Writing Style and Fingerprints

I spend a decent amount of time in the fanfiction community. I read, I write, occasionally I comment (I’m really bad about reviewing, sorry). I know that sometimes, authors adopt fics that have been abandoned by the original author. I have no problem with this practice, but it got me thinking.

When you adopt a fic, there are several ways to go about it. One is to post what the first author has written and just add onto the end. But with this, I think that the transition isn’t very smooth. Writers have different styles. No two people write the same way, the way no two people have the same fingerprints. So you can tell, without being told, that one author has taken over for the other author. And it’s not that it bothers me, but if it were me, I would fuss about being compared to the original author and falling short. And it would really bother me.

Another option is to take the story and re-write it from the beginning, so that your style is the only one present. If I was to ever adopt a story, this is probably what I would do, because it would have me stamped all over it. Sounds kind of obnoxious, but there you go.

And I suppose that really great writers can adapt their writing style to match someone else, but why would you want to? It’s your style that you’ve cultivated and honed over the years, so why try and mimic someone else at this stage?

I’m not dissing anyone’s style. Each person’s is unique and different and that’s great. Because each is unique, I wouldn’t want to try to match someone’s or have them try to match mine.

Just something I’m fussing with at the moment. Feel free to ignore my rants.

Fanon vs. Canon

So, yeah, it’s been a while since I’ve posted. I’m so not good at this daily thing.

And I’ve been spending most of my time obsessing about Criminal Minds (I still feel it’s a safer addiction than drugs so I’m okay with this). And between reading fanfiction and watching the show (most nights of the week thanks to A&E and Ion) I’ve noticed a distinct difference between the two.

It is a case of Canon (what the show is) and Fanon (what the fanfiction world is). In Fanon, it is more reasonable for the characters to be involved in relationships, both within the team and outside of it. I can get into those worlds and not be turned off by the fact that Prentiss and Hotch are together or, my personal favorite, Morgan and Reid (I’m a certified fangirl and I admit it).

However, if any of these relationships actually happened on the show, I know I would stop watching. On the show, the characters can’t have relationships outisde of the job. These people are workaholics and the audience needs them to stay that way. I know that if the Morgan/Tamara Barnes relationship had continued, I probably would have stopped watching the show. Morgan is a playboy; he doesn’t do commited relationships on the show (and in fanfiction, like previously mentioned, I ship Reid/Morgan).

These two worlds can co-exist peacefully with me, they just can’t mix. On the show, Rossi can’t re-marry, Reid must be socially awkward forever, Morgan will always be a playboy, and so on. In fanfiction, the sky is the limit (I even found one where Reid is a vampire and it is pretty awesome).

Not What I Meant to Do

Kate’s journey through the Labyrinth is just the beginning.

Fanfiction

I have a fanfiction addiction. I figure it isn’t as bad as other addictions, so when I get a craving, I submit to it. It’s pretty harmless. Some people laugh at me and ask me why I spend all my time reading that stuff when I’ve read all the originals and whatnot. And I am tired of these people.

You know, some of these writers are really good. Some are better than the originals.

I have one story Harry Potter and the Manipulator of Destiny that I swear, is twice as good as the seventh Harry Potter book. Author PaisleyRose writes Labyrinth fanfiction that is just fantastic.

These are people that if they choose to use their own characters and write original stories could, and probably would be, best sellers. They are just amazing.

And you know what, fanfiction isn’t awful. I started out writing Lord of the Rings fanfiction (I have conveniently lost that story, so no, you can’t see it. Just because others are good at it, doesn’t mean I am). Fanfiction gave me a solid base to start with; I could use characters and settings that were already established and create my own plot. As I wrote, I learned about creating setting and characters. When I started working on my first original work, I felt more confident, much more than when I started my first fanfiction.

Literary agent, Colleen Lindsey says in her blog that “If you are a regular contributor to a fan-fic writing community online, say so! Oh, sure, you thought I was gonna say I hate the stuff, right? Wrong. A regular writing hobby is a regular writing hobby, no matter what you write, as long as you are consistent and working to improve your craft. And many fan-fic writers are already used to being critiqued, so they don’t bleed all over the keyboard when someone tells them how they could make something better. Fan-fic has also spawned a number of talented writers, such as Rachel Caine, Naomi Novik, and Sarah Rees Brennan.”

So, power to the fanfiction writers. I’ll continue to read and support you, probably even in my old age when I can’t write anymore (Pray that day never comes).