The debate over the legality, morality and originality of fanfiction continues to rage on. Since one of the arguments against fanfiction is "it's disrespectful to the creator," I have compiled a number of quotes from creators who don't mind or even encourage fanfiction.
"I love it. I absolutely love it. I wish I had grown up in the era of fan fiction, because I was living those shows and those movies that I loved and I would put on the score to Superman and just relive the movie over and over," says Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Angel and Firefly, when asked how he feels about his shows living on in the fanfic community.
"I think it’s kind of a glorious thing to be able to be carrying the torch. That’s why I made these shows. I didn’t make them so that people would enjoy them and forget them; I made them so they would never be able to shake them. It’s the way I am as a fan. I create the shows that would make me do that." - Toronto Star. Toronto, Ont.: May 22, 2004, full text here.
"No one should ever learn to write by writing fanfic. Neither should there be spec scripts for aspiring televsion writers or -- and I can't stress this enough -- the drawing of existing characters by comic book artists. Can you imagine how the guy who draws Spider Man would feel if someone ELSE drew him too?" - Whedonesque, March 19, 2006.
In response to Whedoneque poster Willowy's comment, "I see the fascination with slash, but I don't really get it. To me, these guys are, ultimately, heroes. The heroes don't bugger each other in my world."
"In my world, heroes bugger each other senseless. Not all of them, but more than you'd think, and probably not who you're thinking. But seriously, Anybody here care to tell Apollo and the Midnighter how a hero should behave? To their faces?" - Whedonesque, January 20, 2006.
"Galactica" producer Moore is thrilled to hear of even peculiar permutations of his characters.
"I always loved it when writers went into strange nooks and crannies and turned the universe upside down in ways that we couldn't. 'Wouldn't it be great if Kirk and Spock were lovers?' We can't do that, but it's great that somebody can." - Milwaukee Journal Sentinal, 5/9/05
"They're expanding the relationships into a place that we don't have time to do on television," says David Kemper, executive producer of "Farscape," the acclaimed Sci Fi cable drama whose fervent fandom still churns out stories online two years after cancellation.
Like other TV professionals, Kemper says he doesn't read fan fiction - studios forbid it, fearing lawsuits over "borrowed" ideas - but he knows what it is and that it means a valuable core of loyal fans. He also understands the urge that makes them write. Kemper loved "Star Trek" as a kid.
"I remember thinking, 'I should be a 12-year-old on the ship with these guys, going down to the planets and seeing all these things.' "- Milwaukee Journal Sentinal, 5/9/05
"I am flattered and grateful for this outpouring of support, admiration and recognition. I am moved to tears actually at how my performance has moved so many others. The websites are magnificent. All the photos, artwork, chats, fiction and videos are really great. I honestly never thought I would create such a stir but I feel absolutely blessed that I have." - Scott Cohen, aka "Wolf" from The 10th Kingdom in a letter to fans, Spring 2000.
Q: What do you think of fan fiction being written about your characters, and have you read any of them on the Internet?
J.K. Rowling: I've read some of it. I find it very flattering that people love the characters that much.
- Scholastic.com interview, October 16, 2000.
I've read that you allow fan fiction of your works, and I was curious as to why? Most authors don't allow fanfic because of concern for losing their rights.
Why? Because fan fiction is fan fiction. I don't believe I'll lose my rights to my characters and books if I allow/fail to prevent/turn a blind eye to people writing say Neverwhere fiction, as long as those people aren't, say, trying to sell books with my characters in. I don't read it (and that way no-one has to wonder whether I stole the plot of something from their fanfic). NeilGaiman.com
"I like fanfic. I like it in the way it lets people ask "what if" and "what then" questions. I like it that it gives people who may become pros a place to concentrate on *one* thing--plot--or maybe two--plot and character--without having to invent a universe of their own.... OK so it follows Sturgeon's Law of "90% of everything is dreck" but what doesn't? And OK, the idea of some people taking rather...extreme...*ahem* liberties with my stuff does make me go a bit ewwwwwwwww (sometimes more than a bit ewwwwww) but as long as they lock it down into a place where theoretically only 18-and-over can go..."
"I cannot, for the life of me, see how it can really hurt anyone. But then, I have a kind of complicated relationship with my books. They are my babies right up until the point where they leave my hands.
Then they become something else, and that something else is different to everyone who reads them. I can't control that. It's stupid to try. All I can really do is tell the best story I can, and what happens after that is out of my hands. The babies have grown up and become independant, and like a wise parent I do my best to let go." - here.
"I....shuffle mumble shuffle....still write fanfic. Of all darn things, fanfic set in a superhero MMORPG, City of Heroes
It is my brain candy. I admit it, it's mostly rough-draft prose, but it's the sort of thing I don't get to do for a paycheck." - here.
I for one would be thrilled to know that people loved my characters and my world enough to want to come on in and play, not to mention that I would be wildly grateful for the free publicity. I would love for people to put up posters and make costumes and invent their own stories and fantasize about my characters. If they did, that would mean I was doing something fundamentally right -- that I was creating characters that people wanted to make part of the shared culture by which we communicate with one another. And if enough people feel that way about my characters, I am going to get to keep doing this work that I love. Not only would I not look down upon that kind of fannish activity, I would love to do whatever I can to encourage it. - Naomi Novik's blog
"I am now publishing with BenBella for nonfiction essays (as Roxanne Longstreet Conrad), Roc for fantasy (as Rachel Caine), Harlequin Bombshell for romance action/adventure (as Rachel Caine), and Fandemonium out of the UK for officially licensed Stargate SG-1 novels (as Julie Fortune)."
Rant in favor of fanfiction
Fanfiction: Why I Like It
Practicing What I Preach - Granting permission to write fanfiction of her works.
What is your stand on fan fiction?
As long as no one tries to make a profit from fanfics based on my work, I don't mind in the least....On fanfics in general, I think they're one way to develop your skills as a writer. Sometimes it's easier to keep a story going if you don't have to create the setting and some of the characters yourself. I'd hope that sooner or later people writing fan fiction would branch out into creating their own worlds and books (hey--I need something to read, too!), but at least they're having fun as they write fan fiction. Besides, when I was a kid, I wrote "Star Trek" and Lord of the Rings stories--we just didn't call them "fan fiction" back then. - Tamora-Pierce.org
I don't actually object to fan fiction, which by its very nature uses copyrighted and trademarked material, provided that it's put somewhere where I don't trip over it (so not to a.f.p [alt.fan.pratchett] or a.b.p [alt.books.pratchett] please) isn't done for money, and isn't passed off as 'official' in any way. I can't really object to people writing their own DW scenarios, etc, for other gamers -- the problems would only begin if they got too proprietorial about them. - alt.books.pratchett
If you know of any other authors/writers/creators that support fanfiction, and can cite sources, please email me.