UFO Fan Fiction

Lightcudder responded:


>I agree that criticism of fanfiction is acceptable, but it >does need to be based on the accuracy of the content >and the grammar, rather than one's personal reaction to >the storyline. Each writer has their own individual style, >just as fans have their own preferences for episodes, >actors, models etc. Some writers are not 'approved of' >by a minority of readers.
>There are several people who really, really object to my >'Alan' stories in the Thunderbirds site and who are >personally abusive. If people don't like a particular style >of writing, then they should know to avoid those stories.
>I do not read Agatha Christie for example.
>One other thing to consider. Fanfiction kept Star Trek >alive for decades. Fanfiction is just another expression >of people's love for a series that was all too short and >yet still keeps us enthralled.
>Oh yes.. and I do try to illustrate my stories.. just can't >do everything at once!

Just a couple of points.I don't agree about criticism only being about grammar and accuracy of content.

For example,someone could write,and for all I know they already have (it wouldn't surprise me) a pornographic version of UFO.It might even be very well written.However it is more than acceptable to suggest that such a story should never have been written at all.
This goes for other less extreme examples as well,like "Jeff Tracey meets Col Lake" or "Straker's Adventures in Oxford Street"
I think it perfectly ok to throw these kinds of stories straight into the Ash Can (as Henderson would say)
Naturally people are pefectly entitled to write these kinds of stories,although I would find it hard to accept that it is purely out of an appreciation and love of UFO.
At best it might be said to be a mis-guided respect.A respect perhaps, we could do without.

Mark UK

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

On Thu, 1 Apr 2010 09:28:54 +0100
"Mark Davies" <[hidden email]> wrote:

> For example,someone could write, and for all I know they already have
> (it wouldn't surprise me) a pornographic version of UFO. It might even
> be very well written.

The single most surprising thing about UFO fandom for me, when I first
encountered it in the '90s, was that there is a substantial interest
among a certain group of female fans, in fan-written erotic fiction,
in which the principal male characters with whom we're familiar are
portrayed in remarkably sexually explicit homosexual encounters.

But I don't think there's anything wrong with that provided that it's
not confused with the canon. It's harmless, in my view. UFO itself is
obviously already removed from reality, and a fan-fiction is in a
sense another step removed from it; a meta-fantasy, if you will.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slash_fiction

James

I personally would never write slash fiction, although
(for fun) I did write a cross over Thunderbirds/UFO
story and several TB fans got their knickers in a twist
about that! - They are SO protective of anything Tracy!
It's a pity that society seem to be more concerned
about rubbishing or criticising any Fanfiction rather
than enjoying it for what it is. People are welcome
to write reviews, but I personally always prefer to
make positive comments about a writer's work when I
review any story,especially as a considerable amount
of effort goes into these stories. It's not that easy
writing 20,000 words that tries to stay true to the
characters and still engages the reader. And UFO still
engages readers.
 
What the heck...I have fun doing it,and that's all that
matters! And people enjoy reading them and that matters
as well. I'm a UFO Fan. And proud of it. I can't make
fantastic computer designs, or models, but I can write(?)
(and draw - a bit)
So - back to the next story!!
LtCdr


--- In [hidden email], James Gibbon <jg@...> wrote:

--- In [hidden email], "Lightcudder" <l.oatridge@...> wrote:
> It's a pity that society seem to be more concerned
> about rubbishing or criticising any Fanfiction rather
> than enjoying it for what it is.

--- In [hidden email], "Lightcudder" <l.oatridge@...> wrote:
> It's a pity that society seem to be more concerned
> about rubbishing or criticising any Fanfiction rather
> than enjoying it for what it is.

Louise,
I couldn't agree more! Believe it or not, we writers don't personally carewhether a particular reader likes or dislikes the kind of story we write. We don't write our stories for them -- we write them for US! That said, it's always nice to get constructive criticism (look up the term if you don't know it) on our work or to be encouraged to continue writing. My view ofUFO will probably not mesh with another's; in fact, I can pretty much guarantee that it won't. But if I can tolerate your view, at least have the courtesy not to bash mine. (I don't mean you personally, Louise, but those who think they have the right to judge us.) As Marc stated (and in an idealworld it would be true): Hopefully everyone can coexist.

Denise (happily writing another fun fanfic about Straker!)