an all-time favorite story of mine is an overlap b/w harry potter and buffy. it was so well written, and actually got me into buffy whereas i previously knew so little about the series.

after exhausting all of the well-written stories i could find in this niche, i decided to open up a blank word doc, and start my own. i’ve had fun emulating JKR’s style, and using british spelling and vocab. i’ve also done extensive canon research to make sure my references are accurate; on the other hand, i’ve created my own twists on histories, events, and i’ve created my own new magic, as well as borrowed popular non-canon magic that is establish in the world of potter fanfic, referred to as “fanon.” (a couple simple examples of fanon are the use of an alarm charm to wake yourself up in the morning, or various pregnancy potions that glow through the skin if the drinker is pregnant. they get passed around and re-used, and almost feel like canon to me now).

i do write rated-M fanfic, and i prefer epic narratives, often mimicking the length of the books themselves, and not just a one-off (a shorter story written in one installment). the rated M aspect is an interesting twist on something like potter fanfic, which was originally created for younger readers and never approaches anything more risque than a kiss or the word “damn.” my characters say swear words, have sex, and get naked. writing scenes that are downright erotic is also a fun and interesting challenge!

okay, rambling is done. just wanted to give some insight and comment on a topic i really love!!

Fanfic is also a good way to be introduced to a new fandom. It’s a form of advertisement. Things like doujinshi are widely accepted in Japan where there aren’t copyright infringement laws and manga-ka encourage fanartists to create unique works based on an original idea. We can’t do this in America, which is why we’re limited to the internet, and fanfic is probably the best way to fool around with characters and scenairos. A good fanfiction writer is able to formulate a storyline to the point that readers forget it isn’t canon.

All in all, do be careful with your wording in this article.

Also, “One of the best parts of the comic, however, is the spinoff:” (to quote yourself again). Are you saying that the best part of the original work is that another artist made a spin-off? That is insulting to the first artist who made the original comic.

Once again, as a fan artist, I question your word choice in this phrase: “the action of taking an idea and remaking them”. The word “taking” implies theft and plagarism. Yes, fan works often involve copyrighted characters. Fan works are indeed grey-areas. Fan art acknowledges and credits the original artists. The work is a tribute to the original story that the fan is so fond of. It is, however, part of the heart and mind of the fan. Did you ask permission from the webcomics’ artists before you referenced them and posted their personal artwork?

Saying that the best part of Roommates is its spinoff is an insult to the original, stand-alone work. Furthermore, despite how it is “defined” as illustrated fanfiction, it is not “fanfiction” – it is doujinshi, which should be covered in its own article. Regardless of either of these, did you contact the artists before featuring their work in your article? Did you get their permission to use their pictures?

The *basis* of creativity, basis defined as “foundation,” is the invention of something novel and unique, and solely yours. It may be creative to borrow others’ work and tweak it, thus fanfiction, fanart, etc., but that is hardly creativity’s anchor.

This article has potential, but it needs a lot of work. And a lot of the sarcasm can go.