I agree 100% with what the screen writer had to say. And it is true that you can tell whether someone can write by one sentence alone. As per your questions:
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. :)
no subject
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. :)