)I'm completely in love with the idea of Loony Tunes novels!
no subject
Date: 2004-10-18 03:22 am (UTC)I must admit I loved writing Looney Tunes. Especially Daffy. Bugs is really hard.