Fanfic

This entry by Anna lead me to this rant on the subject of fanfic by Robin Hobb.
Firstly, Anna’s response is pretty frickin’ funny.
Secondly, I would also like to take issue with Robin’s argument. I don’t knock her for disliking fanfic; many authors do, and that’s their right. However, her argument seems to break down into the following sub-arguments, which I shall take one at a time:

1. Fanfic is a form of identity theft
2. Fanfiction insults the original author
3. Fanfic is a bad way to learn how to write
4. Fanfic is copyright infringement
5. Writing fanfic is analagous to being an Elvis impersonator
6. Posting fanfic sullies the author’s good name

She also says fanfic is analagous to digitally altering a photograph someone sent you and posting it on the internet as though it were the same photograph, but that’s utterly irrational (come ON, nobody says fanfic is by the people the subject material is by! Fanfic authors are usually VERY good about claiming authorship) so I won’t deal with it.

Onward!

1. Fanfic is a form of identity theft
   This is just plain irrational. Fanfic authors don’t say their fic is the work of the subject material’s author, and are in fact generally very good about saying that repeatedly and explicitly wherever they post their fic. Duh.
2. Fanfiction insults the original author
   Now this, I can almost understand. She says that she feels like people are “fixing” her work, as though they think she did it badly the first time. Now, as an author of fanfic, I will say that sometimes this is the case. But more often, fic is an intellectual exercise, a thought experiment. A “what if…?” kind of deal. Not a fix. I bet there are plenty of fanficcers out there who do think they’re fixing the author’s work, but surely that’s their problem, not the author’s? I am willing to bet that the vast majority of fanficcers are devoted fans of the source material and don’t think of themselves as fixing a damn thing.
3. Fanfic is a bad way to learn how to write
   Well, I am of the opinion that any writing where the writer is striving to write the very best they can is good practice. Maybe fanfic isn’t the most efficient sort of practice, but so what? It’s enjoyable, and surely that’s the real point of writing.
4. Fanfic is copyright infringement
   This is a legitamate point – I am not currently aware of any fanfic-related lawsuits, though, so until an author brings one I will have to reply to this, “prove it.” I think Fanfic counts as fair use, unless the character/place names have been trademarked.
5. Writing fanfic is analagous to being an Elvis impersonator
   This is … a really weird objection. So waht? Who cares? Elvis impersonators are fun and surely being a good Elvis impersonator is a legitimate craft, even if it’s an odd one. I bet professional Elvis impersonators would be offended to hear Hobb knocking their work like that.
6. Posting fanfic sullies the author’s good name
   Again, this is irrational. Fanfic authors state repeatedly that their work is not the work of the subject material’s author. Anybody who would let fic sully their image of the subject material’s author is a dumbass and therefore not worth Hobb worrying about. Good grief.

Now, sure, I like fanfic. I have even written fanfic in my day, but not a whole lot because I wasn’t willing to put the time and effort into it that are necessary to produce good fic (and because there are plenty of excellent fanfic authors out there I could be reading instead). So maybe I’m biased. But I personally think that Robin Hobb comes off like a pouty preteen in this essay. “It’s MY work! MINE! Keep your grubby hands off it, you jerks!”
Give me a break.