Let's talk about fanfic.

I love fanfiction. I don't write it all that often (although I have this plotbunny for Diablo 3 fanfiction based on history of the world that is referenced but not fleshed out... seriously brain?) but I do love to read it. I like to read more about characters I love, or stories in the world setting that explore areas the author has not, or in some cases fic that addresses what if something had happened differently. That's not to mention AUs that put the characters in a different universe, which can be fun.

I have been very annoyed that for so many years, fanfiction has been derided by authors. I understand the legal concerns, especially with the limited information that was available until relatively recently (and really, most people are not going to doubt the author), but I really have been bothered by some of the negative attitudes. The first writer's group I was part of called it a waste of time and that anybody who wrote it obviously didn't care about their career, because they were spending time on writing something that could never be sold. To them, if it wasn't publishable, it wasn't worthy of being written. Granted, it wasn't just fanfiction; there were people that felt the same way about poetry, because poetry didn't sell. But fanfiction got the most derision, nasty comments, and in some cases passive aggressive personal attacks.

Which always struck me as WTF because why not write something for fun? Why does it all have to be work? Why is something less worthy if it can only be shared with others for free? Hell, what's wrong with sharing your work for free? I mean, hell, posting a book for free as a loss leader is a valid business tactic for self-publishers. I've read fanfic that has made me think, made me cry, made me smile, made me laugh. I've read fanfic that was every bit as good as original fiction. I've read some brilliant fanfics that captured the voice and tone of the author, and explored a different avenue very deeply, addressing the sociopolitical consequences of the characters' actions in the fic. Stuff that just blew me away because it was so good.

But to this day, I feel guilty when I decide to take a break and write fanfiction, like I'm doing something wrong. It didn't help that wasn't the only group that had that attitude, although it was the most extreme. I find it sad that it's something I've internalized, even though I deeply disagree with it.

And, also, some of us don't have aspirations for fiction publication. I mean, I write some publishable fiction, but I haven't made 'edit and sell this' high on my priority list (I might change later). So, in that sense, all of my fiction will end up either left on my computer or free on the Internet, so why not fanfiction if the ideas strike me? I cook for myself (when living alone), and sometimes bring food to potlucks, but don't have aspirations to make it a career, so is that a waste of time since I'm not making my food widely available for cash?

Now, maybe a writing group wants to say 'we want to focus on workshopping writing for publication' which excludes a lot of (but not all) fanfiction, and folks who do want to make money on writing have to write things they can sell*, but hobbies are never a waste of time if you are getting non-monetary things for them.

* But again, they are not robots. Sometimes you just need to take a break. Few can sustain a profession for every waking hour.

Yup. There wasn't even anything on the site that was "We are here for publishing-focused writers"; it was just assumed that if you wrote, that you were writing to be published and paid, period. Very heavy emphasis on the "paid", too. If you wrote something for an online zine that didn't pay? It didn't count. Weirdly, I came back to that group after several years away and while there are some of the people still there, the attitude is completely different now that the former site admin left. Some of the most anti-fanfic publishing-only-focused people... are now primarily writing fanfic. The irony amuses me.

During the time I was off that site, a bunch of us splintered because of drama with the former site admin (who thought it necessary to PM me a transphobic rant because I said I was engaged to a man on her blog, and proceeded to tell me in great detail how my ex-fiance was not "really" a man, and how dare I lie on her blog?), and one of the first rules in the new community was: FANFICTION IS OKAY.

We had some folks join who specifically wrote only fanfic. They wanted to learn more about craft to write better stories, and they wanted to socialize with other writers. I had to bop a couple people for making snarky comments in chat, usually after the fanficcer had left the room (this sometimes happened with hobbyists too). People eventually got the message. IDK why it is such a big deal in writing communities. I've seen this in others, too, although that one was the worst.

I liked the quote from the post Seanan linked where they say that writing is the only artistic pursuit where it's considered not okay to do it for fun, or as a hobby. It's so very true. Maybe someone else has heard this, but I haven't... I have never seen fan artists get crap about how they shouldn't be wasting their time. I've seen outright admiration and praise for fan art from the very same people who deride fanfiction. IDGI.

I know. Art is like math in that if you can do it at all, you get praise heaped on you. (Sadly, elegant proofs do not delight authors as much as fanart and cosplay.) I can't tell if it's because 'anyone' can write (never mind that it takes work to write well, just as 'anyone' can draw a bit, but one has to practice to get good) or because most professional stories (even comics and TV and movies) start as prose or a script or something written, so there's less of a shift between professional and fan.

Also, boo transphobia and gender-policing.

I've seen some criticism of fanart; what comes to mind is "if all you do is fanart, you'll never develop your own style/understand anatomy, you need to branch out", which seems similar to telling fanfic writers that they need to write their own stuff.

And then there's frustration that "shitty fanart" gets more attention than original "masterpieces", which tends to come from people who are, or want to go, professional with their art. Seems like sour grapes to me.

I'd agree with the general observation that drawing is a more accepted hobby than writing.