whatever strikes again

[kaigou]

Today the topic is intellectual property and fanfiction, tangentially connected topics as requested by readers over on Whatever, John Scalzi's blog.

People don't write fanfic if they aren't already so enthralled by your universe that they can't handle the fact you're not producing it any faster, and are thus compelled to make some of their own -- the methadone, if you will, to your pure, sweet media property heroin. A fanfic writer will buy all your media-related product, will go to your conventions, will get the DVDs and will generally slog through sub-standard and lazy stretches of your work far longer than the average mortal because they are so damn invested. And if they're writing slash (fanfic with sex!), chances are excellent that you're sucking in all of their take home pay that doesn't go to rent, food and cat products.

*examines friends carefully*

Yeah. I'd say he's got it right.

Read the entire piece.

Comments

[aulus-poliutos.livejournal.com]

Lol, I do write the occasional (slashy) fanfic, but the only things I buy are the extended DVD versions of the movies. Not the other kitsch. *grin*

Argh, again I don't belong to a group.

[okaasan59.livejournal.com]

you're sucking in all of their take home pay that doesn't go to rent, food and cat products.

Man, he's got most of us pegged.

[ravensilver.livejournal.com]

How very, very true... *g*

::takes a look at large Doujinshi/DVD/Figures/etc. collection::

If I like it, I'll buy it. If I like it, I'll read all the fanfiction for it. If I like it, I'll buy everything else this person has produced. :)

So Sol, I already saved the money for your first book and put it aside... just so I got it when the time comes. ^_^

[sevenall.livejournal.com]

I read that as 'a fanfic writer will buy all your methadone related product', which is so, so true.

[muffiewrites.livejournal.com]

*pout* I have dogs.

[kaigou.livejournal.com]

Still accurate! ;D

[kaigou.livejournal.com]

Two dogs, two cats. So...yeah.

[kaigou.livejournal.com]

I'm remarkably low when it comes to swag. I've been to several conventions now, and leave with empty hands more often than not. Lunacon was a remarkable deviation from this norm, coming home with four or five books and one art print. But it's a beautiful art print, and I've loved the books so far, so I'm happy. ;D

[kaigou.livejournal.com]

Odd, how you can make even the most innocuous things sound smutty. One reason I often lurve on you, I suspect.

[kaigou.livejournal.com]

Yes! Yes! Or you could just send it directly...eheh, just kidding. I still owe you 10K for the Tsunami Relief (and no, I haven't forgotten).

[okaasan59.livejournal.com]

I also liked this comment of his about fanfiction:
it's a slightly more intellectual version of playing with dolls Heh.

[kaigou.livejournal.com]

Yah, that's one reason I read his blog. A rather snarky-but intelligent snarky-way of seeing things.

[mikkeneko.livejournal.com]

Nail, hammer.

[meritjubet.livejournal.com]

*looks guilty*

[ravensilver.livejournal.com]

If I send it directly, will I get a smootched, signed, licked and huggled copy? ^_^

Oh.. the Tsunami Relief stuff... Right...

Take your time. I'm not going anywhere. :)

[morgan-idril.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah as he got us pegged. And I wish some others would rap their heads around the concept that it is a major form of flattery. Idiots.

I would also agree on both observations on the playground commentary, correct on both views. *says one who does one but ignores the other*

As for lack o' funds cause of such suckage, don't ask about the manga I've got stacked all over, I do pay my bills but whine when I do it cause there is a really good book I "need" to get about________(fill in the blank). LOL.

[kaigou.livejournal.com]

Gee, me neither, right now. But I'm working on it! ;D

[kaigou.livejournal.com]

...ow.

yep.

[kaigou.livejournal.com]

*snort*

[kaigou.livejournal.com]

I know it's a form of flattery, but a part of me prefers to retain the right to tell a fanficcer when s/he has gone over the line. I'm not worried about competition so much as the creation of a fanon that overrides the original work. I'm sure you can name fanon as quickly as I can that does this, to the point that I've met folks who don't like the orignial series because it doesn't fit with their introduction. Not saying I would slap down fanficcers in general (and I doubt, for the most part, that I'd get fanfiction, so this is mostly academic), but I'd like to have the ability and perhaps more importantly, have that request/ownership respected as such.