I completely agree that a great deal of fanfic writing is better than some 'published' writing and I would say this applies to some printed books from professional publishers as well as to self published works.
I also agree that the lines between different types of texts are blurred - but that's the way it always used to be until the rise of the big publishers.
I also find myself in a quandary.
I write fanfic and 'publish' it on AO3, on DW and on LJ. I get lovely comments and kudos from my f'list, people in the comms I belong to and complete strangers.
I also write original fic (no filing off of serial numbers - this is actually original) and if I want to share it with a wider public than my f'list I have only two options. I can submit it to professional publishers and join the lottery that is today's publishing industry. (I don't need the hassle and to be honest I don't need the money, such as it is.) Or I can self-publish on Smashwords or Kindle (or via Lulu etc) in which case I risk people whose opinions I respect dismissing my work as likely to be of lower value than my fanfic. I believe my two types of fic are of an equal standard and I know I am not alone among fanfic writers in writing original fic.
There's dross on both sides of the fence and the only thing people can do is read and judge for themselves. (Whilst remembering that there is no equivalent of AO3 for our original work.)
no subject
I completely agree that a great deal of fanfic writing is better than some 'published' writing and I would say this applies to some printed books from professional publishers as well as to self published works.
I also agree that the lines between different types of texts are blurred - but that's the way it always used to be until the rise of the big publishers.
I also find myself in a quandary.
I write fanfic and 'publish' it on AO3, on DW and on LJ. I get lovely comments and kudos from my f'list, people in the comms I belong to and complete strangers.
I also write original fic (no filing off of serial numbers - this is actually original) and if I want to share it with a wider public than my f'list I have only two options. I can submit it to professional publishers and join the lottery that is today's publishing industry. (I don't need the hassle and to be honest I don't need the money, such as it is.) Or I can self-publish on Smashwords or Kindle (or via Lulu etc) in which case I risk people whose opinions I respect dismissing my work as likely to be of lower value than my fanfic. I believe my two types of fic are of an equal standard and I know I am not alone among fanfic writers in writing original fic.
There's dross on both sides of the fence and the only thing people can do is read and judge for themselves. (Whilst remembering that there is no equivalent of AO3 for our original work.)