Authors, do you write more fanfics or original fiction?

[xinde]

I find myself writing fanfics much faster than I do original fiction, which begs the question:
1. Do writers prefer writing fanfics or original fiction?
2. Why?

Just putting up a poll for writers out of random curiosity :D

 

[RepresentingWrath]

I write only originals since I respect other authors and their works.

 

[SRB]

I write mostly fanfics because I don't have the balls to post my original work.

 

[Assurbanipal_II]

I find myself writing fanfics much faster than I do original fiction, which begs the question:
1. Do writers prefer writing fanfics or original fiction?
2. Why?

Just putting up a poll for writers out of random curiosity :D

Less work and reader disappointment.

The amount of fanfics is proportional to the amount of plotholes in the story squared based on popularity.

There is a reason there are so many Naruto and Harry Potter fanfics running around ...

The respective stories ... improvable, to put things mildly.

 

[Representing_Tromba]

Fanfics are easier to write because you already have a preset world, storyline, and set of characters that you can use to craft a new story. There's no need to get readers used to the characters or world because they would probably have some idea of what they are in their head. You can take liberties without anyone questioning it because it is a fanfic while most original stories have to follow the rules established by the author. Personally, I find fanfiction to be a great way to learn and understand how to write your own story and can be fun pastime but learning to create your own story without any restrictions (accept the ones you've set) can be much more challenging and rewarding.

Original stories require a lot time and planning out the world, story, rules, and characters from scratch. This is much more rewarding (to me) but makes you want to die every time you get writers block because you don't know how to introduce a character or because getting from point A to point B is harder than it looks when your readers need some form of justifiable reason as to how the characters got there and all you want to do is write about point B. Even though authors are the masters of their own written world, they also have to live within the confines of the world they've created. They can add rules and make workarounds but they can't take away rules without causing potholes.

 

[Chaos_Sinner777]

Original so far, but I have half an idea of a universe hopping character going to realities of other fictional works. Probably won't go there, but the possibility exists.

 

[owotrucked]

I'm doing a fanfic because I like that old games were lowkey lewd, so I took it upon myself to turn them into full blown hentai like this

=>

 

[Tyranomaster]

but makes you want to die every time you get writers block because you don't know how to introduce a character or because getting from point A to point B is harder than it looks when your readers need some form of justifiable reason as to how the characters got there and all you want to do is write about point B.

This x10.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

I'm doing a fanfic because I like that old games were lowkey lewd, so I took it upon myself to turn them into full blown hentai like this

=>

No you have to draw a Naga Bank. ( ಠ ͜ʖಠ)

 

[owotrucked]

No you have to draw a Naga Bank. ( ಠ ͜ʖಠ)

You're not walking into the naga bank for the money are you ?(ﾟヮﾟ?)

 

[Representing_Tromba]

This x10.

Fair.

 

[ElijahRyne]

I write originals, because I enjoy reading and writing them more than I do fanfics. Doesn’t mean one is inherently better or worse than the other, just that I tend to find fanfics a bit boring.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

You're not walking into the naga bank for the money are you ?(ﾟヮﾟ?)

 

[Temple]

The only fanfic I've written is a fanfic of my own work lol (probably shouldn't count as fanfic). But yeah, what the others said about there already being an established world so it's easier.

 

[Representing_Tromba]

The only fanfic I've written is a fanfic of my own work lol (probably shouldn't count as fanfic). But yeah, what the others said about there already being an established world so it's easier.

I have written fanfics of my own works and let me tell you, they will never see the light of day. They will never be canon and a good percentage of my readers will thank me for that.

 

[georgelee5786]

Original, although a story or two of mine began as fanfiction before evolving into its own thing

 

[Deleted member 54065]

I find myself writing fanfics much faster than I do original fiction, which begs the question:
1. Do writers prefer writing fanfics or original fiction?

I prefer original fiction.

2. Why?

Because I control what I write, instead of having to keep referencing for continuity. Not to mention, I can disregard rules and physics in my original world, than in an established one.

Also, there's the issue of copyright. And yes, demanding fans.

 

[CrystalSeaDragon44]

I do both. When it comes to fanfiction, I'm always trying my best to respect and interpret the original work as best as I can while expanding beyond the stories' borders. It's a passion project, and I fully acknowledge that someone else owns the original story (and I'll stop if I'm asked to). Because it's someone else's to start, they'll always be free to view (and I will pull it from any place that asks for it to be behind a paywall). In a way, it gets eyeballs on my work...

Meanwhile, I also do original works. Similarly passionate, but it's also coming from a place of needing to see characters like myself in stories. If I can't find the stories, I'll make them. Sure, some don't like the magical aspects I regularly throw in, but that's also what I want to see. Others can and have done a regular slice-of-life story better than I ever could. I crave the mystical and fanciful, so that's what I write about!

 

[hippoman]

I don't prefer writing one versus the other, And I guess of all the things I’ve written that will never see the light of day, most of them are original stories. But I also find writing fan fiction easier since you know, you start with a well trodden path and detailed roadmap. I disagree with SailusGebel that fanfiction is somehow disrespectful to the original author. What is more respectful than loving a story so much that you want to be a part of said story?

Oscar Wilde said:

“Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.”

I never mean any offence to any author when I spend so long thinking about their works that I wonder ‘how would it change if X happened instead of Y? or how would Character A react to situation Z? I can understand that certain authors do not want their stories touched by others, and they deserve full control over any narrative that they have born into this world, but outside of malicious parody, I think no fan fiction is written from any place other than love.

 

[RepresentingWrath]

Oscar Wilde said: “Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery that mediocrity can pay to greatness.”

Do you know the meaning of the word imitation?