So I'm actually not really upset when that kind of attitude is encouraged in fanfic, since at least it's in the amateur realm where it belongs. I see where you're going with this, but I think it's self-defeating. As long as it's encouraged in any venue in writing--the whole "Writing is for self-expression and no self-expression can possibly be wrong!" attitude--then it's going to keep showing up in the slushpiles, and it's going to keep showing up in author attitudes.
Worse, from a fanfic writer's perspective, it smears the whole concept of fanfic when this is acceptable behavior in the community. I've done some of my best work in fanfic, but I don't dare cite it because the community has such a wretched reputation. I'd like to see fanfic get a little respect as a legitimate form of writing, and that's not going to happen if the community allows for this sort of whiny, drama queen behavior. That's also what gives "amateur" a bad name. Amateurs should be as interested in their craft as professionals are; they just never expect to be paid for it. People who actually love doing a thing are always trying to get better--that's part of the fun. If a person doesn't love doing a thing enough to take it seriously and be as good at it as you possibly can be, then wouldn't it make more sense to find a hobby that inspired more passion? A hobby whose mechanics bore you isn't a very good choice of hobby.
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Date: 2005-01-19 05:21 pm (UTC)I see where you're going with this, but I think it's self-defeating. As long as it's encouraged in any venue in writing--the whole "Writing is for self-expression and no self-expression can possibly be wrong!" attitude--then it's going to keep showing up in the slushpiles, and it's going to keep showing up in author attitudes.
Worse, from a fanfic writer's perspective, it smears the whole concept of fanfic when this is acceptable behavior in the community. I've done some of my best work in fanfic, but I don't dare cite it because the community has such a wretched reputation. I'd like to see fanfic get a little respect as a legitimate form of writing, and that's not going to happen if the community allows for this sort of whiny, drama queen behavior. That's also what gives "amateur" a bad name. Amateurs should be as interested in their craft as professionals are; they just never expect to be paid for it. People who actually love doing a thing are always trying to get better--that's part of the fun. If a person doesn't love doing a thing enough to take it seriously and be as good at it as you possibly can be, then wouldn't it make more sense to find a hobby that inspired more passion? A hobby whose mechanics bore you isn't a very good choice of hobby.