Teddy Radiator

I've just read a very sad FB post from one of my favourite authors, J.R. Ward, of Black Dagger Brotherhood fame. What is more upsetting to me is the replies she received. It concerns fanfiction and role play, which she is violently against. "I have nothing against RP or fanfiction, I just do not want anyone to use my characters." The comments that followed about fanfic and RP sickened me. It's very upsetting how the majority of her fans see it as at worst, a form of blatant plagiarism, and at the very least, a very sad and pitiable group of people trying to ride an author's coattails or 'bring joy to their sad, pathetic lives'. There were one or two voices of reason, but they were shot down by the others as crackpots, and even worse, 'not a proper fan'. NOT a proper fan? Is there any fan so loyal, so protective of a character, so in love with a fandom than those who role play, or write fanfiction or create fanart or fandom-based music? And just because it's fanfiction or fanart or RP, these are not 'proper' authors or artists or performers?

I appreciate that I am an author with very few sales under my belt. But I love my characters and protect them just as fiercely as any writer. Yet, as I read all this, I just reverted to my inner sixteen year old, and thought to myself, "One day, when my characters are well-known, I'm going to encourage all the fanfiction and RP-ing anyone wants to do with them." Fanfiction and RP keeps a fandom alive long after the author has left those characters behind and moved on. These forms of fanbased art can introduce others to a fandom - they can encourage authors and artists and RP-ers to try, and grow and learn their craft.

I realise that some authors vehemently oppose their characters as the subject for fanfiction, and their reasons are right for them. But it still saddens me that those of us who love this creative outlet, who have learned their craft and given so much of ourselves to this harmless, non-profit-making hobby, who enjoy one another's company and who encourage each other to dream big and bring to life these characters we know and love are often ridiculed or dismissed. And what's worse, I know that no matter what anyone does or says, Ms. Ward will still believe that fanfiction and RP 'harms' the brand. What a load of Friar's Balsam.