What does fan fiction mean to me?

Since I'm finding my love of fan fiction to be centric to most of my rants and arguments lately. I thought I'd do a little open musing. What does this hobby mean to me?

It all started in high school. It was coming to the end of my final year when my best friend Sarah said that I HAD to see this. I'd love it! Which she says a lot actually :o) Anyway, it turned out to be the Complete Kingdom of Slash website (www.ckos.net) and I was amazed. I had always leaned towards slash in stories but I had no idea that there was an actual term for it. Or that so many others shared in my thinking. I was happy and relieved as I had always thought myself a bit of a freak. Suddenly I found out I was not alone in the world.

I instantly tried to find a pairing I had always wished to see together. That of Garak and Bashir from Star Trek. I was amazed when I discovered that it was a popular pair and absorbed as much fan fiction on it as I could in a few weeks. Then to my amazement I learned that there was list dedicated to lovers of them.

Naturally, I joined.

It was here that I think that my love of slash really took root. I suddenly had a community of like minds to discuss with and ask for advice - and none of them judged me or thought me odd for it. It's hard to find a group of people open enough to talk about likely Cardassian genitalia functions without getting odd looks.

I even made a very close friend in this group who I speak to almost daily. Even though she lives on the other side of the continent. I also found advice on the care of my pet Iguana and someone helped me gain the courage to talk things out with my parents. Not only did I find like-minds but open ones. I found people I could talk to and share with who would understand where I was coming from. I found security.

The G/B list was a group of very nice people from all backgrounds and age groups. Mind you, there were a few tiffs, but most blew over. As it is a Star Trek fandom they were all highly creative and fun as well. Star Trek was perhaps the first show to spawn the phenomenon that is fan fiction and I find that the writer's still carry that flame of responsibility nicely.

This is what I use to embody how I think of fan fiction. A group of caring, open individuals sharing their passion for a story. A little community ready to help each other through creative criticism and praise for work well done. It made writing worth while. Sharing my thoughts with people who really cared and wanted to be a part of this fictional world as much I did. It was mutual respect between writers and a shared love of the characters that made fan fiction so enjoyable.

Suddenly there is slash everywhere. Its popularity boomed due to its easy access on the internet. Every fandom imaginable - and a few not - has sprung up. Fans and lists have also formed. There are even fans for fan fiction writers. All this seemed wonderful to me that something I loved so much was now so wide spread. But now I'm not so sure.

I have joined a few groups, some trek, and some not. One of these nots was a QAF list. Never in my life have I met such a group of high-strung, enraged individuals. I was afraid to speak on that list in case I was ripped apart. They not only attacked characters on the show in their posts but moved their dislike upon the actors as well. I could not understand their hatred. If someone made an innocent comment or wrote a fiction regarding one of these characters they were attacked. I liked the fan fiction I got to read while being a part of that list. But the griping got to me and I was forced to leave in frustration.

Fan fiction is something that is done for pure enjoyment. It's not for popularity or praise or recognition. You write fan fiction for yourself. It's personal satisfaction and allowing yourself to enter into another's world for a time. Though I do admit getting a review makes it all the sweeter. There's no rules to these writings and anything goes. The only true rules are the unspoken of adding warnings and disclaimers.

What I am most disturbed to be seeing lately is a breakdown of this respect and community. In some fandoms there are certain pair shippers, which is all-good. But what's not good is that they go out of their way to bash other pair shippers in the same fandom. You may not see the pairing or agree with it, but it is the same show and these people love it as much as you do. No need to start a flame war over a difference in opinion. If you don't like something don't read it and simply pour all your creative energy into what you do like. It's so much less frustrating.

I'm also appalled by the outright aggression in some reviews. There is a great difference between helping a writer with criticism and tearing out their heart and stomping on it with cleats.

First, off as I've said before, if you don't like the pairing or what happened and the author placed a clear warning at the top. It's your own fault for reading it in the first place and highly silly of you to be complaining. This also goes for people who believe that slash is wrong and such. It is your view on the subject just as we view slash is good. If you feel the need to express your opinion then write a rant on it and post it. Flaming a writer won't get you anywhere. It'll just fuel us further.

Please choose your words wisely when making a suggestion or accusing a writer. They put a lot of work and heart into their fiction and have become emotionally attached to it. If you see a repetitive mistake (points to own lack of grammar as an example) or something they could improve on don't tell them they suck. Is it too much to be polite about it? Just think of how you would feel if the situation were reversed. Really. THINK about it. Screaming at someone isn't going to help them improve.

Fan fiction is to be approached with an open mind. This holds true for community fandoms as well. I've found that some communities have the 'holier-than-thou' syndrome. That they are exclusive to a small group and what they say is slash. Which just pisses me right off. Fan fiction is supposed to be there for enjoyment and as a creative outlet. What good does it do being caged away in a dark corner if someone can't be inspired by it? Mind you I also don't think it should just be tossed out in the open like a tree in a field for all the children to see.

Then there's the subject of my last rant, plagiarism and credits. As fan fiction is about enjoying someone's world, through the creation of your own work, why would you take credit for someone else's? That just baffles me. Then there's the overzealous finger pointers who are just looking for a place to release their anger upon without stopping to think about it.

*sigh*

Why can't we all just get along in this large community known as fan fiction? Of course I know the answer to this. We love the characters and worlds and it revolves around our own emotional response to it. When emotions are involved, it's always difficult to agree on anything. As well as the vast array of fandoms and opinions on them. And everyone has a right to an opinion-even if it's wrong.

Fan fiction means to me, sharing a world I love with others, who love it as much. It means being able to explore it in the presence, advice and praise of the open-minded. It is a community. Sure we don't always get along, but we are able to wave to each other as we head out for work in the morning and know we have a common bond. I know nothing is perfect. But can't our community just be open and not hostile?

-J