DIY Publishing and Fanfiction

In the United States, fanfiction is technically illegal, but generally allowed as long as there’s no money changing hands and no claims to copyright.

Elsewhere in the world, however, fanfiction is so common that it’s often actually published and sold. In Japan, for example, amateur fans often get together to produce “dojinshi” books that are essentially fanfiction comics featuring popular characters in continuing adventures or alternate realities.

What’s impressive about a lot of the Japanese fanfiction is that it’s created by amateurs, but printed in small professional quality runs and sold in markets. Much of it is of a fairly low quality, but some of it is indistinguishable from the official products. Some of it is even arguably better.

What publishers need to realize is that there are certain groups of fans out there who want fanfiction, and who will always embrace it, no matter how awful it is. Rather than crank out crummy “official” pseudo-sequels and other publisher-sponsored derivative works, publishers might be smart to jump on the fanfic bandwagon and give fanfic authors the chance to legally sell their work in printed form… a win-win for everyone involved.

DIY Publishing and Fanfiction

Sean Jordan: Comic Book Writer’s Guide