Fanfic writing, and all that kind of thing...

[raven]

Lalalalaorangepipsandredroseslalalalala....

In other words, I am greatly bored and expect to remain so. I am so bored, I've been looking around ff.net, last resort of the disheartened fanfic writer before she commits suicide...

It's just as bad as ever. Awful, in fact. Beyond awful. Beyond beyond awful. You have to dig deep to find the cubic zirconias. You only ever find a diamond if you know it's there.
And then there's the other problem...
I tend to write very short, simple stories, with a simple plot, usually with a twist, or else I try to capture a moment in time, a brief snapshot. I'd like to have people believe I once made a conscious choice to do this, but the truth is I'm not good with plots. I can't come up with long/complex/good plots. I just like writing - I don't like plots.
And then I go to fanfiction.net and I see these stories with wonderful plots or ideas, really good ones at times, and utterly abysmal writing. I think to myself that I could do better if you'll just give me that plot!
And I try to stop myself from plagiarising, or whatever the word is for re-writing someone else's plot (covering it, perhaps?) and I succeed for a while, but not forever, truth will out and all that.
So yes. I don't know why I go on the site at all.

And then there's yet another problem I seem to have acquired... when I left Stargate fandom, I thought I could now drop all fannish writing for a while, and try to write something original for a change.

And now there's M*A*S*H.
Dammit.
Dammitdammitdammit.

I like fanfic writing, I do. I just don't know why it seems to be a part of my fate.

Comments

Amen to that...

[scarlatti.livejournal.com]

Spot-on about ff.net. As for plotting -- that's not one of my strengths, either. So I know exactly what you mean about wanting to "rescue" wonderful ideas from writers who are...less than wonderful! *sigh*

Re: Amen to that...

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

And there's a little voice in your head...

"You know you want to, truth will out, youknowyouwantto...."

[tygermoonfoxx.livejournal.com]

or else I try to capture a moment in time, a brief snapshot

There are people who like reading that type of story; I'm one of them. In the literary world, it's called slice-of-life. The story itself doesn't go anywhere but it captures a particular moment, something that highlights a character or an event that wouldn't ordinarily have been examined. It takes talent to write these; not everyone can.

I can't come up with long/complex/good plots. I just like writing - I don't like plots.

I have snatches --- middles, ends, a few beginnings--- but nothing that often links itself into a coherent story easily. Something that helps: just write. Don't self edit, don't think about it, just write and then go back and see what you have later. I think writers overthink their plots and this produces problems.

And I try to stop myself from plagiarising

I don't think what you're describing is plagiarising. You take an idea gleaned from someone else's work and then make it your own. Perhaps they didn't do it justice or, as you said, it's bad writing. Particularly in fan fiction, it's a little hard to plagiarize when you consider that the characters you're working with aren't likely to be yours in the first place. No one has a monopoly on ideas, only in how they're executed, so if you can take a plot that was written badly and turn it into something stellar, so be it.

I thought I could now drop all fannish writing for a while, and try to write something original for a change.

Fan fiction often provides a proving ground and a safe place to experiment for budding writers. Clearly you have the talent; I can see that in your journal entries. It just needs developing and refining. I have a few books I could suggest that have helped me immensely. I started out with fan fiction as well (an obscure anime series from the 1970s) and then progressed. I even utilized television shows as writing exercises, rewriting plots to insert my characters or altering the endings when I didn't like what they'd done with the show.

Don't give up. Keep trying and diversify...it's like weaning a baby off the bottle. Next time, try an original character as the focus of the fan fiction and have them interacting with established characters in a new setting. Eventually you'll get far enough away that you have an original creation.

Re:

[loneraven.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the advice... there are so few people who really seem to know what they're talking about when it comes to writing, and I always like listening to what you have to say.

I have nothing against fanfiction, I love doing it, but I hate to see it done badly, and of course, it's so much fun I sometimes don't let myself use original ideas to write original fiction.

Again, thank you...