TA TALKS BACK: FANFIC & FANFIX

Today, TA member LJ Summers continues part two of her brief exploration of fan fiction. Today’s installment includes “FanFic & FanFix”.

A brief exploration of Fan Fiction

Part the Second

In the first part of this explanation, I introduced the term “fanficking.” My off-the-cuff definition went like this:

Fanficking: Verb. To be in the process of creating, enjoying or responding to fan fiction.

Today, I’d like to address the “creating” part of fanficking. Daydreaming, writing, sharing posting, blogging… All of it comes under this heading.

For many people, the realm of the Twilightverse is inspirational, in all senses of that word. People breathe the world of Twilight. They also breathe life into alternate universes of The Saga. They do this for a variety of reasons. Some want to explore more deeply the potential for “missing moments” in The Saga. Others want to look into the backstories of their favorite characters. Still others wish to extend the story, in or out of canon practices, to see “What happened when….”

A part of this that really took me a while to warm up to was the All Human realm. I guess I personally took the characters in instant aversion as humans. I don’t know why. However, before you go throwing things at me or your computer screen, please know I have changed my opinion. Yes, I have. I didn’t think I would, but I did.

Some of the most beautiful pieces of All Human fanfic are those in which we find Edward is damaged. Okay, maybe I’m the only one who thinks these pieces are beautiful. But they strike me because the author of the AH fanfic sees that Edward Cullen views himself as damaged in canon. As a monster. As something unworthy of Bella’s regard. He is damaged, in that respect. The All Human authors take that flawed part of his character and create amazing stories from it. I have my favorites, and I’ll bet you do, too. Not only is Edward flawed, but pretty much each of the stars of The Saga has an AH story devoted to him or her, exploring their strengths and weaknesses.

It’s beautiful.

Another group of people get into fanficking the way I did. They wanted to FIX something. I am not the only one who does this. One extremely popular brand of FanFix is the Bella and Jacob story line. On this avenue, the general feeling is that Edward was right to want Bella to live out her human life with a human man. The fact that Bella chooses a werewolf is the subject of much drama for fanfixers. In this fanfix opportunity, the author is allowed to get Bella pregnant without risking her life to produce some monster spawn that will suck her dry and claw its way out. (Hey, that birth scene in Breaking Dawn was traumatic!) In this alternative option, Bella often ages and has her children and finds great peace and fulfillment as the years pass, leaving their mark upon her.

Of course this option is also a fanfixing opportunity for those who want to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that Edward IS the better man, by pairing Bella up with Jacob and then ruining her life or having him die in some heroic manner…leaving Edward to appear and pick up the pieces.

More fanfixes protest mightily against plot devices in the canon novels. The imprinting of Jacob on Renesmee is one of these points of discussion. Another is the Wedding Night of Pain. Or Bella’s Change. (Why, these fanfixing authors posit, would Bella and Edward go so far into this discussion if the point of her choosing to change was going to be taken from her? She is changed to save her life…just like the rest of them…right?) Or the Why did the Cullens leave when Edward said so? scenario. Some fanfixers have written their stories to fix this injustice. Sure, let Edward go have his emo moment, but the family will stay with Bella!

Fanfixing is one very popular reason for people to begin their own experience in fanficking. Whether they are in it to right a wrong, or encounter the solutions written by others, fanfickers all over the world want to experience the Twilightverse anew.

And for some of us, fanficking has become a way of life. As addicting (if not moreso) than reading Twilight itself…

Part the Third (Eventually): Fanficking: The Addiction Continues

So what do you think, TAers? Talk back to us…