Fanfic: stigma fading, becoming more marketable

Reason has a piece about fan fiction, written by a fan ficiton writer, arguing that “Fanfic’s stigma seems to be receding: Some fan writers have snagged lucrative contracts, either for original works or for books based on older literary classics not protected by copyright.”

While the piece is largely positioned as a response to a particular anti-fanfic “diatribe” that apparently appeared in 2005, it’s still somewhat interesting.

Take Solo for the Living by Tanya Golubchik (a 27-year-old Australian molecular biologist who writes as “Tango”), a work in progress that is currently a hit in the Phantom of the Opera community. A novel-length sequel to the 2004 film that unfolds against the backdrop of the Franco-Prussian War, Solo features an original and sophisticated story that develops the film’s characters in an entirely new direction as well as a vividly depicted and carefully researched setting that rivals any published work of historical fiction.

Of course what I’m interested in there is the idea of the “Phantom of the Opera community.”

Anyway, the piece also mentions FanLib, which I wasn’t familiar with, and upon visiting the relevant site, still don’t fully understand. Its slogan is “people powered entertainment,” and its “software and services” promise to deliver “value” for marketers, and “fun” for fans. Hmmm.