transformative works

[keiliss]

red_lasbelin just posted about Naomi Novik, author, fan fiction writer, and a founding member of the Organization of Transformative Works, addressing the Congressional Sub committee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet. Click here for the post, read the transcript, and applaud - she speaks for us all and does it with grace and authority!

Comments

[heartofoshun.livejournal.com]

Thanks so much for sharing. I love her as a writer and she really is an eloquent voice and incredibly hard worker for what she believes in.

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

The bit about watching the Lone Ranger and then going outside and playing Lone Ranger in the back yard with friends ---- I never thought of it quite like that, but she's spot on! We were making our own fan fiction then, it's just a different medium now.

[heartofoshun.livejournal.com]

I realize that I did fanfiction intensely as a kid. My sisters, cousins, and I--along with my reluctant little brother (we were always short on men!)--used to pretend play with every new book that fascinated us and every movie and TV show we liked also. Some of our productions were quite elaborate, including cosplay and written-out original scripts. We used to make my mother and grandmother watch us. (And get terribly upset if they laughed in the wrong places.)

The heat with the humidity is a killer! I hope it let's up soon.

[ysilme]

Track This I realize that I did fanfiction intensely as a kid.
Same here. I only knew it's fanwork when I got acquaintanced with fandom and fanfiction a couple of years ago, but I did this all my life. Continued stories in my head or sometimes wrote them out, with alternate endings or sequels or whatever; or the whole bunch of neighbourhood kids playing our versions of a TV series we were all fond of in our garden. I was usually the one to develop the plots or "direct" the story, which was extremely cool for me, as I usually was your typical shy, introvert and nerdy outsider nobody wanted to play with.
We also sometimes made audio dramas and plays in this fashion, with sound effects and all.

(And about Naomi Novik - I'm a huge fan of naval fiction, and her books are pure delight.)

[spiced-wine.livejournal.com]

I am reading this and loving it - I also love her Temeraire books. As you noted to Oshun - the comment about going out and playing the Lone Ranger - I used to go out in the garden and woods with my friend when we were 7/8 years old and act at being in stories we loved.

And I completely believe that many works are completely tranformative, not derivative. At least those are not the kind of works I read.

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

We were cowboys, we were comic book heroes or people connected to them, we were the people in the popular books - I guess those of us still doing it just never lost the joy?

[spiced-wine.livejournal.com]

I guess those of us still doing it just never lost the joy?

And the ones who wanted to take it further :)

[ysilme]

Yesss! :o)

[ysilme]

And I completely believe that many works are completely tranformative, not derivative.
May I ask you to help me understanding the difference in relation to fanworks? I feel as my English reaches its limits here. I understand the general principle, but perhaps not well enough in this context.

[spiced-wine.livejournal.com]

Well this is only what I think: derivative fanworks to me, give me nothing new. They take canon and do not move outside it, though they may fill gaps, but the characters do nothing they would not outside the book. The author takes canon as their Bible and questions nothing. That is not to say that those works cannot be well-written, but it's not what I look for.

Transformative works build something new, introduce new ideas, possible new sides to the character, re-tell something with new eyes. They take the canon and use it to build something new, e.g. they transform it. And I have to say nowadays I find that more interesting than the original.

[nelyo-russandol.livejournal.com]

It's encouraging that a published writier is so supportive, and that she defends with such passion the sandbox where she learnt the craft, instead of turning her back.

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

It's about remembering your roots and honouring them rather than denying them. I have such respect for her.

[engarian.livejournal.com]

Oh bravo. So very well constructed and said! Now if they only listen to those who are writing these transformative works and encouraging others to do so instead of the big business pockets of Amazon and others who are encouraging licensing.

- Erulisse (one L)

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

I hate that Amazon trap. Not everyone reads the fine print, not everyone will realise they're essentially handing over ownership of the fruits of their creativity.

[ysilme]

I coulnd't agree more to you both.

[lindahoyland.livejournal.com]

Great article, thanks for sharing.

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

It was very encouraging, wasn't it?

[phyncke.livejournal.com]

I read it and loved it. Well said. Well said.

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

Wonderfully articulate and she summed everything up so well.

[perkyandproud.livejournal.com]

I've gotten to see her in person at a book signing...if I ever chair a SF convention again, I am totally inviting her as GoH. Seriously.

Thank you for sharing this!

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

She's very impressive, I'd love to hear her speak.

[pandemonium-213.livejournal.com]

(http://s32.photobucket.com/user/docbushwell/media/Miscellaneous%20gifs/tumblr_inline_n0bapikeaA1s7j0lb.gif.html)

[keiliss.livejournal.com]

Says it all.

[ysilme]

Thanks for sharing! I had read that she was going to do this testimonial but didn't get around to look it up or read it.

[ysilme]

Thank you! That sounds very plausible. Taking this into consideration, I'm definitely writing transformative fiction, and prefer it as well.