How far we've come

[spotzle]

So last Saturday when I took E to her singing lessons (yes! she does this now) I was listening to Wait! Wait! Don't Tell Me, and their first caller/contestant was a very sweet lady from one of the M states in the Midwest (I forget which one). And they asked her, what did she do up there in her M state and she said, "I write Jane Austen fan fiction." Like it was just this normal thing everyone did (and in my world, this is true)

I did a mental victory lap at her daring because 1) it's national radio and she gave her real name and 2) they didn't mess with her about it. Well, they did, but not for writing it, but because they joke with everyone about everything. They were very respectful. I'm wondering if they would have blinked more if it was like, One Direction fanfic or something less "legit" than Austen.

I know fanfic has become much more mainstream and acceptable these days, but I still won't tell people I write it. I barely acknowledge it to myself.


Speaking of, *whisper* I started a new one yesterday, which was nice. I've written a few things since then, but they were original (OMG! WOW!). I don't prefer one over the other, but writing fanfic is like putting on a really comfortable sweater. It just feels good.

Also, I didn't recognize her name. Must be a new one.;)

Comments

[katharhino]

Interesting points. I don't remember if I ever posted about this but when I was working for the law firm at one point my boss was introducing me to another person and said "she writes Jane Austen fanfic" and I was like WHAAAAAT YOU OUTED ME!!!?????? I had no idea he even KNEW. His wife was a JA fan, so that's probably how. In retrospect, he didn't say it like a bad thing so I probably should have been cool, but it totally took me by surprise.

And your post is making me think, how would I react now. I think I even have "Jane Austen fanfic" in a couple of my social media profiles, although I'm still pretty low key about it, and of course I haven't written in years.

[katharhino]

Also: you wrote original fic! Cool! That's awesome. But I know what you mean about how comfy fanfic feels.

[adventurat]

I just caught up on the lawsuit stuff—OMG. I hope some federal judge takes one look at the filing, says "stop wasting the court's time, you imbeciles" and fines those two liek woah (to be all 90s for a sec). Jebus Bleeding Murphy, if this one ain't frivolous, I don't know what is. All over a meaningless award in a fandom where none of the fic is even legal because you don't own the characters and they aren't public domain?

Also, how can she be suing for assault if it all happened on the internet? Is it possible to assault someone other than in person? Don't there need to be bruises or blood or both or worse?

[spotzle]

About the assault charge I have no idea. But I also didn't slander them so.... *shrug*

They even say in the filing that they suffered no damages because of it.

It's all just a huge mess.

Still haven't gotten a thank you from the others. :/

[adventurat]

I hope the others have just let it slip their minds temporarily while they wait for news. But a simple thank you for your efforts to date seems called for. Sheesh.