[ SECRET POST #2681 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #2681 ⌋

Warning: Some secrets are NOT worksafe and may contain SPOILERS.

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 02 pages, 035 secrets from Secret Submission Post #383.
Secrets Not Posted: [ 0 - broken links ], [ 0 - not!secrets ], [ 0 - not!fandom ], [ 0 - too big ], [ 0 - repeat ].
Current Secret Submissions Post: here.
Suggestions, comments, and concerns should go here.

Comments

[fscom]

08. http://i.imgur.com/APwacBr.jpg

[(Anonymous)]

I can't say for sure, but I'd guess that fan artists are not making enough to live off of from their commissions. I mean, surely TPTB would want in on that shit if they were. But I am but a lowly fanfic writer, so what do I know?

[forgottenjester]

*Sigh* This again?

[cloud_riven]

If a writer I liked let me commission them, I might consider it. Otherwise I'd rather just support their original work if they have something available that I know for sure I'll enjoy.

Also, lol thriving. Man, porn and furry (including sfw) commissions are where the real bucks are at.

[(Anonymous)]

Just looking around at AO3, Tumblr, and FFN, I don't think anyone has to worry about writers going away. And if the current crop has to go get real jobs (what makes you think they don't already have real jobs, OP? Puh-lease), then a new crop will grow to take their place.

[(Anonymous)]

There are plenty of ways for writers to get paid that don't involve copyright infringement. Try again.

Think about the full implications of what you're asking here. Can you imagine what the shelves of bookstores would have looked like at the peak of the Harry Potter craze if any random person was free to write and sell a variant sequel with no permission required? There would be so many publishers rushing to cash in with work-for-hire books hastily cranked out you'd hardly have room for anything else.

[(Anonymous)]

As a fanfic writer I genuinely don't understand this attitude. I don't want to be paid for fanfic. When I want to work on something where there's a possibility that money will happen at some point, I work on my original fiction.

I think part of this is that I understand art commissions but can't really wrap my head around writing commissions, and that's always what my brain jumps to when I see comments like this. I just... can't imagine paying someone to write what I think they should write, fanfic or not, and it's not really something I'd want to do as the writer either. Fanfic style and quality is so subjective that I just can't see it ending well. As for paying for a hard copy, as one would pay for a print, well... I don't really see why the writer would even need to be the distributor. If you want to print out my fic/take it to Kinko's/bind it into a book... knock yourself out, I guess?

(And people still sell fanzines, don't they? I've never really been in a fandom that does that, though, so I don't really know how that works.)

[(Anonymous)]

Pardon my lack on knowledge on all things fandom, but when we are talking about paying fan artists/writers, are we talking about like commissions? Because I'm not sure why someone would pay either a writer or artist if they are just basically doing it for fun on like deviant art, tumblr, ao3, etc. and aren't taking commissions or have their own website, webcomic, whatever, where they are "working" for stuff.

[mautradutor]

But the fanartists are really capable of doing that? I do not think any of them live off of what they receive. They still have to have "real jobs".

[(Anonymous)]

this argument would be a lot less ridiculous if I believed for one second that a fanartist producing fanart as an alternative to a "real job" would somehow enrich the fandom experience
i don't see anything wrong with fic commisions fwiw

[(Anonymous)]

Except fanfic seems to be thriving regardless?

[(Anonymous)]

I'd rather pay someone for original work. Both artists and writers.

Yeah I know, it's a lot harder to get attention that way.

To everyone who's going BUT BUT ORIGINAL WORK!

[(Anonymous)]

Have you actually tried it or do you know many people who have? Yeah, there's some outliers who've managed to transform their fanfiction past into a successful publishing career, but it's rare. Fandom has a built-in audience; original fiction doesn't.

[(Anonymous)]

Someone sounds bitter.

[(Anonymous)]

Let's be real here: the vast, vast majority of writers and artists will never be able to make a living off their art. That's just the way it is. Believe me, I would love to quit my job and be able to support myself off my crafts business, but that just isn't going to happen. It's not a consistent enough income.

Anyone who really thinks that they're going to be a writer or an artist and nothing but is deluding themselves.

[(Anonymous)]

I'm always shocked that fan artists make money for their stuff. Fandom is for fun, not profit. As soon as you make it about profit, it changes...and not for the better.

And honestly, OP, your attitude is a real good example about how it would change for the worse.

[(Anonymous)]

1) taking commissions for fanart is not a "real job". commission money might help you out but you can't live on it.

2) the vast majority of fan artists/fanfic writers do what they do because they ENJOY it and not for financial purposes. it's been that way forever.

3) you absolutely CAN commission fanfic writers. it just happens that there aren't as many writers offering to do commissions as there are artists. (i have a friend who does exactly this and most of what they're commissioned to write is smut.)

[(Anonymous)]

see...I wouldn't commission fanfic because what if it royally sucks? how are you going to gracefully ask for your money back?

with fanart, you don't even need to commission - if you see an artist who you really like who has prints of a thing you really like, you can see without any need for evaluation whether it's a product you want to buy. It's right there. Boom, plop down your money, take your print, sally off into the sunset. but fic? there isn't the same kind of instant evaluation of the product. you might have some confidence in the author, but you're still taking a massive risk at wasting your money by asking them to write scenario A with characters B and C and maybe mention canon detail F. It could come out nothing like you want. it could be awful. and then what would you do?

at least with published books you can sell them back to a used bookstore. can't do that with fic.

[escriboconundedo]

hahahaha yes fanartists live off commissions yes this is real haaaaaa

[(Anonymous)]

Former fanfic writer here.

So, go publish a book...? Then you can get all kinds of monies in!

Do the FanFic stuff for free, or as samples of what you CAN do.

I'd commission a story, but, no one likes to write my particular tropes in a way I enjoy it. ;_;

(boo hoo, I write my own books (Yes, published) because I can't find anyone to commission)

[(Anonymous)]

Ugh, this mishegoss again.

Look, there are very few, if any fanartists who support themselves doing fanart. Maybe a couple who make the convention circuit year-round, but those generally aren't the sort of fanartists you're talking about. Most fanartists also have to work "real jobs"--they have just as much time as any given ficcer to make pretty things, if that's how you wanna see it. Heck, most professionals barely make ends meet (and most artists can only turn out one book a month, whereas you'll find quite a few writers working on multiple projects at a time), but at that level, well, they're usually making the monies either because they're making something original, or because a company has decided they're good enough. Same goes for writers.

Thriving. Nah. Ficcers and fanartists "thrive" just fine.

[(Anonymous)]

Speaking as someone who writes fanfic (LOTS OF FANFIC) as a hobby, and has a full-time straight job--

I don't expect to be paid for my fic, I would be embarrassed to ask to be paid for my fic, and I don't want to make a living as a writer. I have a fulfilling full-time job (I'm very lucky) which means I can pay my bills and live in a fairly nice place. So, when my days off roll around, I can happily put on a pot of coffee and write my little heart out, knowing the only thing at stake is my fun and the enjoyment of a small number of people who like to read my work.

My audience isn't big enough to support me, and I don't want to put that much pressure on my hobby. I also have no interest in freelance work, I'm just not built that way. Much better for me, my stories, and my handful of surprisingly loyal readers if I write fic strictly for fun.

[(Anonymous)]

I hate that these secrets keep coming up and seem to be trying to force antagonism between artists and writers.

I know a guy that does written commissions. All you have to do is set a price and if people like your work they will pay you. Technically yes there is a big legal no stamped on it but as long as you're not printing books you should be fine.

diff. perspective?

[(Anonymous)]

Well, I started writing original fiction instead of fanfiction, and I'm on my way to earning a living from it. It's less play and more work, but still fun. There's just more than writing involved!

I do find it odd sometimes that people pay me for my writing now, because I basically worked just as hard on fanfiction for years, with $0.00 earned from it.

As a writer, I wish it was easier to commission art for my covers, because I never know where to look and people who do commissions rarely list their prices up front, or aren't clear that they will do art for covers (instead of personal fan drawings, for instance). Right now I'm using stock photos and doing the cover myself, making some commissions, and using premade cover art.

I think there'd be a good living to be made from making original digital or other illustrations for the ebooks being made. But I don't really know. It's just that on self-publishing forums there are ALWAYS people looking for great cover artists. The epublishing industry is kind of exploding, although it seems sort of underground for most people. All I know is I'm earning more from my writing than I've ever done before, and I'm not even writing smut.

[kribban]

I really wish it was more accepted to commission fiction. ;_;

I have stories I want to read that there's a very tiny chance that someone will write, and I'd love to be able to go to a website or forum or secret underground lair where I can find a talented person to write it for me.

I think if it happened more, fiction that otherwise wouldn't be written would be written.