Why write fanfiction?

Let's see...in my case, it started as a desire to see certain stories
told within the parameters of established continuity.  For example, I
had plotted out an episode of Night Court I called "The Last Dan
Fielding Story" wherein John Larroquette's character would die, and stay
dead, and it would still be good to watch.  There were also any number
of Quantum Leap premises I wanted explored (what if Sam ran into another
Leaper who was NOT evil, and who came from a mutually exclusive
future?).  This sort of encompasses the "what if" storylines popularized
by Marvel and DC Comics.

The second stage was dissatisfaction with endings.  Long ago I began to
write a Twin Peaks "third season", since the ending of the series left
so many questions unaddressed.  Also, annoyed at the worthlessness of
Star Trek V, a dormmate and I wrote a complete screenplay entitled "Star
Trek VI: The Neutral Zone", drawing on several years of continuity and
forgotten plot elements.  Some of the basic ideas showed up in "The
Undiscovered Country", but the harder-hitting parts of our storyline
never saw the light of day. ;_;

Now the third stage: anime.  Many of the series, in manga or anime form,
are much more watchable than American television, with longer
continuity, and sometimes "complete" storylines.  In short, a medium
rife with possibilities for other writers to intrude.

So many anime shows exist for which I can envision some sort of "what
if" or "continuation" style storyline.  Sometimes, it's not even a
matter of dissatisfaction; not the "I can write better than this"--it's
more of the form, "I love what you've done with this universe, these
characters, this continuity...and I have a few more ideas...."  I
consider Adam Warren, author of Dark Horse's original Dirty Pair comics,
to be one the most successful fanfic authors ever--he managed to do it
in a legally sanctioned, highly public fashion.  And he's done an
original take on the Lovely Angels, to boot.

I write fanfic because I love writing, and it's a nice way to keep your
skills honed.  Some things to look forward to, if I ever finish them:

o  "Maiden America": Using elements of the Video Girl Ai continuity,
   this is a wholly original set of characters and situations.

o  "Foolish Darling, I Love You":  An Urusei Yatsura fanfic with an
   interesting twist, which might be uncovered using a specific
   translation of the title....

o  "Glass Houses":  A Maison Ikkoku continuation, of sorts.  Not what
   you'd expect, and probably unlikely to see the light of day any time
   soon.

o  "Quantum Anime Leap":  Because I have to. ^_^

--Angst-sensei
(I'm a writer, damn it.  What else need be said?)

-- 
/-\ ** Jeff Williamson *** Lightfall Integrated Media *** Chicago, IL ** /-\
|A| jeff@casbah.acns.nwu.edu *@_@* Anime Central Recruitment Coordinator |9|
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