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Playing in someone else's sandbox
May. 22nd, 2004 10:10 amFanfiction allows us to do what we love to do without the stresses of original fiction. This isn't to say that original fiction isn't fun and satisfying. It probably is, in some ways, *more* satisfying just because, when you're done, you have this unique and original world all your own. And that's pretty cool.
But fanfiction is so much more immediately satisfying. It's fun to write, even when it's not, it's fun to think about, even when it's not, and it's fun to read. It gives us something either we want from the show, movie, or book we're riffing off of, or allows us to explore the infinite possibilities.
It's also, for myself at least, a lot easier to write. I've tried to think about why, and figure it out, but it's always sort of eluded me. I mean, I'm doing the same thing, right? Creating a story using characters, plot, and setting. What's the difference?
The difference is, of course, with fanfiction, I'm playing in somebody else's sandbox. And that's why it's so much easier.
When I’m playing in my own sandbox, there's tons more to do. First, I have to build the sandbox. I have to figure out the dimensions, the material I'm going to use, and where to put it. I have to decide what sort of sand to put in, and how much. Then I need to figure out what sorts of toys to buy. How many? What are their purpose? What do they do? How do they do it? Where do they do it? How do I use they toys together? Are they compatible? Are they toys that can't play together no matter what? Should I use them? Should I have toys that I won't use that much, or just concentrate on the main toys? And then I have to decided color and size and weight and what kind of cases they go in. I have to decide if they're good toys or bad toys, and what kinds of likes and dislikes the toys have. I have to set limits on the toys; what are they good at and what are they bad at.
There's tons to do before I can start on the story part (she says, switching metaphors). And I always sort of get bogged down in all that. In fanfiction, a lot of it is already taken care of. I know the size and dimensions of my sandbox. I know the setting and the limits and personalities of the characters. I can check what I'm doing against canon and fanon interpretations. I can concentrate on the *story* which, to me, is the fun part, and sort of float along the rest. And it makes is so much more fun and, in a lot of ways, more satisfying.
Oh, and I've learned a new word:
glabrous--(adj) smooth, having a surface without hairs, projectison, or any unevenness. In other words, Lex Luthor.
But fanfiction is so much more immediately satisfying. It's fun to write, even when it's not, it's fun to think about, even when it's not, and it's fun to read. It gives us something either we want from the show, movie, or book we're riffing off of, or allows us to explore the infinite possibilities.
It's also, for myself at least, a lot easier to write. I've tried to think about why, and figure it out, but it's always sort of eluded me. I mean, I'm doing the same thing, right? Creating a story using characters, plot, and setting. What's the difference?
The difference is, of course, with fanfiction, I'm playing in somebody else's sandbox. And that's why it's so much easier.
When I’m playing in my own sandbox, there's tons more to do. First, I have to build the sandbox. I have to figure out the dimensions, the material I'm going to use, and where to put it. I have to decide what sort of sand to put in, and how much. Then I need to figure out what sorts of toys to buy. How many? What are their purpose? What do they do? How do they do it? Where do they do it? How do I use they toys together? Are they compatible? Are they toys that can't play together no matter what? Should I use them? Should I have toys that I won't use that much, or just concentrate on the main toys? And then I have to decided color and size and weight and what kind of cases they go in. I have to decide if they're good toys or bad toys, and what kinds of likes and dislikes the toys have. I have to set limits on the toys; what are they good at and what are they bad at.
There's tons to do before I can start on the story part (she says, switching metaphors). And I always sort of get bogged down in all that. In fanfiction, a lot of it is already taken care of. I know the size and dimensions of my sandbox. I know the setting and the limits and personalities of the characters. I can check what I'm doing against canon and fanon interpretations. I can concentrate on the *story* which, to me, is the fun part, and sort of float along the rest. And it makes is so much more fun and, in a lot of ways, more satisfying.
Oh, and I've learned a new word:
glabrous--(adj) smooth, having a surface without hairs, projectison, or any unevenness. In other words, Lex Luthor.
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