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kaixoYour own worst enemies.
The amount of fanfic writers I’ve come across who moan at how their fic isn’t loved, how no one isn’t doing remixes, translations, transformative works to their fics only to turn around and shoot down the option of podfic as one of the said options deserve nothing but scorn, tbh (it's fine if you don't like podfic, but respect the producers).
I won’t link to the comm/fest, but the gist is as follows: the mods are floating the option of podfic as a transformative work, right? To their credit, the mods already know the majority of the fandom would say no, so this is for the people who would say yes. They’d pair the willing writer with the willing podficcer and leave them to it.
The mods are putting out feelers because they know podficcers need lead time (due to the technicalities involved in their product) and are inviting people to weigh in. For instance, a lot of writers tend to tweak their fanfic down to the wire, but podficcers can’t live that way. An option might have be for a podficcer to focus on a specific part of the fic, like an artist would do a scene capturing a moment, or someone doing a music mix to capture the mood. It’s all dictated by one’s imagination.
A lot of the writers have said no (although the mod is like, “Yoooo, this poll ain’t for you, it’s for the ones who say yes.” ), there’s the implied threat of ‘well, if there’s going to be podfic, that’s fine, I don’t want it, I won’t engage further and I’m cutting back on fandom for IRL anyway.’ Goddamn, this passive-aggressive butthurt is just… #nobueno.
Especially since the poll wasn’t for yoooouuuuuuu *sings in perfect key*
Now, granted, I’m no podficcer (and if I’m speaking out of turn, hit me with a clue by four) but jeez, it’s a bit rich fandom writers riffing off content that isn’t theirs, to block people who want to riff on said content. Or, they want to accept the content that is pleasing to them (everyone likes art, I guess) and shame the rest.
Then someone floats the option of podficcers doing previously posted fic as a no-no because Big Bangs are for unpublished work. As if podfics are prechewed gum or something. Let me tell you, internet, podfic of a written work is a different mood from the work itself. Take it from me, once you have your words in someone else’s mouth, it’s a thrill, and you now know why Shonda Rhimes keeps writing all the time. She tells her actors that they can interpret her words any way they want, but the dialogue can’t be improvised, and it’s grand how that comes about.
Granted, I have issues with how the fest is structured (podfic as secondary, instead of primary. Meaning, the writers and their stories are the ones showcased, and the transformative works are an afterthought instead of both being front and centre ), but that’s small beer compared to the snide attitudes of the writers out there.
Yet, these are the same ones who moan about not getting comments, or some sort of love on their work, and leave fandom in a huff. Fanfic writers really can’t have it both ways.
Anyway, if you’re a writer who’s read this far- thanks - and think about putting a transformative statement on your profile, please. Although I know writers who don’t do that because they think it should be a given, this fandom kerfuffle has thrown in stark relief why this is necessary.
The amount of fanfic writers I’ve come across who moan at how their fic isn’t loved, how no one isn’t doing remixes, translations, transformative works to their fics only to turn around and shoot down the option of podfic as one of the said options deserve nothing but scorn, tbh (it's fine if you don't like podfic, but respect the producers).
I won’t link to the comm/fest, but the gist is as follows: the mods are floating the option of podfic as a transformative work, right? To their credit, the mods already know the majority of the fandom would say no, so this is for the people who would say yes. They’d pair the willing writer with the willing podficcer and leave them to it.
The mods are putting out feelers because they know podficcers need lead time (due to the technicalities involved in their product) and are inviting people to weigh in. For instance, a lot of writers tend to tweak their fanfic down to the wire, but podficcers can’t live that way. An option might have be for a podficcer to focus on a specific part of the fic, like an artist would do a scene capturing a moment, or someone doing a music mix to capture the mood. It’s all dictated by one’s imagination.
A lot of the writers have said no (although the mod is like, “Yoooo, this poll ain’t for you, it’s for the ones who say yes.” ), there’s the implied threat of ‘well, if there’s going to be podfic, that’s fine, I don’t want it, I won’t engage further and I’m cutting back on fandom for IRL anyway.’ Goddamn, this passive-aggressive butthurt is just… #nobueno.
Especially since the poll wasn’t for yoooouuuuuuu *sings in perfect key*
Now, granted, I’m no podficcer (and if I’m speaking out of turn, hit me with a clue by four) but jeez, it’s a bit rich fandom writers riffing off content that isn’t theirs, to block people who want to riff on said content. Or, they want to accept the content that is pleasing to them (everyone likes art, I guess) and shame the rest.
Then someone floats the option of podficcers doing previously posted fic as a no-no because Big Bangs are for unpublished work. As if podfics are prechewed gum or something. Let me tell you, internet, podfic of a written work is a different mood from the work itself. Take it from me, once you have your words in someone else’s mouth, it’s a thrill, and you now know why Shonda Rhimes keeps writing all the time. She tells her actors that they can interpret her words any way they want, but the dialogue can’t be improvised, and it’s grand how that comes about.
Granted, I have issues with how the fest is structured (podfic as secondary, instead of primary. Meaning, the writers and their stories are the ones showcased, and the transformative works are an afterthought instead of both being front and centre ), but that’s small beer compared to the snide attitudes of the writers out there.
Yet, these are the same ones who moan about not getting comments, or some sort of love on their work, and leave fandom in a huff. Fanfic writers really can’t have it both ways.
Anyway, if you’re a writer who’s read this far- thanks - and think about putting a transformative statement on your profile, please. Although I know writers who don’t do that because they think it should be a given, this fandom kerfuffle has thrown in stark relief why this is necessary.
