My experience with writing Stay and the response to it has been very positive, especially when I wondered if I should post it at all. But it really has given me a handle on talking to my friend, who is still in hospital. It also seems that my words have been meaningful for others, which makes me both humble and very, very moved. It is, as you say,an example of the best fandom has to offer as a supportive community.
I agree with your analysis thoroughly. I may admire the talents/looks of certain actors in my fandoms, but it's always the ideas that got me involved in the first place. When I write fanfic, I'm exploring those ideas and expanding them, as well as exploring and expanding my own writing with scenarios and ideas I haven't necessarily written before. In fact, two RL writing projects have evolved from all my Sherlock fic, so it's been very good for my writing in general. :)
I'm amused when I find out the creators are engaging with the fandom, but I have reservations too. I know that when I'm reading, or writing, fic or admiring art (whether gen or slash) I'm not really seeing the *actors*. In my head, they are the *characters* and while they look like the actors (to greater or lesser degrees) that's not who I see. It's one of the reasons I've never been into Real Person fic. But I'm not sure the performers can see that separation - and of course, in some cases, that separation doesn't exist for the fan creator or fan consumer of a story or piece of art. It must feel very confronting for the actors, sometimes, and that's a shame. (FOr me, they've so absolutely created an entirely new person, it's only the new person I see, as it were.)
I think I'm babbling now.
Anyway, I'm supposed to be doing my Day Job now, so off I go. Dayjobbing away. :)
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2012-11-14 11:15 pm (UTC)I agree with your analysis thoroughly. I may admire the talents/looks of certain actors in my fandoms, but it's always the ideas that got me involved in the first place. When I write fanfic, I'm exploring those ideas and expanding them, as well as exploring and expanding my own writing with scenarios and ideas I haven't necessarily written before. In fact, two RL writing projects have evolved from all my Sherlock fic, so it's been very good for my writing in general. :)
I'm amused when I find out the creators are engaging with the fandom, but I have reservations too. I know that when I'm reading, or writing, fic or admiring art (whether gen or slash) I'm not really seeing the *actors*. In my head, they are the *characters* and while they look like the actors (to greater or lesser degrees) that's not who I see. It's one of the reasons I've never been into Real Person fic. But I'm not sure the performers can see that separation - and of course, in some cases, that separation doesn't exist for the fan creator or fan consumer of a story or piece of art. It must feel very confronting for the actors, sometimes, and that's a shame. (FOr me, they've so absolutely created an entirely new person, it's only the new person I see, as it were.)
I think I'm babbling now.
Anyway, I'm supposed to be doing my Day Job now, so off I go. Dayjobbing away. :)