http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/mbarchers/F2693941

Emma

It's worth remembering that lots of people do read fanfic, too - it's not to be knocked in that respect. If you are writing because you want to be read, then it's worth considering. Since I wrote it, over 600 people have asked to read my N&S sequel, and I've e-mailed it out to them. (I know because I've kept an address list, and use it to publicise my novels when they come out.) That's only by them finding mention of it it by themselves, or by recommendation, because it hasn't been posted anywhere on the net since early 2005, and then only in bits, and I don't say on my website that it's available by e-mail or anything. (Mainly because it's crap and Ilm too embarrassed!) 600 is, I think, a lot - and I still get one or two requests a week, on average. (Nearly as many as my flipping published novels have sold!!!!) And I'm sure that popular fanfic writers who are currently posting get far, far higher numbers of readers. I love it, as a phenomenon I love the creativity it engenders, especially among young writers - and I love how democratic it is - the fact it is all shared for free.

R x

(Did I mention, I think fanfic's great?)

600 is, I think, a lot

Certainly is - what a brilliant way to build up a readership! *Ponders to self whether releasing unpublished novels the right way to go*

Emma

<Added>

*Comes to rapid conclusion that it sooooo isn't*

I agree it's a bad idea in general, Emma - and I've never tidied up the m/s of my fanfic novel, and it really is quite embarrassing and crap. But that's kind of the point of fanfic - it's very emotional and taps into a shared obsession, and the finer points of the writing are not the point - it's about getting under the skins of characters you and the readers both love, a sort of shared private joke, a shared private fantasy. It's why I don't 'advertise' it on my website where 'normal' readers might venture, but leave it to be discovered by the North and South nutters, who will take it in the spirit in which it was intended. But quite a few of them have gone on and bought my 'real' books, and been back in touch about them, so it is certainly an interesting little sideline into a market. I guess it's much like having a blog, and picking up readers that way - which you must find happens to you, Emma?

R x

Rosy, sorry, I didn't mean in the least to suggest that YOU shouldn't have - because as you say, fanfic is quite a different beast, and anyone who comes upon it will know in what spirit to read it. I think it's a great idea. No, I was thinking of my earlier efforts, which were novels written to be published, just turned out to be not-good-enough ones.

Though I'm always tempted to post the scene in ASA which I wrote for the US edition, but isn't in the UK edition.

Emma

S'OK, Emma, I knew you weren't suggesting my fanfic was crap. Iwas suggesting it was!



R x

Try www.fanfiction.net if you like that sort of thing

It certainly helps with building up a readership. I've been asked several times if I also write original fiction and fanfic readers have then gone on to read that too.