Do you tell people you write/read fanfiction? (Read 569 times)

[slyn11]

So at a meeting last week this woman was reading over my shoulder while I was editing a chapter for my fic. Apparently she got into it because she was rushing me to turn the page so she could keep reading. I let her read a few chapters from book 1 that I had printed and in my bag so she would leave me alone. Anyway...she just called me. She found out who I was from the man who ran the meeting, and she wants to know if she can stop by my office and get a copy of the rest of the story. She and some of the ladies in her office read the print out I gave her and are eager for more. That's nice....but....I'm not sure I want my stuff passed around campus.

So what do you guys do when faced with letting "outsiders" read your fics? Do you try to maintain anonymity and not let anyone know you write the stuff or do you share? (Side note: I do write non fanfic and I hope to pub some it one day, so keeping things separate has always been my stance, but in light of the success of 50 Shades is that necessary anymore?)

How about as a reader? Do you admit to reading it?

[Minako98]

I admit to reading it. I'm a voracious reader. Fanfic is just another medium that I read. No embarrassment here!

[fluffysmom]

You can make them read it online.

My husband knows I read it. He actually read some Ghost Rider fan fics. I don't feel like I try to keep it a secret but it's not really something that comes up in conversation. I don't have any off line friends who even watch soaps. Or none that admit it anyway. Most of them know I watch Days. Actually the only reading anyone seems to mention are the 50 Shades novels.

[DancingDays]

I think it depends on who I'm talking to. Fanfiction is a MAJOR part of most fandoms, so when I'm talking to other Whovians (Doctor Who fans), Sherlockians (obviously Sherlock Holmes), Buffy fans, or really anyone on tumblr, it's pretty much a given that one reads fanfiction. And there's quite the hierarchy in those fics too - there are famous/prolific writers and crap one-shots.

But with regular people, I don't really talk about it unless I discover we have a fandom in common.

[mae00]

I'm not embarrassed about admitting that I read fanfic in the least. They are usually much better than what we are seeing on the screen anyway.

I don't write it. I don't have the knack for it and can't capture the already developed characters as well as others.

If you aren't comfortable with having stuff passed all over campus, make them sign up and read it online but remember it can still be pieced together and printed out, so it may still end up being passed around campus by others. Given that these are very long books, they may be less likely to print them out so that may not be an issue after all, but it's still a possibility.

The story's not even finished yet. You won't be able to just give her a few more chapters & them be satisfied. She will keep coming back and for as long as the story is, it will get expensive & supply consuming fast.

Besides, who does she think she is? Her & her little friends can't have the rest of the story before we get it!!! ;D

[slyn11]

Aug 31, 2012 10:34:25 GMT -5 DancingDays said:

And there's quite the hierarchy in those fics too - there are famous/prolific writers and crap one-shots.

Ah yes so true....I know in the Buffyverse some writers are like superstars.

[rockfordfosgate]

I don't have too many real-life people I talk about fan fic with, but I will say it has come up more in facebook conversations because of the 50 Shades books. Just last night I a discussion with the mom of one of Hubby's friends. She's known me since I was a baby, so it was kinda weird. Okay, I made it weird when I told her I'm a literary snob when it comes to my porn. LOL! Interestingly, I've found that the same people on my Facebook friends who fawned over Twilight also adored 50 Shades without realizing it was fan fic.

I do read Days fan fic on here, and Harry Potter fan fic. I think if I venture into Sherlock Holmes or other fan fic of stuff I love, I'll never have a real life again! LOL!

[Kpatch]

My husband knows I write fanfic. Sometimes he'll ask me if I'm on deadline. LOL. My close friends know too. But I don't tell the people I work with. I keep my worklife separate from my play life.

[slyn11]

Aug 31, 2012 12:54:57 GMT -5 rockfordfosgate said:

I told her I'm a literary snob when it comes to my porn. LOL!

I absolutely am one. I couldn't make it past chapter 7 in 50 Shades....then again I only barely made it through book one of Twilight.

As far as getting sucked into fanfic...I literally fell off the grid for a year reading Buffy fanfic....I literally was unreachable, just always reading when I wasn't at work. That stuff is so good you can't put it down.

[fluffysmom]

I can't believe I only started reading fan fics in early 2011. I was immediately addicted.

[slyn11]

I actually don't read much fic anymore...I either read or write...I can't do both. Not enough time.