text:
You just know there's money involved when the Wall Street Journal starts writing about it! Herewith their article on Friday about Fan Fiction!.
Fan Fiction!
You just know there's money involved when the Wall Street Journal starts writing about it! Herewith their article on Friday about Fan Fiction!.
57 comments:
- Dave Fragments said...
I still think that it's the easy way out. The characters are established, the world they live in is presented, and all that remains is a half of the plot and dialog.
Not that there haven't been interesting stories or good writers. I know that Star Trek, Babylon 5 and Hellboy have novelizations out there, but that's commissioned work.
I'd rather stay away from it.
- 9/18/2006
This was an interesting read. I've read some information on fan fiction, but this piece was the most extensive. I see the points of both sides of the debate, but I try to look at it like I was a published author whose work was being written about with fan fic. I wouldn't like to find out that my fans were doing things with my characters that I hated. And if they were writing "prequels?" Well, what if I decided I wanted to write a prequel to my stories? How would that work? Because the way my story is written, it's very open to the prequel thing, and yes, if the series takes off, I might do that.
When I become published (because I WILL!), I don't think I'll get too snippy about fan fiction; I wouldn't want to lose any readers. But I still agree with what I've read in the past about fan fic. Why spend all this time writing about someone else's world when you can make up your own?
- 9/18/2006
- Ray said...
At the same time, however, many fan-fiction writers shield their identities online and keep their pursuit secret from friends and colleagues. Meredith Elliott, who works at a theater company in Vancouver, British Columbia, has a following for her writings based on the TV show "House," but has only told her mother about her hobby. not anymore
"There's a sense of guilt. I always feel that I should not be using somebody else's characters and should be doing my own writing," she says. "But then I remember I am doing my own writing."
Well, not really. A great portion of writing fiction involves character creation and development. Meanwhile, one's butt is exposed to copyright infringement suits, and I suppose that'll happen when enough money is involved.
Some people realize what they're doing. Some, apparently, do not.
- 9/18/2006
- Ray said...
At the same time, however, many fan-fiction writers shield their identities online and keep their pursuit secret from friends and colleagues. Meredith Elliott, who works at a theater company in Vancouver, British Columbia, has a following for her writings based on the TV show "House," but has only told her mother about her hobby. Honey, the whole world knows what you're doing now.
"There's a sense of guilt. I always feel that I should not be using somebody else's characters and should be doing my own writing," she says. "But then I remember I am doing my own writing."
This has to be the funniest thing I've seen all year long.
- 9/18/2006
I've never heard of this.
I don't know what to say. I'm trying not to roll my eyes because they are going to permanently set that way, just like mom used to say. Got ...to...stop...the...eye...rolling.....arggghhh
I think I'll go read the "lemonade" thing to take the sour taste off my tongue, or is it sour grapes I'm tasting, *smack smack* -- Not sure. But I just hitched up a big ole sigh when I read that.
Now, I'm going back to the short story I'm writing - for whatever the "New thing of the Week" is, I just write what I write and hope for the best. yeehaw.
- 9/18/2006
I. Am. Stunned.
My Harry Potter babies are still illegitimate, but I don't have to feel ashamed of them anymore?
- 9/18/2006
Before I wrote my own stuff, I wrote fan fiction. It was my first try at fiction and a great training venue. I never made money at it as I found my own characters.
One of my favorite Sci Fi authors, Lois McMaster Bujold started with fan fiction, though she didn't make money in that area.
Anyway, whether you make money at it like Peter David, or just do it for fun, I think it's a legitimate option.
- 9/18/2006
I've got to be honest. The idea of "fan fiction" kind of creeps me out. It's like real people are stalking fictional characters.
As a market, I would guess it's akin to blogging. If you get a huge following, it can elevate you above the unwashed masses because it implies you've got more going for you than just someone else's coattails. 99% of people doing it, though, will likely remain just noise. As it should be.
- 9/18/2006
- Rei said...
Oh great. If word about this sort of thing gets around, we'll have a million new teenagers pumping out bad fanfic, *and* thinking that they can get them published. Thanks a lot, WSJ!
- 9/18/2006
Is this becoming a common trend, though? Somehow, I can't imagine agents and editors spending all of their time trolling the internet in search of brilliant fanfiction writers. Just because someone is good at telling stories with pre-existing characters doesn't mean they'll be able to carry a novel entirely on their own.
- 9/18/2006
- Sue said...
Fan fiction takes many forms and not all of it is "stalkerish" or "mental masturbation." The earliest published Star Trek novels were often fan works of high caliber. (I am talking about the novels published by Pocket Books, or whoever did them back then.) Many writers in SFF, at least, have either written fan fiction or read it. (Many editors at Tor read it!)
For some, fan fiction is the first serious foray into writing. Marian Zimmer Bradley encouraged it.
For the most part I don't write fan fiction because I like original characters. But I understand it.
- 9/18/2006
- Niamh Sage said...
I'd be a bit dismayed to see this become a legit market, actually. If fan-fic comes with a built in audience, that's got to be attractive to publishers. So where would that leave writers who create their own stuff?
Sorting out the contracts w.r.t. income sharing (with the original author) would be a bit of a nightmare too.
IMO fan fiction is a good vehicle for cutting your writerly teeth (my foray into ff showed me I could write something longer than a short story, for example). But I don't think it's the be-all and end-all.
- 9/18/2006
It kind of creeps me out too, but I can't really put my finger on why. I guess I just hate the whole coattails thing. I personally think character development is the BIG part of writing...After I read a good book, I have lots of extra scenarios in my head about the characters and what could happen or what might've happened before. Would I really have those ideas if the setting and characters hadn't been created already? But like someone said, 99% of it will suck anyway, so I'll just keep plugging on...
- 9/18/2006
I started with fan fiction, and I still write it all the time and post it. My fan fiction stories are short stories, and I feel they're a great way to practice and experiment with my writing. I don't concider it anything serious like my own stories, but I still love to do it.
- 9/18/2006
- acd said...
Very old news! Just ask John Gardner about his villain-POV fanfic of Beowulf. Or read about March, Gertrude and Claudius, Wicked, or Rosencrantz and Gildenstern are Dead.
There are two trends going on here: writing new takes on favorite stories, and amateur publication that actually gets an audience. The latter is brand-new thanks to the Internets, but the latter has been around since before French troubadours started setting their romances in the courts of King Arthur. It's the availability of an audience (and the willingness of writers to do substantial work for free--which happens with original work too, as on FictionPress) that makes this an interesting issue.
- 9/18/2006
Fan fic has been around forever. I remember the mimeographed stories you could buy at conventions ("cons," in the world of Trekkers).
Most of them are simple ways to pass the time. Some people have used them as springboards to other kinds of writing. And in a lot of cases, it's not much different than writing for an established book "series"--frankly, the folks who wrote for the Hardy Boys and Nancy Drew series did something quite similar and received very little recompense.
The only people who are going to make money on it are: (1) the people who are able to transition to writing for television/movies (Melissa Good, one of the first stars of the "Xena: Warrior Princess" fan fic lists, went on to write a couple of episodes for Renaissance Pictures), and (2) the people who discover that, if they really work at it, they can write original stories that people want to read.
This is more likely to be a good training exercise for genre writers--since most television series and films are genre-oriented--but an exercise it is.
As a graduate of not one, not two, but three graduate writing programs, from my experience the online fanfic communities work much like workshops. People talk about character, plot, pacing, story arc and resolution--and Dog help you if you get the details of Jeffreys tube scrubbing wrong!
Of course, it's a lot cheaper than a graduate writing program. And in the long run, probably about as useful--writers write, readers respond, the thoughtful improve.
- 9/18/2006
- Christine said...
Funny this should come up now. I've been involved with a group of writers, invited by an editor, to write stories based on HP's world, but NOT HP. Original characters and settings, but sort of the same 'rules' as apply in JKR's world. The stories all link together with a common theme.
I had a great time writing them, really for fun. Still had to work to come up with a plot and make sure all the pieces fit, etc... It was good writing exercise.
www.interdrama.com/wiz to peek.
- 9/18/2006
Something that wasn't addressed in this article, but is a big part of fanfiction is closure. There are some times when a beloved series just doesn't have the closure that some fans are craving. This generally happens when a TV show is canceled without a lot of warning - like Joss Wheadon's Serenity. The show got canceled before many of the major storylines could wrap up. So fans write stories to provide themselves with that sense of closure. It can also happen if there were a lot of things hinted at in the story but only superficially addressed. For example, the video game Final Fantasy VII is an excellent game with an amazing plot, but refers to a great deal of backstory that is never completely filled out. Fanfic can actually expand the universe itself by providing this backstory.
Also, not all fanfic uses the same characters - sometimes they only use the world it is set in. If nothing else, most fanfic also introduces new characters. In bad cases, these are "Mary Sues," or characters based on the fan's idealized version of him/herself. In good cases, these characters can be as fully realized as the original characters from the show.
It's a complicated issue altogether, both legally and creatively. This article actually seemed to do a pretty good job of summing it up.
- 9/18/2006
This is very funny to me. I've nothing against fanfiction, and only ask to have my stuff included out. I ask very politely, too!
The amusement comes in because I stumbled over a blog where I was accused of being a hypocrite. After having asked people not to use characters from my novels, I blithely wrote and sold a "fan fiction" using Quincey Morris from Dracula.
I've been spending entirely too much of my writing time trying to explain on my blog the concept of Public Domain to the uninformed.
If I'm a hypocrite, then I'm in good company with all the other writers and movie makers over the last few decades who have also used the characters from Stoker's novel.
And now I'm gonna go back to reading Fred Sabehagen's A Coldness in the Blood featuring You-Know-Who as the totally cool head honcho vampire.
- 9/18/2006
I know this will sound very sad, but I actually know someone who is writing this way and doesn't even realize it.
- 9/18/2006
Y'know, I'll bet fanfic boosts sales of the original work, like the Baen ebooks did.
I'm just sayin'.
- 9/18/2006
I wonder if WSJ will do a late October piece on NaNoWriMo.
To a certain extent, the arguments for fanfic are similar to the arguments for NaNo. Personally, for me NaNo was a huge help. My first two NaNo novels may never get published, but they helped get me past a roadblock, and I am convinced that my third, which is essentially plotted and characters developed, will be in print on bookshelves in a couple of years. I've had some short fiction success recently as well.
I agree that fanfic will be the jumping-off point for some really good writers who would not otherwise know where to start. The article, however, focused on fanfic becoming a legitimate market. I don't think fanfic or NaNo will ever be taken too seriously, but they both will help good writers get past personal or professional roadblocks.
For me, NaNo helped me conquer my "inner editor" and allowed me to get past chapter three before abandoning my work. It turned out OK. Publishable, even, though not what a real reader would call "good".
I imagine fanfic helps some people build writing skills, and they later develop their own character and world building skills. It's not evil, but it still creeps me out.
- 9/18/2006
- Harry Connolly said...
- 9/18/2006
Fan fiction is based on the notion that the writer of the original work does not own the rights to their characters and story lines. This is bullshit.
Legitimizing fan fic is encouraging this unethical stance and I will never support this leech-like behavior.
In addition to the ethical/legal issues, there is a fair amount of disturbing fan fiction written about various fictional characters having sex. No big deal, you say? Fine, but personally, I wouldn't want my children googling Harry Potter and stumbling on a fan fic story where Harry and Draco end up in bed together. I did and wish I hadn't. I wish I could say this was an isolated instance, but it's not.
- 9/18/2006
- Jillian said...
I have a fundamental problem with the entire concept. I suppose I will be one of those authors who gets her lawyers involved.
I have the same problem with fantasy writers who have "orcs" in their stories (Tolkein made them up; orcs are HIS idea).
Fan fiction might be "fun," (?) but it ultimately lacks creativity and infringes on the author's original work.
I guess that makes me uptight about this sort of thing. So be it!
- 9/18/2006
I usually prefer to lurk here, but I had to speak up this time.
Everybody knows that the best way to get better at writing is to write. Many of us also know that too many kids grow up hating the very idea of writing.
The explosion of fanfic, especially since the advent of the Internet, has encouraged more people than ever before to put their creative energies to work.
Yes, most of what's out there is godawful, but at least people are writing, and as others have pointed out, more than one pro-author started out by writing fanfiction.
- 9/18/2006
You learn while writing. You can learn while writing fanfiction. You'll never make money at it, but you can develop your abilities and gain the confidence to attempt a novel of your own. It's entertaining, it's good practice, and because the feedback is so quick when you're posting to an on-line forum, you can really learn what works and what doesn't for your readers. In that sense, it's market research and a tutorial in public tastes for amateur writers.
As an example of the market research aspect of it, I predict that male-male erotica is going to make it into the mainstream for publishers of romance. "Slash" (which is usually written by women for an audience of women, surprisingly) is wickedly popular. There is money to be made there.
- 9/18/2006
- Maria said...
Mind you, most editors want nothing to do with fanfiction and they do not consider fanfiction a real publication credit. Fanfiction is a popular hobby for many and like any other writing it is a training ground. Know it for what it is.
I pulled this from the guidelines of a paying magazine--just to give you an idea of how most editors feel about it (as a submission):
"Again, I'm not going to limit what type of work we are looking for, I'm more interested in your voice than chosen format. If you send fan-fiction…I will kill you!"
- 9/18/2006
Condensed milk - keep a tin of caramalised condencsed milk in the fridge, and allow yoursefl a spoonful when you get a rejection - you'll start to look forward to them...
- 9/18/2006
Well, these comments have been very insightful. I never thought of Wicked as fan fic, nor other tales based on old, old stories, but I guess they are. And... uh, guilty! I did an interpretation of the Sleeping Beauty story and entered it in the Writer's Digest short story competition this year. Now I'm confused. Am I a hypocrite, too?
As far as the creating original characters thing goes, I don't thing Gregory Maguire cheated at all in Wickedbecause even though he based his story on an old classic, his characters are very different than the originals. I'd say he worked as hard on his characters as I do on mine.
Also, fan fic that doesn't touch my own characters, just takes place in the world I've created... I think I could deal with that. It's just that when you use my own characters... I know these characters. I mean, like better than I know anyone except maybe my husband. And depending on the day, I know my characters better than I do him, too. So for someone else to write about my characters would be, I don't know. They'd get it all wrong! They don't know why Grace doesn't want Daniel to call her Gracie! So I guess now I don't know where I stand. Thanks a lot, you guys!
- 9/18/2006
- Stacy said...
I clicked harry connolly's link, and I think the article says what I wanted to say earlier, but decided not to. Because some people just don't get it, and aren't going to get it.
As a writer, you either cling to the idea that the characters are 'yours', or accept that they are now part of something larger, something you don't and will never be able to control. You will never be able to take a character back; it just isn't possible. And it is a terrible, terrible mistake to feel that you somehow have the ability (much less the right) to tell people how to read your character. People bring their own experiences to the text, and trying to limit your readers to your experiences is [impossible] just plain stupid.
A writer who tries to control readers' minds and hearts never rises to the level of respected author in my mind, because their outlook is too small, too provincial; this is not a person that I can learn anything from.
- 9/18/2006
Another form of fan art is art itself. Sites like deviantart.com have a big 'fan art' following, where teens and adults alike draw their favourite animated characters from Pokemon to Disney. Some of it is awesome, and although they are drawing characters that have already been developed, it must help them develop expertise in both rendering and computer graphics. My daughter contributes regularly, and I've finally persuaded her to start developing her own characters.
- 9/18/2006
I write fanfic. I'm not embarrassed about it. It's a good exercise, a way to help keep your writing muscles in shape, and I've read fanfic that's a hell of a lot better than some published fiction (particularly those tie-in novels). And whether you want to admit it or not, EVERYONE has written fanfiction at some point; you probably just didn't know you were doing it. We all begin writing by copying other people; no one starts off being completely original.
That said, I think this article is 1) way behind the times and 2) treading dangerously close to making it sound like writing fanfic is a surefire ticket to getting published. It isn't.
Fanfiction is a hobby and nothing more. It's not a threat to published authors, it's not an insult to the source material, and people worried about what The Children might find on the internet should supervise their net access.
- 9/18/2006
Fan fiction is based on the notion that the writer of the original work does not own the rights to their characters and story lines. This is bullshit.
It actually isn't bullshit - it all depends on how much time you give it. This idea of authors having "rights" to their characters is a product of modern copyright. They have legal rights, but they do eventually run out. The only line between good fanfic and legitimate literature is the amount of time the copyright has left. After that point, it is considered homage or a reinterpretation (as the author above said about Dracula).
As for creators having creative rights to their characters, that appears to end in the "literary world" after the author has died. A good example of that is Lost Girls, a graphic novel by Alan Moore, which uses characters from the Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland, and Peter Pan in very different situations than those presented in the original stories. If the authors still held "creative rights" to their characters (or those authors' families did), Alan Moore would never be able to produce this. What complicates his particular work even further is that Lost Girls has a number of explicit sexual situations. So even though Moore is a very respected artist, what he is producing is in content closer to "slash" (sexual/romantic) fanfic than it is to traditional literature.
Which all just goes to show that fanfic is neither as bizarre or "unliterary" as people make it all out to be. Of course, Teresa Nielsen Hayden says everything I just said, but better, on the link above provided by Harry Connolly.
- 9/18/2006
Fan fiction is not a legitiment market, but it really does allow aspiring writers to get the feel of writing and crafting a story. True, many settings and characters are pre-done for the writer, but that is sort of like a cake in a box. It gets writers in the flow and then they start adding in their own twists.
And if they were writing "prequels?" Well, what if I decided I wanted to write a prequel to my stories? How would that work? Because the way my story is written, it's very open to the prequel thing, and yes, if the series takes off, I might do that.
What the original author writes is called "canon" in the fan fiction world. Canon is law. When J.K Rowling brings out each new book and reveals new information, fan fiction adjusts and changes. And most importantly, no one is going to not buy the original work and make fan fiction more important than the original work. The fan fiction world is amazingly self-regulated. There are those called "canon-nazis" who call out inaccuracies.
In the end, fan fiction is a really good place to learn the craft of storytelling and story writing. It teaches proper grammar and spelling and respect for the reader. I am now writing original works and being paid for it, but I learned nearly everything I know about writing from reading novels and writing fan fiction.
And, yes, there are some amazing authors out there, hiding in the fan fiction world. I have been held captive at my computer for days while reading an epic by a writer who took a little known character from a book and created an entire story around him or her. I am not surprised at all that the publishing world would turn an interested eye in this direction.
- 9/18/2006
- Anna said...
Fan fiction is based on the notion that the writer of the original work does not own the rights to their characters and story lines. This is bullshit.
I'm not aware of anyone who writes fanfic with that idea in mind. Everyone I know writes it acknowledging that they are using fictional characters without the creator's permission. They know what they are writing is outside of what will be written. They aren't writing it because they think the author has given up control of something.
A lot of people who write fanfic do it because it's practice runs, it's got a built-in audience for feedback, and you can do things with it that you just can't do in original fiction.
Yes, it's true - it's a way of not having to flesh out the background of a character because that character is already fleshed out. But it means that things you write will have a good emotional reaction. One of the best HP fanfics I read is very short, told backwards... and only works because you already care about the characters. It would never work as a stand alone story - and isn't meant to.
I don't think that HP fanfiction is ever going to be something legitimate. But Star Wars, Star Trek, and Buffy already have "fanfiction" that is legitimate - I've been reading it since I was a kid. One could easily argue that every Star Trek book published is fanfiction.
And yes, there's a lot of HP slash fic out there. I'm sorry you stumbled on something that disturbed you without a warning for slash or adult content. A lot of fanfic writers do mention that in their warnings or have an age-statement before you can enter the site, but some don't, and that must be difficult for parents to deal with.
- 9/18/2006
I'm learning every day from this blog. I've never heard of fan fiction per se. Sounds like an idea spawned by high school writing classes.
You make some very good points acd.
Stoppard's "Rosencrantz and Gildenstern are Dead" is a brilliant play. I prefer it to Hamlet, which is also very good. I also really like Ann Marie MacDonald's, "Good Night Desdemona, Good Morning Juliet".
- 9/18/2006
- Inkwolf said...
I write fanfiction. Mine are humorous semi-parodies on Harry Potter. They help me (and many other people) enjoyably pass a little time whle waiting for the next book to be published. They are my 'junk food' of writing, I can have fun with them and never give a damn whether they're marketable or hip or whether I've used a cliché or a hundred of them. And when I've finshed writing an episode, I post it online directly to its intended readers and get the instant gratification of feedback--people read it and write that they loved it and quote back all their favorite lines. Can you blame anyone for loving writng fan fiction? It's instant gratification.
If my own personal work ever does get published, as far as I'm concerned there could be no flattery greater than fans so eager for more of my world that they put themselves in it and create more.
- 9/18/2006
- Michael Reynolds said...
I Googled the name of a series I co-authored and "fan fiction" and came up with 45,000 hits despite having pulled the plug on the original series 5 years ago. So I have a hard time seeing why this is a bad thing. These people are keeping the series alive and probably still generating sales through Amazon and so on.
Yeah, some of the sites pair the characters up in ways that are, um, not strictly orthodox, but what am I going to do? Run around offering editorial advice? Write angry emails? Or sue a bunch of bloggers?
This is a relax and try to enjoy it situation. These fans aren't going to hurt anyone's bottom line, and they'll probably help a little.
- 9/18/2006
- pacatrue said...
My only two thoughts are:
1) People have always done fanfiction since they heard the first story they liked. Many people imagine what it would be like if Mr. Darcy showed up to their party on Saturday; they dream of The Count of Monte Cristo becoming reunited with Mercedes; etc. I spent most of my childhood with action figures based on characters created by George Lucas making up stories in my room, and I bet I didn't stick to Lucas' vision, since Boba Fett was usually the protagonist. Some kids are going to have Skeletor and Strawberry Shortcake making out - or Skeletor and Megatron.
What is different is that those things people have always done are now widely available for all to read, instead of just shared among friends. There's nothing creepy about telling stories about characters you enjoy. I think what bugs people is the idea that someone else's dreams of your characters might become as popular as your own dreams - though I can't think of any case of that happening. I did have a friend who enjoyed Star Trek Voyager fan fiction, usually slash, more than the actual Voyager TV show, but her dislike of the TV show wasn't due to her enjoyment of the fan fic. If anything, it kept her interested in the show until the scripts improved.
2) Writing can be high art. But creating art is not the only reason to write. For the large majority of people, fan fiction is a simple hobby. Sometimes it is good practice for them to later create art, but most often it is not. I think that's OK. Writing for fun, just like reading for fun, is allowed.
For the record, I neither read nor write fan fiction, just because there aren't any worlds I want to spend extra time in. I read HP, enjoy it, and then go do something else. But I guess I plan on being a fan fiction author one day in that two projects in the back of my mind are to write an update of the Norse myth of Balder, as well as a novel based on Dumas' character of Eugenie Danglars. I'm lucky in that no lawyer will sue me for such abominations.
- 9/18/2006
Fanfiction is actually a very good place for beginning writers to start out. The characters and setting are all well established, so the fanfiction writer only has to worry about maintaining the characters and can learn by practice and group criticism about things like plot development, consistent characterization, and voice and style. It will never be a moneymaking venture (except for in cases like Pride and Prejudice where the work is public domain and sequels can actually be published).
Aside from the learning aspect, fanfiction is a very good marketing tool. Fanfiction-based fandoms thrive long after something was published. It kept Harry Potter fans interested during their waiting periods and it keeps fans of other authors involved until those authors come out with new books. Otherwise, people might lose interest and wander away to bigger, better things, losing audience.
I learned a lot of my writing from fanfiction. I am by no means publishable yet, but I made a ot of progress in fanfiction because, not having to create my own characters and setting, I could concentrate more on effective wordplay and language and creative, believable plot development. I don't write it so much anymore, no, because it got to the point where I couldn't learn anything else there and needed to move on to bigger and better things. But my own favorable history with it compels me to defend it. There really isn't a harm in it. The fanfiction community as a whole has no mind to seek money for their writing. They write because they love it, because they want to do it and because they admiire a particular author's work.
- 9/18/2006
Wow! It's interesting seeing the perspectives on this.
I think that if I were a published author, to know that people out there had enjoyed my stories and worlds so much that they wanted to take a piece and make it their own? It would sincerely blow me away.
I mean, I'm only seeing great names here. Look at the list of characters and authors so far - wouldn't you be in great company?
Surely they only do it because they want more... More of what you created, and that's certainly not a bad thing.
... and I'd be willing to bet that none of the HP fanfic writers would swap a pretend book 7 for the real deal in a million bllion squillion years.
- 9/18/2006
Okay, okay, so fan fic isn't evil. (Seems like most of you would agree.) But there are some authors--Terry Goodkind and Kristin Britain are the two that come to my mind off the top of my head--who don't want people writing fan fic about their books. Whether you agree with them or not, don't you think that their fans should respect their wishes? I mean, I'll be the first to admit that I've pondered scenarios for the as-yet unreleased third Green Rider book, but even if I did take the time to write them down, I would feel funny posting them online because Kristin Britain says she doesn't want people to do that.
- 9/18/2006
There's another twist to fan fiction. A man named Brad Neely recorded a parody of the first Harry Potter movie, called Wizard People, Dear Reader. To listen to it, you play the movie but mute the volume and listen to the alternate soundtrack instead. He got in trouble with Warner or Disney or whoever produced the movie because he gave a live performance of Wizard People, Dear Reader for a paying audience at a theater. You can still Google it and download it, but I've never heard of anything else like it.
- 9/18/2006
If you want to be a legitimate author, create your own worlds. No one has the right to manipulate a world created by a different author without permission and it's the same thing as stealing, or in the case of slash/shippers, virtually/mentally raping a character. If you can't come up with your own worlds that are interesting enough to keep you writing, then find another hobby.
- 9/18/2006
- GutterBall said...
I have no problem with fanfiction in general. I've penned a few bars of that music myself, mostly to practice a certain writing tactic or brush up on a particular skill. However, this WSJ article bothers me more than fanfiction ever could because it goes against the one tenet that was drilled into me since I first stumbled across a DragonBall Z story on the 'net.
"I own neither [insert title here] nor the characters therein. No profit is intended."
Most fanfiction authors put a disclaimer such as this before their work, though many of them grumble about it. Yet this WSJ article suggests that there might indeed be profit, or at least publication, in fanfiction.
Call me crazy, but isn't that where true copyright infringement comes in? When one party seeks to profit from the original party's product?
Otherwise, I agree with someone above who said that this is old news. Must be a slow news day on Wall Street.
- 9/19/2006
- Rei said...
Ruth: Oh, it gets better than "Wizard People", dear reader. A friend of mine in Denton took the original DVD of HP, digitally stripped out the vocals, synced up wizard people, and made it into a new DVD with a custom startup screen (including a great parody of the FBI warning, in pirate format -- the header is "Avast!") and music by "Harry and the Potters".
- 9/19/2006
Just wanted to add something, as a *gasp* fanfic writer. Not ALL fanfic is based on books or tv shows. Some are based on celebs or athletes. Mine focuses on a music group, the characters are purely my own. And some of the genres writing is better then some of what's published.
- 9/19/2006
I agree with Niamh Sage in that fanfic is good for cutting your teeth on when you're a n00b writer. I got into fanfic and learned more about writing than I did in college. Searching for real crit with a real drive to improve has made me a better writer, and beta-reading for various authors jump-started me into editing.
There's problems that fanfic fosters in said n00b authors, though: you don't have to scenebuild as much, describe the characters as thoroughly, or characterize quite as strongly, as your readers are already familiar with the basic concepts. Then the crit an author gets is usually negligable, leading them to believe they're something awesome when the same reviewers will happily traipse over to the next story (which is about the author's OMGSPESHUL NEW HOGWARTS STUDENT that's half-Veela and Snape's daughter and falls in love with Hot!Capable!Wildly OOC!Tom Felton!Draco) and review it just as gleefully.
Then there's how the fanfic realm has made me aware of the number of people who don't care about an author's status as a blatant plagiarist--publishers included. Simon and Schuster, I'm looking at you.
- 9/19/2006
No one has the right to manipulate a world created by a different author without permission and it's the same thing as stealing, or in the case of slash/shippers, virtually/mentally raping a character.
*wipes eyes* Hoo, boy. Get a grip. Yo; those are imaginary people. Rape is a horrific crime that happens to real live human beings, and applying the term to something as silly as fanfic is staggeringly crass of you.
As for not posting fanfic without the writer's permission, you're absolutely correct. A writer has the right to control his or her intellectual property.
The thing is, very few writers actively discourage fanfiction. Of the ones that do, generally the fans adhere to their wishes and refrain from posting any. There's always a small number of nitwits who will anyway, but nitwits are notoriously hard to communicate with. What ya gonna do? Just keep hitting 'em with the cluegun and the Cease and Desist orders.
The really huge fandoms basically do have the writer's permission to exist. The biggest one out there is that of Harry Potter, and J. K. Rowling has said she doesn't mind fanfiction. Therefore, we do have her permission to write it. Nyeer, nyeer.
- 9/19/2006
As others have said, writing fanfic can be a good starting point for people who want to write because it teaches you about the need for consistent characterisation and solid plotting.
Many fanfic writers introduce their own original characters into their work, which teaches you how to create and maintain those characters and of course, there are people who create their own alternative 'canon' using a plot point or character and taking them in a completely different direction to that of the original book/tv show/film. It's interesting that the 'better' fanfic writers are the ones who most often go on to get their original work published.
Also, fanfic is a great way of developing a tough skin for the rejection slips - fanfic readers are not afraid of slamming work they dislike, often in a way that would make Miss Snark's Crapometer look like a candy wrapped, pink apology.
I can understand why some authors find fanfic icky but those who shut it down are (I think) damaging their own potential sales. Fanficcers are an active readership - they're the ones who are most likely to read any future work that you produce, and they're the most likely to buy spin off work and to go and see a movie adaptation. In advertising 'word of mouth' publicity is considered gold dust, and fanfic communities are a great way of generating and maintaining word of mouth advertising and keeping your work in the collective consciousness.
- Britmouse.
- 9/19/2006
- Niamh Sage said...
Ruth & Rei:
The scenario you're talking about (where someone mutes the soundtrack of a movie and dubs in their own) was done in Australia in the 80s and 90s by a group called Double Take (see here for info: http://www.anufg.org.au/doubletake.html). They generally did this with old or very B-Grade movies, and they used to put on performances at theatres (yes! For money!).
One film in this vein that was actually released is called "Hercules Returns" (also done by Aussies - see http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107103/). It used the film "Ercole, Sansone, Maciste e Ursus gli invincibili" (1964) and was absolutely hilarious.
I don't know if I'd call that fan fic though - it seems much more like parody to me.
- 9/19/2006
The comment in the article about lawyers advising authors to not read fanfiction because of the threat of ff authors claiming plagiarism took me a bit by surprise. That logic strikes me as a dog-chasing-his-tail scenario. The ff author is using the original author's creation without permission, but the original author is at risk if they write a scene resembling a plot point of a fanfiction tale? I suppose an original author could comb the ff archives looking for fresh material, but most ff is rather lacking in substance. Before anyone gets their nose hairs singed, I agree there are some very good ff writers who turn out some compelling stories, but they're the exception, not the rule. Still, it would take some nerve on the part of an ff author to cry "foul". It would also take some desperation on the part of the original author to resort to stealing from ff. But there are coincidences where similar plot points appear in different authors's work. So how do you know when the stealing began and who stole from whom? Looks to me like the traditionally published work has the leg-up here. Unless the original author took scenes word for word from a ff work, then a plagiarism claim is a tough sell. Plus, that would be professional suicide for a published author.
I'm trying to wrap my mind around this, and the best answer I can come with is that life isn't fair.
But, from reading the 'Making Light' post, it appears Marion Zimmer Bradley ran into some trouble in this murky area. So, what happened there?
- 9/19/2006
nd it is a terrible, terrible mistake to feel that you somehow have the ability (much less the right) to tell people how to read your character.
Absolutely. I LOVE the idea of people reading my characters in utterly different ways. It's already been happening as my book goes through the publication process - people have very, very different takes on my narrator - and I love it.
If anyone ever tries to WRITE any of my characters, rather than reading them, I will do absolutely everything in my power to obliterate the person in every possible way.
It's not because I'd be scared that the fanfic would become more popular than the original. It's because I created these characters, I put everything I've got into it, they're mine more than any real human being ever could be, and manipulating them to give yourself a little buzz counts as fucking with Mama Tiger's cubs.
- 9/19/2006
- Inkwolf said...
I expect nobody's reading the comments here any more, but I made a discovery and wanted to clarify something, just in case...
I am the Inkwolf on CoSForums who writes Hogwarts Staff Meeting.
I am NOT the Inkwolf on LiveJournal who writes Sirius Black slash porn. Eep.
- 9/21/2006
Oh, the horror! The shame! The guilt-by-association! ;-D
Mmm...Sirius slash porn...
*wanders over to LJ*
Word veri: neufun!
- 9/21/2006
I do wish that people who think that writing fanfiction is "easy" because the characters and world are established would read something like "Wicked" and see how imaginative and original a writer can be when working in an established world created by another author.
Easy way out? I would guess that Maguire needed to do tons of research and combing through the Oz books to get a full picture of the world in which he wanted to write, and then on top of that, he fleshed it out far more fully than Baum. He also made it a fully realized world that adults can identify with; in the original books, Dorothy first saw this world through the eyes of a child who was a stranger to it. As such she did not see wives cheating on husbands or the role that religion played in the society or the political factions warring with each other over control of the nation. I highly doubt that what Maguire created was "easy" for him to do; he gave readers a rich and complex world only suggested obliquely by Baum.
As someone who's written fanfiction and is now moving into writing original works (in a world of my own creation) I know that it was far HARDER to write fanfiction because I was dedicated to doing it "right"--which is to say I researched the world like crazy and tried to fill in the gaps in the world to the best of my ability. Since I was writing in an incomplete canon (Harry Potter) I also inevitably speculated on many things that might happen in future novels--and when those novels were released I had gotten a lot of it right. (That's where research and attention to detail in the existing canon is so important.) My readers definitely appreciated the research I did.
Sure, there are fanfic writers who are all about the shipping and don't care about whether the characterization is true to the original books or whether they get basic facts about the world wrong (let alone spelling, punctuation and grammar). But many people ARE professionally publishing what amounts to fanfiction, whether it's because they are writing in universes in the public domain (like Oz) or because they are producing sanctioned works like the new Dune books, Star Trek books, etc. The writing in these works should be judged on its own merits, not dismissed because the authors didn't create the worlds in which their stories are set. If they get things wrong, readers who know those worlds intimately will howl with rage. Fanfic readers are notoriously hard on dilettantes who don't do their research in the universe in question.
As for authors who forbid fanfiction based on their work, if I manage to get published I can't imagine ever doing that, largely due to the way I've started out and built a loyal readership (who are now clammering for my original work). As it is, people have already written fanfics of my fanfics (yes, this actually happens). Since I do not "own" Harry Potter and did not get permission to write about him, however, I did not feel that it was my place to tell others that they could not build upon the stories that I concocted about a character I did not create. Unfortunately, I really hate most of the fanfics based on my fics. One in particular gives me the hives to even think about it, and that person has even used original characters of mine in his work in an unspeakable way. I've taken the philosophical approach to this and decided that it is good practice for me to grin and bear this particular idiot (and some others) while I'm an unknown in the publishing world and hope that, in the event I am published and readers write fanfic of my book(s), I am able to view this as a compliment to me and a testament to their dedication to the world I've created, rather than pulling the plug on the fanfiction and ending up feeling horribly hypocritical as a result. And maybe, just maybe, some other person writing fanfic in my universe will feel moved to do their own work and move to the next level. I know that I've been moved, motivated and educated by the concrit from readers and I want to pay that forward if I can.
- 9/24/2006


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Weekend Gourmet, Wine Festival and Angels Blogger Spring Training?
A belated Happy Saint Patrick's Day from the Emerald Isle!…
…Yeah, I wish. 😉 Though as not-Ireland places for a St. Patrick's weekend getaway go, Paso Robles, CA is plenty nice enough. And although the particular shades of green in this landscape are all wrong for Ireland, it is still quite lovely and the mist and rain were at least accurate. So what's a diehard Angels fan like me doing in a place like Paso Robles when there are games going on Arizona, you ask?
Well, with Pujols-mania bringing folks out to Tempe in droves, hotel stays and such suddenly got more expensive and harder to book, so we decided to wait and go to Spring Training another year. Oh well, I was a little sad but that does mean more money for the regular season ticket budget, which certainly makes up for missing out…and, besides, it's the Zinfandel Festival which means I just spent a lovely weekend going through my own little baseball blogger's Spring Training, which came none too soon if you ask me. Between Albert Pujols heating up the lineup, the rest of the bats following right long, the starting rotation looking great and even more formidable with the addition of C.J. Wilson, and what is looking more and more like the very real possibility of Kendrys Morales returning to the 25-man roster, this could be a very special season in the making. A blogger's got to prepare. Training and drills are a must.
Okay, training and drills. Fine, you say. But at a wine festival? Of course at a wine festival! Where else could I get all of this practice and prep in? Take photos, for example. If you read this blog last season – first off thank you! – you know I like to take photos when I go to Angels games so that I can pepper my posts with photos that are as much mine as the commentary. Well, taking baseball game photos can be tricky. There's a lot of action. Your subjects are constantly on the move, sometimes in unpredictable ways. It's all too easy for the rusty blogger to end up with a large collection of photos like this one, which I like to call Not-So-Still life with Aybar:
Or even this one. Mike Trout and Peter Bourjos were both well in frame and in focus when I started to take the photo…:
You've got to warm up for tricky action shots. Practicing on things that don't move but require a lot of detail and focus can be helpful, like this vineyard (I love the gnalred, wintery vines and the lines created by the three distinct fields with vines running at three different angles):
Or this gorgeous tasting room:
Then you can move on to some simple action subjects, like these Paso Robles wild turkeys:
I say a simple action shot because, although this is an impressive little dominance display here, with a lot of action going on, turkeys (the real ones with feathers at any rate) don't generally muck up photos by adjusting themselves. Still, although no Spring Training can ever replicate the real thing I think I have gotten enough "innings" in with the camera to be ready for the regular season.
As for the rest of my blogger's Spring Training? Well, I got to study plenty of tasty treats in preparation for my Friday Gourmet, Wine and Angels nights, like this glorious roast pork panini and sundried tomato salad from Farmstand 46. They call it The Goat:
…or the Zinfandel sliders, the tacos al pastor, the paella or any of the other deliciousness I was too busy nom-ing to take a photo of. Would I really make a roast pork panini or paella just for our Friday Gourmet, Wine and Angels enjoyment? *laughs* Will Mike Scioscia change the Angels lineup a minimum of 60 times this season? Hell. Yes.
Speaking of Friday Gourmet, Wine and Angels, what better place to stock up the old wine cellar than at Zin Fest? Yes, I think it's going to be a beautiful season:
I even got my usual pre-season gabfest in with some of the Giants fans at the Barrel 27 pick-up party. Not surprisingly they are every bit as thrilled to be getting Buster Posey back as we are with the positive Kendrys outlook. Not to mention it was fun talking rookies and just barely not rookies with them. The Giants have some great younger players in the mix or soon to be in the mix too – one gent I was chatting with is particularly enamored with Baby Giraffe, Brandon Belt – so our two fan bases have some fun things in common.
So, I have my trusty camera at the ready, my Opening Day tickets in hand…er…inbox, plenty of wine options (seriously if I actually showed you the full collection of options, you would laugh at me!) and my typing fingers limber and warmed up. 19 days until Opening Day and I. Can't. Wait!


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Cathleen Vanasse signed up on Action 2017-02-14 22:45:10 -0500
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Good-bye Torii Hunter, this Angels Fan Thinks the Front Office Messed Up!
Transference (noun)
The unconscious redirection of feelings about one object or entity toward another.
Thus, my desire to take all of my tiger stuffed animals (of which I have more than a few. I had a childhood love of them and then went to Oxy, whose mascot is – yes, you guessed it – the tiger.) and pose them underneath an overturned clothes basket "cage" for photos to post on MLBlogs was not, in fact, brilliant, it was merely transference. Transference of my anger with the Angels front office for failing to re-sign Torii Hunter over to the Tigers who successfully signed him this week. And, thus, the lack of photos of stuffed tigers, posed in makeshift cages or otherwise, in this blog post is a real sign of maturity and deep thought on my part, and not a sign of laziness over the realization that the tigers are all in box in the garage in a hard to reach place. Uh huh. Exactly. *nods*
Because, all joking aside, I am not really mad at the Tigers. No, really. I'm not. Torii Hunter the Tiger is going to take some serious getting used to (and, indeed, it took me a few days of reeling to simply get to the point where I could write this post) but I am glad that, if the Angels front office had to be stupid, at least Torii landed somewhere he seems to want to be. The man deserves to keep playing, the Tigers were smart to snap him up, and I understand that Angels made an economic decision here. As much as I still fully embrace the romance of that game, I am not so wrapped up in it that I mistake anything that happens in terms of player transactions in the modern game for a question of loyalty versus betrayal.
…But, no lie. I still think the Angels screwed the pooch on this decision. And it is for that reason, not because Torii was my favorite Angel, though he was (albeit on a long list), that I am livid with the front office right now. I think that keeping such an important clubhouse leader who is also a crucial bat in our lineup and presence to be reckoned with in the outfield should have been more than just a money decision. I think that throwing all of our eggs into one highly sought after basket like Zack Greinke, is dicey at best. And I think that, even if the Angels land Zack Greinke now, 3/5 of a scary good starting rotation combined with a lineup that once again has a crucial hole in it with no solution in sight sure doesn't sound like it will look any better on the field than it does on paper. So, yeah, grumpy as hell right now.
But enough about that. Torii, thank you for every wonderful thing that you did in an Angels uniform. The robbed home runs. Your team first mentality. That sweet, sweet swing. Your "don't even think about rounding third" arm. Your clubhouse presence and effective mentorship. Your humor and your wonderful way with us fans. I wish you well with the Tigers…just not too well against the Angels, you know. 😉
…aaaaaand, I still have lots to talk about, what with awards decisions and starting rotation decisions, and…and…well, okay, it's November so I suppose it isn't really that long a list, but still. However, it's no joke when I say it took me a couple of days to get to the point where I could write about Torii and I figured this deserved its own post. So, stay tuned…


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IFC Premieres MILK CARTON KIDS Video
IFC.com will premiere the first music video from the acclaimed Los Angeles duo The Milk Carton Kids this Monday, January 21st. The clip offers a deliberately simple yet evocative visual complement to the duo's song "Snake Eyes" from the their upcoming Anti- Records debut The Ash & Clay, out March 26th.
To view the video for "Snake Eyes" by The Milk Carton Kids via IFC.com, visit: http://www.ifc.com/fix/2013/01/premiere-the-milk-carton-kids-snake-eyes
The Milk Carton Kids formed in 2011 and consists of Kenneth Pattengale and Joey Ryan. While the most obvious musical reference is the classic folk revival sound of their twin acoustic guitars and close harmonies, the band both expands and contradicts that rich legacy with highly inventive guitar lines and intricately interwoven vocals.
In their short time together the duo have already attracted a devoted and sizable following with the simple purity of their music, touring with a host of established acts (Old Crow Medicine Show, Punch Brothers, and more), appearing on NPR's Tiny Desk concert series, and charming audiences with their deadpan on-stage humor.
Currently, three songs from The Ash & Clay, including "Snake Eyes", are featured prominently in the new Gus Van Sant film Promised Land.


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A.J. Burnett: Voice of Reason?
Yeah, yeah, it would have sounded pretty unlikely to me a few days ago too. But Thursday evening, my wonderful husband took me to our favorite tapas bar for my birthday and, as we waited for our table we both caught up on the last few days' news. What can I say? All work and no Hot Stove makes Kristen an uninformed girl. Imagine my surprise, given that I had missed all of the rumors. The Angels and the Yankees were in the process of a straight up trade, Bobby Abreu for A.J. Burnett? And folks in the Angels front office thought this was a good idea? Thank you A.J. Burnett, or Mrs. Burnett if some of the subsequent stories are true, for answering a birthday wish I didn't even know I needed to make! *sigh of relief* Thank you. A.J….er…Mrs. Burnett…heck both of you, for being the voice of reason.
Now I'm not saying the Angels shouldn't be trying to move Bobby Abreu. I like the guy and he has made excellent contributions to the team in the past but we have quite the backlog in both the DH position and in the outfield (And, really, he can't play in the outfield except in extreme emergencies anymore. His heart and efforts are in the right place but it just doesn't work.) and his offensive production fell drastically in 2011. I just don't see where he fits on the roster anymore. If a team were willing to take on Abreu's contract, I'd miss the player he was but moving him would be an excellent idea.
And I'm not saying that A.J. Burnett is a terrible pitcher. He's not. I have seen him pitch very well indeed. I am aware that when his stuff is on, it's scary good. But he is a terribly inconsistent pitcher. And, when his stuff is off…well…look if off means that you can't win while backed up by a team whose offense usually gives you a nice big fluffy cushion to play with, moving to a team where allowing one or two runs is often enough to cost you the game? (Of course, we do hope that certain offseason moves that may have been mentioned in the papers once or twice will help change that, but it's all theoretical at this point.) And playing in a division where every single win is likely to be essential in determining the winner? Let's just say that might not be the best move for any party concerned. I realize that according to the current story, these thoughts did not factor into Burnett's decision much if at all, that he made his decision based on the need to remain on the east coast for family reasons, but the end result still makes him sound like an unlikely voice of reason to me.
Now, if the Angels could have gotten in on a three way trade with the Yankees and the Pirates, sending Abreu to New York for Burnett and then sending Burnett to Pittsburg for the two minor league prospects the Pirates wound up trading to New York for Burnett? Well, that would have been the best of all possible worlds, even if we never had a need for the minor leaguers. But the Angels have never been big on participating in multiple team deals and I guess that much has not changed…at least not so far.


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5The sea and dry land belong to God,
who made them, formed them by hand.c
6Enter, let us bow down in worship;
let us kneel before the LORD who made us.
7For he is our God,
we are the people he shepherds,
the sheep in his hands.d
Oh, that today you would hear his voice:e
8Do not harden your hearts as at Meribah,
as on the day of Massah in the desert.*
9There your ancestors tested me;
they tried me though they had seen my works.f
10Forty years I loathed that generation;
I said: "This people's heart goes astray;
they do not know my ways."g
11Therefore I swore in my anger:
"They shall never enter my rest."*
* [Psalm 95] Twice the Psalm calls the people to praise and worship God (Ps 95:1–2, 6), the king of all creatures (Ps 95:3–5) and shepherd of the flock (Ps 95:7a, 7b). The last strophe warns the people to be more faithful than were their ancestors in the journey to the promised land (Ps 95:7c–11). This invitation to praise God regularly opens the Church's official prayer, the Liturgy of the Hours.
* [95:8] Meribah: lit., "contention"; the place where the Israelites quarreled with God. Massah: "testing," the place where they put God to the trial, cf. Ex 17:7; Nm 20:13.
* [95:11] My rest: the promised land as in Dt 12:9. Heb 4 applies the verse to the eternal rest of heaven.
d. [95:7–11] Ps 81:8; 106:32; Heb 3:7–11, 15; 4:3, 5, 7.
e. [95:7] Ps 23:1–3; 100:3; Mi 7:14.
f. [95:9] Nm 14:22; 20:2–13; Dt 6:16; 33:8.
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For more information about Boulder Flood Relief, visit boulderfloodrelief.org.
For more information about Boulder Mudslingers, look for Boulder Mudslingers on Facebook at facebook.com/boulder.mudslingers.
For more information about the Foothills United Way flood relief fund, visit unitedwayfoothills.org/floodrelief
For more information about the cycling fundraiser for Jamestown, go to c4jtown.com.
The all-volunteer Boulder Flood Relief group formed shortly after the September floods to connect all the people who wanted to help with those who needed assistance.
The first weekend, the group sent out about 400 volunteers, said Boulder Flood Relief executive director Thomas Wells, and about 1,000 volunteers have gone out in the last month.
"We had a giant outpouring of support and people eager to volunteer right away," he said. "There were people who wanted to help and didn't know where to go. We were able to get people out in the first week."
But now, he said, numbers are dwindling. This past weekend, about 100 volunteers showed up to help over three days.
"We have a lot more projects and people requesting help than we have volunteers," Wells said.
Along with continued support, he said, the group also needs people willing to help in other communities. The group has turned its focus to Lyons and northern Colorado's Milliken, where a mobile home park was hit hard by floods.
"Some of those other communities have fewer resources and less support in general," he said. "We formed to fill some of the gaps that other relief organizations don't hit, to help people who haven't been reached or who have been left behind."
Another community volunteer group, the Boulder Mudslingers, started when people in the climbing community were looking for ways to help. Since then, said Aly Nicklas, who's one of the group's directors, about 800 people have committed to helping. Some companies are giving workers the day off during the week to volunteer, but most volunteering now happens on weekends.
Still, she said, she's seen volunteer numbers decrease as people return to jobs and life.
"We need volunteers," she said. "It definitely feels like we're in a sprint with winter approaching. It's really easy to go back to normal life, but the biggest thing I'm trying to get across is that the impact is huge in the mountain communities. They need a lot of help. We intend to continue as long as there's need in the community."
As both groups push to keep their volunteer efforts going, fundraisers for flood victims also are ongoing.
One of the main fundraising efforts is led by Foothills United Way. Spokeswoman Heather Spencer said about $2.6 million has been raised to date for flood relief, with about $600,000 committed so far through grants. Foothills United Way is working with the Community Foundation of Boulder County and community leaders to determine the areas of greatest need in distributing money.
She said some priority areas include short-term housing and child care for those who have been displaced, along with providing assistance for long-term recovery areas in Lyons, Jamestown and Salina.
"By working together, we can see the big picture to really understand what the greatest needs are and help the most people," she said.
The Community Foundation is overseeing several funds to address specific needs, including a Lyons fund that's raised about $300,000, a fund for relief for farmers impacted by the flood and a fund to help with rebuilding Jamestown's roads, bridges and parks.
The cycling community is organizing an all-day fundraiser Saturday for the rebuild Jamestown fund. People can meet leaders in the cycling community — including some pro road and mountain bike racers — make a donation for Jamestown and participate in a silent auction.
"We had a huge spike in donations right after the flood, but donations are still going strong," said Community Foundation spokeswoman Gretchen Minekime.


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* The product in this article was sent to us by the developer/company.
I've been writing about games and entertainment since 2006 after starting out at Xbox Ohio. Since then, I have made the jump to Gaming Nexus and have enjoyed my time here. I am an avid gamer that has a solid old school game collection that includes the likes of Final Fantasy games, Earthbound, Gitaroo-Man, MvC2, and a whole slew of others. I have a primary focus on Xbox/PC games and PC peripherals and accessories. If you ever want to game against me, you can look me up on XBL with the gamertag GN Punk. View Profile


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The meaning of RVCA is about today, tomorrow and life as the big picture. RVCA means inspiring our generation, providing something of substance and culture and above all doing it with integrity and as a united family, a close-knit community.
It's the brainchild of company Founder and Creative Director, PM Tenore. Transcending the boundaries of traditional action sports apparel, RVCA is a design-driven lifestyle brand free from passing trends. Appearing as a natural on the shelves of boutiques as on those of a local skate shop, they are brought together by a group of likeminded individuals from various subcultures, a collaboration of sorts, a lifestyle within itself.
The clothing company was started with the idea of creating clothing for and by influential people from the skate, surf, and art cultures. They have been able to have mainstream success whilst still maintaining their grass roots appeal, thanks to the input of their extensive Artist Network Program (ANP), global skateboard team, pro surf team, and even MMA fighters (when they are truly kicking some butt). RVCA clothing is inspired by American workwear and transcends the traditional apparel boundaries by being a brand free of fading trends.
The RVCA ANP provides a place for both mainstream and independent artists to display their talent to a larger audience, and this is a large part of what keeps them so darn fresh. Taking input from their skate and surf team, RVCA has created some of the most popular jeans, hoodies, boardshorts, and woven shirts on the market today. A true innovator in the industry, you can expect tons of new styles from the skate and streetwear likes of RVCA.
One of the most frequently asked questions is how do you pronounce or say RVCA? It is derived from the greek word for "clothes" and is pronounced "rucha" or phonetically spelled as "ruca".


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When you live in a cold country, it's good to have some southern friends. In the 1800s, we traded our cod for Cuban rum; today we trade tourist dollars for the country's sun. Last year just over 800,000 Canadians visited; we represent 36 per cent of all foreign visitors to Cuba, and many of us are repeat customers who can't get enough of the Cuban experience.
The three most popular fun-and-sun destinations are all located on the northern coastline. Each offers the four pillars of the classic getaway vacation: plenty of sea, sand, sun and socializing. Daytime activities are focused on water sports or day trips to nearby attractions. Don't bother planning excursions on your own. Not only is transportation tricky but you will be fined for not using a state-appointed agency. Save money and book trips though your hotel's agency.
Looking for one of the more laid-back vacation spots on the island? Now the third-most-popular destination in Cuba, Guardalavaca is located on the northeastern coastline province of Holguin, about 700 kilometres from Havana. This is being touted as Cuba's ecotourism destination, and not only is it a stunning natural area, it's managed to retain more authenticity than many tourist spots here. Guardalavaca was badly damaged by Hurricane Ike in 2008, but the Cuban government has put a lot of work into restoring its amenities to the expected standard.
The first tourist here was none other than Christopher Columbus, arriving on his 1492 maiden voyage. The area made enough of an impression that Columbus mentioned its scenery in his journal. While nature has reclaimed and obscured his exact landing spot, the beaches remain spectacularly beautiful: three km of white sand sandwiched between a coral reef and the pine forests of the Sierra Cristal mountain range.
The most easterly beach, called Guardalavaca, was the first to be developed in the 1970s. Local legend says the name dates back to the heyday of the Caribbean pirates: it translates literally as "guard the cow," a warning call to the locals to hide their cattle as well as their treasures from incoming marauders. The middle beach, Playa Pesquero, has newer mega-resorts, many with over-the-top decor. A favourite honeymoon destination, this beach is the most private and features plenty of palm trees for shade.
Crescent-shaped Playa Esmeralda, named for its deep green waters, is the most westerly beach. Surrounded by a series of lagoons and bays, it has some of the best snorkelling in the area. It's also the closest to Bahia de Naranjo Nature Reserve, an island playground with an aquarium where you can swim with dolphins. All three beaches offer plenty of water sports but given the area's warm clear waters and over 20 beginner dive sites, chances are you'll be tempted underwater.
If you're craving some local nightlife, head into the provincial capital, Holguin. Day tips from the area hotels include visits to the sugar town of Banes, where the dictator Fulgencio Batista was born and Fidel Castro was married. Gibara is another charming colonial city with several excellent museums. For a hike on the wild side, take a safari tour to Cayo Saetia. This 42-km island used to be a game reserve and is noted for its spectacular coastline as well as its flora and fauna, including antelopes and zebras.
Situated on the Hicacos Peninsula, 140 km from Havana, Varadero is Cuba's most famous beach destination. Before the revolution, this was the playground for American millionaires and is still ranked among the 10 most beautiful beaches in the world. Varadero offers 20 km of silky vanilla sands alongside a vibrant blue ocean. With 50 hotels and over 16,000 rooms, this is not the beach to come for a secluded holiday. You'll be sharing the beach with foreigners and locals from Bahia de Cardenas. This will be the closest you will come to seeing the real Cuba. Varadero offers everything you want in a fantasy vacation except Cuban daily life.
The further east you travel, the more expensive the resorts and the more beautiful the beaches. The two most popular sports here are diving and deep-sea fishing. Especially popular is the Cayo Piedras del Norte underwater park, where old yachts, frigates and planes have been deliberately sunk for divers to explore. Petty theft is commonplace on Varadero beaches, unfortunately, so don't bring expensive sunglasses, towels or beach shoes with you. Enjoy the gorgeous surroundings, but take the same precautions with your belongings in public areas that you would take at home.
If you get tired of lounging on the beach there are some fascinating day excursions that are well worth your time. Nearby, the city of Varadero has a fine artisan's market selling leather goods and exquisite ceramics. For gringo-style shopping there is the Plaza de las Americas. The nearby city of Matanzas, called the birthplace of Cuban culture, has an interesting historical centre. For a taste of what this one-time billionaire's hub was like before the revolution, take a visit to the extravagant Du Pont mansion, Xanadu. It's now a golf club and the lounge is a great place to sip mojitos and watch the spectacular sunsets.
Longer day trips include a visit to Trinidad, considered one of Cuba's finest colonial cities and featuring lovely pastel-coloured 18th century homes and a palace. You can tour the core, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, in just a few hours but you will be tempted to stay because of its delightful serenity.
Havana, of course, should not be missed under any circumstances. This vibrant yet relaxed city oozes music and sensuality. The architecture is phenomenal and the contrast between the neglected heritage buildings and the newly restored ones is oddly beautiful. All the resorts offer tours to Havana that always finish with a show at the Tropicana. If you're into over-the-top cabaret musicals, then do attend — otherwise skip the show and save your money.
If you have reached a near-vegetative state of exhaustion and just want to plunk down on a beach, then Cayo Coco is for you. Before 1992, Cuba's fourth largest island was a mosquito-infested swamp. A causeway connecting it to the mainland changed all that. Now, the area — including nearby Cayo Guillermo — is like Varadero on steroids, a luxurious retreat where tourists can relax in splendid isolation. The draw here is stunning unspoiled beaches, luxurious accommodations, and superb diving or snorkelling at Cuba's best coral reef.
Did you know?
- Cuba has three currencies: the peso, tourist dollars and U.S. dollars. The American dollar has been the standard currency since 1993.
- You can't use American Express in Cuba because it's considered a "Yanqui" credit card.
- Cuba has two popular soft drinks created by Fidel Castro to mimic American flavours. Tu Cola (Your Cola) is the Cuban equivalent to Coca-Cola while Cachito resembles Sprite. Rumour has it that when the Castro government nationalized the Coca-Cola plant it simply took over the recipe and began bottling the drink as Tu Cola. You won't be able to tell the difference in your Cuba Libre.
- Baseball is the national sport and has been played in Cuba since 1874. With 16 teams in the National League, there's always a game playing. Both Holguin and Matanzas have a team while Havana has two. Ask your hotel where you can take in a local game or ask about any tour operators offering the "Home Run" tour where you have a seat behind home plate at the National Series playoffs at the Havana Stadium.
- Paladares are restaurants in Cuban homes. They've been legal since 1993, when the Cuban government started allowing them to stimulate the economy after the fall of the USSR. Families are allowed to have no more than 12 tables and are taxed on their income.


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By selecting a currency you will see the equivalent prices in your preferred currency at the side of the sterling prices. You will be charged in sterling when you place an order..
Product code:2000043
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If you are not satisfied with your purchase you can return the unused merchandise, complete with packaging, tags and proof of purchase within 28 days for a full refund (excluding P&P).
Once a name or number has been printed on a shirt we will not offer a refund or an exchange unless the shirt is faulty. The same applies if a player leaves the club or changes his squad number during his time at the club. In addition, we reserve the right to refuse a refund or an exchange if the goods have been worn or used unless proven faulty.
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After a few customers requesting it, my consultancy firm, SGP IT, is planning to run some technical training courses this Summer; in the Manchester area initially, though any location is possible.
Now would be a very good time to get in touch (firstname.lastname@example.com) as things are at a very early stage and very fluid – if you can bring a few people along, we can even run a bespoke course for you, and tailor everything to your need.
Depending on subject, duration, location and so on, it should be possible to run the first few courses for as little as £250 – £300 per person per day – much less than the £400 – £500 or so you'd pay for a corporate course where you all get is a trainer who has no experience of the actual situation you face at work, and who delivers powerpoint slides to you, then doles out the free mousepads and t-shirts at the end of the course.
None of us have been overly impressed by many of the available training courses – we are hoping to redefine how personal IT training can be delivered. Here's how:
The kind of training session I would envisage us providing, would involve a fairly small class size (certainly fewer than 6 people), allowing us to focus on your current issues, and tailor the course around the needs, interests and skills of the attendees. The courses are likely to be between 2 and 5 days, most being 2-3 day courses.
Of course, there will be no corners cut – we will insist on great location and facilities, free internet access, PCs for all candidates (preinstalled with Linux, Solaris, *BSD, you name it – contact us before the course and we'll build the PC to suit you), tons of good quality course notes, including certificates and the obligatory full VAT receipts, of course. I'm sure that we can find a few freebies to throw in, too!
If you have specific queries or concerns that you would like to be addressed in the course, let us know up-front, and we can find a way to work it in to the course.
If any of this sounds vaguely interesting, please do get in touch (firstname.lastname@example.com) and we can mold things around your requirements.


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Jeanette J.A. Holden, PhD, Queen's University, Kingston, Ontario, CANADA
This is a brief update on my brother, Jim – please see Jim's Story in the Adult Manual or at our website (www.autismresearch.ca) for the first summary that I wrote about Jim in March 2005. It is always an honour to share with you tidbits of Jim's progress. They are tidbits, because it is impossible to tell all that is happening to him – but I hope that those of you who know me, can see the huge smile on my face and the tears of joy, as I write this…. So much has changed in the last year….
Jim is composing long sentences – automatically using the very many words that he knows how to spell, and each day adding new ones to his repertoire. He talks about our cats; gardening and driving his tractor (yes, he learned to drive a tractor lawnmower last summer!); the snow and wind and thunderstorms and lightning; the bluejays and finches and hummingbirds at the birdfeeders; Capilano Suspense Bridge; mountains around Bellingham; Ottawa, Toronto, Vancouver, Victoria, Squamish, Spokane, Yakima; motorcycles; the list goes on. He tells us what he wants to write, and he starts off the writing by himself – only asking for help when he can't remember a word he learned some time ago or when he wants to learn a new word.
And his pronunciation is unbelievable! He practices and practices until he "hears" that he says it perfectly. His speech-language pathologist cannot believe the difference – she now understands what he says, and I know that others do too – including strangers. This is the greatest gift of all – to be understood by others.
Jim is really starting to understand the sounds of letters, so that he begins to figure out what letter is needed when we emphasize the sound. Not an easy task for him, because English is not easy for most people to learn to write when they are adults! But Jim persists and is never tired of learning new words and phrases.
It's hard to describe the joy on Jim's face when we scroll through the satellite dish menu of programs on TV, and he recognizes and reads the ones that he likes to watch. There are no words in our language to express the absolute and pure joy in his eyes.
Jim still has a lot he wants to say, and sometimes we don't understand him – but he doesn't give up easily. Names of people are the hardest, because he seems to know so many through listening to the radio and TV and, because he has basically a photographic memory, we can't tell if it is a name from the last day or week, or year or 45 years ago. But if we can't guess it, he proceeds to tell us the story: a few weeks ago, he told us about someone who was a Boy Scout leader, about the green shirt and hiking and camping and fishing. We know that this is not a memory of when his brother was a boy scout, but is about someone who ran in the last election! Yes, Jim voted – and he learned to say the name of the candidate he was voting for. When we went to the polling station, and I said that Jim needed help reading the candidate's name, Jim proudly (and loudly) stated it – so much for a secret ballot! We still don't know which candidate Jim was talking about who had been a boy scout, but at least we have part of the story.
Jim is 53 – he's sharing his interests and knowledge with us and with anyone who listens. A pretty special gift from someone the doctors said should be institutionalized when he was only a few years old.
For those of you who have children who are non-verbal – don't give up. I know how hard it is when weeks and years go by and the progress seems slow, but never give up. They have a lot to say, and we just have to figure out how to help them say it. Jim talks constantly in the evenings – we don't have to watch TV, because Jim gives a run-down on what is happening! Sometimes it is nice just to sit back and listen to his voice and to watch his expressions and see the glow in his eyes as he looks proudly at us, sharing his knowledge and his understanding. I hope that all of you who are waiting for those magic moments will soon have them too.


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Garrett Wolfe's reaction to a hamstring injury is understandable.
"It's frustrating, no doubt about it," the 5-foot-7, 186-pound Chicago Bears rookie running back said Sunday after tweaking his right hamstring returning kickoffs Saturday morning.
No timetable has been announced for his return, but Wolfe thinks it will be within a week.
"It's one of those things you feel it out — when you can go, you go," he said. "It's kind of a mild strain, nothing major. I know these hamstrings. I've dealt with this multiple times."
Offensive coordinator Ron Turner is encouraged that Wolfe already told him he feels better.
"Obviously, every day he misses is going to hurt him," Turner said. "He needs reps. If it's more than a week, it will be tough.
"Injuries are part of this business, unfortunately."
Wolfe will continue to attend position and team meetings and practice when he's not in the athletic trainer's room receiving treatment.
"You see the guys out here competing and having fun, and this is a great time of year," said Wolfe, selected in the third round of the NFL draft out of Northern Illinois. "This time of year is unlike any other time.
"It's most definitely frustrating because it's my first pro camp. You don't want people to think you're copping out. No one has said anything like that to me. But, granted, you're going to have that feeling if you can't go out and go to work with your teammates like everyone else — you're going to feel a little upset about that."
Cameraman to rescue
A serious situation was avoided just as Saturday's practice began. A large golf cart filled with water jugs and other fluids had its driver fall off, with the cart heading straight toward fans sitting by a roped off area. Comcast cameraman Eric Fogle jumped on the cart and applied the break just before anyone was hit.
Fogle said he didn't want to receive any attention for his action.
Sunday sights
Sunday was the first day the team wore game pants instead of shorts. ... The action was calmer on the field, with very few plays drawing a reaction from the crowd. A Rex Grossman run up the middle got some applause. His best completion was a 30-yarder to Rashied Davis. ... Devin Hester was the only player seen having to do push-ups, presumably for dropping a catchable pass. ... The first fight of camp broke out on the field but was quickly terminated.
Contact staff writer Reed Schreck at 815-987-1381 or email@example.com.