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No, I won't read your fucking story.
Do I have your attention, LOL?
Inspired by a post from![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
minerva_one, who ganked it from cleolinda, let's take a look at why screenwriter Josh Olson has declared I Will Not Read Your Fucking Script.
Please make sure you at least read the original article before continuing.
Frankly, I am firmly in both Olson andcleolinda's camps. Most people that approach professional writers in whatever field with pieces of their epic master works *are* just looking for glorified pats on the back. They don't want to hear the truth about their work, or the fact that their writer friends can't get them an 'in' with their agent/publisher/whatever. I mean, WTF? How do these people think those writers got their jobs in the first place? Of all the possible professions on the planet, I think writing is probably the one that benefits the LEAST from networking. Its a very solitary job, in more aspects than one.
As tocleolinda's dilemma, which minerva_one touches on in her post...well, the way I see it, we fanfic writers face the same conundrum. Though I've never received such, quite a few people in fandom have gotten the sort of "I love your story will you read and review AND RLY RLY CRIT mine? Here's the link OMGTHANX" non-review on a piece they've posted. Besides being fucking annoying (and disrespectful, especially when its obvious said reviewer didn't actually read your fic), its also treading into dangerous territory. How many wars have erupted in fandom over the "stealing of ideas"?
But wait, you protest. This is fanfic we're writing - we're already stealing ideas, from the original source material. After all, isn't that like the biggest criticism fanwriters face? ("Why can't/don't you write original stuff instead? Are you LAZY, or just unwilling?") I'd argue - no, its not. At least in IY fandom, there are a million different ways to "continue" the canon story, or endless possibilities for AUs. I understand we have a different level of acceptance from other fandoms, especially of the latter. I dabble quite a bit in AUs myself, not because I'm not interested in the original canon, but because I am really enjoying the core characteristics of the main cast, and would like to see how they fare in a different setting, most usually modern.
Anyway - when you write an AU, the idea is most generally original: the setting, the plot, sometimes even the pairings. Yes, we have tropes (*groan* geez, do we ever!) but everyone worth their salt at least attempts to put an original spin on it. I think anyone would be upset if they found someone 'stealing' their idea - I know I was, at the first inkling that someone would rip off all the world-building I'd done for something that sounded completely inane. And, IMO, that would be justifiable.
But - getting back to the heart ofcleolinda's comment - I wonder how much people realize they are influenced by what they read, watch, or listen to. I know I'm extremely paranoid about 'sub-conscious plagiarism', and thus, I tend to read very little in comparison to my output as a fanfic writer. One of the reasons I *am* so paranoid is because I can see the reflection of other multimedia in my work - what I've been watching, for example - that isn't always intentional.
To me, its not quite as big a deal when fanfic is the medium I'm working in. Style is flexible, and generally the stories rewarded with reviews, hits, and awards are those that stick very close to the norm for either canon or fanon. Clever little in-jokes, or bringing in something from another popular show, is something astute readers can get real kicks out of, and is something that can help boost the popularity of a fic or author. And besides, sometimes its intentional - I know different types of music lead to different types of fic (I listen to DMB for sex scenes, and Rage Against the Machine when I'm jonesing for some action/adventure), and I really enjoy writing straight-out songfic. I tend to immerse myself in investigative or true crime shows when I'm writing darkfic. I know the source of my research material when I'm aiming for a certain outcome.
And that? To me, that's fine. After all, what do writers do, other than redirect one type of media into another?
But when it comes to reading...I'm a bit tougher on myself.
I don't ever want to be put in the position of, "you stole my idea!" I'd never intentionally do that. Hell, I feel skeezy writing fic that's too close to the manga or anime (as in, lifting dialogue or particular action sequences). I've read my share of amazing fic, and if I know I got a certain bit from a fic, I'm going to credit that fic from here to eternity - like I did when lifting the title "House of the Moon" from Resmiranda's Tales from the House of the Moon in my Every Heart fic.
What I'm afraid of is not realizing that I've lifted something from someone else's work. Lines of dialogue especially stick with me (as anybody with an affinity for Grey's Anatomy who read the latest chapter of Fleeting can readily attest), though sometimes particularly impressive stylistic choices can as well.
So - I've found that I tend to read material by authors who have very different ideas and styles from mine (generally, writers I find on par with or better than my own material). For example - its neat to have the mind-meld withpsyco_chick32, but we tend to play with different characters - -who would, in turn, react in different ways to the same situation, and thus our fics would probably have wildly different outcomes even if they started from the same place.
Its a delicate balance, you know? Reading enough to know what's well-established and popular, but not reading so much that you're subconsciously lifting a style, or idea, or line of dialogue from someone else.
Fandom has a culture of shared ideas, so to some extent, its more acceptable for fanwork to maybe not be as original as original/professional fiction. I know I approach the two different situations completely differently. I don't have my fanfic beta'ed (GASP HORROR), but if I ever gathered up the nerve to send off original fiction for publication, I'd at least have a second pair of eyes look at it first...eyes I trusted implicitly, as there's a HUGE deal with passing around unpublished fiction and the ability you have to protect your intellectual property.
So in the midst of all my rambles, I'm asking my f-list a very general set of questions: how much do you read fanfiction, outside your own work and/or circle of friends? Do you tend to favor work that is very much like yours (in pairing, genre, tropes/cliches used), or do you find yourself reading work by someone who writes something outside your comfort zone? How much do you fear subconscious plagiarism, if at all? Are you even aware of how much your perception of the media around you influences your work? Do you care?
Inspired by a post from
minerva_one, who ganked it from cleolinda, let's take a look at why screenwriter Josh Olson has declared I Will Not Read Your Fucking Script.Please make sure you at least read the original article before continuing.
Frankly, I am firmly in both Olson and
cleolinda's camps. Most people that approach professional writers in whatever field with pieces of their epic master works *are* just looking for glorified pats on the back. They don't want to hear the truth about their work, or the fact that their writer friends can't get them an 'in' with their agent/publisher/whatever. I mean, WTF? How do these people think those writers got their jobs in the first place? Of all the possible professions on the planet, I think writing is probably the one that benefits the LEAST from networking. Its a very solitary job, in more aspects than one.As to
cleolinda's dilemma, which minerva_one touches on in her post...well, the way I see it, we fanfic writers face the same conundrum. Though I've never received such, quite a few people in fandom have gotten the sort of "I love your story will you read and review AND RLY RLY CRIT mine? Here's the link OMGTHANX" non-review on a piece they've posted. Besides being fucking annoying (and disrespectful, especially when its obvious said reviewer didn't actually read your fic), its also treading into dangerous territory. How many wars have erupted in fandom over the "stealing of ideas"?But wait, you protest. This is fanfic we're writing - we're already stealing ideas, from the original source material. After all, isn't that like the biggest criticism fanwriters face? ("Why can't/don't you write original stuff instead? Are you LAZY, or just unwilling?") I'd argue - no, its not. At least in IY fandom, there are a million different ways to "continue" the canon story, or endless possibilities for AUs. I understand we have a different level of acceptance from other fandoms, especially of the latter. I dabble quite a bit in AUs myself, not because I'm not interested in the original canon, but because I am really enjoying the core characteristics of the main cast, and would like to see how they fare in a different setting, most usually modern.
Anyway - when you write an AU, the idea is most generally original: the setting, the plot, sometimes even the pairings. Yes, we have tropes (*groan* geez, do we ever!) but everyone worth their salt at least attempts to put an original spin on it. I think anyone would be upset if they found someone 'stealing' their idea - I know I was, at the first inkling that someone would rip off all the world-building I'd done for something that sounded completely inane. And, IMO, that would be justifiable.
But - getting back to the heart of
cleolinda's comment - I wonder how much people realize they are influenced by what they read, watch, or listen to. I know I'm extremely paranoid about 'sub-conscious plagiarism', and thus, I tend to read very little in comparison to my output as a fanfic writer. One of the reasons I *am* so paranoid is because I can see the reflection of other multimedia in my work - what I've been watching, for example - that isn't always intentional.To me, its not quite as big a deal when fanfic is the medium I'm working in. Style is flexible, and generally the stories rewarded with reviews, hits, and awards are those that stick very close to the norm for either canon or fanon. Clever little in-jokes, or bringing in something from another popular show, is something astute readers can get real kicks out of, and is something that can help boost the popularity of a fic or author. And besides, sometimes its intentional - I know different types of music lead to different types of fic (I listen to DMB for sex scenes, and Rage Against the Machine when I'm jonesing for some action/adventure), and I really enjoy writing straight-out songfic. I tend to immerse myself in investigative or true crime shows when I'm writing darkfic. I know the source of my research material when I'm aiming for a certain outcome.
And that? To me, that's fine. After all, what do writers do, other than redirect one type of media into another?
But when it comes to reading...I'm a bit tougher on myself.
I don't ever want to be put in the position of, "you stole my idea!" I'd never intentionally do that. Hell, I feel skeezy writing fic that's too close to the manga or anime (as in, lifting dialogue or particular action sequences). I've read my share of amazing fic, and if I know I got a certain bit from a fic, I'm going to credit that fic from here to eternity - like I did when lifting the title "House of the Moon" from Resmiranda's Tales from the House of the Moon in my Every Heart fic.
What I'm afraid of is not realizing that I've lifted something from someone else's work. Lines of dialogue especially stick with me (as anybody with an affinity for Grey's Anatomy who read the latest chapter of Fleeting can readily attest), though sometimes particularly impressive stylistic choices can as well.
So - I've found that I tend to read material by authors who have very different ideas and styles from mine (generally, writers I find on par with or better than my own material). For example - its neat to have the mind-meld with
psyco_chick32, but we tend to play with different characters - -who would, in turn, react in different ways to the same situation, and thus our fics would probably have wildly different outcomes even if they started from the same place. Its a delicate balance, you know? Reading enough to know what's well-established and popular, but not reading so much that you're subconsciously lifting a style, or idea, or line of dialogue from someone else.
Fandom has a culture of shared ideas, so to some extent, its more acceptable for fanwork to maybe not be as original as original/professional fiction. I know I approach the two different situations completely differently. I don't have my fanfic beta'ed (GASP HORROR), but if I ever gathered up the nerve to send off original fiction for publication, I'd at least have a second pair of eyes look at it first...eyes I trusted implicitly, as there's a HUGE deal with passing around unpublished fiction and the ability you have to protect your intellectual property.
So in the midst of all my rambles, I'm asking my f-list a very general set of questions: how much do you read fanfiction, outside your own work and/or circle of friends? Do you tend to favor work that is very much like yours (in pairing, genre, tropes/cliches used), or do you find yourself reading work by someone who writes something outside your comfort zone? How much do you fear subconscious plagiarism, if at all? Are you even aware of how much your perception of the media around you influences your work? Do you care?
no subject
First, I actually only half agree with Olson. I agree with his assessment of writers; I agree with how hard it is to say no to somebody, to put somebody down.
But I think because of my love of getting constructive criticism... I always, always want to read other peoples' work. Beta-ing, chivvying my friends to write more (*whistles*) and just... well, reading a shit-ton. Even if it's painful (grammatically, spelling, etc.) - I love watching ideas grow. I love following a plot bunny from tinny little cute thing to vicious, huge rampaging Godzilla creature. And I think... I love to encourage (people that deserve it! Crap!fics need not apply, LOL - I do have SOME limits!) and offer CC. Does it get me burned? Constantly. But it also, I feel, helps me as a writer.
Hell, I feel skeezy writing fic that's too close to the manga or anime (as in, lifting dialogue or particular action sequences).
>.>
<.<
*shiftshift*
(And yet you like Control????
its neat to have the mind-meld with
\o/ Long live the mind-meld!!!
I think this would be really fun. Have somebody give us a fairly decent prompt (more than one word, maybe a sentence or a situation) and then see where we take it individually, LOL
how much do you read fanfiction, outside your own work and/or circle of friends?
Actually... a whole lot. A lot of people (even my f-list) would be shocked at the amount I read... at what I read. And I could numerate the reasons for hours, but I think it comes down to this: I like to know what people are doing. My goal, in all of my writing, is to be as unique as possible. Oh sure, I love my cliches and stuff... but when it comes to plot, I want to stand out... in a positive manner. I want to be that "unique" person while keeping it in the realm of logical.
To do that, I have to do a lot of looking at what other people are doing.
Then again, it also gives me ideas. I read something that I really like... in theory. But it's badly pulled off, or somebody dropped the ball somewhere. I like to take that idea back to the beginning and end up with something totally different (hell, like with Control... I just found myself asking 'What if Kikyou never died?')
However, I think there's a big difference. When I'm reading other works, I rarely (though it does happen occasionally) feel like I'm personally involved in a story. When it's somebody on my f-list, when it's somebody I beta for or adore, I feel closer to it. I want my friends, more even than me, to succeed and be well-accepted.
Do you tend to favor work that is very much like yours (in pairing, genre, tropes/cliches used), or do you find yourself reading work by someone who writes something outside your comfort zone?
Well, pairings yes. I prefer canon pairings (in IY) and a FEW Sess/Kag fics. I can't even force myself to read Inu/San, though I'd love to support
Genre doesn't tend to matter much to me - I'll read most anything and I try to write most anything, too. It's hard to say where my comfort zone lies, so it's hard to answer that question.
OMG I CAN'T BELIEVE I HIT THE COMMENT LIMIT - WILL REPLY TO THIS WITH MORE -_-;;
LONG COMMENT WAS/IS TOO LONG
To be honest, I really don't fear it all that much. Everybody is affected by stuff - what they read, what they watch, what they listen to, the way they talk... the English language is evolving but there'll always be limits. Now, I fear people taking entire paragraphs of work, but ideas and stuff... well, there's a set number of plots and tropes in the world, and eventually they'll all be used again and again.
I know for a fact that what I read, what I watch, what I listen to will affect my writing. I try to catch myself though if I'm taking a direct line or something, and change it up as much as possible.
Besides, even if I take a really good line, I have to alter it to fit a character. Rarely does a good line fit the character I want to say it -_-;;
Are you even aware of how much your perception of the media around you influences your work? Do you care?
*points up* I'm fairly aware. I care... but on a strange level. While it doesn't necessarily please me, I find it's a necessary evil. Without inspiration, I would never write - I can either avoid writing at all, or I can accept that my ideas are shaped by the things around me. As long as I don't let those ideas get out of hand, I feel good.
(Holy shit I just kept talking I'm so sorry... Long comment is long!)
no subject
And maybe that little seed of guilt is what's kept me from working on the next chapter of said fic. (Though emo!angsty!Sess does not enjoy sharing his stage, let me tell you o.O)
no subject
*grins* I think it reassures me ^_~
*snickers* There truly are differences!
no subject
LOL, what the hell do you think I just did? I came to some interesting conclusions as well, like thinking out loud. (I think I've finally realized why my stuff isn't so OMG UBER POPULAR, which is a notion I think about far more than I'd readily admit. The stuff about 'commercial appeal' in the comments of the first article also brought about that line of reasoning.)
ANYWAY...
I agree with his assessment of writers; I agree with how hard it is to say no to somebody, to put somebody down.
But I think because of my love of getting constructive criticism... I always, always want to read other peoples' work.
Well, you're the exception to the rule, as someone who craves real concrit for her work. The vast majority of fanwriters just want the glory. I agree with Olson because I can so easily put myself in his shoes, which is what brought about the second topic of conversation, in relation to
And, if you were a professional, published original fiction writer of any sort, even accepting unsolicited manuscripts could get you into deep shit. Its why I understand those authors who don't tolerate fanfic are coming from. Anytime I see a secret about "OMG I'D TOTES BE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FANDOM FOR MY BOOK" over at
I don't think writers who turn away wannabes are being dickwads. I think they're just being practical, and covering their own asses.
And yet you like Control????
When the entire point of the fic is to rewrite the story, LOL yes, I'm fine with writing close to the manga. To do otherwise would be defeating the point of the exercise, no?
But I personally feel skeezy when I'M the one doing the writing that close to canon. It feels like cheating, in a way; I guess because that's the evolution of fanwork: you start close to the source and move out with each new piece. Like, copying someone else's style until it develops into your own sorta thing.
My goal, in all of my writing, is to be as unique as possible. Oh sure, I love my cliches and stuff... but when it comes to plot, I want to stand out... in a positive manner.
Well, of course - you have to read the genre you're trying to write; that's just common sense. I suppose we have two different approaches on the matter - you read everything in sight, I just hope for the best and search specifically, to make sure I'm not doing something that's been done to death before.
But with fanfic, the rules are relaxed. The idea-sharing culture we have in fandom is not something that's shared in the professional writing community, as far as I can see. (Admittedly, my experience only extends to the romance genres, so YMMV.)
When I'm reading other works, I rarely (though it does happen occasionally) feel like I'm personally involved in a story.
LOL, and that's what I *look for* in a good story - something that's going to draw me in and engage my senses. It only makes sense; I am a very emotive writer, and I'm the first to admit it :)
I can't even force myself to read Inu/San, though I'd love to support
Which is a shame, cause its a damn fine fic. Its not as Inu/San as you think (or fear).
no subject
It's sad being like that - because I rarely get any :(
LOL Is why I have a beta - I need somebody to beat me with a bat when I'm bein' stupid!!
What he's saying is, if they're going to think you're a dick anyway for not going OMGILUVIT in response to their work, why not just save yourself the hassle and tell them no right off the bat? The outcome is the same, either way.
Oh, I understand that. I just happen to throw out my opinion whether people like it or not ^_~ If they don't like it, then I can at least feel like I tried!
I'm also a really fast reader, so that may have something to do with it.
And, if you were a professional, published original fiction writer of any sort, even accepting unsolicited manuscripts could get you into deep shit.
Oh, if I were a prof. writer, I'd be telling people to kiss my ass.
(Well, except for friends. Because then I could beat them with sticks if they tried shit with me.)
Like, copying someone else's style until it develops into your own sorta thing.
I think this is the fun thing about having Control to write in relation to The Neighbor, Eight-Fold Path and Ride On! because... I am doing a wide variety, and I like seeing how well I can change my tone. Can I write in a very RT-esque manner? Can I make myself more relaxed for the funnier fics? It's a great challenge for me - especially as a journalist by trade. Being able to jump from style to style is extra-important to me.
I suppose we have two different approaches on the matter - you read everything in sight
LOL This has SEVERELY slacked since I started in the MMPR-verse -_-;;
Hell, I just realized I'm behind on reviewing my friends' fics!
*adds to to-do list*
no subject
My inner critic is harsh enough as it is o.O Not saying I'm perfect or anything, but I don't think anybody can be harder on me than I am on myself, LOL.
then I can at least feel like I tried!
LOL, I guess that's just not worth all the anxiety that accompanies the effort, for me! There's a reason I only keep up with a selective group of authors and their work! :P
I am doing a wide variety, and I like seeing how well I can change my tone. Can I write in a very RT-esque manner? Can I make myself more relaxed for the funnier fics? It's a great challenge for me
I totally feel you on this - its why I have to be in certain "moods" to work on certain fics. Perhaps not surprisingly, the WIP least like my natural style is the one I update the slowest, but the work I put into it is totally worth it, to be satisfied with the final product :) And it does help your natural style to practice those that kinda go against your grain, you know?
Hell, I just realized I'm behind on reviewing my friends' fics!
*adds to to-do list*
No kidding! *sigh* Maybe tomorrow I can get caught up...today I was seized by an ever-elusive writing muse, one that demanded *gasp* research even!
no subject
Lately? Not at all. In the past? Quite a bit.
Do you tend to favor work that is very much like yours (in pairing, genre, tropes/cliches used), or do you find yourself reading work by someone who writes something outside your comfort zone?
I always seek out work that is similar to mine, at least in pairing; when it comes to fandom, I write what I like to read. The one major exception is if it's someone whose work I'm familiar with and I trust them to produce high quality, engaging stories regardless of setting, pairing, etc. For those people, I'll read things that might otherwise be considered outside my "comfort zone". The number of those people is very small.
How much do you fear subconscious plagiarism, if at all?
Not at all.
Are you even aware of how much your perception of the media around you influences your work?
Somewhat. I'm often inspired in strange ways by songs
that most of the world hasn't heard of anyway. Much less so by things like tv shows or movies.Do you care?
Not particularly. It's easier if I don't worry about it, and let the muses guide me where they will.
no subject
Admittedly - I'm the same. I read a ton of fanfic before I actually started writing it myself, and then it just became a matter of priorities. I haven't scoured the archives on a whim in years. Literally o.O
But then, I suppose you do have to be self-absorbed to a certain degree, especially if you have a bunch of WIPs on your plate *cringes*
when it comes to fandom, I write what I like to read.
Agreed. So much.
For those people, I'll read things that might otherwise be considered outside my "comfort zone". The number of those people is very small.
Also agreed. I've read some work I'd otherwise have never touched, simply because of the person doing the writing.
I guess because I mostly dabble in the larger corners of fandom, and so much of that fic is so shitty, I just tend not to read very widely. Its weird, but it works? (Again, maybe this is why my stuff doesn't strike nearly as large a chord as some others'. Food for thought.)
Do you care?
Not particularly.
LOL, now you guys are making me feel weird for being so hyper-conscious of it o.O
no subject
As for the rest of it, I just haven't had time, period. I have time to either read or write, but ~1 hour in the morning (that also sometimes gets sidelined into other fandom things) is not time enough for me to do both. I've been trying to focus that time on writing in the hopes of finishing Identity Crisis in the foreseeable future, which means I'm not reading a whole lot outside of
now you guys are making me feel weird for being so hyper-conscious of it
My "who cares?" attitude has a lot to do with the fact that I'm confident most of fandom hasn't ever heard of my media influences. I don't listen to mainstream music (with a few exceptions, most of the music I listen to is either Finnish/Swedish, British, Russian, or Japanese, and only the Russian stuff tends to be pop). I don't really watch popular tv, and I don't get behind cliche and tropes like vampire stuff or glorified soap operas.
So for example, when I posted The War is Over, the number one comment I got was "I've never heard of that song". The last piece I wrote for
-shrugs- So if no one but me is going to notice it (and knowing my taste in movies and music, no one else will), why worry about it? It adds an extra dimension for me, but doesn't seem to detract for anybody else
at least not for people that aren't special snowflakes.no subject
Yeah, I know what you mean :) So many times I've reiterated what having such a fabulous, diverse, and most of all SUPPORTIVE group of writerly friends means to me. It definitely makes navigating the horror fields of wank in this fandom easier :P
I'm confident most of fandom hasn't ever heard of my media influences.
So...we wouldn't be able to ferret them out anyway? I guess that's one way to look at it :P I can't say I care so much what other people think of my media influences (mostly I wonder if they are as obvious to others as they are to me), but that I care, and try to take note when it seems like I'm going too far and relying to heavily on one idea or style in particular.
Because, like I said...my inner critic is a harsh, cynical bitch. o.O
no subject
Well, you could, I suppose. Looking at the music listed on my posts would be a good way to start. It doesn't always correlate, but for the most part gives a pretty decent idea of what I listen to and what is influencing me at a given moment. Not sure anybody's interested in any of that, though. And they don't seem to notice any lack in my stories from not knowing about these things (which, presumably, they would if I was being too heavily reliant on this)... so what's the problem?
And if there's no problem, I'm not going to worry about it. I've got better things to concern myself with.
no subject
I feel like we're speaking about two different things, and I'm not sure how to get us back on the same page...if that makes any sense.
no subject
The fanon itself evolves out of this reality. Certain categories, subgenres, shared assumptions, and so on, all behave in some ways like a folk tradition (which I, as a social historian type person finds highly interesting).
I have intentionally, from time to time played with an image or phrase from another work, reworked, not copied verbatim, but recognizable, often in a humorous context, usually as tribute to the writer (I'm not trying to hide it even; it's meant to be clear, like in "Of Pink and Black," but that's within the bounds of acceptable usage.
Do I occasionally pick up something subconsciously? Probably. And I can name who are the strongest of my influences on how I came to the conclusions on how I characterize each character. But I have a very strong sense of who I am writing, and what I intend to do with the characters. That helps me be true to myself.
And like I said, we are the sum of everything we've read. But you can't own a basic idea or common motif or a title. And there are a bunch of them out there that get used over and over and over again.
There ARE stories out there I'd like to rewrite, because the idea was cool, but not well executed, or there's something in it that bugs me to death, or I just love it enough to wish I had written it first, but I have resisted. I'd have to figure out a way to separate the basic idea from the execution, and figure out a way to do it every bit as unique and mine as the one that inspired me and is not mine, and if I can't, I sure wouldn't even start.
So what do I read? Well, my fav is and will always be good canon continuations, but I read divergences and AUs as well; it's not all IK, but that's my preference. And then I will read well written pieces in other genres. If the story grabs me, I'll read it. Now that I have a clearly established sense of "MY characters," I'm a lot more tolerant of other people doing things to characters that I'd never ever think of or want to do. But to be honest, I don't read much fanfic any more. Read most of the big fics and the medium fics in the areas I'm interested, and am only following a tiny handful of currently being written fics right now.
no subject
Of course. We're merely redirecting our own experiences and perceptions into our work. You can get really existential about it.
I have intentionally, from time to time played with an image or phrase from another work, reworked, not copied verbatim, but recognizable, often in a humorous context, usually as tribute to the writer (I'm not trying to hide it even; it's meant to be clear, like in "Of Pink and Black," but that's within the bounds of acceptable usage.
Well, and satire/parody is an accepted form of free speech, at least in the US. Where does coincidence and happenstance end, and subconscious plagiarism begin? Maybe that's my main question.
I can name who are the strongest of my influences on how I came to the conclusions on how I characterize each character. But I have a very strong sense of who I am writing, and what I intend to do with the characters. That helps me be true to myself.
Oh, definitely. I think we've all had very interesting canon vs fanon conversations about all the characters in IY. I also think I surround myself with fairly astute writers, so maybe this was the wrong group to ask, LOL.
There ARE stories out there I'd like to rewrite, because the idea was cool, but not well executed, or there's something in it that bugs me to death, or I just love it enough to wish I had written it first, but I have resisted. I'd have to figure out a way to separate the basic idea from the execution, and figure out a way to do it every bit as unique and mine as the one that inspired me and is not mine, and if I can't, I sure wouldn't even start.
That's very interesting. Mostly I find myself in the last category, reading something so amazing I wish I'd thought of it first. There are plenty of just...jaw-droppingly good fics out there that I am desperately jealous of the original authors, and maybe that's the motivation behind some of my own work. I don't think I could ever actually reuse one of their ideas, though. It'd feel like cheating.
I wonder if this sort of subconscious plagiarism is more of a problem when it comes to specific things - like writing battle scenes, or sex scenes, or something with a fairly fixed sequence of events.
*ponders*
I don't read much fanfic any more. Read most of the big fics and the medium fics in the areas I'm interested, and am only following a tiny handful of currently being written fics right now.
I'm rather with you on this - I tend to read stories I'm interested in/work of my immediate circle of friends, and then it drops off, regardless of how popular a story is or how intriguing the premise may be. In some ways, I feel bad, because without those intrepid readers and reviewers, I never would've gotten my start in fandom...and I want to giver back and support as I was supported...but I just find I don't have the time (or the inclination, given how very large and varied our fandom is o.O).
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But I think this way...in terms of motif and similarity, and clustering of things into groups. I'd like to trace the evolution of some of the fanon conventions over the years, but I don't know if I have enough access to some of the early fics, like where did the convention that building a house was a courtship activity (it's not in that period in Japan), or several other things I've been curious about. I like to watch and study the evolution of story variants and ideas.
If I was still in academe, I'd be doing some of this. But now I'm just curious and have no reason to really push to find the answers.
Right now, instead of fanfiction, I'm studying the very early, mostly Welsh stories about King Arthur and their relationship to some of the Irish legendary material, and thinking about writing something that has no connection to InuYasha at all...although I did find something that could be used in a AU context: A mythic battle against a group of beings called Dogheads...(shows up in both Irish legends not about Arthur and the Arthurian material) LOL.
I have occasionally run across a story which I believe was derivative of one or another of my post manga bits, but long as it's not real plagarism, but just derivative, I don't care a whole lot. I don't mind being an influence; I would be upset, though, about being ripped off.
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I...I would be all over that. Seriously. That's the sort of meta I salivate over, LOL.
If I was still in academe, I'd be doing some of this. But now I'm just curious and have no reason to really push to find the answers.
If you have any inkling of a clue where such study would be supported, please to be letting me know! Searching out patterns and looking for answers is something I really enjoy, LOL.
(Fanon conventions really make me go 'bzuh?!' sometimes. I've also never understood where the building a house = courtship thing came from, and I don't know squat about feudal Japan. It just seemed so out of place in the history of that time period that I was familiar with.)
I have occasionally run across a story which I believe was derivative of one or another of my post manga bits, but long as it's not real plagarism, but just derivative, I don't care a whole lot. I don't mind being an influence; I would be upset, though, about being ripped off.
I suppose it just depends on where you draw the line. After all, there's nothing new under the sun, but to what extent do you claim your intellectual property? In fanfic especially, these are some seriously gray areas.
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I had just written 2 fics, one where InuYasha indeed wants to go home and not wait for Miroku after his first trip out of town with him after Kagome's experience in "Future Legend." And the second fic was his return, early in the morning.
The writer of the songfic is one of my regular readers. She created a little songfic where shortly after they were married, Inu's out with Miroku and is too ansty to wait for him and Miroku gives him his blessing for him to return home, and he finds Kagome collecting herbs in the field and they have a grand happy reunion moment.
She wrote this after reading my two pieces. They're different enough that I could consider them derivative in an acceptable way, modelled a bit after my scenario, but not crossing the line. Her reunion scene was way different, it was a songfic; and the idea is probably common enough, except that I knew she had read my stories. I was actually kind of pleased that she may have modelled on me, but kept it her own, and that maybe I'm starting to have a little effect on the post manga fanon. That would be kind of cool. I know my having InuYasha build a house while Kagome was gone has popped up in more than one post-manga fic.
You and me, we like the meta stuff, that's for sure.
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LOL, that would be pretty awesome :) Sometimes I wonder how much Resmiranda cares about people using the 'House of the Moon' title from her fic. Hell, her fic has been examined in actual college courses, how crazy is that?!
After I read it, I emailed her and was like, "You could totally turn this original and sell it!" because I felt her writing and her ideas were just that good - and by the end, had deviated enough from the IY canon at the time to make it plausible.
But, yeah. It's pretty rad to be a trendsetter!! =)
You and me, we like the meta stuff, that's for sure.
Its nice having people to discuss it with, most of all! Nothing like the exchange of ideas to touch off some interesting fanworks :)
(All the while, I have this Totosai + Sess piece in mind for the next installment of Allegiance...trying to figure out some good research material to hit up, besides canon, to tweak Totosai into just the right form...I suspect the muses will be raring to go on that tomorrow!)
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Really? Tell me more about this. Fanfiction as the new "mythology' and folklore of the masses fascinates me.
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how much do you read fanfiction, outside your own work and/or circle of friends?
Not as much I as used to. I keep up with my fav WIP's but unless it's a oneshot or a short chapter fic, I really haven't committed to reading anything long. I have a list of stuff that has been recommended but I haven't had time to begin.
Do you tend to favor work that is very much like yours (in pairing, genre, tropes/cliches used), or do you find yourself reading work by someone who writes something outside your comfort zone?
A little of both. It just really depends on the mood I'm in.
How much do you fear subconscious plagiarism, if at all?
I fear it to some extent but not so much in IY. I mean, it's been around so long that it's hard unless you do AU to not have some influence from something you've read and possibly forgotten about pop up. My other fandom in small and fairly new so you really have to be mindful not to accidently step on an idea.
Are you even aware of how much your perception of the media around you influences your work?
It's unavoidable. I mean, we watch tv, listen to music, read books. All of that influences other areas of your subconscience. It really stands to reason that some of it will appear in your work. Look at the whole concept of songfics, for example. Even if you don't write a songfic, it's easy to say that a song influenced you or something that you read or saw on tv could spark an idea.
Do you care?
Not really. It's the nature of the beast.
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Can you blame him?
I can understand how a serious critque of someone you really like could damage that relationship if that person has a misguided sense of their own talent.
Who doesn't, these days? After all, our culture really promotes this "special snowflake" sense of self-absorption. Its incredibly striking (and incredibly annoying, if you've been out of the loop for awhile :P).
I have a list of stuff that has been recommended but I haven't had time to begin.
Oh, man...my TBR list is cringeworthy in length and breadth...
My other fandom in small and fairly new so you really have to be mindful not to accidently step on an idea.
Yes, I think some of the newer fandoms, where the source material is ongoing, have more issues with the whole 'stealing my idea!' thing. Especially when it comes to fans vs the writers. I think we've all had the experience of "predicting" a plot twist, or seeing our dreams come true when the canon goes a certain way - or have a weird sense of deja vu when fanon becomes canon. It all depends on how you handle it. Some people are cool, but most can get really wanky O.O
All of that influences other areas of your subconscience.
I kinda sorta dig the fact that everyone who's responded so far has been so thoughtful and aware of this. It makes me wonder if I'm underestimating the whole of fandom, or too willing to give credit to young writers still in their formative years. (I know I thought about this stuff when I was 14, but I've always felt a lot older than my peers for some reason.)
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That said, I *know* I am influenced on a sub-conscious level quite often. For example, if I've been watching a lot of British comedies, my dialogue gets more irreverent and snappier. And I do the music thing too - Queen for happier scenes, NIN for angsty stuff, etc. I think it's impossible to avoid that entirely, and despite my paranoia, I know have to relax a bit sometimes and stay away from the hyper-sensitivity. I try to stay at the "extremely vigilant" level though.
Keeping my reading - fanfic and otherwise - broadly based helps. I don't think I'll ever write an S&M fic, but reading them definitely puts me outside of my customary Sess/Kag romance niche. ;)
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Oh, God, I can only imagine. It probably would've been enough to completely drive me from fandom, even if I knew I'd done nothing wrong.
I have been extremely paranoid about sharing my work or letting others' work influence my own.
I find when I'm on a real writing jag, I don't read others' work at all. It's like - I'm in the zone, but I'm also the most vulnerable to influence? LOL, if that makes any sense. When the muses are quiet - that's when I get most of my backlog read. For some reason, that's when I'm most secure in my sense of style and form.
What can I say? I'm weird :P
And I do the music thing too - Queen for happier scenes, NIN for angsty stuff, etc. I think it's impossible to avoid that entirely
Music is an integral part of my process; it always has been, fanfic or original fic. I know I'm not unique in that, by any means :P but it does make me curious to see how the same music can influence people in different ways. After all, we all perceive the same song in different ways. I <3 NIN with a fiery passion, but I'd probably throw them on not for angst, but for something action-packed (or sexy, depending on the song, aheh).
Keeping my reading - fanfic and otherwise - broadly based helps.
There's research, and then there's everything else :) One day I'm going to redo my "author in her natural habitat" post, with all of my books. People might be pleasantly surprised.
I don't think I'll ever write an S&M fic, but reading them definitely puts me outside of my customary Sess/Kag romance niche. ;)
Personally, I think S/K S&M fic misses the point when it comes to characterization, especially of Sesshoumaru, but that's my own background speaking :P (I've said it often enough, but fandom has been the best use of my degree in psychology EVAR, LOL.) I'm extremely picky about what I read in that corner of fandom, moreso than others - probably because I've been burned so many times by various inhabitants.
Now, non-fanfic S&M? I have no issues with, LOL!
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The other author was very sweet about the whole thing. Knowing that she regarded the whole thing as just as much of a load of crap as I did kept me sane and in the fandom. :)
It's like - I'm in the zone, but I'm also the most vulnerable to influence? LOL, if that makes any sense.
LoL. Makes perfect sense. I feel like if I'm "in the zone", I might not be paying as much attention to my influences as I should.
I <3 NIN with a fiery passion, but I'd probably throw them on not for angst, but for something action-packed (or sexy, depending on the song, aheh).
I didn't want to reveal myself as such a big NIN nerd, but I have different albums for different things. "With Teeth" is definitely sexier than "Pretty Hate Machine". :3 But in general, I do play NIN when I personally feel like getting some frustrations (or angst) out of my system. It was my catharsis during finals in law school. Hehe.
Personally, I think S/K S&M fic misses the point when it comes to characterization, especially of Sesshoumaru... I'm extremely picky about what I read in that corner of fandom
Agreed! LoL!
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Well, that's a plus! At least you know she wasn't behind the hate machine in your reviews...and you prolly gained some (good) notoriety out of the whole incident, so maybe the pain was worth it?
I dunno. I can get really insecure about my work, and I think having that sort of crap come down on me would just be the straw that broke the camel's back. Because I don't read as much as I probably should, I sometimes lay in fear of releasing chapters of my work, just waiting for someone to come up and bitch and moan about something I'm doing wrong or stole from someone else.
I didn't want to reveal myself as such a big NIN nerd, but I have different albums for different things. "With Teeth" is definitely sexier than "Pretty Hate Machine". :3 But in general, I do play NIN when I personally feel like getting some frustrations (or angst) out of my system. It was my catharsis during finals in law school. Hehe.
No worries! You are among NIN nerd friends on this journal (I believe
Depending on my level of rage, I tend to listen to stuff that's very loud and aggressive - the first Papa Roach album is my go-to catharsis, but I also have Rage, Tool, System of a Down, Disturbed, etc in my arsenal.
Agreed! LoL!
I've found that people fall into one of two camps: either they read everything with a type of shallow enthusiasm, or they are extremely picky and only read a few selective authors, usually leaving thoughtful commentary in reviews. There's no real in between, which is interesting. I had no idea S/K was quite so polarizing, even among its own fans!
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I probably did, actually. LoL. I remain nervous, but it also made me realize how idiotic some of the people over on FFN are. That helps ease the anxiety too. (I really must start a luxken-inspired list of crazy reviews I receive, lol - that really shows off the idiots to their fullest potential.)
No worries! You are among NIN nerd friends on this journal (I believe [info]farawayeyes4 is also a big fan) :D For some reason, that band in general tends to inspire very good work, no matter what the genre/pairing/setting, and that's no small feat :P
TR is completely gifted. NIN is definitely my cure-all - for my own personal angst and lack of muses, when it happens. I nearly cried when I went to the NIN/JA concert and everything said "Wave Farewell". Horror!
I had no idea S/K was quite so polarizing, even among its own fans!
Oh, yes. I'm definitely in the "few selective authors" camp. And what's more obnoxious than the one-word review of "update!"? I don't know if my reviews count as "thoughtful", but at least they contain more words. :D
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I guess I've been lucky - flying under the radar as I do, I haven't received much in the way of flames or real WTFery (I've had some reviews that made me go WAT, but nothing truly mind-boggling...). *crosses fingers, knocks wood* I don't mind being relatively unknown if it keeps the crazies away!
And what's more obnoxious than the one-word review of "update!"?
Ones that berate you for something in your fic, when it becomes obvious the reader totally misunderstood and/or missed the point of your fic? Those irritate me the most, people who dare lecture me on something because they're wrong! ARGH!
I don't know if my reviews count as "thoughtful", but at least they contain more words. :D
Your comments to my stuff have been what I consider thoughtful, at least, so *shrug*
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Okay, yeah - those are definitely worse. I'd take a thousand "Update!"s over a jerk like that. Especially the ones that are anonymous on FFN and so you can't point out their idiocy!
Your comments to my stuff have been what I consider thoughtful, at least, so *shrug*
:) I'm glad. Sometimes I feel like a daft fangirl in reviews. Hehe.
tl;dr comment time
Do I read that kind of work? Hmm. I'm a fandom-hopper: I'll read lots of things in most TV or RPF fandoms, whether I watch/know who the person is, as long as they're decent and fit in with a set of half-conscious criteria. The relevance of this to your question: honestly, I read so much stuff where I have only a little knowledge of canon that I don't care too much about the kind of thinky character sketches I'm inclined to write. Moreover, I primarily read romance-oriented fic, and I rarely have the urge to write it.
Are you even aware of how much your perception of the media around you influences your work? Do you care?
I can really only speak as a reader of fanfic and as a half-baked literary critic in my half-baked day job: I am, as much as I can be, and I care a lot. I think it's impossible to escape influence, and particularly media influence--and I find it incredibly exciting. I find fanfic to be interesting partly because it's about directly talking back to the media that influences you.
But really I think that "original" fiction usually wears its influences on its sleeve too, although most of it doesn't take on the "problem" of influence as clearly as fanfic does. The question becomes: is the person actively trying to pull one over on me? It's usually pretty easy to tell.
Plagiarism Man, I worry about this all the time when I write papers! I went to a talk once about the culture of fear & hysteria around plagiarism--the problem with assuming that our students are always guilty before they've committed the "high" crime. This is not to say that plagiarism isn't a problem; theft of others' ideas is certainly wrong--but it does inspire witch-hunts, even against ourselves.
I assume you're familiar with the old HP Cassandra Claire plagiarism wank. Kind of the same idea, only in her case it certainly wasn't accidental.
Also, the most hilarious plagiarism story I remember was that time when someone was stealing R-rated X-Files fic and changing the names to characters from The Nanny.
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In find this immensely interesting, that you read stuff so different from what you write. Do you think if you actually finished/published more of your little introspective sketches, your opinion would change? I mean, I can't help but wonder how much we become set in our ways because we're being reinforced to do so. I try to break the mold, but plenty of people are content to reinvent the wheel.
I think that "original" fiction usually wears its influences on its sleeve too, although most of it doesn't take on the "problem" of influence as clearly as fanfic does. The question becomes: is the person actively trying to pull one over on me? It's usually pretty easy to tell.
Well, of course original fic is also influenced in the same ways as decent fanfic; it just doesn't have the stigma of being lazy or porny right off the bat, LOL. I don't know - like I said, I'm only familiar with the romance genre, so I can't speak for anything worthy of literary criticism, but it seems if you want to write pro!fic, being involved in fandom is counterintuitive, because each values almost diametrically opposing things.
I can only base this on my experience in IY fandom, wider fandom distilled to me via LJ communities, and my general interest in romance, which is probably where I'd direct any efforts to publish original work.
I worry about this all the time when I write papers!
You are not the only one! I remember writing a paper for history in college and just being so paranoid about it, because the conventions were so different than what I was used to in psychology. I mean, I probably could've footnoted every sentence of that history paper, LOL.
This is also something I think is much more of a problem in the American culture. The sense of it I garnered in Europe (well, in the Netherlands) was that they weren't quite so ready to condemn for a missed footnote. You'd at least have the chance to explain yourself before being strung up by your heels, and my advisors and professors were quite laid-back. The whole system is just fundamentally different, even though they also take plagiarism very, very seriously.
But that's a tale for another time...
I assume you're familiar with the old HP Cassandra Claire plagiarism wank. Kind of the same idea, only in her case it certainly wasn't accidental.
Oh, yeah. I know all the old fandom wanks by now. (Wank watching = my fandom hobby, LOL.) I still can't believe she got a publishing deal out of it o.O
Also, the most hilarious plagiarism story I remember was that time when someone was stealing R-rated X-Files fic and changing the names to characters from The Nanny.
O.O
...
O.O
LOL, OMG. I don't know whether to gag or laugh.
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Hmm... I read quite a lot of IY fanfic, mostly to boost my creative juices (ie I have a plot but no setting, or wanting to explore a certain event but can't pick one). But truly, most of the stuff on FF.net is fangirl crap, with a few gems scattered few and far in between.
Do you tend to favor work that is very much like yours (in pairing, genre, tropes/cliches used), or do you find yourself reading work by someone who writes something outside your comfort zone?
*raises hand sheepishly* Guilty. I don't read Inu/Kag-centric or Sess/Kag-centric romances (thereby eliminating 90% of the fic base) but I read all alt pairings and humour (even here I draw a line based on language and sheer entertainment value). I also read all darkfic and character introspection (as a writer of those genres myself).
How much do you fear subconscious plagiarism, if at all?
Immensely. I have this constant fear someone will jump up and point a finger at me, accusing me of plagiarism...
Are you even aware of how much your perception of the media around you influences your work? Do you care?
Bah. It's people and their inscrutable motives that drive me.
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I commend you for even attempting to wade through FF.net! Where else do you read, besides LJ?
*raises hand sheepishly* Guilty.
Eh, don't be - you don't have to justify your tastes to me. I'm merely being nosy and curious :P
Immensely. I have this constant fear someone will jump up and point a finger at me, accusing me of plagiarism...
*clings* I'm so glad I'm not alone in my paranoia!
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Nah, I just dabble.
I'm merely being nosy and curious :P
But I do feel a little guilty about this :D Like, by not reading Inu/Kag I automatically eliminate some very awesome writers (but somehow I don't really care).
I'm so glad I'm not alone in my paranoia!
Yay! We have to stick together.
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To me, its what FF.net used to be - a place to post all fic, of all genre and rating. The reviews there tend to be more substantial than the ones garnered from FF.net.
In some ways I wish more people knew about that website, because its pretty awesome :D, but it others, I'm glad its not as well known; less douchebag flamers and immature idiots to weed through. Another delicate balance to strike, fancy that... :P
Like, by not reading Inu/Kag I automatically eliminate some very awesome writers (but somehow I don't really care)
I know what you mean. I don't read I/K fic anymore, either (and I've never read yaoi, even though there are supposedly very good fic over there...I just can't get past the major-leik-woah bending of characterization that would be necessary to make it even the least bit believable...)
Yay! We have to stick together.
*clings*
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I gather that's because it's more of a writer community than FF.net - that's just a wank zone for fangirls.
I'm glad its not as well known; less douchebag flamers and immature idiots to weed through. Another delicate balance to strike, fancy that... :P
Fancy that indeed *deadpan*
I've never read yaoi, even though there are supposedly very good fic over there...I just can't get past the major-leik-woah bending of characterization that would be necessary to make it even the least bit believable...
O.o My thoughts exactly.
*latches on to you firmly*
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I used to read tons of fanfic, but once I started writing, that dropped off considerably. Now I'm only reading a handful of authors, mostly friends, and I'm way behind on most stories I try to keep up with.
Do you tend to favor work that is very much like yours (in pairing, genre, tropes/cliches used), or do you find yourself reading work by someone who writes something outside your comfort zone?
I think I read a pretty wide variety. I'm much more attracted to an author's ability rather than pairing or genre...though apart from a handful of authors, I can't touch sess/kag anymore--the characterizations make me want to hurt things. In general, especially outside IY fandom, I read mostly yaoi, which isn't what I tend to write.
How much do you fear subconscious plagiarism, if at all?
I'm not sure I do. As far as media influences, I think we are all influenced constantly by what's around us. The people with talent are the ones able to take those influences and add enough of themselves to make those influences into something new.
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Same here. Suddenly the time you devoted to reading others' work is put into working on your own projects. Sometimes I feel guilty, but then - that's what recs and TBR lists are for, no? For the most part, those stories will still be out there, whenever I manage to get around to them :)
In general, especially outside IY fandom, I read mostly yaoi, which isn't what I tend to write.
This is really, really interesting to me. LOL I don't know why, but I remember feeling surprised when you talked about reading yaoi for Samurai Champloo. I suppose I'm used to people tending to read what they write, or write what they read. Hmm...
The people with talent are the ones able to take those influences and add enough of themselves to make those influences into something new.
That's definitely one way to put it! =)
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How much do you read fanfiction, outside your own work and/or circle of friends?
I use to read quite a bit, but recently have toned it down due to lack of interest in what's out there (too much BS to sort through to find the good ones) and lack of available time to do so.
Do you tend to favor work that is very much like yours (in pairing, genre, tropes/cliches used), or do you find yourself reading work by someone who writes something outside your comfort zone?
In Inuyasha fanfic, I tend to stick with the Sess/Kag unless a one-shot of something different catches my eye or if it's from a writer I favor that does something for a different pairing (speaking of which, I need to read Nihon Idol). As for genres, I'm open, but then I write for just about every one. For other fanfics, which I've just recently delved into, I'll read anything, whatever pairing, as long as it interests me.
How much do you fear subconscious plagiarism, if at all? Are you even aware of how much your perception of the media around you influences your work? Do you care?
Honestly, I've started a few fics and when I've gone back to read it over again (as I always do), I catch myself using ideas from fics that I've read at some point that impressed me. And once I realized that, the fic lost total interest to me and now sits in my unfinished file. If I do feel the need to borrow from something or someone, I have always given credit where credit is due. As for media influences, oh yeah, I have it. I often get a selection of songs or one in particular in my head when I write a piece that I listen to over and over again. Do I care? No. Not really. :)
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Really? Hm, that's interesting - I had the impression you read almost as much as you wrote. For even someone as hardcore as you to declare that S/K is getting bogged down in BS makes me feel better about my own thoughts on the matter! *whew*
speaking of which, I need to read Nihon Idol
LOL, its not going anywhere! Take your time - the latest update is only about two months overdue *facepalm*
Honestly, I've started a few fics and when I've gone back to read it over again (as I always do), I catch myself using ideas from fics that I've read at some point that impressed me. And once I realized that, the fic lost total interest to me and now sits in my unfinished file.
Interesting. I'd probably feel so guilty I'd scrap it, but that's just me...
I like all the different (and same!) answers everyone's had to these questions. Its quite the food for thought...
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I never scrap anything I write and my computer probably hates me for it. I'm not saying I took dialogue or something from another's piece. What I meant to say is that if a plot line in my head begins to veer into something I've read before, I lose interest in working on it.
Caution: rambling ahead
how much do you read fanfiction, outside your own work and/or circle of friends?
Since I basically suck as a writer and thus write very very slowly and very very rarely, I read a lot of fanfiction and a lot of it is outside my "circle" of friends. I have a TBR list that intimidates me. I find myself getting caught up in certain genre for a while and then switching to another one and back again. But basically, to answer your question, most of my FF reading is outside my circle.
Do you tend to favor work that is very much like yours (in pairing, genre, tropes/cliches used), or do you find yourself reading work by someone who writes something outside your comfort zone?
Since I rarely write, I can't say that I favor or don't favor work that is like mine. Comfort zone....hmmmm. I don't mean to sound flippant, but I don't really think I have a 'comfort zone.' But perhaps I don't understand what you mean exactly. I have certain pairings and genre that I prefer, but I'll read even those that aren't on my top ten list. I enjoy one writer for her unique twist on the formulatic and her ability to stay below PG, I enjoy another for his taint of the macabre and ability to write so far outside the box that the box is confused, I enjoy a third like someone enjoys bubblegum rock, and I enjoy a fourth for the innocent sensuality she imparts to the characters. I enjoy pretty much every 'pairing,' find myself drawn to good yaoi, and sometimes look oddly at S/K because I think that some are to far of a reach for my mind to wrap around. I enjoy works that hold my attention with a good storyline first, good characterization second, and pairing third.
How much do you fear subconscious plagiarism, if at all? Are you even aware of how much your perception of the media around you influences your work? Do you care?
When I do write, I almost always leave it for a couple of days, then re-read it. If it seems to remind me of someone elses work that I've read lately, I delete it or re-write it. This sometimes happens multiple times. I worry that my subconscious plagiarism is my mind's attempt to allow me to write something that others will enjoy rather than something I will enjoy. I often don't notice it in others writing when they draw from popular media. I don't watch most television (outside Heros, True Blood, and Merlin) so I don't notice themes from other shows, film and fiction.
I don't know if a lot of this made any sense, sorry.
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Barely. I'm not very active in fanfiction writing at all, except in a very restricted sense. I also have spurts where I can go for months without any activity before I write anything again. For a fanfiction writer, I'm not very productive and not very well-read. I always thought it was a disadvantage. Now I'm thinking that it may be an advantage. :)
Do you tend to favor work that is very much like yours (in pairing, genre, tropes/cliches used),
No, not really. Although a couple of explorations with pairings completely outside my interest range turned me into a very big fan of them (Spock/Christine in Star Trek, Egon/Janine in Ghostbusters, Daniel/Janet in Stargate, Sesshoumaru/Kagura in Inu Yasha). I don't think I'm well-read enough to know how cliche my work might or might not be. I hope it's not, but it probably is. I'm not even certain what a trope is! I keep seeing this word floating around, since I've joined the Inu Yasha fandom, but I still have no idea what it means.
or do you find yourself reading work by someone who writes something outside your comfort zone?
Well, the above shows some examples of me finding something fun and thoroughly enjoyable when reading outside my comfort zone, but failures include Sesshoumaru/Kagome and Sesshoumaru/Rin pairings in Inu Yasha (I'm afraid not even Tales From the House of the Moon can convert me to Sesshoumaru/Kagome, although I have found one Sesshoumaru/Rin story I could stomach, one Inuyasha/Sango pairing I could stomach, and one Kouga/Inuyasha story I found well-written. These stories haven't converted me to the pairing, but I accept they're well-written stories in their own right (which is how I feel about TFtHotM).
I tend to prefer team-based stories. The whole cast. I don't like ignoring anyone. :)
How much do you fear subconscious plagiarism, if at all?
Quite badly, actually. It's one of the reasons I don't read and write much fanfiction.
Are you even aware of how much your perception of the media around you influences your work?
Sometimes, but not all the time. Occasionally I can see myself doing something that's consciously not what I would normally do just because I'm afraid my natural instinct would result in something that I remembered reading/seeing/hearing and so feeling like it's not my own creation. I suppose it's good to push the boundaries of your comfort zone. At least, that's what I keep telling myself. :)
Mostly, I'm just not very active - in a general sense, anyway.
Do you care?
Not really. I write primarily for myself. Obviously, it's nice to know whether I'm doing a good or bad job and to hear advice on how I can improve, but overall, I write for myself first and foremost. I care enough to want my work to not be a copy of other peoples, but I don't really care if people like or dislike what I write.