Side Note To Fan Fic Authors

urdchama:

roane72:

twobirdsonesong:

Here’s the thing.

I read a lot of scripts.  A lot.  From professionals to aspiring writers to complete newbies.  Features and pilots.  Specs and treatments.

And 8 times out of 10 the fan fic that I’ve read over the last, oh, 15 years is leagues better than this stuff.  It’s more inspired.  It’s more compelling.  It’s genre bending and creative and heartfelt.  It’s well-paced and intense and funny and sexy and meaningful.  It’s smart and thoughtful and good.  It’s novel-quality.  Better than, sometimes.

Rare is the script I don’t want to put down, but how often have we stayed up until 3am to get to the last chapter of a 100k fic? And it’s not even a fan fic author’s day job.  This is what they do on the side.  In their spare time.  For free.

So my point is, fan fic authors, you’re good.  You’re good writers and great storytellers.  I know it doesn’t always feel like it, especially if you’re one of the authors who’s not a BNF and doesn’t get the notes/hits that a few do.  And  because some people still view fic as “not real writing.” You guys know the shit that gets made into movies.  You’re better than that.  So be better than that.  If writing is what you think want to do, then just know you’re already doing it.   You’ve already started.

And you’re more talented than you might think.

And if you ever wonder how you stack up to people trying to break into the pro market, consider this quote from Teresa Nielsen Hayden, an editor with Tor Books. I attended a panel with her at WorldCon in 2004, where she said, “If you’re literate, coherent, and not crazy, you’re in the top 10% [of the slushpile].”

So if you’re a fanfic writer and you’ve always wanted to go pro, don’t hesitate, you’ve already got a leg up!

1000% accurate. I’ve seen all sorts of lame scripts in tv animation from “professional writers.” In fact, when a friend jokingly tried to give me a hard time for reading fanfic, I said “at least it’s better than our scripts.” We both just shook our heads and agreed. 

So thank you fic writers! You are great and greatly appreciated! \^_^/

(and if you’re looking at this and wondering “is she talking about me tho?” YES. I am talking about you. Thank you.)