On Writing and Fanfiction
Seeing as how I started this blog for my writing, I thought it would be a good idea to add this page with my views on writing and fanfiction.
Writing is a way for me to get thoughts out, and say what I have to say. It’s a recent thing for me, well, maybe not, considering I got my start nearly a year ago, but it’s not something I’ve been doing for years, like some people I know. I really enjoy writing essays and such (I know, I’m odd like that), but fiction never really came easy to me. Now I’m discovering it can get things across a lot better than other methods at times. I find myself getting ideas everywhere now, and I carry a notebook with me practically everywhere I go now. Just goes to show that authors are no different than other people… they just know where to look for inspiration, and see things in a somewhat different light. Writing has been a wonderful thing for me, and though I’m certainly not the best at it and I have a lot to learn, I’m glad I picked it up.
Now, in regards to fanfiction: I have nothing against craziness and whatever else an author may wish to throw in when it comes to original fiction. But when it comes to fanfics, I have much higher standards. If you’re going to play around in other people’s worlds, then make sure to play by their rules. Respect the author and his work enough to follow canon. Yes, it may be fiction. Yes, fiction means being able to write what you want. But if you’re going to borrow other author’s worlds, PLAY BY THE RULES THEY LAID DOWN. In my opinion, it’s much more challenging to write a fanfic that manages to be unique and different yet still within canon, and therefore more satisfying. I put a LOT of effort and research into my own fics just to make sure I have all my facts straight, and I am much more satisfied by it. I feel that even though I highly doubt I’ll ever get up to the caliber of Lewis himself, I’m giving him the respect he deserves by doing what I can to stick to his writings.
Bringing up Lewis brings up one more point: slash and incest. Forget it. Lewis didn’t support either one, and bringing either one of them into his works is uncanonical, disrepectful, and out of character. I can’t stand it. At all. Yell at me for it if you want, but it’s not something that should be in any fanfic based on one of Lewis’s worlds. It’s just not something he would have put in his work himself. I can’t see the ‘fan’ bit of ‘fanfiction’ in any author who does it.
Now, all of this may lead you to think I can’t stand Alternate Universe or ‘AU’ fics. I can stand them here and there. In fact, there’s a few among my favorite fanfics. But they HAVE to be well done. The deviance from canon HAS to be well-explained and believeable. Respect for the author, his ideals, and his work HAS to be obvious. If the deviance is only for the author’s convenience or just because they think it works better that way, it’s not gonna fly for me. AU fics I like change things a bit to explore another side of characters… such as how Peter or Edmund may have dealt with Susan had one or both of them survived the train crash (the premise for my favorite AU fics). I’ve got nothing against AU fics. But I’ve got high standards for them.
Finally, Mary Sues. Don’t get me started. I can’t stand ‘em. AT ALL. Original characters I don’t mind in the least as long as they’re well done. But they need flaws, they need to be well rounded and fleshed out, not perfect little beauty queens who are so great at everything they do.
Okay, that’s my rant on writing. Take from it what you will. 
