[CALIBK12] Query: Fan Fiction Rules

[Robin Butts]

--- Connie Moore <cmoore at pvsd.k12.ca.us> wrote:

> Good afternoon,
> 
> I was approached at lunch today by a teacher who has
> started a new
> creative writing club. The purpose of this club is
> to focus on writing
> Fan Fiction. I was asked if I knew of rules about
> writing FF. Does
> anyone out there have some hard, fast rules for
> writing FF?
> 
>  
> 
> I have done a little research on different types of
> FF (Harry Potter,
> Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Dragon Riders of Pern,
> to name a few) and
> the only hard and fast rule I can find as a theme is
> that cannon is law.
> You cannot change the story to fit your fiction.
> Also, names are
> copyrighted and credit must be acknowledged to the
> original author.
> 
>  
> 
> Anything else you can provide would be greatly
> appreciated.
> 


For fan fiction, canon does not have to be law, unless
you want it to be. There is fan fiction out there that
is AU (alternate universe) where the characters are
set in a different time and place. There is also fan
fiction that plays the what if game. This type of
alternate universe fiction takes canon and sees what
might happen if one event was changed. For instance,
what might have  happened if Sirius Black remained
James and Lily's secret keeper? Usually these kinds of
fiction are labeled as alternate universe. Your
teacher could decide whether alternate universes would
be permitted. Most rules are really a matter of what
the reader/writer likes.  

As far as any legal issues, opinions vary but there
seems to be support for the notion that fan fiction
comes under Fair Use as parodies or pastiches. Many of
the creators, on whose works fan fiction is based,
including J. K. Rowling are fine with it. Others, such
as Anne Rice, are vehemently opposed. 

As you said, it is customary to acknowledge that the
characters belong to J. K. Rowling, Joss Whedon,
George Lucas etc. and not to the writer of the
fiction. Whether or not such disclaimers have any
legal value is debatable.

I would like to point out that Geraldine Brooks used
some characters and situations from "Little Women" in
her novel "March" and what Jean Rhys did the same with
"Jane Eyre" in her "Wide Sargasso Sea." One might even
argue that the Aeneid is a fan fiction of the Iliad.
This kind of writing has been going on for a very long
time.

Robin Butts
Library Manager
Bernard Eldredge School


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