Fan Fiction Friction

Hello, my name is Tad Stones and I have inspired fan fiction.

Lots of it evidently.  Not only with my "furry" series, CHIP 'N' DALE'S RESCUE RANGERS and DARKWING DUCK but with most of my other Disney shows that added characters to the worlds created by the feature films. The fans that write stories based on them undoubtedly know those worlds better than me.  

They don't just tell stories with the existing characters.  They create new characters to flesh out the stories.  I am constantly being asked to read the stuff and give an opinion.

And I never do.

The general reason for my reluctance is a legal one.  I'm still an active writer in the animation industry. It's feasible that I could work with those characters again and I can't risk someone thinking I stole an idea from them.  Of course, the chances of a new Darkwing series is a longshot but I don't need anyone thinking a given plot point or gag came from their stuff even if the characters and settings are different.

But the main reason I avoid it is that it tends to be a lose/lose situation. I don't want break the heart of a fan by judging it like I would if they were a writer on the show but that's the only way I CAN judge it. I might consider giving notes if they were looking for constructive criticism but only if I knew them really well.  Many people who SAY they want criticism don't. They just want me to be thrilled with their work. That's an emotional land mine I'd rather step around.

And if the story turns out to be great and the writing wonderful ... I'd tell them to stop.  Why?

I get the appeal of fan fiction. It's not only the writing of new stories about favorite characters. It's about sharing the stories with a community of fans.

A fan fiction writer gets feedback and, well, fans. It's akin to working on staff on a series. Both writers are building on a shared universe. Most of my television career is made of series and movies based on pre-existing feature films so in some way I and my staff were doing the same thing. 

Sometimes fans take on the personalities of their new characters for online role playing which is really more a form of improv than writing.  That's a creative outlet that's usually outside "normal" TV writing although some of my staff did it at least once.  It was an online chat for a Disney Channel site. Kids got the chance to talk to their favorite characters.  I think it was for Disney's Hercules.  I know at least Bob Schooley, Mark McCorkle and I were there so that the characters could answer questions in character.   

But the most fun I had on a series was on Darkwing Duck because the only character that wasn't original was a revamped version of Launchpad McQuack.  In an original series, there's not the same comfort zone you get working with a pre-made world and its cast, but it's awesome creating all that stuff from the ground up.

This post is illustrated with the character, Malicia Macawber, the Demon Queen of St. Canard.  She's the creation of Angie Shea who runs The Old Haunt, a Darkwing Duck fansite.  That's all I know about the character because of the above reasons. (And frankly, the "Demon Queen" stuff I learned just now when search for the attached link.)  

Even in ignorance, I can't help thinking that it would be great if Angie and company took their creations out of St. Canard, scrubbed them clean of any Disney connections and published a shared anthology on Kindle.  Imagine!  Creators being paid for creating.  Pretty sweet.  

Talking about fandom in any way can be tricky.  People are quick to get defensive or assume they're being attacked.   But what I'm saying boils down to this:  Be inspired by the things you love then take the bigger step of creating something of your own.  Then share it.  

You'll end up inspiring others.     --Tad

Comments

[David]

Batman, Superman, Sherlock Holmes, Johnny Quest, Dark Water, Histeria - all franchises or cartoon series that I daydream about contributing to or resurrecting. So, I can relate to all those fan fiction writers.

Like most everyone else, I'm certain my ideas are all "gold, Jerry, gold", but sometimes truth hurts. Sometimes the difference between a successful writer and a starving artist isn't about who has a better idea, it's about who has the ability to paint the full picture for the reader. And an original idea is the best opportunity to showcase your talent, in my opinion.

This was another informative post. Thanks for giving us your perspective.

My question is this, before your career in writing, was there a particular franchise that inspired you? Did you have a hard time shaking the thought of those pre-existing characters and stories to branch off and create your own?

[Darkwing Dragon]

Thanks for posting this Tad!
Very informative, and supportive for us Darkwing fans!
:D

[DorkyDarkwing (of Deviantart)]

Ohh! Thanks so much for this Mr. Stones! :D Glad I read this before I start my own Fan fiction~

[Colleen Hickey]

ThanksTad. I hope I can make my works more than just fanfiction. Maybe we could even be partners.

[JerRocks2day]

Hey Tad. I thought this is a very good post. :)

A lot of the stuff I'm doing now has kinda moved away from the 'fanfic' universe into doing my own thing and creating my own characters and their universes. I still consider the possibilities of working on pre-existing titles (like Darkwing Duck if Marvel decides to do another Disney Afternoon comic block, or Ape Entertainment's Sesame Street Comics [if Sesame Workshop gives them a go]), but try to keep my original ideas open and moving forward.

Also, I'd like to add two things that I find really helpful (if you don't mind)l:

1) Never go around and telling the whole wide world about your ideas. It never hurts to share your ideas with a some other people who'll help you along the way, but as you mentioned about your policy regarding fanfic, you don't want to put yourself at risk for stealing ideas, or have your ideas stolen.

2) When you write stories, look within yourself and base them on things that happened to you [emotional events, personal, etc]. I think it was DC/WB writer, Paul Dini who mentioned this as advice too, in an interview.

Also, I wanna thank you for all those notes you gave me on my sketch of Rocket-- your original character. I've been drawing the human figure's body parts for weeks.

[Bill Hayes]

Hmmm, I wonder how many of the people reading this blog know the significance that the song "I Was Kaiser Bill's Batman" by Whistling Jack Smith played in your early career.

[Tad]

Hi Bill! I started my Disney career still whistling it but the only whistles allowed were the "whistles while we work."

Hope you're doing well.