Fifty Shades of Grey and Writing Fanfiction
Some pros and cons of writing fanfic.
For the longest, I was led to believe that writing fanfiction was considered hack work by amateurs that don't truly understand the properties they write about. But that was before I learned of major authors like E.L. James (50 Shades of Grey), Meg Cabot (the Princess Diaries) and Marissa Meyer (Lunar Chronicles) all having cut their teeth writing fanfiction. In fact, the first Grey novel originally started as a Twilight fanfic!
I've learned that fanfiction is a great way to explore new concepts and ideas, using familiar characters and tropes as a basis. Some would even say the unused ideas I post with the likes of Batman and Spiderman could be considered fanfiction. There are large, thriving communities of fanfic writers for just about any franchise you can imagine.
There are several pros to writing fan fiction. One of the main benefits is that it allows writers to explore their favorite characters and worlds in more depth and from different perspectives. This can be a great way to gain experience and practice writing, as well as to express creativity and connect with others who share similar interests.
Another benefit of writing fan fiction is that it can be a great way to build a community and connect with other writers. Many fan fiction writers share their work online and receive feedback from other readers and writers, which can be a great way to improve one's writing skills, as well as to make friends and build a sense of community.
However, there are also some cons to writing fan fiction. One of the main downsides is that it is often considered to be a form of copyright infringement. Many authors and publishers do not approve of fan fiction and may take legal action against those who write and distribute it.
Another con is that fan fiction can be time-consuming and may not lead to any professional opportunities. Many fan fiction writers do not make money from their work and may not receive recognition or credit for their writing.
If you want to make a fanfic you wrote your own and copyright-free, there are ways to do that. Like with Fifty Shades of Grey, you can simply swap out the known characters for original characters you created. You may need to alter details like costumes, powers and equipment (especially for comic book characters) and possibly key backstory elements, but it can be done. The public domain is also your ally, as characters like Alan Quartermain can be used freely without fear of getting sued.
In conclusion, writing fan fiction can be a great way to explore one's favorite characters and worlds, gain experience and practice writing, build a community and connect with other writers. However, it can also be considered a form of copyright infringement and may not lead to any professional opportunities. Therefore, it is important for writers to be aware of the legal and professional implications of writing fan fiction before deciding to pursue it.
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