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| Logo of Fanfiction.net. Image taken from here. |
Fan fiction can be many things, but it mainly involves taking characters or worlds from other artists and writing stories with them. The sky is the limit as far as what people can do with fan fiction, ranging from alternative endings to establishing unexpected relationships between different characters. There are hundreds of websites which people use to upload and read fan fiction, including LiveJournal, Tumblr and DeviantArt. The main platform, however, is Fanfiction.net, where you can find alternative versions of just about anything. Books, movies, video games, even the Bible.
Fan fiction holds several benefits which should not be overlooked. As in any hobby, practicing it can help you attain and improve certain skills. In this case, the acquisition of language, writing and reading skills are particularly important. A study from Rebecca W. Black shows that young people who study English as a second language and turn to fan fiction find it easier to develop, as the method is engaging, entertaining and enjoyable (Black, 2006). Not only are they indulging in an activity that involves stories and ideas that they like, but it also allows them to give free reign to their imagination and perceive themselves as creative individuals.
In most situations, fan fiction is not created for the purpose of gaining some sort of profit. It would be more accurate to perceive it as fans keeping the fictional world alive in their minds. Because, ultimately, once you finish a piece of fiction that you have found exceptionally enjoyable, what happens after that? Some swiftly forget about it and move to the next thing. Others prefer to maintain the world that they have so thoroughly enjoyed and connect with others who share their interests. That is the how different fan communities form, supporting and sustaining the story long after it has finished.
Some pieces of fan fiction actually do get published, but this is mostly for works that are not copyrighted. One example is a book based on Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, which takes the basic idea of the story and spices it up with the notion of...zombies. Yes, zombies.
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| Image taken from here. |
While the notion of zombies in classical fiction can seem amusing, the situation can get complicated once copyright is involved. Some writers approve of fan fiction based on their work and encourage it. One benefit behind such a decision is that fan fiction communities will keep their works alive and relevant. Another is that by not curbing communities' enthusiasm, they do not damage their reputation.
There are those writers who strongly disapprove of fan fiction. One such example is George R. Martin, who has explicitly stated on his website his position on the situation (Martin, 2010):
My characters are my children, I have been heard to say. I don't want people making off with them, thank you. Even people who say they love my children.
There is a reason for professionals to be concerned about fan fiction, as Martin states in his statement here. As much as the writer can demand copyright over his ideas, so can his fans. If any work in progress happens to have any ideas in common with fan fiction published online, fans have the right to sue and seek their legal rights. So far, no single consensus has been reached among all writers and it ultimately depends on their decision alone whether or not fan fiction can be allowed for certain pieces of work.
Sources:
BLACK, R., 2006 , Language, Culture, and Identity in Online Fanfiction, [online], Available at: here [Accessed 15 April 2014]
MARTIN, G., 2010, Someone is Angry On the Internet, [online], Available at: here. [Accessed 15 April 2014]
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