[ SECRET POST #2518 ]

[case]

⌈ Secret Post #2518 ⌋

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

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Notes:

Secrets Left to Post: 03 pages, 060 secrets from Secret Submission Post #360.
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]

09. http://i.imgur.com/NE7hWww.png

[(Anonymous)]

Thank you. I would never have even thought of writing original fiction all on my own! Now that I know, I will do it right away and stop writing fanfiction. After all, I was only writing it because you hadn't come into my life yet, and it had never occurred to me that I could write anything else.

I mean, it's not like I actually enjoy writing fanfiction for established canons, and it's certainly not like I enjoy being able to reach an interested, eager audience immediately without the frustration and hassle of publishing and marketing. Right? That would just be silly!

[(Anonymous)]

Or there are people who are good at their hobby and enjoy providing it to the people for free. It might not be so fun when it's their job.

[(Anonymous)]

Of course it's also possible to use fanfiction to develop writing skills (time limits, POVs, different tenses, drabble-related limitations, etc) that can then be used in original fiction.

OP's got a point but...

[(Anonymous)]

they have clearly never been obsessed with a fandom. They've never felt the urge to rewrite a beloved characters fate or fill in the gaps they see in a story or continue a story too good to end in their eyes.

[(Anonymous)]

Because something is only fun and worthwhile if you can profit from it, right?

[(Anonymous)]

And they can't both write fanfiction AND try their hand at publishing original fiction (if they can spare the time and effort) because....?

[(Anonymous)]

Ah, you sound like my mom. "Why don't you write something real?"

Because I have. Many times. And I have the hundreds of rejection letters to prove it.

Apparently you live in a fictional world where it's really easy to get published.

[dreemyweird]

I thought it was a secret about books/book fandoms. Am disappoint.

[starphotographs]

So, if you share something, yet choose not to monetize it, you're wasting your talents?

Okay. :/

[fleshisyummy]

You have a point if the person in question is interested in being a writer. For example, I want to be a writer, and I spend way too much time writing fanfiction when I could better be honing my skills writing original fiction. I've been trying to wean myself off writing fanfic.

That said, not everyone who writes fanfiction wants to write creatively as a career path. I've met people who write fanfiction who are in science or math related fields so it wouldn't make much sense for them to go through the effort trying to publish original fiction.

[(Anonymous)]

The transition from fanfic to original fic isn't as easy as you would think. Someone who writes truly excellent fanfic might write rubbish original works.

And of course blah blah hobby blah blah not everything needs to be for money blah blah.

[(Anonymous)]

You know, for a long time I thought I wanted to be a *writer*. Then I actually figured out how little money you get, how incredibly hard it is to get published, and how much I hate plotting and attempting to create characters that are somehow not like all the other characters out there. I know I am a good writer in the technical sense and int he areas where I shine, but those happen to not be plot and originality. I like character studies and digging into the emotions and doing it in under 5k. Not really publishable writing. There isn't much of a market for short stories, and my other love (poetry) is even more ridiculous when trying to get published and get actual money.

Not wasted potential. Different priorities.

[tweedisgood]

Nonsense. I already have a job which I am good at, pays reasonably well, and which I anticipate doing for the rest of my working life.

Fanfiction is a hobby. Very few writers can earn what I earn. I have bills to pay.

[(Anonymous)]

You clearly have no understanding of how publishing works.

[(Anonymous)]

Well...I few things

1. Just because *you* like the person's writing, doesn't mean it'll sell.
2. Just because somebody can write well doesn't mean they are good at thinking up "original" ideas. Some people write better when working from a template.
3. Some people enjoy writing fan-fiction and have no desire to try to publish.
4. Some people are working on original works while still writing fan fiction (because they enjoy it).
5. Stop being concerned with how strangers on the Internet are living their lives.

[(Anonymous)]

Being a pro writer honestly sounds like one of the worst jobs ever, and I love writing.

[(Anonymous)]

I don't know about other people, but when I write a fanfic instead of an original fic it's because the plot was inspired by the characters and plot of the thing it's based on.

There's also the issue of creating characters, which can be difficult. And, of course, even if a fic is enjoyable to read, there's no guarantee that it would sell, or even catch anyone's interest, without the connection to something familiar.

But, I'll admit having had thoughts like this. Especially when the person completely reinvents the characters so that they would be unrecognizable without the name attached.

[(Anonymous)]

I also write original fiction, and hope to sell it someday. But fanfic has been really good practice for me, in terms of constructing a narrative arc, outlining, pacing, and actually finishing a story. Also, it's what I'm inspired to do right now. But a person can do both, and benefit from doing so -- and not even in the Fifty Shades/Mortal Instruments kind of way.

[ex_mek82]

I agree with this to an extent: if you're writing way out there/In Name Only AUs, original fiction might be worth considering (especially if it's just one file of the serial numbers away from being an original story).

That said, I also agree with some of the other comments here. I don't really write fan fic (once in a blue moon maybe), but I like drawing fan art, and it gets really irritating when people imply I'm less of an artist -among other things- for drawing fan art and all that stuff, never mind the fact I do draw my own OCs from time to time, and, like how fan fiction is for most of the folks here, art in general is a hobby for me at this point in time.

Because yanno... maybe some people just want to have fun and/or express their love for something in creative ways, because it may just be the only way they know how or want to.

[(Anonymous)]

Hi. Which part of the word "hobby" don't you understand?

[sarillia]

Can't I do anything for fun without being told I should try to monetize it? I talk about how I love to write and people tell me how sad it is that I don't want to show it to other people and make something of it. I knit something for myself or other people and they immediately tell me that I should sell my knitting. That's not why I do these things!

People always forget that for most of us fandom is a hobby.

[fingalsanteater]

Hint: Some people write for fun, not to get paid.

[purpleseas]

Some people do both, you know, and just because you're good at something, it doesn't mean you want to make a career out of it. I'm great at baking pies from scratch and am looking forward to making a bunch for Thanksgiving, but having to do it every day for a living would make me never want to see another pie again.

Believe me, OP

[(Anonymous)]

If it was as easy to publish and get money for my original fiction as it is to publish and get money for my fanfiction? I would be all over that. I would write and share both and be very happy.

But it's not. So I don't.