It's Official

[oselle]

The latest issue of Time magazine has an article about how the boundaries of "published fiction" are expanding to include works such as the once highly disparaged self-published novels, internet-published fiction and even novels published strictly for cell phones (in Japan, where else?). They give one heck of a shout-out to fanfiction, calling it, and I quote, "a literary form in its own right."

I know that those of us who read and write fanfiction have felt like this for years and have long thought that fanfiction, for all the scorn people heap upon it, is closer to the natural tradition of storytelling than a lot of the stuff that actually makes it onto bookstore shelves. It's really interesting now to see fanfiction being included -- with no snark, overt or implied -- in a serious article on the evolution of publishing. I always knew we were onto something!

The article goes on to discuss the role that editors will play in the new world of publishing and mentions that "unpaid amateur editors have already hit the world of fan fiction, where they're called beta readers." I love this description of beta readers "already" having hit the world of fan fiction, as if this were some new trend and not something we've all been doing for years. I also love that the term "beta readers" actually needs a definition. It reminds me that the vast majority of people out there don't know anything at all about this world that so many of us are so passionate about, are so ignorant of it that they need a commonplace term like "beta reader" explained to them. Wow...street cred and a feeling of exclusivity from one article. Not bad, Time. Not bad.

Read the whole article.

Comments

[oxer12.livejournal.com]

Cool! I'm with you, most of the time I forget how totally ignorant the vast majority of people are about fanfiction. Nice to see fanfic getting some legitimate props. I've always felt that the GOOD fic authors (*cough*YOU*cough*) should be getting more recognition!

[oselle.livejournal.com]

I just thought it was so gratifying to see fanfiction being included in an article that took self-publication seriously. After all, fanfiction writers have been "self publishing" for years.

[mirabile-dictu.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the link -- that was fascinating, and not just for its mention of fanfiction and beta reading.

[oselle.livejournal.com]

It's funny because just the other day I saw an ad in the back of some magazine for a self-publishing company and I've always thought those things were a scam. Maybe they were at one time but now they're turning into an avenue to "legitimate" publication...I think it's a good thing for everyone. Why should a few "gatekeepers" at publishing houses be the arbiters of what people read?

[mews1945.livejournal.com]

Very interesting, and when you look at it, it seems inevitable that publishing would evolve this way, with the evolution of technology. And it seems pretty inevitable too that the dross will be weeded out pretty quickly. People won't read something just because they can get it free and download it to their Kindles or whatever. They'll abandon it and search for something better. But most writers will find at least some sort of audience, I think.

[oselle.livejournal.com]

What I liked was that the article did mention there's the potential for an awful lot of bad writing but they also said that this was incredibly fertile ground. I just don't think there can ever be a bad side to people getting to exercise and share their creativity.

[sistermagpie.livejournal.com]

Go Time!!

[oselle.livejournal.com]

I wonder how long it'll be before you can publish fanfiction on Kindle...can you imagine!?

[merylmarie.livejournal.com]

That's great news! Just a few short years ago, the acceptance of fanfiction as a legitimate form of writing seemed impossible. Now it's got cred. Yes!

[mangacat201.livejournal.com]

MWEHAWEHWAEHewa... they DID?? Great... I mean, yeah, I totally know where you come from, I've seen fanfiction that had the quality of literature that should definitely be envied by most of those books in the stores. (one of those tries you can very much heap on your own head, but I was there already) but yeah, beta readers described as editors (I mean, we're DOING the works don't we) and we are such a bunch of talented, multi-culti sub-culture of the whole world. (*cackles madly*) And you're right, there are people out there who've got to have fanfiction explained to them, it's unbelievable from my spot really, let's go and infect them *G* I've had a discussion with a friend lately who was going to have to do a writing assignment for her studies in whatever topic and we debated if she should actually do a fanfiction-term glossary. ehehehehee, it was very funny finding all these words and expressions we use that noone will understand if they're not in... and the best thing, I find new ones still after... *counts* oh GOD almost ten years of reading and writing, and THAT's awesome!!
Cat

PS:Sorry for the rant, but it wanted to be said...