Feb. 8th, 2009

At my last book club, I'm not really sure how the topic was brought up, but one of my friends asked why bother to write fanfic when you can write original stuff. I'm pretty sure I was the only fanfic writer in the room, though one of the other girls does read fanfic. My friend made it sound like writing fanfic was lame or just for crazy people. The best answer I could provide without really mentioning I wrote fanfic was it gives you a nice jumping off point. You already have characters and worlds and rules set up for you; all you need to do is set up a plot and you're ready to go. If you're lazy like me, then fanfic is perfect. I can write but I don't have to create my own worlds.

But then I started to think more about this. Why write indeed? I haven't written anything original, not fanfic, since my Creative Writing class which was about two years ago. It doesn't bother me. I have no great desire to become a famous novelist so I'm content with the idea of just pounding out fanfic only a handful of people will read. Bu why delve into writing someone else's characters? Do we fanfic writers have a pathological need to make things right or to see things how we want them? Fanfic does allow you to explore areas and paths the TV show or movie or book hasn't. But if it was just about seeing a plot the fandom would never do, then wouldn't it be easier just to read fanfic?

I think that's the reason the other girl in book club reads fanfic. She's big on Harry Potter fic (particularly shipping Draco and Ginny but that's neither here nor there) and with only seven books I'm sure the fans feel a need to expand on the canon. TV shows are a different beast; if you're lucky, your chosen TV fandom has dozens of episodes to draw upon, maybe over a hundred. So why?

I can't remember why I started writing fanfic. I don't think I felt like I could write the fandom better; I was just a kid when Buffy started and I was just awed by the thought of watching a show where a girl beat up demons and vampires on a weekly basis. I think it just comes from a love of writing and a love for these fandoms. Because these worlds are smart and exciting and the characters are witty and have depth and emotions and they're worth writing stories about.

I'm sure we all have our reasons. But we're not all crackpots. :-)
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Ah, nothing like sitting on your butt and doing nothing for an entire weekend. Well, not completely nothing. Watched some DVDs, played some video games, and saw Coraline.

First off, 3D is overrated. Coraline is the first movie I've seen in this newfangled 3D and I don't see what the big deal is. Maybe it's because the glasses didn't fit me too well and I had to keep pushing them up during the entire movie. Ooh, perspective. So the movie has depth perception. I'm sure I would have enjoyed the movie either way, though 2D is cheaper. You actually have to pay $3 for 3D glasses you won't ever use again. Okay, I suppose you could keep them and bring them to the next 3D movie you see, but what are you going to say to the ticket person? "Yeah, I brought my own 3D glasses. Can I skip the $3 charge?"

And I've finally jumped onto The Dresden Files bandwagon. Well, attempted to hop on at any rate. I've been reading the books, or at least trying to, but suddenly I have to work at work so no sneaky reading of ebooks during work time. But I have started and I like what I've read so far. I read the series really picks up after book five and that's the one I left off at, so I'll be happy to get back into the series at some point. I might actually have to get the books from the library. Oh, the effort involved. ;-)

My library does has the DVDs of the short lived show though and I've been watching that all weekend. It's a cute little show that sadly never got more than 12 episodes. There are a lot of departures from the books though, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. We are talking about a TV show that aired on Sci Fi and filmed in Toronto. There's only so much money that can be tossed around. It fits Harry's world. In the books he's always saying his magick isn't super flashy, so understated special effects are truthful. I just find it funny his wand and his staff are a drum stick and a hockey stick respectively. At least TV Harry doesn't have to worry about standing out when he's carrying his magick devices around.

Things I miss though:
-The Blue Beetle. TV Harry drives a jeep. Okay, definitely tougher, but I like Beetles.
-Mister, Harry's giant cat. An orange tabby appears briefly in one episode but it's never stated that it's Mister.
-Harry's duster. Every good fighter of evil needs a long, billowy coat. Book Harry has a leather duster with a mantle, while TV Harry just has a leather jacket.

Interesting reinterpretations:
-Harry's apartment. I like the loft/office combo, though Harry's lab is now just a hidden room instead of in the basement.
-Bob. Oh Bob. I'm trying to find a copy of the original pilot before it got hacked up into a regular, one hour episode. Apparently there was Skull Bob in that one. Ghost Bob is fun though. He's got some flashy new power to look like anyone, but Skull Bob could possess people, so it's sort of related.

And they approached James Marsters to play TV Harry? Wha? Is that rumour or the truth?

Oh, and watched BSG, too, which was great, but wow, it ain't a show you watch to brighten your weekend.

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