Do you read fanfiction?

[Arnobius]

I read MSTs of Fanfics. I'd provide a link, but unfortunately some of them are a bit crude and I don't want to be from CAA

[Pan Chan]

I don't realy like any fanfics.
They're all trash as far as I've seen.
Full of bad jokes, bad comments, peverted characters.
Blah! lol
I try to write them though but I try to do it verry carefuly so not destroy the storys before or after and to keep the characters the same.
That realy takes ALOT out of me so I don't do it much anymore... lol

[Azier the Swordsman]

I personally can't stand fan-fiction. No one knows the characters like the original author, and I dislike it when anyone other than an original author tries to write stories with characters. That said, I have a lot of friends who are fans of it, and some who even write it. I just don't get the appeal.

If you can't stand anything being written by anyone by the original author, better stop watching TV, anime, and everything else alltogether.

The average TV show, for instance, is written by many different people. And any anime that is made by an original author's work is re-written by the people making the series. Even movies and videogames and such, there are usually several different people who have control of the plot.

This means that 85% of everything you view is in fact NOT touched by the original author at all. So to write off fanfiction just because it's not 'official' is silly.

That said, as much as there is tons of crappy fanfiction out there, there are a lot of needles in the haystack. If you look hard enough, you'll find a handful of good authors out there who know what they are doing.

Fanfiction can also be fun because it can explore and experiment with different ideas you'd never see on the real thing itself.

[TriezGamer]

This means that 85% of everything you view is in fact NOT touched by the original author at all. So to write off fanfiction just because it's not 'official' is silly.

This simply isn't true, though. In cases where anime is made from manga, they aren't just writing a new story, they are merely animating what is already there. Yes, some artistic liberty is taken, however the essence remains the same -- and often times the original author DOES have a say in the matter. And just for the record: I do tend to hate shows that have a lot of content that's been altered from the original manga, too, or that's just created for the actual show.

Fanfiction is a case where there is no remote influence whatsoever from the original author -- not even the smallest bit.

Incidentally, I don't watch TV or movies, either.

[Nate]

Yes, some artistic liberty is taken, however the essence remains the same -- and often times the original author DOES have a say in the matter.

And sometimes they don't, and that makes them mad. Naoko Takeuchi was VERY angry with what they did to the Starlights as far as making them men in the anime.

[Kawaiikneko]

Fanfic bashing aside.

I thought it would be fun - for all of us on here who do read fanfics - to start a fanfic "book club" of sorts. We could share our favorite fanfics and avoid the whole "looking for a needle in the haystack" deal. That and avoid the er.... less appropriate ones.

[Azier the Swordsman]

This simply isn't true, though. In cases where anime is made from manga, they aren't just writing a new story, they are merely animating what is already there. Yes, some artistic liberty is taken, however the essence remains the same -- and often times the original author DOES have a say in the matter. And just for the record: I do tend to hate shows that have a lot of content that's been altered from the original manga, too, or that's just created for the actual show.

The average author of a manga has literally no say in what happens when it is liscensed and turned into anime. (Look it up.) So, technically, it is at the mercy of the people writing the scripts in the studio.

And, of course, this means the people writing the scripts are doing so WITHOUT input from the author.

Fanfiction is a case where there is no remote influence whatsoever from the original author -- not even the smallest bit.

As we already covered, fanfiction AND the anime both have the exact same amount of influence from the original author: NONE!

And just as there are plenty of writers still capable enough to rewrite/write new stories with these existing characters and still keep them in character, there are plenty of fanfiction writers capable of doing the same. Both groups of people have the exact same exposure to the source material. To say one group is incapable of good writing just cause they don't know the characters like/have input from the original author is ludicrous.

[uc pseudonym]

I thought it would be fun - for all of us on here who do read fanfics - to start a fanfic "book club" of sorts. We could share our favorite fanfics and avoid the whole "looking for a needle in the haystack" deal. That and avoid the er.... less appropriate ones.

This has been attempted before, actually. If you run a few basic searches in the Writing forum you'll find a few threads with just this intent. I'm not certain how far they got, however.

[avidrkfan]

I have to agree with Azier the Swordsman.

Look at the appallingly bad Rurouni Kenshin OAV, 'Reflections'. The series' creator, Watsuki, had absolutely nothing to do with it and is on record as having had a far different ending for Kenshin in mind. I'm sure many of us can think of anime series that deviated greatly from the original manga story as well.

There is a lot of horrible fanfiction out there, but there are also some worth reading. The trick is to find the really gifted authors on ffdotnet and put them on 'author alert'. That way you don't have to cull through all the dross to get to the gold. It works for me!

[blue elf]

I love fanfiction, but it's ridiculously hard to find decent ones in the larger fandoms like Bleach, Inuyasha, and Final Fantasy.

[Eastkun]

I don't read fanfiction because all I find is the worst.

[Kawaiikneko]

This has been attempted before, actually. If you run a few basic searches in the Writing forum you'll find a few threads with just this intent. I'm not certain how far they got, however.

Would you suggest starting another one or gravedigging?

[uc pseudonym]

Feel free to start a new one; I think an older thread would no longer really be relevant. Link to it from here as well and perhaps you can get more participation than previous attempts.

[Kawaiikneko]

http://www.christiananime.net/showthread.php?t=34447

well there you are. Those who enjoy fanfiction, please join me ^^

[Netbug009]

I've seen a few people asking why fanfiction is so interesting to some?

1. Starting with characters you already know is a great way to get into writing.

2. Their fun! Havn't you ever said "They should make an episode of _____"?

Okay. I'm not gohnna say fanfiction is the perfect hobby. In fact, about 99% of it is garbage. But some fan fics are amazing.

Also, I don't agree that it's impossible to be in-charcter, it just takes a lot of work and talent. Unfortunatly, we currently have a generation of writers who have forgotten the importance of in-characterism. They write OOC romance so much it makes me sick, and I'm not even gonna go into how innapropreate some of the stuff is! I mean, about 50% is slash! Not good.

So, it's hard, but I love it. You know wy? Because every once in a while I come acroos something amazing. And hey, if nobody write's the fic I want, I write it. I'm not gonna let other people's garbage ruin my fun!

Also, fan fiction is fun for writers! You get to share with others and improve your skills.

I have a question for some of the people downing fan fiction. Having you ever WRITTEN one? I mean, thought up a cool idea and wrote it? The feeling you get from releasing creativity is very addictive.

[shojoiscool2]

Before, I've read alot of fanfiction for books. especially all the old scholastic books, and now they've made them grown up. But most anime fanfiction is so saturated with slash, an ugly mess of run on sentences and poor grammar, and mary sues that I can't get into it. Its just now worth it to look though everything.

[Kawaiikneko]

It's funny... Lately I've gotten into writing alot more and I've been having people critique my stories, and I've been critiquing other people's stories...

And so when I read fanfiction now I'm sometimes in that mindset and it's kinda frustrating. They use alot of dumb description tools, especially in romance, like the girl smelling like sakura or tasting like apples (wtheck??). Guys, of cource, always smell like cinnamon or pine trees or some other outdoorsy smell. And girls always have chocolate colored hair. Why so much reference to food? XD;; I also pick up on grammar and plot problems more easily... *sigh* But since it's fanfiction I look past it. Just one time though, I'd like to leave a REAL comment with real critiquing in it. Not a fluffed up "YAY~ I loved the story, whoo~" But a down to earth critique of the writing.

I love when I find well written fanfictions. Makes my day brighter and helps me forget all the trash I have to wade through to find it.

[Negotiatrix]

[quote="Kawaiikneko"]It's funny... Lately I've gotten into writing alot more and I've been having people critique my stories, and I've been critiquing other people's stories...

And so when I read fanfiction now I'm sometimes in that mindset and it's kinda frustrating. They use alot of dumb description tools, especially in romance, like the girl smelling like sakura or tasting like apples (wtheck??). Guys, of cource, always smell like cinnamon or pine trees or some other outdoorsy smell. And girls always have chocolate colored hair. Why so much reference to food? XD]
Kawaiineko, feel free to leave me a down-to-earth critique of my writing! I get pretty tired of receiving reviews that consist of "Cool!" or "Cute story!" I'd really appreciate knowing what works for a reader and what doesn't! I'm Negotiatrix on fanfiction.net .

Writing fanfiction has totally changed the way I read too! I'm much more discerning about plot and description, even in mainstream published novels. I've read quite a bit of fanfiction that is way better than some of the assembly-line thrillers and mysteries out there.

I've run into that food description thing too, and I've always wondered about it! Miroku (from Inuyasha) for example gets described as smelling like green tea over and over again. Is that actually mentioned in the manga? It seems like too odd of a coincidence, unless it's just fanfic authors riffing off each other.

Still, I love fanfiction b/c it's lets an author take the characters someplace completely different. Sometimes being out of character is okay, when it's a good story. Inappropriateness is a universal problem and certainly not limited to fanfiction. (AMV's and fanart have their share of it too) I just move on to another fic and hope for the best. I've found that the favorites list of authors I like leads me to other good fics.

[Azier the Swordsman]

MOD NOTE: Three posts merged. You might have lost some emoticons, but I assume your meaning hasn't been terribly skewed.

I love reading and writing fanfiction. (As if you couldn't already tell from the previous debate XD)

I personally consider fanfiction a storytelling medium in of itself. For me, it's always fun to explore the "what if". It's true there is a lot of crap out there. But for every 20 crappy stories, (I prefer to think of such stories as a sub-medium known as 'idiot fanfiction'.) there is always a "Stephen King" or a "Dean Koontz" who really knows what they are doing and doesn't fail to deliver. You just have to do a little poking around.

On 'Shipping Fanfiction': I don't think this type of fanfiction is bad at all, just very highly abused. I won't even go into the yaoi rant in this post, (it would take too long) but, aside from that, this tends to be the most challenging to create and certainly churns out the most turds of any fanfiction genre. For one, yes, I am a semi-shipper. Meaning, when ever I am on a certain anime kick, I find entertainment in reading fics on certain characters, but I don't not really support nor condone the pairings on the actual source.

(Let's say I read a GokuxBulma fanfic for example. I fully understand that this pairing would never happen nor has ever had significant evidence to support the potentiality. But it's simply entertainment as an alternate version (what course might the future had taken if Chi Chi HADN'T shown up at the 23rd Tenkaichi Budokai?) of what could have happened. I may read it, but I don't support it.)

But it goes without saying that characters tend to really get skewed to heck here. And honestly, it is a challenge writing a pairinowadays only use shipping as a plot device. (Or parody.))

On Humor: This is another highly abused genre. This one is actually worse than Romance as most of the stuff isn't funny at all and reads like a 7 year old smoking crack acquired Internet access. But, again, there are a select few out there capable of doing a good job with it. I particulairly like parodies, as characters actually CAN be out of character for it to be good.

On Alternate Universe: This is actually my favorite genre to write in. It's also easier to write in as, again, characters don't actually have to be in character for it to be a fantastic story. But, there are some problems with this genre.

For one, High School fanfics. These are overdone to a retarded level. Please be original and don't write high school fics. There are plenty enough already.

Second, fics with way too outlandish settings/characterizations. I.E.: Please do not write a Sonic fanfic where the characters are prison inmates and Tails is a psycho who goes around *dropping soap*. (I have actually come across such a fic >_<) There is a fine line between good storytelling and going to far. Nobody needs a Sonic version of Oz.

Other Problems with Fanfiction:

Cursing. Cursing can at times actually be effective for characterization or as a tool to show emotion. Meaning, I don't mind if my Sonic fanfiction has mild language in it, as it's not over the top nor is it actually out of character. (Especially now that 'Shadow the Hedgehog' exists) But, please, don't have everyone speaking like a bunch of Samuel L. Jackson rejects. It's just not right. No language is best of all.

Suicide Fics. People really think they are being so smart writing these, don't they? Extreme Angst + Character Death certainly equals a winner, right? If I have to sift through one more overdone dumb*butt* Sonic/Mario/Luffy/Goku/Naruto/Starfire/Zell (you get the picture) slicing their wrist open in an overwhelming multitude of horrifically written, insanely out of character hideous bout of angst and utter destitution, I'm gonna have to start getting midevil and bashing some sense into people the likes of which hasn't been seen since Nazi's opened the Ark of the Covenent and endured the wrath of God.

So, yeah, in conclusion, Fanfiction rocks. But it's just like Anime, Gaming, Movies, Books, ect. There is a LOT of crap out there. But there are jewels in the turd pile. Just got to dig around a bit.

[Azier the Swordsman]

(Triple Post 2/3)

On Humor: This is another highly abused genre. This one is actually worse than Romance as most of the stuff isn't funny at all and reads like a 7 year old smoking crack acquired Internet access. But, again, there are a select few out there capable of doing a good job with it. I particulairly like parodies, as characters actually CAN be out of character for it to be good.

On Alternate Universe: This is actually my favorite genre to write in. It's also easier to write in as, again, characters don't actually have to be in character for it to be a fantastic story. But, there are some problems with this genre.

For one, High School fanfics. These are overdone to a retarded level. Please be original and don't write high school fics. There are plenty enough already.

Second, fics with way too outlandish settings/characterizations. I.E.: Please do not write a Sonic fanfic where the characters are prison inmates and Tails is a psycho who goes around *dropping soap*. (I have actually come across such a fic >_<) There is a fine line between good storytelling and going to far. Nobody needs a Sonic version of Oz.

[Azier the Swordsman]

(Triple Post 3/3)

Other Problems with Fanfiction:

Cursing. Cursing can at times actually be effective for characterization or as a tool to show emotion. Meaning, I don't mind if my Sonic fanfiction has mild language in it, as it's not over the top nor is it actually out of character. (Especially now that 'Shadow the Hedgehog' exists) But, please, don't have everyone speaking like a bunch of Samuel L. Jackson rejects. It's just not right. No language is best of all.

Suicide Fics. People really think they are being so smart writing these, don't they? Extreme Angst + Character Death certainly equals a winner, right? If I have to sift through one more overdone dumb*butt* Sonic/Mario/Luffy/Goku/Naruto/Starfire/Zell (you get the picture) slicing their wrist open in an overwhelming multitude of horrifically written, insanely out of character hideous bout of angst and utter destitution, I'm gonna have to start getting midevil and bashing some sense into people the likes of which hasn't been seen since Nazi's opened the Ark of the Covenent and endured the wrath of God.

So, yeah, in conclusion, Fanfiction rocks. But it's just like Anime, Gaming, Movies, Books, ect. There is a LOT of crap out there. But there are jewels in the turd pile. Just got to dig around a bit.

Again, I apologize, mods. >_<

[SnoringFrog]

I read some fanfiction. Most of it's pokemon fanfiction that I read at the first message baord I joined. ALot of the stuff there is poorly written, but their are some writers whose work blows me away, and they are what's kept me at that site.

[AsianBlossom]

I figured I'd revive this thread...mostly because I want to answer this and wasn't around when it was first written.

I'm the type that writes fanfiction, not so much reads it. Mostly, I've done Teen Titans with a little bit of Sonic; I've got this one Sonic fanfic I wrote a long time ago (the ending is missing...don't ask me how that happened), and it's really good, but it's riddled with mistakes, and mostly based on the map of levels from Sonic Heroes.

I've had people read my work, and they tell me that I do a good job of capturing the characters. I know that's important and all, but I just wish I could get enough creative juice out of my head and into my computer to finish what I've started.

[Zarn Ishtare]

I read Fanfiction, and while I've been told I could write it (I've got a Suikoden 2 story that beats all) I've never gotten the muster up to write something that comprehensive for something I couldn't own in full.


people like J.Alaina on fanfiction.net d simply blow me away (it's an irony that her end to Eva is all based on a misunderstanding of the movie) and other stuff (Teen Titans. I'm a Beast/Rae shipper. In the most painful way.) I enjoy fanfiction.


I don't enjoy all the bizzare stuff though. Slash, ugh....

[White_Rose]

I really enjoy writing from my favorite character's perspective. I take great pride in staying in character.

I think I would be a great fanfiction writer, except for that I am fresh out of creative story ideas. And I'm left with just a Microsoft Word Document full of clips and short stories, none ever relating to the other.

I have trouble finding good fanfiction. I don't like stories where the whole purpose is to ship characters in odd pairings. I only like to read fanfiction with great plots, and unexpected twists... which are hard to come upon..

[Adie]

I don't read fanfiction, just because I really haven't found any that I liked. Most of the ones I've come across are, as White_Rose put it, "stories where the whole purpose is to ship characters in odd pairings."

[The Doctor]

If it wasn't for fanfiction, than I would not be able to see the dreams of my favorite pairings come to fruition (Chip and Gadget from Rescue Rangers; Raven and Beast Boy from Teen Titans, Johnny Quest and Jesse Bannon just to name a few. Notice that none of these are ANIME fictions because, unlike American animations, ANIME makers know how to do things just right ;-) )

[mitsuki lover]

I would really love to do or see someone else do a mega saga of the history of Star Trek and including guest appearances by Dr.Who,the Robinson family from Lost In Space,Moonbase Alpha crew from Space 1999,the Power Rangers from Lightspeed,Time Force,Ninja Storm,Dinothunder,SPD,Mystic Force and
Operation Overdrive,the AMP from Silent Mobius,Kenshin from Rurouni Kenshin,Ayane and Mui from Gatekeepers 21,Sam and Al from Quatum Leap,
Nagi and Toka from Boogiepop Phantom,Kira and Flay from Gundam Seed,Relena and Trowa from Gundam Wing,Mulder and Scully,Special Unit 2,Roger Smith and Dorothy from Big O,etc.
Of course this will never get written because it is too vast a cast to get every single one in but it would be fun to imagine for example Katsumi from Silent Mobius working with Jen from Time Force and Scully and Seven of Nine.

[White_Rose]

Oh that would be sooo awesome!

I'd love to see how they all react to each other, and maybe even witness a few personality clashes. *dreams*

Oh yeah. And one more thing I can't stand more than anything, when people write a fanfic just to ship their OC with a cannon. Who excepts to read that and enjoy it besides the writer???

[mitsuki lover]

For now though I perfer to limit the crossovers I do to no more than two series,which makes them easier to write.Probably the easiest series to use as a catalyst for crossovers is Dr.Who because one can send the TARDIS to just about any place without having some sort of long drawn out explanation of how they got there.The same could also hold true to SLIDERS.For example one could do a
SLIDERS/Dual crossover with no problems.