Fic rec!

[agilebrit]

I finally got the chance to sit down and read Almost No One Makes It Out by atrata yesterday, and it blew me away. Iron Man, what-if scenario based on "What if Tony Stark wasn't born with a silver spoon in his mouth and had to join the Army?" and it's amazing. 28,000 words and well worth your time. I devoured it in one sitting and may just read it again.

Comments

[bradrtorgersen.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry, I am really a curmudgeon about this. That's 28,000 words this writer can never submit, never sell... And don't think I haven't done it too. I've got at least a couple hundred thousand words of fiction in my trunk that can never earn me a penny because it was done 'on spec' using someone else's universe, someone else's characters, etc.

Granted, for many in fanfic, it's not about the money. Fanfic is playtime and it gives them joy on a whole other level. But if you can write fanfic competently or even very well, my goodness, take the next step and write some independent fic that might go places and make lots of money.

[agilebrit.livejournal.com]

As far as I know, writing for this person is a hobby. Telling people they shouldn't write fanfic is, to me, like telling someone who draws for fun that they shouldn't do it unless they're planning on being a professional artist and making money with their work. I have one friend who is terrified by the prospect of writing original fiction and actually submitting it anywhere, and so she writes fanfic, and that's her writing outlet--she's written an epic, 300,000-word BtVS trilogy, and it's amazing. But she doesn't have the temperament for original fiction. And that's okay.

I've probably written 250,000+ words of fanfic myself, and I don't begrudge it one bit. It's still making people smile (or cry, because I'm evil and hurt the characters I love) years after I wrote it.

I write what demands to be written. If that's non-con breathplay in a universe that doesn't belong to me, then I've learned that I'd better just write it and get it out of my system instead of letting it fester there and block every single other thing I should be working on. For me, fighting something like that just uses up time and energy I could be spending, you know, writing the thing and getting it over with. So, on occasion, I still commit fanfic. Once or twice a year.

Honestly, with this thing that atrata wrote, she could probably expand it, scrape off the serial numbers, and sell it (because it's that much of an AU), but if she's not interested in doing that, it's her prerogative.

[bradrtorgersen.livejournal.com]

My very first pieces of fiction were Star Trek, Star Wars, and Mad Max fan fic. That was back in my teens. I enjoyed it enormously, and selling never even came on my radar because I didn't even think of myself as a writer back then. I thought I was just having fun and for a little while, fun was enough. Even when I got to do the Searcher & Stallion radio scripts, it was pure fun. The 'high' of hearing my words dramatically portrayed on-air was all the 'pay' I needed.

I don't really know when the switch flipped. I'm pretty sure it was when I read my first Larry Niven stories in 1992, during my Searcher & Stallion stint. I looked at what I was writing for fun, looked at what Larry had written for money, and said, "There isn't a huge difference, right?" People seemed to enjoy the radio stuff. What if I actually managed to write something I could sell, and make money at? OMNI used to pay over a thousand bucks a story in 1992. At that time -- and at that age -- a thousand bucks would have gone a long way.

So I started down The Dark Path, and forever did it dominate my destiny.

The only other time I did anything close to fanfic, was when I was trying to get a Robotech/Rifts RPG worldbook published with Palladium Books. I sent off this huge package to the publisher, and got back a form that they wanted me to sign basically relinquishing all control and all rights over the entire thing, and they could pay me IF THEY FELT LIKE IT, and if something came out that just happened to be similar to what I'd sent, I COULD NEVER SUE, because I owned nothing in terms of characters, setting, world, etc.

That was a very cold, cold dash of water in the face. And I told myself then I'd not bother with anything that was not explicitly mine, or for which I was not explicitly contracted as media writer.

I don't mean it to sound like I am down on the fanfic community. I don't drink that kind of haterade. I just see all these fanfic writers -- producing millions upon words of fanfic, some of it very good -- and I have to wonder what would happen if even a few of them applied themselves to original projects in the way they clearly apply themselves to their favorite television shows, comic books, novels, etc.

I understand the need and want to do fanfic. I really do. I am sympathetic. But I'd also love to start a rehab shelter for fanfic writers wherein they learn the 12 Steps to independent prose. Lots of these people could be making some real money -- quit their day jobs! -- if they took the extra step. Almost all of them won't, though. And that saddens me a great deal.

[agilebrit.livejournal.com]

Oh, I feel ya; I wish some of the amazing writers of fanfic I know would write original fiction too. But, you know, I started writing fanfic in 2003 and didn't write my first original piece (which was actually a Firefly fic with the serial numbers scraped off--literally) until 2006...because I just flat was not inspired to write anything original.

And gaming companies are EVIL. Seriously, run away.

It's still hard for me to pull ideas for original fiction out--especially lately, it seems. But I'm not getting any ideas for fanfic either, so I don't even know. It makes me grumpy. I totally get why Ben has stopped talking to me (poor fellow, he needs a break), but it sure would be nice if the end of the Zombie story would reveal itself. I don't like the first ending that came to mind for it. *sigh*

You're coming to CONduit, right?

[bradrtorgersen.livejournal.com]

Yup, I will be at CONduit. I intend to fully inflict myself on as many of the Name writers as possible. (evil grin) I imagine you will be there, like last year. What panels do you think look interesting? I see a placeholder schedule at the CONduit site.

[agilebrit.livejournal.com]

Boy, is it just me, or is the writing track THIN this year? Oh well. More time in the bar, I guess. Of course, this being Utah, I will be LONELY in the bar, but that just means more time to write. I guess.

[bradrtorgersen.livejournal.com]

Yeah, writing track looks a little anemic. I hope for me there is some action in the green room. Of course, time not spent attending a panel can be time spent plinking on a story, too.

Oh, who am I kidding? I always tell myself I am going to do that, then I never do it! LOL @ SELF.

I think this is why I enjoyed LTUE so much, the strong writing track(s) -- and absence of other, traditional con stuff -- made it feel very, very much like a writer-focused event. Whereas CONduit is "bigger" but the writer quotient...

Well, I am sure the Writing Excuses block is going to be packed, and fun.

I have no idea what they might throw me on, if anything. I've gotten no word from anyone in that regard, though I am told I will be used in some fashion. All that good whoring AHEM, I mean, self-promotion, gone to waste?

[agilebrit.livejournal.com]

Well, they've posted an updated schedule, and the writing track has expanded from what it was yesterday, so that's a Good. I'll be opening it up and shutting it down and probably spending some time in the bar as well--with my laptop and its eight-hour battery.

I don't know who's on the ConComm, but perhaps for next year we could either get on it ourselves or at least lobby for more writing stuff. I'd really love to see some of the nuts and bolts things covered, like Writing a Successful Query Letter, and maybe more on Story Structure. Especially since I don't really "structure" mine so much as scribble what sounds good at the time and hope it's actually good.

[bradrtorgersen.livejournal.com]

Just got word today that I am on two of the Friday writing panels: 1 PM and 5 PM. I am moderating the one I suggested: writing for publication. I actually have a bit of a syllabus I am going to hand out for that one, and I am now very curious to see who is on the panel with me. I hope everyone has a good time. Oh, and I am on the site now as a participating guest! Sweet!

[luxuria-oceanus.livejournal.com]

Wow. Just... wow.

Now that's a scenario I never imagined, but it was very well-written *.* thanks for sharing this, hon!

[agilebrit.livejournal.com]

She's amazing. Anything by her is GOLD, and I strongly suggest you hunt down the rest of her fic. In fact, I'll save you the trouble.