Fanfiction For Grownups-THE POINT

[cassandraclaire at mail.com]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at y..., puddlemereunited at y... wrote:
> Hello Everyone,

"I asked why there was not more Fanfiction about more mature themes. 
> I  did not say that there was none, but that there was many fewer 
adult  themes than adolescent ones. A good reason for this is 
probably   because more teens write fanfiction than adults.  So I 
simply  suggested that more Grownups write Grownup fanfiction.  I 
don't see   what is controversial about that."

Nothing, except that it is generally good practice to become 
acquainted with a fandom before making generalizations about it. Yes, 
fanfiction.net is a sludge pile of mostly garbage, but spend some 
time in the fandom and people will point you to sites like 
Fictionalley and Diagon Alley and Sugar Quill where you can find more 
mature fanfiction.  
> 
"In later posts I indicated that Slash and Fluff Romance were not 
> neccassarily the most mature themes."

All that "slash" means is that the story incorporates a homosexual 
relationship. There is nothing de facto immature about that. 
Otherwise works by David Sedaris, Jean Genet, Baudelaire, Even Waugh, 
etc. etc. would be "immature." A lot of people think that slash is 
just about sex; it isn't.


"I would like to see fanfiction that read like a real novel, that
> dealt  with real themes, just like the ones dealt with in the HP 
books  themselves."

The thing is that there are plenty of fanfictions where romance plays 
a part that is not central, that do deal with the themes you 
describe, that are written by grownups. Call of the Wild, by the 
Wolfie Twins. The Potion Master's Apprentice by Rebecca Anderson. 
Surfeit of Curses by Heidi. The Speculum Curse by Hyphen has IIRC 
*no* romance in it. Please give these fics a try before you make up 
your mind that there is no good fanfic by adults for adults. They can 
all be found on www.fictionalley.org.

"Anyway, I am a bit surprised that all the "grownups" who responded 
to  me took my statement as a personal attack against their 
fanfiction."

I really doubt that they did. Simon, for instance, who responded to 
you, has never written a lick of fanfiction in his life, so I doubt 
he cares. If there is some hostility it is because it is hard for 
people very familiar with the fandom to be patient with someone who 
has just arrived and is already making broad and inaccurate 
generalizations.

What we would really like would be for you to please read the 
suggested fanfics, and if you still cannot stand what's out there, 
feel free to come back and tell us why. At least then we will feel 
you are coming at this from a position of knowledge.

 
"Now, imagine my surprise ;) when I recieved a flame review of my 
> fanfiction.  It accussed me of flaming someone's story on an 
EZBoard."

I saw that. I suggest you write direcly to Laurin and tell her that 
you have never read Barb's story, or heard of it, or even heard of 
EZboards. I don't know where she got that impression but you are well 
within your rights to correct her mistake. And I agree she stepped 
over the line, especially in calling you names. I'm sorry about that.

Cassandra