Sometimes the author thinks that everything in canon is wrong. The only thing that matters is characters' pretty faces. Why not put them in totally different milieu? How much can you change and still remain fanfic, though? You can write a story where Angel behaves as if he's had a character transplant from Spike, and it's still recognisable. You can put him in a relationship with (picks name at random) Lindsey, and it's still recognisable. You can make him a human opera singer from Milan, and it's still recognisable. But if you change all those things, how does anyone know you're even writing a Buffy fanfic, and not, say, a story about Harry Angel from Angel Heart?
If you're writing purely for your own satisfaction and enjoyment, as you suggest, then it's no problem. But if you want other people to read and enjoy your work, I think you do accept certain obligations towards them - if only because if you don't give them what they expect, they'll complain. (Or just not leave any feedback...)
Maybe you're right that I'm seeing this as a professional writer, at least in as much as I'm concerned with how the audience will react rather than my own experiences. Even so, I want to be proud of what I write, and if I think it's not up to the best standard i'm capable of, I'll feel disappointed.
Oh, and are you sure Homer wasn't a professional? Not in the sense of getting paid a salary, of course, but if he supported himself by reciting his poems and receiving food and money in return - or was maintained by a patron - then he was a professional poet. The only alternative would be that he was an independently wealthy landowner or similar who made up poetry as a hobby.
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Date: 2007-05-24 12:53 pm (UTC)How much can you change and still remain fanfic, though? You can write a story where Angel behaves as if he's had a character transplant from Spike, and it's still recognisable. You can put him in a relationship with (picks name at random) Lindsey, and it's still recognisable. You can make him a human opera singer from Milan, and it's still recognisable. But if you change all those things, how does anyone know you're even writing a Buffy fanfic, and not, say, a story about Harry Angel from Angel Heart?
If you're writing purely for your own satisfaction and enjoyment, as you suggest, then it's no problem. But if you want other people to read and enjoy your work, I think you do accept certain obligations towards them - if only because if you don't give them what they expect, they'll complain. (Or just not leave any feedback...)
Maybe you're right that I'm seeing this as a professional writer, at least in as much as I'm concerned with how the audience will react rather than my own experiences. Even so, I want to be proud of what I write, and if I think it's not up to the best standard i'm capable of, I'll feel disappointed.
Oh, and are you sure Homer wasn't a professional? Not in the sense of getting paid a salary, of course, but if he supported himself by reciting his poems and receiving food and money in return - or was maintained by a patron - then he was a professional poet. The only alternative would be that he was an independently wealthy landowner or similar who made up poetry as a hobby.