How often do you think about fanfiction?

[happyshep]

Just to get this discussion going, I'll start with something general.

When we see fanfiction communities on the internet the enthusiasm given to a fandom seems to be consistent and eternal, but how much do you think it actually occupies your mind in reality?
How often do you think about fanfiction? On the bus? In class? Before you fall asleep?

After considering that, what do you think about the idea of fanfiction as escapism from reality? Could we go further and call fanfiction a form of fantasy?

[bloody]

I have to admit, I'm a ff addict. It's more or less constantly on my mind. I was always reading quite a bit, but ever since I found ff I went crazy with it. I love to read and I also have tons of plot bunnies. The only thing that keeps me from writing more often is that I suck at keeping a storyline straight or continuing a ff once I finished the first few chapters. One-shots are easy, but multi-parters... well ^^;; BUT I already start to get away from the topic.

It doesn't matter to me where I am, if I don't think about ff generally, I think about what the characters of my fandoms would do in the situation I am in in that moment... things like that. Also, I went as far as learning english better just because of the ff. I'm German, and after reading german ff for a while I decided that they aren't good enough for me. And so, even though I have been really bad at english in school, I forced myself to read english ff - and for the last few years I couldn't even imagine NOT reading english ff any longer.

Edit: Because I forgot the last question: Yes, I definitely think ff can be a form of escape from reality. It is and has been many times for me. While I can function normally in an everyday setting and also go to work without problems, I love the time when I can just read and forget everything around me. When I'm reading, the ff pulls me in. I'm not reading it, I'm LIVING it. That's also why I usually tend to be really affected to whatever happens in there. If the characters get hurt, I'm hurting with them. If they are happy, I'm grinning like a loon and are happy with them.

[dontquoteme]

It depends on how into a fandom I am. A few weeks ago I was between fandoms, and all my thoughts were on my personal life. When I'm into a fandom, it consumes my mind whenever it's not on something else (and sometimes even when it should be). It's hard to explain whether it's specifically fanfiction or something else that I'm thinking about though. My thoughts are usually on the characters and what might have happened between the scenes, how a particular scene might have gone differently, or what might have been going on in a character's mind during a particular scene. I guess you could call it the precursors to fanfics, because sometimes I'm able to form these thoughts into proper stories. But most of the time they just go round and round in my head.
So yes to all three of them, on the bus, in class (I'm not at uni anymore, but my mind would often drift in lecturers. Not so much in the labs or tuts when I actually had stuff to do, but in the lecturers when I was just sitting and listening, my mind would wander). It's interesting you say before you go to sleep, because a lot of the time that's how I go to sleep, daydreaming about the characters (or rather... nightdreaming?).
I'd say that fanfiction is definitely a form of escapism, but I think that fiction in general is really escapism anyway. When a person watches TV or reads a book, it's generally to escape the boredom of everyday life.

[spacealpha]

Well, I think more about the characters than in fanfiction itself. Like the others have mentioned, it's usually something like what they would do in certain situations, either the situation I'm living or something else adapted to their own universe. I think about it pretty much every time I'm not concentrating on something. When I'm at home, I'm usually reading, writing or participating in fandom in some way, and when I'm at work, my mind wanders when my students (I'm a teacher) are doing exercises. When I'm applying tests especially. I have written entire fanfics during tests. Now, I also carry a notebook during class to take notes for future fics. Actually, my mind gets so distracted that I bet the students can cheat right in front of my eyes that I won't see, lol, I just go a million light years away.

For me fanfic is more than just escapism. I'm Brazilian and I'm an EFL teacher (English as a foreign language). I've learned so much from reading and writing and I was inspired by it so much that I made teaching English a profession and gave up my carreer as a dentist. I graduated in one of the top universities of my country and spent thousands in a private office, but traded everything for this life that I absolutely love.

[starlight]

It's the same for me - I think about the character all the time, on the bus, in class, and definitely every single night before I fall asleep. I make up stories in my mind that I don't write down because they are usually plotless, but actually some of my nighttime fantasies have later been a basis for some of my multi-chapter stories.

Even though I didn't know that fanfiction existed until a couple of years ago, I have been making h/c stories with book and movie characters for as long as I can remember. I agree with dontquoteme that if you are switching fandoms the addiction is less strong. In the past I used to make up stories with the characters from the book I was currently reading, and as soon as I finished it and moved on to a new book, the characters changed. It wasn't so strong then. But once I discovered the Lord of the Rings, which has been my only fandom for nearly seven years, I could give it all my thoughts and I am much more into it.

Fanfiction is most definitely an escape from reality. While I read/write/fantasize/ I can forget about everything else. But it is more than that. Writing allows you to share your thoughts and fantasies with others, and it lets you meet people who are interested in the same things as you. I've made some great friends since I started writing, and I am thankful for that.

[gaunicorn]

When I first re-discovered fanfiction a few years ago I quickly found myself spending the majority of my recreational reading was being done on the internet. My to-be-read book pile got way out of hand. When I find an author that I really love I tend to go back and read everything they've ever written, even if it's in a fandom I'm not particularly interested in. I like fic that sticks close to canon; I"m not into slash - unless these characters are homosexual in the show - or 'ships - again, unless these characters are linked in the show, but I will read it if it is an author I already enjoy.

As time has gone on I've cut back on the fanfic, but still spend at least an hour every day reading it.

[mpbrennan]

I guess how much I think about fanfic depends largely on what my life is like at the moment. I picked up the habit while working a very long, very tedious job in the kitchen of a residential summer camp. I was literally working eleven hour days, and when I got off there was nothing to do but go back to the bunkhouse and browse some online sites. Reading fan fiction was simply the most reliable source of entertainment available. I discovered that after reading a really good story, I could almost take it with me and entertain myself through hours of washing dishes just by thinking about the characters, wondering how it would end--or if I'd finished the story, thinking about other ways it could have gone. From there, the natural next step was to try my hand at writing one of my own.

These days, I'm at uni, so I have classes and labs and papers to fill my mind, but I still find time to think about fanfic--maybe during the boring parts of the lecture or for ten minutes while I'm squeezing lunch in. If I've just read a really excellent fic, it tends to consume my brain a little. Similarly, when I'm close to finishing one of my works in progress (as I am now) I tend to obsess more than usual trying to get everything just right.

I guess I do use fanfic for escapism, but that's not really all it is to me. This might sound corny, but I try to work out some of my own issues through the characters in the fics I write. If I have a terrible conversation with someone, I tell myself to look on the bright side because it allows me to figure out Character X's reason for doing Y. In general, I just see fan fic as writing--another kind of literature. Literature can serve all kinds of purposes. Sometimes it's just escapism, sometimes there's a social or political motive (check out the femgenficathon on LiveJournal), and sometimes it helps us see the world in a different light. I've been accused of taking myself too seriously, but I feel pretty strongly about these kinds of things.

[ellaycee]

I've always been a voracious reader of books, and often bought the licensed tie-ins for films and television programs; sometimes these have been a disappointment as the writer doesn't always seem to have 'got' the characters.

For me, fan fiction is just a continuation of my book-reading hobby. I enjoy long episode type stories, as well as some shorter ones, and will read either Gen or Slash fiction.

I started writing FF to fill in plot holes for my own satisfaction, not realizing that other people were doing the same thing. Long before the internet, a friend introduced me to the concept of buying zines via fan produced newsletters, although it was many years before I submitted any stories of my own for publication.

I only really think about fanfic and the characters when I am relaxed, and have nothing else to do.

[tokidokidoll]

How often do I think about fanfiction? When I was more involved in the community about two years ago, I would think about it pretty consistently throughout the day when I had a few spare moments. Mostly, I would think about my own writing - where a story was going, how the characters were going to react, etc. I would also anticipate new chapters of stories I was following actively.

Nowadays, however, I think about fanfiction very, very briefly - mostly when I check the email linked with my FF.net account. It's mostly just a passing thought. Occasionally I'll venture onto FF.net and check out the new stories section for my fandoms, but I'm mostly disappointed by the results. It seems that the fanfiction in my fandom are declining in quality, and it's mostly become a standardized simple plot.

But I agree that to an extent, fanfiction does exist as an escape from reality, but also as a reevaluation of reality. Personally, I was writing fanfiction when I was feeling depressed and/or stressed out about my own life (it's really no coincidence I was writing during my last two years of high school and my first year of college - yikes!). I could disappear into a story and consider my problems from a character's perspective, and that extra step of detachment made me feel better about my own reality.

But it's more that, definitely. Like other people have said, fanfiction is a way to fill in plot holes you may have seen, or to deepen your understanding of a character. "What if" scenarios are the fanfiction writer's pride and joy.

[lockea]

After considering that, what do you think about the idea of fanfiction as escapism from reality? Could we go further and call fanfiction a form of fantasy? //

I tend to think about fanfiction everyday, as I usually check to see who has updated in which fandoms every day after work and class. I work a mind numbingly boring job in a university library where I am in charge of cataloging books and preparing them for student use. Since it doesn't take much brainpower to do my job, I often mind my mind wandering and dreaming up stories. Creating fanfiction stories (I write primarily AU stories) is a way to keep me from passing out in boredom.

I also tend to think of fanfiction after I get out of class. By the end of the day, my brain is so dead that all I want to do is read fanfiction for a few hours-- for the familiar characters, predictable plotlines, and maybe some cliched romance too!

Sometimes I'll write it too, but usually I'm too exhausted to write during the week.

I think fanfiction can definetely be called escapism, and I certainly don't think that it's a bad thing. In much the same way my friends watch TV, fool around on Facebook, or play videogames, I use fanfiction to unwind and relax from a day of hard classes and studying. Plus, when I'm writing fanfiction, it gives me a chance to practice different styles and plotlines. If they come out good in fanfiction, I usually switch them up a bit and write an original based on it.

[vexed]

I think about often . I usually have at least one story open in a tab at all times.
I currently write in more than a few different coms and have a few chapter pieces that I working on.

Something catches my eye I get an idea and have to work it out.

[happyshep]

I'm really impressed with the incredibly insightful and sophisticated responses which you're all giving me. You guys are really something!

By reading through this thread I have attempted to identify some trends. I would like you to read through them and let me know if you disagree with anything or would like to add something.

• You all seemed to be in agreement that when you're really into a fandom the characters tend to occupy your mind almost constantly.
  
• A couple of you seemed to be suggesting that fan-fiction is simply another form of escapism. Other forms of escapism include TV, video games, Facebook and fiction in general.
  
• Fan-fiction allows you to deal with boredom and stress.
  
• I got the impression that most of you were avid readers before you found fanfiction. I believe that it is safe to make a comparison with RPG gaming here -- roleplayers could say that they were avid gamers before they ever found RPGs.
  
• I think some of you said that you would imagine a character's reactions within your own reality, feeling their pain and joy instead of your own. Tokidokidoll called this an "extra step of detatchment" -- complete escapism. Perhaps in another discussion I would like to explore this further, but for now how many of you agree with this? (Edit: I should add that within roleplaying communities you are likely to meet individuals who choose to adopt their character's identity in reality as well as fantasy, so a crude link can be made here)
  
• Would it be correct for me to conclude that your average fanfic is a fantasy or daydream which has been harnessed and developed into a story?
  

[dustyor]

I no longer have any interest in bringing books home from the library.
I just read ff, as long as it has action, angst and hurt/comfort...........and is
directed toward characters I have a lot of interest in..........

[vexed]

I agree I do still read books as well as ff. I have friends that actually tease me about the regular books they call them my retro books.

[marchwriter]

Oh, I think about fanfiction more or less continuously. I have been writing in the Lord of the Rings fandom for seven years now, and I feel a great sense of responsibility (as well as profound gratitude) towards those who read and comment on my stories. As fanfiction writers, we have the unique and wonderful opportunity to receive feedback from readers as we write!

No other published author has that.

As far as your "fanfiction as a form of fantasy" goes, I believe that the reason people involve themselves so much in fanfiction is connected to the larger area of reading. For what is fanfiction but another form of reading / writing? And what do we read or write for? Some do it for escapism; others to further their ideas about society, life, love, politics...others for the simple pleasure of telling a story. I think fanfiction does the same thing, allowing readers and writers a little more freedom of movement since they are not trammeled by the competitive world of publishing. Stories can be written by anyone and read by anyone--there is no limit to who you can reach with fanfiction.

Marchwriter