Fanfiction At Its Worst

[Rayjo]

Discussion for Fanfiction At Its Worst by Russellgrl.

[Chocoball]

I've personally never ventured down the lane of fan fiction because I don't want to be sucked into it, and have the characters seem different to me. Thanks for the insight into a completely foreign world to me!

[Spritey]

I've stopped writing fanfiction. Over the course of a year, I've grown from a girl with a tendency to use the phrase 'OHMYGOD!!' a lot into a girl who hopefully writes a little better, but...fanfiction is beginning to disturb me. The reasons listed were all very valid. But also...people cannot sometimes differentiate between fanon and canon. Some people seem to forget that the fics are ultimately based on the HP series - and then have the nerve to say that Jo copied fanfiction. Excuse me, but where did your Harry who had four beautiful highly talented children with Ginny come from originally? Surprisingly, its the books.

[mlp36]

I have completely avoided the world of fanfiction because of the way it distorts the true story. It is kind of like the way pornography distorts the way men look at women. One of my favorite quotes on the subject is from the author of the North Tower about why she didn't like HBP very much.

The sad truth is, that when you read as many theories, fanfiction and discuss HP with so many people, you’re bound to come across some things that are truly exceptional, and perhaps better (in your mind) than the writer will come up with herself. I feel this is the case for HBP in some ways.

[sirDonovan]

What is your prospect novel about Russelgrl ?
( If you do not mind me asking )

Do not stop writing YOUR stories ,
cheers

sir

[Secret_Riddle]

The fanfiction world is slowly slipping down unfortunately. I agree with you.

[Georgie]

I've been a fanfiction reader for over a year and a half now, and have recently just finished my first complete story that I didn't feel was bad enough to pull down. I have to say that I agree completely with your editorial. Good fanfiction is such a struggle to find on fanfiction.net nowadays, I'm getting sick of it too. For me, fanfiction has always been a way to help improve my writing skills, and I can tell by actually reading one of my fics, the difference. Unlike Russelgrl15, I don't think I've yet reached the point where it doesn't help me in the slightest. I've actually stopped reading fanfictions I get from searches, I just go to the favorites of an Author whose stories I enjoy, and then branch off from there. It eliminates the **** of fanfiction. Very good editorial huge insight into it.

[TheColorGreen]

Oh, yeah... ff.net. The Grammar No-Man's Land.

Honestly, I still enjoy writing fanfiction, and I think it does help me, because I don't have much of a talent for original writing (still trying!), but as someone who entered the fanfic world just around when you did... I have to agree that the fandom has grown much more unfriendlier and high school-ish. And let's not talk about grammar. It's gotten to the point where I rarely ever read anything on ff.net unless recced by someone I know is like me (grammar lover) or something written by someone I've heard of already.

~AmethystPhoenix

[Nashira]

I agree.

Very good fanfiction is rather hard to find, but that doesn't stop me from writing it. True, I do HATE some stupid pairings such as Snape/Hermione (is that legal? o_O) And Prep!Hermione rather disturbs me also. Which is why infact, I don't read or write Action Adventure/Romance/Drama fanfics. I mainly write humors and parodies, and now only have made-up characters in RPG, none of which resemble any Mary-Sue of any kind. xD Nobody's perfect.

And as for flames, most people I know, including me, just laugh. I get them all the time, especially in my one story that has some really random moments and disturbing alas crazy humor.

Here are some I've gotten:

'u are totaly abusing harry potter. u have no right to make fun of harry potter. reported'

'This is completely and utterly downright ****. This is poison. Take it down now.'

'What. You. Then. It What... Wait. No. It's... Gah. This. Is. So. Stupid.'

Most I consider a huge joke, and the second one up there I even have an explination to.

Fanfiction is going way downhill, for it is now becoming the food of 1337-sp34k3rs, and overly distubing OOCers. (Nothing against all OOC'ers...I go OOC myself, I do it all the time... just Prep!Hermione... Scares me... -shudders-)

I really hope fanfiction can bring itself back, for it sometimes makes a great interesting read while waiting for that final book to come out.

~Nashira

[DemenTom]

I don't like fanfiction -- at all -- for a number of reasons:

1) Because it fosters that a condition related to that most famous of Emerson words, "delusionality". People get to thinking their stuff is the real stuff, which it isn't. It fosters statements like the one Maline made, referenced earlier in the thread, about how the fanfiction writers have come up with better stuff than J.K. Rowling. It was at that point that I found it difficult to take seriously what Maline has to say anymore, because now she's gone and joined the ranks of the delusional.


2) Because most of it is not very good: poor grammatically, trite emotionally, hackneyed in plot contrivance, and lacking in subtlety, cleverness, or the type of far-seeing design that characterizes the actual books.

3) Because it is, to me, like stealing. You don't steal someone else's characters for your stories if you have any kind of originality, you come up with your own.

4) Because it is obsessively concerned with topics irrelevant to the series.

I realize people do it in good conscience, but I don't like it.

[coolrthnu]

This is so weird. I literally started reading fanfiction a week ago, and now I see this. Thanks for the heads up! I'll be sure to be careful out there.

[Nashira]

Yes, you really need to be careful out there in the world of fanfiction.

(I highly suggest that on FF.net you only read fanfictions rated T and down...)

Argh, the thing that bothers me most about a story is the grammer. I do not have the best grammer, but if I write a story I take the time to look it over. These writers that don't drive me insane....

Sorry, had to rant a little there. Anyways, that was a good editorial, although, are you sure you didn't write that just to see the responses to it????? Haha, just kidding.

[Nashira]

Bad grammar drives me insane, along with my English teacher. -is a Big Bad Grammar Wolf-

This does make for interesting topic... Wonder what the people who do have bad grammar, have mary-sues, and flame a lot would say...? o_o

[Desraelda]

Originally Posted by DemenTom

I don't like fanfiction -- at all -- for a number of reasons:

1) Because it fosters that a condition related to that most famous of Emerson words, "delusionality". People get to thinking their stuff is the real stuff, which it isn't. It fosters statements like the one Maline made, referenced earlier in the thread, about how the fanfiction writers have come up with better stuff than J.K. Rowling. It was at that point that I found it difficult to take seriously what Maline has to say anymore, because now she's gone and joined the ranks of the delusional.


2) Because most of it is not very good: poor grammatically, trite emotionally, hackneyed in plot contrivance, and lacking in subtlety, cleverness, or the type of far-seeing design that characterizes the actual books.

3) Because it is, to me, like stealing. You don't steal someone else's characters for your stories if you have any kind of originality, you come up with your own.

4) Because it is obsessively concerned with topics irrelevant to the series.

I realize people do it in good conscience, but I don't like it.

You said it all. The people who claim that HBP read too much like a fanfic are obviously those who read fanfic. How sad that they missed out on the wonderful HBP experience. Glad I don't read it and have never read it.

[Nashira]

Originally Posted by Desraelda

You said it all. The people who claim that HBP read too much like a fanfic are obviously those who read fanfic. How sad that they missed out on the wonderful HBP experience. Glad I don't read it and have never read it.

You said it! I wholeheartedly agree!

...How on Earth can HBP, or any writing from JKR be perceived fanfic-like! o_O;

[yrome]

Who knew fanfic was so involved? Not me, but obviously there is a whole other world out there! I thought the whole ship thing was hysterically funny and didn't realize so many people took things so seriously (that is, until I read the Wall of Shame from Emerson post-HBP interview).
As for fanfic readers and writers, there are so many good, non HP-related books out there to read and so many places for writers to find inspiration, I just don't understand the whole fanfic thing. Then again, according to the poll, I'm only 19% HP obsessed, so I guess I'm on the periphery of this crowd (and I'm quite thankful for it!). If anyone needs some suggestions for good reads to tide you over until Book 7, then Owl me!

[Nashira]

Good point. I don't really read fanfic- I just write it. I write comic relief. -insert that funky drum thing when someone makes a cheesy joke here-

Yes, I do pine for the next HP book, and this being my final word before I hit the wall for some sleep, I know some good books too, so you could owl me as well...

~Nashira

I am also sad to say that I agree with the fanfiction.net thing...I still spend several hours a day reading fanfiction, but I go by certain rules. If I find over ten errors, whether they have to do with functions or the plot, I stop reading. There are some really bad ones and there are some really, really, really good ones. I have a fanfiction.net account and have reviewed a russelgrl15 story (which I found wonderful by the way) and from what I have seen, the fanfics have declined SO much since the release of HBP. I fear the day is near when Im abandon reading fanfiction for fun...But that leaves time for more published books! ;-)

[red_dragon311]

I have read some fan fic and I was not that impressed. I just didn't like the "Harry getting special permision to do ......."


and on a second note I feel that JK put alot of stuff in HBP to shut a lot of people up. like the time turner mention, that all of them were destroyed. that was a pet peeve of mine, the time turner peopel saying that time turners did this and that.