Oh, okay, tell me how that works out.

[apocalypsos]

Diana Gabaldon, regarding fanfic: "OK, my position on fan-fic is pretty clear: I think it’s immoral, I _know_ it’s illegal, and it makes me want to barf whenever I’ve inadvertently encountered some of it involving my characters."

Three things:

1. See subject line.
2. I'm more turned off than I should be by an adult woman using the word "barf."
3. Immoral? Really?

I will admit that it always amuses me when published authors come out of the woodwork to state plainly that they think fanfic writers are evil and stupid. It's not like she doesn't have the right to say it, but she's complaining about it in regards to a "Support Stacie" auction item, which is kind of skeevy.

It's a futile statement that doesn't do anything but make you look like an ass to a lot of your fans and turn off a large enthusiastic readership, and it always comes off to me like they don't actually deign to talk to "the little people," such as it is. (Contrast the attitudes towards their fanbases between, say, Stan Lee who's pro-fanfic and Anne Rice who isn't.)

So, yeah, see subject line again.

EDIT: I have to go to work in forty minutes. Why has no one started any wank in her comments yet? *pokes with a stick*

(I'm not saying you guys should go start wank. I'm just saying I'm going to go to work, and when I get home and turn on my computer at eight the only thing left after fandom piles on is a dissipating mushroom cloud.)

Comments

[anoel.livejournal.com]

Also, totally legal so good luck making it not exist.

[xaara.livejournal.com]

Heh, I always love when authors try to take the "illegal" tack, since it's not, y'know, illegal. You're free to think it's immoral or barf-inducing, but do your research before calling it illegal.

Plus, how do you "inadvertently encounter" fic? *is skeptical*

[medie]

Oh, fic is a sneaky, sneaky bastard. You step out your door, think that's a bush? HA, not likely. It is Wincest with a very cunning disguise and that tree? SO not a tree. Twilight genderswap *sage nod*

[torificus.livejournal.com]

I agree entirely with you. Plus, the extra part where being anti-fanfiction makes me want to go out of my way NOT to give the author my money.

I love Robin Hobb's books, but after finding out about her complete NUTCASE attitude about fanfic, I have decided that any of her books that I ever own, I will only buy second-hand.

If anything, I would think it would be ENTIRELY flattering! The idea that there are characters that I have created that inspire people to want to elaborate on their situations or whatever, that would be AMAZING.

Really, all it does is end up making them sound like control freaks who have zero respect for their fanbase. Great way to get me to buy your books, guys!

[wrenlet.livejournal.com]

IIRC Hobb called fanfic writers "soulless," didn't she? Ugh.

[penknife.livejournal.com]

I enjoy her books, but this makes me less likely to buy them, and a lot less likely to rec them to other people. Which I'm not sure is the result she wants.

[apocalypsos.livejournal.com]

I'm waiting for the wank in the comments. It's not there yet, just Gabaldon fans who've never even heard of fanfic before (... how long have you people been on the internet?) falling all over themselves to tell Gabaldon she should have Stacie horsewhipped or something.

[lallybroch.livejournal.com]

I wonder what she'd say if I commented (with my username--HA!) to say "But your books are INSANE! I love Outlander and Jamie Fraser is a delicious hero, but the rest of your books are filled with pirates, ABSOLUTE NUTSO character arcs and too many animal attacks to count. Please climb down from your high-throne of CRAZYLAND, because at this point your books are basically fanfiction of the first book."

Hm. I wonder if that makes my username "immoral".

[kattahj.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I made this long comment, but then I deleted it without posting it, because there was no way to post it without saying, "...and no matter how many of these books I own, I am completely conscious of the fact that the author lost the plot somewhere in book #3."

[random-serious.livejournal.com]

Immoral, fanfic is immoral? Wow, what an entitled obnoxious clown. I get that she sells her writing, but fanfic is not like music downloads and what have you. Fanfic is not digging into her income, on the contrary it may even increase it. This is truly a position I do not get.

[andraste]

You know what amuses me about all the 'ewwww, porn!' stuff in that post? That my mother eventually gave up on her series because of what she regarded as the endless, unnecessary sex scenes.

Now, I haven't read them myself and have no idea how many of these scenes there are or if I'd agree with my mother that they're tacked on, but it did make laugh *g*.

[acetal.livejournal.com]

Yes, that was my turn-off too. It's like she decides, "Oh, hey! I can tack another explicit rape scene onto this!"

There's a poor darling Twilight fan who posted who hates Twilight fic because it's `full of snuff and bestiality' (to paraphrase).

[tripoli8.livejournal.com]

I've never heard of this person and don't think I'd enjoy her books, but all else aside, once you're putting it in terms of not wanting to *seem* heartless, without apparent consideration of whether it might be, jeez, kind of heartless, it pretty much kills any desire I might ever have to shed too many tears for her.

[myniamh.livejournal.com]

Write anything you want, using Jamie Fraser, Edward Cullen, Harry Potter _and_ Dr. Who….and then change the characters’ names before you post it. Simple.

So ... Fan Fic with the serial numbers filed off is OK?

[apiphile.livejournal.com]

It worked for Naomi Novik!

... whom I actually have nothing against, but the urge to make the crack was just toooooo much.

[wtfbrain.livejournal.com]

Have you heard about Jim Butcher's new policy on fanfic? If more authors did it this way, there would be so much less butthurt in the world.

[apocalypsos.livejournal.com]

And that's why Jim Butcher is awesome.

[regala-electra.livejournal.com]

Well, Gabaldon's continued use of rape as a plot device makes me barf so I guess we're even. (Seriously, almost every single character, male and female, have been raped in her Outlander series.)

[svilleficrecs.livejournal.com]

Possibility re: wank, is there a chance she's heavily moderating comments and not publishing the pro-fanfic or wanky ones?

[wtfbrain.livejournal.com]

I left a comment pointing out that she could do a noncommercial/derivative Creative Commons policy, like Jim Butcher did, so we'll see if it shows up.

[vega-ofthe-lyre.livejournal.com]

Well, I left my comment over there. I tried to be polite! Oh, dear.

[leiascully.livejournal.com]

On the other hand, I bet some of that fanfic is a lot better crafted than her writing.

I enjoyed the Outlander books a lot when I was in high school, but it's not like they're the most ~top quality writing ever. Get real, Gabaldon!

[ralob.livejournal.com]

I read her post, and my reaction?

0_o

I mean, seriously? What the fuck? She is out of her fucking mind.

[apiphile.livejournal.com]

Immoral? Oh FFS please find something more important to get outraged about, you silly woman. Fanfic of my writing makes me uncomfortable, that doesn't mean I think it's immoral, I just DON'T READ IT.

[thebratqueen.livejournal.com]

Well goodness knows Anne Rice is the perfect person to base your interaction with your fans with. I mean it worked out so well for her book sales.

[medie]

oh yes, saw that just a few minutes ago. *facepalms* as I said to a friend, it's just so classy really to target a fan auction in the process. She'd've done her reputation better if she'd just punched Bambi and stomped a few puppies instead.

Also?

and when I get home and turn on my computer at eight the only thing left after fandom piles on is a dissipating mushroom cloud

*laughs so damn hard because, oh yeah, it SO WILL*

[wiliqueen.livejournal.com]

I think it’s immoral, I _know_ it’s illegal

But is it fattening?

[madripoor-rose.livejournal.com]

Oooh, so who's posted this to fandom wank?

Adding her name to The List of authors I don't read.

[wiredwizard.livejournal.com]

Oh goodie... Another author that's reached escape velocity into loopyland. =rolls eyes=

Makes me glad I've never read any of her books.

[silmaril.livejournal.com]

She knows it's illegal, does she now.

I'll join your subject-line club.

[animeartistjo.livejournal.com]

Added my 2 cents on her post.

I adore how so many people who comment agreeing with the post have never actually read fanfic or even know what it is--they're just getting the author's side of things.

[black-rider.livejournal.com]

...wait, how is it immoral to write fanfic, but not immoral to write Pride and Prejudice and Zombies?

[lothlorienbaby.livejournal.com]

It sounds like her policy is based on reading a couple of bad fanfics and she is generalizing to all fanfics. And then the people in the comments are totally misinterpreting what fanfic actually is.

It's sad because I think fanfics are a way for fans to celebrate their love of a book or tv show or movie or whatever.

I've read Outlander and was going to read the rest of the series. But I think I'll pass on that. Outlander wasn't *that* good.

[sabra-n.livejournal.com]

Art is a gift you give to your audience. Stan Lee (and Jim Butcher, and JK Rowling) are people who just want you to enjoy it and use it well. Ms. Gabaldon is someone who wants to keep dictating exactly how you consume what she gives after she's given it, which makes it...well, not much of a gift at all.

[calicokat.livejournal.com]

I'd call her an ass, too, but I sort of pity how dumb she is if she doesn't understand that all fiction is derivative fiction.

Oh! Take her most recent book, set in the American Revolution. We have a word for that in fandom. RPF.

(Eta: Oop, I hit reply in the wrong place, sorry! XD)

[killerweasel.livejournal.com]

I was going to say something like 'people write fanfic of her stuff?' and then I remembered that there's fanfic floating around on the internet about anything and everything.