In These Words ... © copyright 2014 by Lillian Carrero
I don’t read fan fiction, what does that make me—a
hypocrite or a snob? I’m not sure that I can pigeonhole myself into either
mold. As I write fan fiction, there has
to be a little bit of a hypocrite in me. As I couldn’t force myself to read even
a complete first sentence of other’s work, I guess it makes me a snob.
There is something I don’t need to
seek, but have sometimes found when I read. There is something captivating
about narrative voice. It is an immediate response and difficult to explain,
like the ever elusive love at first sight
a narrative voice either speaks to you or it does not. A formulaic listing of
events has the potential to be an interesting and unique voice, but there has
to be intent behind it and a plan to sustain the voice. Don’t get me wrong I’ve
read published work that has forced me to suppress my gag reflex.
Of course everyone’s a critic, making
me no exception, but I honestly believe that there is published work out there
that aspires to be substandard. That is how far below the curve they have fallen.
With this in mind and some rudimentary understanding or a belief system that
supports the notion of complimentary opposites, an antithesis—I’ve got to say
that I have to believe that there is fan fiction out there that would not only
compliment the source material, but also create a voice that stands on its own
merit apart from the source. I aspire to
achieve that voice.
The thing I like about writing fan
fiction is that I don’t have to think about naming characters. The thing I find
difficult is that I must (emphasis on
the must) remain true to the
character voice and narrative tone established by the original source material.
The story can go some place else, but straying too far from the parameters of
its existing world is an iffy proposition.
Three decades ago my favorite professor (the man who counted out iambic pentameter by doing what was akin to a jig in front of the classroom) took a ten-page paper held it out in the palm of his hand and and with a flare for the dramatic dropped it on the floor. He went on to explain how anyone anywhere should be able to pick up the piece and without prior knowledge of the content be able to have a complete understanding of what was written. There is the perfect formula for a lasting impression. And so I write fan fiction as if my reader is completely unfamiliar with the source material.
Three decades ago my favorite professor (the man who counted out iambic pentameter by doing what was akin to a jig in front of the classroom) took a ten-page paper held it out in the palm of his hand and and with a flare for the dramatic dropped it on the floor. He went on to explain how anyone anywhere should be able to pick up the piece and without prior knowledge of the content be able to have a complete understanding of what was written. There is the perfect formula for a lasting impression. And so I write fan fiction as if my reader is completely unfamiliar with the source material.
As an undergrad at NYU (that same
professor) gave an assignment to write an original scene using established
character from three different plays. The assignment was daunting, but I have
to say I loved it. It was truly my first venture into fan fiction.
In many ways fan fiction is akin to
modern art, it cannot standalone; by its nature it is derivative work. The
back-story in exposition is either intricately woven into the fabric or a
vacuous litany. An exhibit in New York’s renowned museum row of an empty old
shoebox is demonstrative of how these things can go either way. People ooh and ahh about the creative risk of
putting a shoebox out there, but I’m left with this feeling that I’ve been
bamboozled and I was the only one who noticed the idiot parading around naked. Found art: coming soon dried up dog
excrement—no wait, been there, done that. The best part is being told that
my inability to like this piece of crap (and that was literal) is because I
lack understanding of modern art. “It’s not me it’s you.” Now there’s a twist.
Writing is something I love to do and
writing derivative work within the scope of my own narrative voice is something
I do just for me. But like I said fan fiction can go either way, David or a
shoebox. My work isn’t out there, but I’d like it to be. I sincerely hope that
what I do comes nowhere near being a shoebox. In truth that is not the reason
my work isn’t out there in the ether. As I endeavor to publish my original
stories I too worry about copyright infringement. My derivative work does not
aspire to be part of the canon, but I respect the original source material.
With that in mind I will not present my derivative work without consent from
the owners of the material. For now, what I feel comfortable with is a
discourse on the conception of the pieces themselves.
With that in mind I
present fan fiction … but I call it derivative work, being all PC and crap like
that—go me.
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