At 05:07 PM 2/15/97 -0800, you wrote:
I'm considering several things when reading fanfics. Mostly its just
simply the efort someone put into it, you can always tell when someone
decided to just throw together a few ideas without really thinking about
it or putting forth any kind of real effort.
I consider what makes me write fanfic. I've always been a big 'what if?'
person, as I'm sure most of you are too. But what ismpires you to write
fanfics? About any series? Any genre`? For the sole purpose of
entertaining others?
I'll make this as short as I can.
Writing, for me, began back in 1967, back before 'anile' was much
of an issue in America. I found that stories, both in books and on TV,
moved in a single direction (as such things are wont to do). So I started
asking the 'what if' questions concerning cast and plot and that led me
to writing, longhand, my interpretations of directions *I* wanted the
stories to go. First, they were simple outlines with occasional dialog
thrown in. Soon, I was fleshing out the outlines and writing genuine,
full stories based on either books I had read or TV shows I was fond of.
I got into playwriting, producing a handful of stage plays for friends
in school drama classes and later moved on to doing TV screenplays
(all of which were simply packed away, never to be seen by anyone but
myself).
In college, the writing bug really grabbed hold. I was fortunate
to be able to take creative writing classes from the likes of James Gunn
(well published science fiction writer and former chairman of the Science
Fiction Writers Guild). From him, I learned the most important reason to
write - myself. Always write stories YOU want to read, don't worry about
whether or not other people like them. If they're well written, with an
engaging cast and interesting plot, and YOU enjoy reading them, others
will too.
In 1970, I joined a writer's club based in California that did
stories about Hanna-Barbera TV cartoon shows (Scooby Doo, Josie and the
Pussycats, Johnny Quest, etc.). It was expensive (postage alone was
outrageous) but worth it because I finally had a 'public' outlet for
my mounting stack of stories I enjoyed but never really showed anyone
before.
Writing also worked as therapy, as suggested to me by a doctor
after a very personal tragedy in 1972. It acted as an outlet for
emotions I had but couldn't get out any other way.
Anyhow, I stopped writing in 1975 and spent 20 years only doing
technical manuals, executive summaries, and other business related
work until I stumbled back into cartoons - or more accurately, Anime.
Since then, I've worked hard relearning the skills needed to
tell tales on paper. The Internet and, especially, the FFML has proven
to be a great boon to writing and writers. I've been able to lose 20
years and become a kid again, writing my stories and reading those of
others. Laughing with a lot of fine people, young and old; sharing
something special with a few and helping myself, if only for a little
while, escape the real world for another, more exciting or happier place.
Genre? I care not the genre of a story - only if it's written
well and engages the senses. If I can feel the pain, fear, anger, or
joy of the characters, I read it. Happy or sad, funny or dark, external
action or introspection; all qualify so long as it grabs my attention
and makes me care for the characters. I can excuse spelling or grammar
errors - I make them myself - because I can usually figure out what
the writer was trying to say. I don't care if it includes new
characters. I don't share the arrogant view that the original
story lines and characters are some kind of 'holy' ground never to
be dirtied with the writer's own ideas. So long as they're well
written, I can enjoy new characters, crossovers, and even
self-insertions and treat them as if the original creator of the
series developed them for just such a purpose. Very often, new
characters are essential to taking a story in a direction would be
too 'forced' if had to rely on only the 'original' series characters
for the given situation.
Sure, I fear some topics. At times, my good friend, Richard
Lawson does things that make me uncomfortable. But I put my objections
on hold, read the stories, and revel in a well written tale, whatever
my 'comfort factor' may tell me. I may not like the topic, but I can
appreciate the skill and effort that went into producing such a story
and the courage in approaching such a topic. Richard and I remain
friends because I understand the stories are not *him*; just well
crafted tales from a creative mind not afraid to ask 'what if'.
Why do I write? For all the above reasons but especially for
myself and a certain old friend in Florida. Sure, I've developed a
reader base and I'm grateful for each and every person who ever picked
up one of my stories - whether they enjoyed them or not, but I
experience more happiness in the development of a story than in its
completion or release.
I'll leave you with something from author Ann Copeland:
"All writing is an act of exposure. This may be why some
writers fear rejection. They feel it is a rejection of themselves.
Instinctively, also, we know reading to be an act of intimacy.
Therefore, the process of writing involves getting past that fear of
exposure and coming to trust our reader. Fear can make us hold back
as writers from mining the deepest sources of our power.
Respect your readers. Imagine them as intelligent, responsive,
open to your point of view, ready to listen. Imagine them as having
felt grief, love, passion, betrayal, confusion, joy. Speak to those
feelings."
Gotta go now and get back to writing. It's my hobby, my
avocation, my alternate world of friends.
- Greg
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G.L. Sandborn [aka Uncle Fester]
Home on the range at: sandborn@microlink.net
sandborn@burnsmcd.com
All my stories can be found at:
http://www.microlink.net/~sandborn/
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