Posted by Hilary Weston on January 30, 2000 at 12:15:43 from dynamic-107.max2-du-ws.dialnetwork.pavilion.co.uk:
With the long thread that was going a couple of weeks ago about sequels, it is clear that there are lot of people out there with a lot of ideas for adventures that our favourite characters can have.
I am not altogether in favour of an official sequel written by another author (I remember the Famous Five attempts), but I do enjoy reading unofficial Fan Fiction. There will be people out there who will be completely against this idea, and that is your right, but let me say that although I haven't found it yet, apparently Harry Potter has a Fan fiction site on the web.
What I do read though is Babylon 5 Fan fiction. There are some pieces that are almost unreadable, but most of it is good and obviously written with love and care. These people are not in it for profit or to destroy what is established canon. They have been so caught up in the characters and story, that their imaginations go into overdrive and the fiction almost writes itself. It is their heartfelt tribute to something they love, and in my case one way of saying 'Thank you' for giving us something wonderful. My first piece of B5 Fan fiction should be posted soon.
So, what about it? Shall we set up a Fan fiction site? It can be completely unofficial and no story will be posted without a disclaimer such as, 'The Swallows and Amazons do not belong to me; I'm just borrowing them for a bit of sailing. They belong to the Arthur Ransome Estate.' As for what is written, just about anything goes, within reason (I don't invisage an 'Adult' site). There could be great epics or short scenes that only cover one page; poetry; alternative scenarios; future or past lives of the characters.
As I wait for the Black Spots to descend, I shall work on an idea that has appeared in my head for a story about the early years of the GA.
Get writing all you Doretheas.