# I am writing a fanfiction: I hang my head in shame.
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-writing-a-fanfiction-i-hang-my-head-in-shame/286584
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [January 25, 2005, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-writing-a-fanfiction-i-hang-my-head-in-shame/286584 "2005-01-25T14:33:31Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazon_Floozy_Goddess)
#### Post date: [January 25, 2005, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-writing-a-fanfiction-i-hang-my-head-in-shame/286584/1 "2005-01-25T14:33:31Z")
I don’t know what’s come over me. I used to write a lot when I was in my early teens, and then I kind of lost interest. Now, I’ve started again. Thing is, it’s a fan fiction. I really like the Hellboy movie, and I recently stumbled across a fansite that was requesting people to write fan fictions. Seeing as I had a bit of time on my hands, I decided why not, and thought I’d write a chapter or two. 66 pages later… :eek:
Don’t get me wrong, I’ve seen some pretty good fan fictions out there. But there are many, many more that are embarrasingly, irreperably horrible. I’m sitting there at night, typing like a maniac, enjoying it and at the same time thinking, “What am I _doing???_ I’m writing a _fan fiction!!_ Must…stop!!” But the words just keep pouring out of me like diarrhea. In my defense, I’m trying to make the story as intelligent and non-embarrasing as possible.
The truth is out. I’m writing a fanfic. You may all now point and laugh at me. ☹😉
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### Author:  [@welby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/welby)
#### Post date: [January 25, 2005, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-writing-a-fanfiction-i-hang-my-head-in-shame/286584/2 "2005-01-25T15:57:49Z")
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
Just kidding. I’m not a fan of fanfic, either reading or writing, but I’m vastly familiar with it thanks to my daughter. My daughter started out writing fan fiction for 7th Heaven, of all shows. I was, as the parent, obliged to read them. The first few were remarkably horrible. She kept writing, improving, and learning. Last month she won a writing contest at school for the best original short story. Much of the credit can go to the constructive criticism she got at the many fan fiction sites she frequents.
Most of the fan fiction sites have kids as members, and I view this as a good thing. For that matter I firmly beleive that anything that drives kids away from TV and video games and into the realm of intellectual thought a good thing. Why be embarrassed about putting thought and effort into something you enjoy?
Mind posting a link? I’d like to take a look at your writing style and story.
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### Author:  [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)
#### Post date: [January 25, 2005, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-writing-a-fanfiction-i-hang-my-head-in-shame/286584/3 "2005-01-25T16:18:03Z")
If it makes you feel any better, **Amazon Floozy Goddess** , I’ve written erotica. For money. I’m a mind whore. _Hangs head in shame_
I really needed the money when I first went freelance, and it wasn’t horribly hard to do. I just didn’t tell my family about it because I didn’t want them to think I was a sex fiend. I still write it on occasion when I’m between jobs and need cash. Thank God for pen names. :o
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### Author:  [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)
#### Post date: [January 25, 2005, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-writing-a-fanfiction-i-hang-my-head-in-shame/286584/4 "2005-01-25T16:33:04Z")
Not a big fan of the genre myself, but UvulaDaughter has been writing it for her favorite shows for years.
For awhile, she was writing “Zimzodes” - fanfic episodes of the Invader Zim cartoon that used to run on Nickelodeon. They were pretty good, I guess; she got a lot of feedback from other kids on the Nick boards, and it did help her develop an affinity for creative writing.
So: Good luck with it, and have fun.
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### Author:  [@EmeraldGrue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EmeraldGrue)
#### Post date: [January 25, 2005, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-writing-a-fanfiction-i-hang-my-head-in-shame/286584/5 "2005-01-25T16:37:53Z")
:points: Bwahahahaha!
A couple English-major friends and I like visiting [fanfiction.net](http://fanfiction.net), finding the most horrendous, stylistically offensive, juvenile piece, and writing scathing reviews. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve read some great fanfiction by published authors (“A Study in Emerald”, etc.), and some okay stuff by amateurs, and of course it’s a very useful stepping-stone to writing original fiction, but…most of it is just wannabe-literary diarrhea.
Nothing against your story. It’s just that most of the fanfic writers out there seem to be young kids (girls) reading Harry Potter etc. and barely any of the older or higher-quality stuff. The fanfics by mature writers with some grasp of grammar, spelling and punctuation (that is, the kind I assume you write) just get lost in all the crap.
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### Author:  [@Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazon_Floozy_Goddess)
#### Post date: [January 25, 2005, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-writing-a-fanfiction-i-hang-my-head-in-shame/286584/6 "2005-01-25T17:27:25Z")
I know what you mean, **EmeraldGrue**. There’s so much stuff out there that’s so bad, it’s beyond bad. You know what you’re reading is an exceptionally terrible piece if you physically cringe while you read it. The people who think they’re really, really good are usually far from it. 😉
I think maybe 5 people tops have read my fic. I would link to it, but:
-It’s part of a private forum that you need to request membership to, and;
-It’s NSFW due to some abrasive language. Also, some parts are…er…NC-17.
Siding with what **Overlyverbose** said, I’ll probably never, ever let my family see it. Or most of my friends. Not so much because they might think it’s a piece of shite, but because some of the subject matter might make them think I’m a nutbar.
I might post it on [Fanfiction.net](http://Fanfiction.net) in the future. I’m still a little shy about it, though.
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### Author:  [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)
#### Post date: [January 25, 2005, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-writing-a-fanfiction-i-hang-my-head-in-shame/286584/7 "2005-01-25T17:28:11Z")
_points_ Hahahahahahahaha…
…oh, wait. I write the stuff. Nevermind.
_slinks away_
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### Author:  [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)
#### Post date: [January 25, 2005, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-writing-a-fanfiction-i-hang-my-head-in-shame/286584/8 "2005-01-25T17:29:49Z")
> [@Amazon Floozy Goddess](#):
>
> I might post it on [Fanfiction.net](http://Fanfiction.net) in the future. I’m still a little shy about it, though.
If it makes you more comfortable, you can always post it under a pseudonym. Just a suggestion. 😉
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### Author:  [@Amazon\_Floozy\_Goddess](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amazon_Floozy_Goddess)
#### Post date: [January 25, 2005, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-writing-a-fanfiction-i-hang-my-head-in-shame/286584/9 "2005-01-25T17:35:26Z")
> [@overlyverbose](#):
>
> If it makes you more comfortable, you can always post it under a pseudonym. Just a suggestion. 😉
Oh, I do. I still feel like a wiener though. 😃
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### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [January 25, 2005, 6:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-writing-a-fanfiction-i-hang-my-head-in-shame/286584/10 "2005-01-25T18:12:13Z")
> [@overlyverbose](#):
>
> If it makes you feel any better, **Amazon Floozy Goddess** , I’ve written erotica. For money. I’m a mind whore. _Hangs head in shame_
Um, I do, too, and not even for money. So I guess that just makes me a slut.
I also read fanfiction, and write a little. What’s to be ashamed of? If you enjoy it, then do it.
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### Author:  [@OtakuLoki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OtakuLoki)
#### Post date: [January 25, 2005, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-writing-a-fanfiction-i-hang-my-head-in-shame/286584/11 "2005-01-25T18:37:56Z")
> [@Anaamika](#):
>
> I also read fanfiction, and write a little. What’s to be ashamed of? If you enjoy it, then do it.
But who, in their right mind, admits to writing fanfiction? 😉
(Of course, as all Dopers know, I’m not in my right mind, so I can admit I’ve got a few pieces out there on the internet… 😃 )
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### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [January 25, 2005, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-writing-a-fanfiction-i-hang-my-head-in-shame/286584/12 "2005-01-25T18:39:48Z")
> [@OtakuLoki](#):
>
> But who, in their right mind, admits to writing fanfiction? 😉
>
> (Of course, as all Dopers know, I’m not in my right mind, so I can admit I’ve got a few pieces out there on the internet… 😃 )
I just did.
And I just submitted a few of my…uh…\*erotic \* fiction…to a certain website. To my mind, that’s more embarrasing than fanfic.
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### Author:  [@overlyverbose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/overlyverbose)
#### Post date: [January 25, 2005, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-writing-a-fanfiction-i-hang-my-head-in-shame/286584/13 "2005-01-25T20:19:57Z")
> [@Anaamika](#):
>
> I just did.
>
> And I just submitted a few of my…uh…\*erotic \* fiction…to a certain website. To my mind, that’s more embarrasing than fanfic.
There’s a great critique group online for erotica writers. If you’re interested, I can e-mail you the link.
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### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [January 25, 2005, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-writing-a-fanfiction-i-hang-my-head-in-shame/286584/14 "2005-01-25T20:39:44Z")
> [@overlyverbose](#):
>
> There’s a great critique group online for erotica writers. If you’re interested, I can e-mail you the link.
Sure, I don’t mind…but I wonder if it’s the one I went to.
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### Author:  [@Terrorcotta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrorcotta)
#### Post date: [January 25, 2005, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-writing-a-fanfiction-i-hang-my-head-in-shame/286584/15 "2005-01-25T21:02:04Z")
It’s really only embarrassing if you get “Mary Sue’d”. Which anyone who does self-insertion certainly deserves.
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### Author:  [@Fretful\_Porpentine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fretful_Porpentine)
#### Post date: [January 25, 2005, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-writing-a-fanfiction-i-hang-my-head-in-shame/286584/16 "2005-01-25T21:57:21Z")
'S okay, I’ve heard that sometimes even English lit grad students write fanfiction. To fritter away time while they’re supposed to be working on the dissertation, and all that. Sometimes so successfully that they end up with at least a hundred pages of ficcage for every ten pages of dissertation.
… Not that I would know anything about this _personally_, of course. I, um, had it revealed to me in a dream …
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### Author:  [@Flutterby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flutterby)
#### Post date: [January 25, 2005, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-writing-a-fanfiction-i-hang-my-head-in-shame/286584/17 "2005-01-25T22:40:21Z")
I don’t think there’s anything wrong with writing FanFic. I know one person who does so (and I love her Pirates of the Caribbean stuff) and I have turned my hand to it once or twice. I’ve even had the author who wrote the books read my start. It’s a fun thing to do and sometimes it even turns out good (or halfway decent) 😉
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### Author:  [@Jayn\_Newell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayn_Newell)
#### Post date: [January 26, 2005, 1:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-writing-a-fanfiction-i-hang-my-head-in-shame/286584/18 "2005-01-26T01:57:39Z")
I’d point and laugh, except for two things
1. I have friends who are very into the fanfic scene, especially slash
2. I wrote my first one the other day (FFVII, about a page long, and my friends must be rubbing off on me, since it’s slightly slashy) and am planning a much longer FullMetal Alchemist one.
So I’m not going to point and laugh. In fact, I encourage you to write more. Any excuse for some creative writing, and if it’s what compels you to write, write about it. Unless you’re putting off your term paper or anything important like that.
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### Author:  [@The\_Asbestos\_Mango](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Asbestos_Mango)
#### Post date: [January 26, 2005, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-writing-a-fanfiction-i-hang-my-head-in-shame/286584/19 "2005-01-26T04:24:11Z")
Fanfic is nothing to be ashamed of. Really. Many nice, perfectly sane, intelligent, productive citizens have written fanfic.
Then there’s me. During the final season of _Buffy: the Vampire Slayer_, I wrote a post-Buffy fanfic, and even put it up on a couple of sites, one of which was [fanfiction.net](http://fanfiction.net). I mean post-Buffy as in it occurrs about a year and a half after Buffy dies fighting a really nasty demon.
Of course, I would never post a link to it, because, really, it’s two years old now and it’s only a fanfic. It’s not like I created most of the characters.
Really, I would never post a link to my fanfic.
Really.
[Oh, screw it. Yes I would.](http://http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1312415/1/)
I’m such a whore.
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### Author:  [@phouka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phouka)
#### Post date: [January 26, 2005, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-writing-a-fanfiction-i-hang-my-head-in-shame/286584/20 "2005-01-26T04:26:54Z")
[raises hand sheepishly]
Yeah, I write fanfic. Mostly Firefly, a couple of Star Wars, and now I’m working on my first Buffy fanfic.
Part of it is the challenge to make the story and characters as canonical as possible. I’m not really interesting in writing a fanfic just so Character A can get together with Character B. That may be a starting point, but it’s got to work within the structure of the overall story.
Stephen King once wrote that a writer’s first million words were crap, so you might as well just get them done and get on with the good stuff. In a way, that’s how I view my fanfic writing. In the meantime, I’ve got some friends who really like my stuff, and it’s nice to get the feedback and support along with amusing them.
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-am-writing-a-fanfiction-i-hang-my-head-in-shame/286584.md?page=2)