Please Note: This is NOT a chapter, but it's something I feel very strongly about.
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Venting My Spleen
Following the latest development re: fanfic writing and, in my humble opinion, the insane decision to remove "M" rated fics due to their contents, I thought it was high time that I, like many of my fellow writers-in-crime, threw my hat in the ring and just aired my grievances.
I just want to say I'm absolutely gutted on behalf of everyone who enjoys/loves reading and writing fanfic. In fact, I'll even go as far as to say that I'm genuinely pissed off and upset.
I can understand and appreciate that part of the reason for this purge is to stop "innocent minds" or young kids from being corrupted by what they read and for my part, I concede that it does make sense. Then again, surely the responsibility of making sure that kids don't stumble across risque or explicitly violent material or even coarse language should fall on their parents/guardians ? I mean, this is partly why I tend to rate my fics as "M" ones - though I have to 'fess up that I'm clueless at rating my stuff and tend to rate them "M" for safety's sake, when most of the time, they could be classed as "T" rated stories. So it feels like a massive kick in the teeth that I could potentially lose a lot of my stories, just because I was naive or being considerate to others when I first rated my fics.
The reason why I got into writing fanfic a few years ago, is because at the time my self-confidence was at an all-time low and I was pretty depressed. Fanfic gave me the release I needed to vent, to say and do things I wouldn't normally do through the characters - so, thanks for all that, Paul and Leah ! I found writing to be great therapy and a brilliant way to let off steam, de-stress and relax, but not only that, it was great fun and I got to meet some really great people here who've become good friends. I'm still enjoying ficwriting ... or rather I was, 'til this devastating bombshell was dropped on us.
So, yeah ... I now find myself in a bit of a quandary. I mean, is there any point carrying on writing and posting my fics if there's a definite possibility that they'd be removed afterwards ? Hell ! The last thing I want to do is quit writing and I hate leaving my stories unfinished as I then feel I've really let down the people who've taken the time and trouble to read them and review. Basically, this has left me feeling trapped between a rock and a hard place.
The galling thing about this is that none of us are writing for monetary gain. We don't own nor claim to own anything that's recognizable, only what our muses and plot bunnies dictate we scribe. And we sure as hell don't mean or want to cause offence to anyone.
Most of us write or read fanfic because we genuinely love and enjoy it. It's a means of escape, a flight of fancy which allows us to briefly forget the harsh realities that life throws at us. Fanfic allows us to be creative, lets our imaginations go wild and run riot and dare I say it, gives us the chance to hope and dream of better things, as well as be passionate and expressive.
The sad thing is if these killjoys get to remove these stories, then we will lose a lot of much loved fics written by some exceptionally talented writers and frankly, that's an unbearable thought ... Not only that, we lose our right to be individuals with fertile and imaginative minds and if that happens, then gods forbid, we might as well exist as lifeless, soulless robots who have no pleasure in life.
Anyhoo, if my stories end up doing a vanishing act and you guys still want to read them or just want a cure for insomnia, feel free to pm me or drop by my LiveJournal or WWOMB account to catch up on anything you want to finish reading.