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

[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.

[myniamh.livejournal.com]

It's worked for a lot of people, perfectly valid!

My brain is still trying to get around the borked logic behind being able to take these characters and 'jump all over them', use them however you like as long as you draw a giant handlebar moustache and glasses on them before you show someone else.

[apiphile.livejournal.com]

If someone doesn't now make Handlebar Moustache Theatre versions of fanfic I am going to throw SUCH A TANTRUM. Genius. Absolute genius.

With my lack of writing skills, this is all I can do to contribute!

[myniamh.livejournal.com]

STAR TREK? WHAT'S THAT? THIS IS VOYAGER STAR HIKE! WITH BOURKE AND BLOCK! THEY HAVE ISSUES CONCERNING DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. IT IS SO SAD, THEY ARE IN THE STARS BUT CANNOT SEE THE BEAUTY AROUND THEM. THE END.

Re: With my lack of writing skills, this is all I can do to contribute!

[apiphile.livejournal.com]

Please, take this internet. You've earned it.

*dewy-eyed AWE*

Re: With my lack of writing skills, this is all I can do to contribute!

[myniamh.livejournal.com]

I shall treasure it forever!

(I HAD NO IDEA DRAWING BAD MOUSTACHES ON CHARACTERS WAS SO MUCH FUN) XD

Re: With my lack of writing skills, this is all I can do to contribute!

[apiphile.livejournal.com]

*crosses fingers for this shit to go memetic*

[jamoche]

(Here from Metaquotes)

And amazingly well for Lois McMaster Bujold - her first novel started life as a Trek fanfic, and evolved far beyond it.

[misachan.livejournal.com]

The best part is that's essentially what she did. She based her Jamie on Jamie McRimmon from Doctor Who (points to icon). She even got the surname Fraser from Jamie's actor, Frazer Hines. She's said point blank that she conceived the character while watching The War Games because she was so taken with Jamie in that story.

[myniamh.livejournal.com]

Yay Jamie! And then she goes off and makes money from it. I'm all for 'being inspired' by characters or people in RL but to then turn around and say that it is somehow like stealing to use them and their universe is a bit much.
I think she's projecting a weensy bit.

Wait ... she watches Doctor Who and then calls him "Dr. Who"?! >:( BAD WHO FAN. NO BICKIE!

[purple-smurf.livejournal.com]

I really, really, really hope that's true; I've been trying to convince my mother to watch Old Who episodes with Jamie, but she can't get over David Tennant enough to try. (She's a BIG Diana Gabaldon fan, and I will not be showing my mother DG's opinions on anything else.)

[azurelunatic]

...that's hilarious.

The inside of my head is now singing the Schadenfreude Chorus.