I have a confession to make.
Even though I’m a published author and I take my career seriously, there are times when I feel the urge to write what I want to write, and give it away for free. And that’s when I go over to the Fiction Press and Fan Fiction sites.
You’ve probably heard of them, especially if you have kids. They’re internet sites where anyone can go, start a free account, and post whatever kind of fiction they want. What makes it so intoxicating is the relaxation, the total freedom.
What would happen if Ambassador Thorn from THE OMEN asked Bruce Springsteen to help him destroy the Anti-Christ? What if Queen Susan of Narnia had to fend off an invasion of dinosaurs with her sexy ex Prince Rabadash?
When I write as Dan Sickles (at FanFiction) or Cynthia Brent (at FictionPress) I don’t have to worry about chasing trends or finding a marketable hook. I don’t have to steam up a romance I think is honest and convincing. I don’t have to pretend to know what I don’t know, or feel what I don’t feel. I just cut loose, and I never know what will happen next.
Am I losing my mind? What happens when authors give it away for free? Have you ever felt the temptation? Discuss!
Carol Storm is the author of HIALEAH HEAT, an erotic thriller set in Miami, and HUNTED WITNESS, a romantic suspense set in the Florida Keys. Both are available at Phaze books, www.phaze.com. Visit Carol at her blog, THE STORM REPORT, www.carol63storm.blogspot.com or on Facebook!
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2 comments:
I've never tried either site, but I bet the results are fascinating and at times hilarious.
Carol, I wasn't aware of those two sites. But then, I'm not that much of a fanfic writer.
However, I certainly understand the appeal and the crazy fun of letting loose... and, I say, go for it!
Authoring to be pubbed is a different kind of writing imo... as you described. It's still you, your heart and your soul, but it's written from a different aspect of you, and crafted in a way that is often more limiting.
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