ok, so I logged in today on the fine web-stie of Veritaserum, and I looked at all the new stuff that's going on with news and up-dates from the Harry Potter cast and what J.K. Rowling is up to lately, like always, and I came across the part where she said something about author-fan creations or something like that.

I asume that by author-fan creations, (or whatever it was that she called them) were to be what we call our "Fan-Fics." Now, I am a true reader and writer of Fan-Fics and I love them to pieces... but I guess I never really stopped to think about what Ms. Joanne Rowling would think about her series being alternated and switched to our likings. I guess now that I think about it I would be affended by it, because reading them might make me thing that my orginal creations weren't good enough.

So, what do y'all think about this?? Please tell me your opinions!!! Thanks for your time and God Bless your day!!!

~First Post~

I guess the only really offense for JKR would be if we actually tried to publish them in the real world. I mean if I were her I would be proud that my series had aroused so much interest in fans that they had actually decided to continue the work.
Posting disclaimers at the beginning/end of them might help though. As to the readers actually believing the stories in the fan-fics I doubt highly that any true HP reader would prefer the events of their fellow members creative geniuses.
And although this topic will most likely arouse a new interest and general confusion about the writing of fan-fics; these great compilations of fact ,fiction and creativity should be more than a compliment to JKR. Our favorite author I might add

~Veritaserum14~

Meh, I suppose it could be somewhat annoying, but like said only if we tried to do something big out of them or publish them, a bit like the whole HP Lexicon bit. We innocent little artist writing about something we love, having fun changing it around and imagining how some things could actually have gone. It's not technically wrong! I think it would also maybe be a sort of honor to have people actually taking the time to write amazing stories just for the fun of it with a world she created! I would, anyway.

I have to agree with Veritaserum14, The only way that Ms. Rowling would find our fanfics annoying is that if we tried to publish them in the ( I hate to use this term) but in the "real world" disclaimers at the begining or ending of the person's fanfic to stop people thinking we would really try to tarnish Ms. Rowling's amazing stories.

I don't think JK Rowling minds much. Actually, I think she talks about fanfiction somewhere on her website. She said something about fanfiction being creative and that she's happy that HP inspired creativity.

I think that reading fanfics of an author's work would be interesting- it's seeing how someone interprets your ideas and images. You might have pictured someone as a completely different character to how someone else portrays them. And reading all of the past fanfics- such as teacher's or students pre-hogwarts-book-one lives would be exciting to see what readers and fans thought that particular characters might do with their lives.

I think though, that it would get a little insulting if you started blantently changing things. For example, I really hated the Harry-Ginny relationship. But I would find a fanfic quite insulting to JKR if it said, for example (and oh please don't let this be anything here because I have to insult the fanfics writers and say that I don't actually read a lot of fanfic!):

Harry and Ginny started their lives together only for Harry to realise what a twit Ginny is and left her for ____ <- insert name of character there.

An exception to this, of course, would be if the fanfic author were to state that this is life if that character had chosen a different path. The 'what if' questions.


People may not like what an author has written, or parts of what an author has written, but I believe that people should at least respect that it's not our book. It's the author's book.

Exactly! I just wanted to add- it's not like we're doing anything wrong, again. We're still taking her things, and it all belongs to her, and most of us make that quite obvious with disclaimers, and come on- when you see Harry Potter in a story most of the readers should know that they didn't invent him!



That's very true; if I was JKR, I'd find it pretty cool to look through a fan's eyes or mind and see how they interpret or what they like about the series, how deep they analysed things. I'd only get a bit offended if people started insulting my work through their fics, or completely changing EVERYTHING because they don't like it. If someone changed absolutely everything about the series because there wasn't anything they liked, than what's the point of being a fan?

If the answer's "No we shouldn't" then i'm in trouble, because i've written heaps.

I comepletly agree with you, Wings. Fanfiction, i see as something t see me through to the next book (And as there's not another one coming, i'm writing it even more), and a way to get creative and explore different ideas. It helps you with writing, and it's fun.

I'd be flattered to know that people liked my work enough to write about it, but maybe JK thinks differently. If she banned fanfic's (Like some author's have) I'd be really disappointed, but i would respect her decision.

The answer is not about whether we should or shouldn't at this point because we are creative beings too and allowed to let our imaginations fantasize about how we would have like our favorite or least favorite characters to turn out. However, anyone who writes fanfiction should 100% respect that ultimately these characters are JKRs creation. Even if we as authors disagree with something she wrote in cannon, it would be kind to at least make reference to that if we intend to change it.
I personally like to follow as much of cannon as I can...especially timelines. Anything else that I interject into my story shouldn't really distract from the original tale that JKR wove into existence. But that's just me. I do love to read other stories that completely change the characters behaviors and relationships around though because that gets me thinking as Pixymajikput it "What if?"
Honestly, the only time I think JKR would be offended is if she feels she is not given credit for the idea that she created in the first place. Other then that, how flattering that her writing has created such interest and sparked such a fandom.

Hey all! So I pretty much agree with what you guys all said, I don't think she minds at all. I'm sure she's flattered so many people adore her characters to the extent they do and is happy she has inspired such a large number of people to try their hand at writing.

I am just posting to add one little tid bit I was listening to the second half of Potterwatch yesterday, the one with the interview with Jo, and she mentioned fan fictions and how she thought a lot of them were funny! She was talking about how she reads the first lines every once in a while and sees things like "My name is Lily Potter and you thought I was dead" or something like that! Then she talked about how she's sure there is a fan fic out there about Hedwig's death from his point of view and Madam Pomfrey's secret love life and stuff so I think she just takes them as good fun!

~Chels~

I think fan fics are great. It gives a chance for people to let there feelings out. However, I think that JK must of had quite a laugh looking at all us FanFic writers before Dh came out. YOu know, all those people who thought that strange stuff was gonna happen. Now I kinda resent myself for actually thinking they were going to happen!


I always enjoy reading romance fics. Especially Ron and Hermione ones. Ahhh... sweet romance!@

If we can't, I'm in deep, boiling water!

Seriously, though, I believe we are still allowed to write fan fictions. As far as I know, we're all ok as long as we don't publish them. It's not fair for us to make money from JKR's genius.

But if we're just like writing for the sake of writing on sites like this, I think everyone's fine.

I agree with all of you. I think she laughs a lot when she read all those kinds "tributes" to her work. I love and enjoy reading fanfics, and I'm trying to write some at the moment, and I think a disclaimer helps, because it'd be different if we publish them saying "All the characters are trully mine" or whatever. Besides, if I were J.K., I'd llove to see all the outcomes of my work, because now people is reading and writing more, and it'd be funny to see the crazy stories it occurs to some people -- I like them, it's not an offense!

So, snapesgirlforlife, have we convinced you?

Keep on writing, we loooove them (specially if we are talking about R/Hr ones ... lovelovelovelove), and post again to tell us ... are you convinced or not?

He, he

(short, but it was all I wanted ...)

I believe writing fan-fictions is showing support towards the author and it should be flattering that many people want to be writers for such a popular series. The only way that fan-fictions can become problems are when we try to publsih them for money. But in all honesty, reading and writing fan-fictions is something that many fans do because they are so dedicated to whatever they love.

I think that it's really okay to write fan fictions. In some interviews with JK Rowling, she says how she thinks fan fictions are good, and she likes fans expressing their creativity with her characters.

Besides, fan fictions aren't really an offense unless we try to publish them in the real world. That wouldn't be okay... I mean, why change the way people think about the characters already? It just wouldn't feel right if fan fictions were published.

I don't think writing fan fictions is a bad idea. I sort of think of it as respectful, you know: You love a story so much that you spend a whole lot of time focussing on it or writing about what you think should happen.

But when you publish a fan fic, then you get into the wrong side of things. You're making money off someone else's work, and that's cheating and illegal. So, all in all, not a great idea.

I love reading those Fan-fics! Especially one of them...Beautiful Soul, was it? I think JKR would be proud to know that her books have created so many great ideas. Hey, if I wrote a book I'd be sooo happy to know that people loved my ideas enough to think about their own.

Like Ginevra Molly Weasly said, as long as we don't try and publish our Fan-fic, then it's just a awesome idea, and I'm glad that you can do that on Veritaserum. Besides, with Book #7 already out, and if you want more HP, what else should you read?

And by the way, gryffindorgirlie, the R/Hr ones aren't bad, but you gotta love the Lily/James stories. I like THOSE the best!

On a last note, like some people said; these characters DO NOT belong to us, and we have to respect that they belong to JKR. But other than that, I think she would love to read some of the ones in Veritaserum. If I was her, I would!

Hey first of all they could never threaten the integrity or feelings of J.K.R. by publishing Fan-Fics because it would be impossible, and second of all I think that fan-fics are important because they allow the young (or old) minds of Harry Potter to develop and flourish in creativity.

Well, as long as the authors of the fan fics aren't publishing them and getting paid for them or anything, I really don't think it's a problem - JKR has said that she enjoys reading them, anyway, I don't think they're a bad thing, they're good to read in between book releases and when you need your fresh dose of HP!

I really enjoy reading fan fics. Some people get upset with some of the authors for using too much of JKR's scenes or plots but then the authors of fan fics twist the story into their own. It is refreshing reading different types of stories based off the characters. Some of the stories have quite interesting plots that raise questions of "What if?"

So when is it considered crossing the line? Is posting on websites and blogs etc considered pubishing or is it just when you try to get paid? Personally I think you cross the line when you try to get paid for writing something.

Well, I like fan fic because it's not fair that we had so little in the books about our favourite characters and ships like: R/Hr, Tonks/Lupin and of course, Snape and Lily.

Some of the fan fictions are very well written. I'm a fan of those who stick to JK's story. I don't think she would mind that I played a bit with her characters and twisted the story but in a way that it fits in the books. Maby she would be pleasently surprised to read one or two of the many fan fictions out there.

i think that fan-fics arent that bad. i mean like it was mentioned earlier that it would probably upset JKR if we actually try to publish them. personally if i were her i'd feel flattered that fans would be having fun creating stories & stuff knowing that all there materials come from her work. besides if it wasnt for her stories there wouldnt be any fan-fics & so i'd say that there is nothing wrong because at the end of the day the real story , the true version of harry potter lies in within tha hands of JKR & that creative imagination she had to publish & inspire & that should be good enough . sure go for it have fun& rite your own stories but keep in mind the real stroy . thats all

Really, not to judge her character, but she probably knows that she did a great job on the series, and there's way to stop people from being opinionated about what they would like to be different. I would think that she wouldn't care to much for people writing their own versions of scenes that they'd like different, as long as they aren't making fun of her work. If i was in her position i would adore the fact that people care enough about the books that they would take time out of their day to write their own spin-offs or changing a few scenes, but i guess you'd just have to hear it from her to know how she feels. I'm not exactly a big fan of fan-fics, but if i do come across one that stands out, i will take time to read it. But, seriously, i doubt any fan-fic will be better than what J.K. herself wrote, not to offend anybody, but i mean it was her idea

Well, fanfictions are the thoughts of the fans I think. So even if we didn't write it, we would still be thinking it. So it is basically just a way to share our thoughts in an artistic way. And that is not illegal´. As so many of you have said, JKR should just be flattered, and I think she is

Personally, I love fan-fiction. Especially Lily/James, they are so lovely. I love to use fan-fic to get some insight in what had happend before the books, actually, to learn about all the thinks we aren't told in the books. I think that is the beauty of it. We share our thoughts about what we don't know. And when we are addicted to HP, it is a good thing to read this, since book 8 will never be.

i think that as long as you abide the laws of copyright its cool

its is like some form of unofficial franchaise

though i must admit to reading a few fanfics where authors just havent paid any regard to the foundations i think that to credit rowling fanfic authors should pay attetion to the facts of HP world and not copy her style but adopt and adapt it
that is what i have done
the first link in my siggy is to my fanfic!

You do have a point, rach2603. You don't want to completely copy what JK has done, because then it's just like the books, without much originality. But you can't ignore what JK has done completely, or it isn't a very good fan fic. There's a line you have to walk, no doubt about it!

I see nothing wrong with Fanfic's. it is way to express our thoughts on the book without directly offending the author. In fact they say copying is the highest form of flattery so really the author in question should be pleased that people care enough to write about his or her book.

Authors can actually ban fan fictions? That seems stupid too me, well more it doesn't make sense how they could do that. It's not like people who are writing them are making money off them.



Exactly Lulu-lolo. I don't write very much fan fiction just because I never get the ideas down on paper but I've thought out whole stories at night or whatever. From a fan's point of view I say authors shouldn't care if people are writing about their characters, if people like your stories enough to spend their time thinking about them then you should take it as a compliment. Plus since the authors of the fics aren't making money off them I don't see any problems with it at all. It would be different if someone was say writing a story about Ron and Hermione or whatever then getting it published as an E-book or something but other than that it's seems stupid to get their underwear in a twist about it.

From an author's point of view (I write my own stories and someday want to publish something, don't we all? ) I don't know if I would want people messing up my characters and having them do things I wouldn't be writing about; although it could be very interesting.

So I say all-in-all fan fics are a good thing. Even if you change things it's sometimes cool to read them when they're completely different.

I don't see any problem with people writing fan-fics. Like people have said, nobody is making money off of it, and on most sites (I'm not entirely sure about this one) you're required to put a disclaimer at the beginning saying that the characters belong to whoever it is they belong to.

I love writing and while I don't think I'll ever end up getting published I can honestly say that I would be honored if people liked my stories enough to make up their own based off of it. In order for there to be fan-fictions about a book their has to be a fan base. People have mentioned that some authors get offended by fan-fics saying that it would make them feel like they didn't do a good enough job, but you have to really like a book to want to write a story based off of it to begin with. I've never once heard of people witting fan-fics for books that they hated. So really, authors should be flattered that they have a large enough fan-base for their books for people to write novel length stories based off of their characters and places.

I think she would either appreciate it or she'd think that her 'readers' didn't understand the book. No offense but there are some not so good fan fics out
there. But its a great way to show your lovee.

I think she said somewhere in her website that she isnt offended by fan-fics, that shes flattered that it inspired so much creativity. I agree with what has been said already; fanficiton is fine, so long as people dont try and publish what theyve written. Personally I think Barry Trotter was putting a toe discreetly over the line. Sometimes I like to imagine Jo sitting at her computer, a fanfiction in front of her, laughing softly at the fact that some madman has put Umbridge and Dobby together.