You know what I'm genuinely curious about? How many of us are serious writers outside of fanfiction? How many of us write totally original work in our non-internet lives? How many of the older people here were English or Creative Writing majors in college? How many people wish they were? How many people are professional writers now (in any capacity)? Is fanfiction just a means of writing what you wish the actual "House" writers did? Or is it something else? I'm curious because there's that amazing fanfic by a girl on LJ that's a "Dead Like Me"/"House" crossover that honestly reads like original fiction. And as someone who's currently going to school to study the craft of writing for television, I like fanfiction as a means of exploring characters and writing believable dialogue. But so many people seem to never have written before they discovered this crazy online world (that I love dearly). Anyone have any stories to tell?

I write original fiction sometimes. I'm working on one right now, as a matter of fact. This is a secret I've told no one in real life, although I want to spend the time I'm going to be here in Japan getting it published (I mean, rejection) ready. *ducks away*

At the moment I write stuff for a politician and have to try to make him look caring, compasionate and intelligent: Does that make me a fiction writer?

Yes Sheep it does. I don't think any politician of whatever color can be compassionate, caring or especially intelligent. Their brains are all removed surgically just before they assume office.

At the moment I write stuff for a politician and have to try to make him look caring, compasionate and intelligent: Does that make me a fiction writer? Wow. Yeah, I'd count that as some sort of fiction. Probably psychological thriller. You deserve the credit on that one.

I majored in English lit in college (minor in journalism) 25 years ago and worked for ten years as a newspaper reporter. However, the grind of meeting deadlines meant I wrote only one short story in those ten years. In my current career as a church administrator, I write a fair amount in terms of letters, communications and reports. It leaves room for creativity. I do have two long pieces of original fiction that I set aside some time ago. One needs a massive re-write, which does not make me jump for joy to think about it. The other is in better shape and might actually be publishable some day. Frankly, fanfiction writing is fun. In writing original fiction, if you don't happen to live where there's a community of writers, you're stuck in a rather lonely outpost. With fanfiction, you have a ready-made community, one that has standards already set, to participate in and to learn from. And learning to be a better writer is never wasted, no matter what you do with your life.

I wrote a book when I was a teenager, but have never tried to get it published because I'm just too chicken. I've started others. Then I went to college and had to focus so much writing time on papers that writing lost the joy for me for a while. I got back into writing through fan fiction. While I'm seriously focused on some fan fic at the moment, I also want to dig up the original book I wrote, update it, grow a pair, and send it to a publisher. :lol:

You know what I'm genuinely curious about? How many of us are serious writers outside of fanfiction? How many of us write totally original work in our non-internet lives? How many of the older people here were English or Creative Writing majors in college? How many people wish they were? How many people are professional writers now (in any capacity)? Is fanfiction just a means of writing what you wish the actual "House" writers did? Or is it something else? Fun questions! How many of us are serious writers outside of fanfiction? I love to write, and I'd say I'm serious about it. But not professional. How many of us write totally original work in our non-internet lives? I write short stories. Writing porn takes away from the time I previously dedicated to short stories. Sometimes I feel guilty about that, and wonder if I should become a professional writer of erotica, since I can't seem to stop doing it. One day I'll do nothing but write all day. Till then I have to parcel out my time and lately, the porn's winning. I think I am also addicted to feedback. I will get my stories published, one day. It may take the rest of my life but I feel sure I can do it. Hopefully I'll be around long enough to keep trying. How many of the older people here were English or Creative Writing majors in college? I was. But if I had to go back and do it again, I'd probably major in computer science, because it's a more practical degree. I tried "corporate communications" just to make a buck, and I'd rather do what I do now than write that crap to pay the rent, if you'll forgive my language. It was boring beyond belief. If I had to go back to school, I'd either go for my dream and get a Creative Writing degree (rather than Lit), and just take a chance, or go entirely practical and go for CS, because now that I'm 35, "earning a decent living" is more of a motivator than "pursuing my dream." Another good option would have been a trade or tech school, to give me a few more years to figure out what to do while having some sort of marketable skill, like Katherine Gibbs, or repairing air conditioners, something like that. What I did - MA in English Lit, focusing on medieval lit - I wouldn't recommend to anyone. It was stupid, to be perfectly honest. You can't make a living from medieval studies. I am now pursuing my MS in Comp.Sci. I am so sorry, shutterbug, I typed that before I saw your post. Well, I was going to get my PhD and that would have improved my chances of earning a living. Still, it's not exactly in high demand. Is fanfiction just a means of writing what you wish the actual "House" writers did? Or is it something else? It's totally "wishful thinking"! That's one way to describe it. "Sexual fantasy" would be another! It also keeps the proverbial pen sharp; a good way to improve style and dialogue. I don't put it in the same category as my 'serious' writing though. That doesn't mean I enjoy it any less. :wink: My biggest challenge is just finding the time to write. I figure I have about 15-20 minutes a day, unless I intentionally deprive myself of sleep or stay indoors on a beautiful Sunday. I have a busy schedule.

I too was an English major, and I consider myself a writer. Though I haven't really been published in anything but school magazines and papers. I plan to work on that.

Have been talking with Maineac about the possibility of an archive for abandoned WIPs where they can be put up for adoption by the writers, sort of like an animal shelter. We both like the idea since some of the stories that aren't finished are good ones that for whatever reason the original writer didn't finish. What do all of you think??

I like the idea, but personally I wouldn't want someone else finishing my stories. Still, it wouldn't hurt to ask and there are four or five stories I would like to see finished, even if it isn't by the original writer.

Just wanted to say hello to all and thanks for the recs for Sleeping Man. I had been wondering why things seemed so moribund over at The Other Place and now I find all the fun people have run over here. I'm always the last to know. Anyway, as to Misanthropicobs' post, let's hear from people who are mourning a particular WIP that was abandonned. Then maybe we can contact the author about putting them up for adoption. I, for one, would be happy to see someone finish something I had started. (I may be saying this out of terror that I won't finish Sleeping Man--it's the first time I've ever posted a story without having finished it first. And why are there no good Emoticons to express Terror?)