Chapter 5

So.... Is that what the title is referring to?

Would you fork over your hard-earned cash for fanfiction that has been pulled and published as original fiction with the characters renamed?

My first instinct was yes, to support the writer who's put in so much hard work to create something that gave me a lot of enjoyment.

BUT, there are issues:

Piggybacking - If the writer is piggybacking on the Twilight fandom just to get a reader base, and then tries to make money off it with no credit or royalties given to the original work. I'm not necessarily opposed to writers trying to attract attention to their work using whatever means (as a reader I can choose whether or not to read the work), it's the making money off somebody else's fanbase bit I object to.

Quality Issues - There are so many terrible fics out there, even finding a half-readable, properly spelled and punctuated one is a relief. I recently downloaded a published ex-fic but could not get past the second page. The stilted writing I skimmed over in ff.net was no longer acceptable when presented in the form of a "proper" book.

What are your thoughts?

Do you write fan fiction?

Give us a little peek!

Post excerpts from your upcoming chapters here!

~ Don't forget to include a link to your story! ~

Who out there Twitters?  I've been seeing a lot of authors use their twitter to give teasers for their fics.  I was thinking about getting a twitter for my fanfic but I wondered if it was worth it or not?  Do you twitter?  Who do you follow?  Who is a lot of fun to follow? Do I miss a lot of teasers not being on twitter?  Is it a good way to get to know other fanfic fans?

Merry

*I decided to twitter, twitter name is the same merrygreeneyes

Hi I hope this campfire is allowed, if its not feel free to delete it. I'm maybe looking at writing something to do with Morocco. Does anyone know anything about Morocco? History of what the royals did -15th century particularly. Wedding traditions, food, everyday life, clothes, food, etc? Does anyone know the language they spoke at the 15th century court? Arabic or Berber? Anything would be helpful. Thank you.

To make it more interactive what do you do to research stories you are writing? 

Just wondering if anyone else caught tonight's season premiere.

Is anyone else wanting a Sookie/Eric pairing this season?

"My name is Eric Northman.  I'm a taxpayer and small business owner.  And I approve this message."

*warning spoilers inside*

Who or what are you dreaming of?

Is there someone or something you miss from childhood or last week?

Remember when Mom had bouncy hair (and her secret was beer shampoo!)?

Well, I'll be honest.

I'm dreaming of the days when I used to get to chat with JANDCO regularly.

And I miss Mom's soft hair, which she overblowdried over the years. I learned a lesson from that, let me tell you. It's a cold day in hell when I get a blowdryer to my head. No way to I want a head full of broom bristles when I'm her age.

Okay, so I'm in desperate need of a good laugh. It's been way hotter here than I'm used to, we've run out of ice cream and tea and I think I'm one step away from punching the kids outside that are having a water fight. Seriously, who has a waterfight at 8.15pm on a Sunday?
Does anyone have any suggestions for hilarious fics? Stories that made you laugh so hard you nearly choked on the drink you were drinking? That made you literally cry with laughter?

I need to know! And hopefully I haven't read it before.

(I would just search for humour related stories in the ffn toolbar, but some that are listed in that genre aren't funny. Or at least I didn't find them to be... maybe it's the whole Brit/American comedy clash?)

Thanks in advance!

EDIT - I had no idea that so many people would share with me! (Including authors that I actually love!) So thank you - I've vowed to make my way through the suggestions, especially the ones that have come up more than once or twice, because they must be good. CHEERS!

Hey everyone!

I just wanted to ask if anyone can remember a fanfic where Bella was an air hostess and Edward a pilot? I was flying from one city to another and it just came to me but I can't remember what it was...

Thanks in advance.

Caution:  Hot Topic Ahead

You know sometimes I am surprised (Correction: I USED to be surprised) at the amount of stories that contain horrific violence against women (usually Bella) wherein those stories are presented as romance. Am I the only one troubled by this? That raped, abused Bella comes to love and admire the same Edward who is raping and abusing her? I feel like we are doling a terrible disservice to the huge percentage of women for whom rape and abuse is shockingly real.

I know there are some who will defend such stories saying they're just fiction, that in a free society we are allowed to write and read what we want. BUt I wonder, do these stories have no reprecussions? Do you think that such a multitude of these kind of stories desensitize us to real violence against women? If a study was done, wherein a population was assigned to read stories like "A Voice In the Darkness by Katinki and another population was assigned stories like "En Pointe" which population do you think would be more inclined to help and assist victims of rape, human trafficking or domestic violence?

Now, I am a proponent of free speech. I don't want anyone limiting my right to read and write what I want. There are times when I'm in the mood for some graphic smut. But violence against women sets my teeth on edge, and I think those kind of stories don't belong on ffnet. Just because I have the right to read, write what I want does not give me the right to publish and distribute those stories in a schoolyard.

But that's a different issue. What is the motivation behind rape fantasies? I have trouble believing that authors that spend months doing a multi chap about a rape fantasy has been educated in the realities of human trafficking, and the aftermath of rape.  Do you think stories about an abused and raped Bella coming to love her perpetrator are fair game in a fandom made up predominatly of women, of whom 1 in 4 is likely to be the victim of sexual assault sometime in her life? Do these stories help us help  and understand each other? Or is it just fiction, having no RL connection at all?

*I'm making this post for the lovely Whitefang, who can't make this post due to technical difficulties.*

Whitefang is curious about Pandora bracelets.

Do any of you have one or several? Are they worth it? Are they compatible with other bracelets?

She's interested in buying one for her mom, bff and herself...but would like more info. on them from the trustworthy folks of the forest.

Feel free to post pics of yours if you have any!

Now I've never done a campfire before because well...I never had the balls to be quite honest.

But something horrible has happened. I don't have HBO where I'm living right now. I'm going through a tough time with this damn economy so I didn't add it to my cable.

So, I can't watch the new season of True Blood tomorrow!

This is where maybe you ladies can come in at...does anyone know a way to watch a live stream of HBO online? The new HBOgo is only for people who have HBO on their cable plan so that's a no-go. No pun intended.

Anyways, me asking is obviously a long shot but I figured if anyone would know, it'd be you gals here.

Thanks bunches in advance!

 FYT:

Can anyone recommend some Twific inspired by P&P? It doesn't necessarily have to be Regency era...just a retelling ala Bridget Jones. I've been in a P&P mood lately but I'm unwilling to move away from Twilight in order to scratch that itch! Thanks!

Sorry to post a campfire for this but could someone link me to the google fanfic site?

I had a link but it is not working anymore. Thank you!!!!!!!!

Wanted to get this campfire out before the end of FFFA.

I'm so excited for this game today (in two hours). Who is gonna watch with it? Who you going for? Get in here and talk futbol with me! You KNOW you've missed these campfires as much as I have.

Spam me with pictures of very hot men.

I would love to see how our tastes are similar/alike.

Post your ideal.

Will someone please come discuss this fic with me?  I know I'm late with this.  I usually am, since I pretty much only read completed fics.  But this story is kind of driving me crazy and I want to talk about it.  Have you read it before?  Are you reading it right now? 

This is the first time I've read any of Savage7289's stories and I'm impressed with the writing because it does get under your skin.  It effects you.  But seriously, these characters are bothering me.  I'm in the middle of Chapter 23: Realize and Rationalize.  I think it's safe to say there will be spoilers in this campfire.

EDIT:  Thank you everyone for responding!  It's so good to talk this out and I like hearing what everyone thinks.  And I'm going to get back to you but we are spontaneously taking the kids to the lake.  BBL! 

Should I give in and take them? I'm so sick of trying to find the perfect hotel, no smells, no noise, no old furniture, no light coming in from the window, no vibrations from the trains W.T.F. People think I'm just being difficult, but, really, it's a matter of survival for me. I've taken every single natural remedy product available, and NOTHING. Not even as placebos. But when going abroad, and needing to take care ot young children, yes, sleeping is important.

Anyone tried them? Is taking them? Do they make you feel like shit? Will the mess up my sleep system even more, even if I take them for just one week?

"I sleep sometimes. I'm just not very good at it"

Extra points to whoever gets which Twific that Edward Cullen's quote from

So, it turns out "Daddy Dearest" by swangirl66 (or twilightsweetie, as she is apparently now known as) was not actually by swangirl66, but was copied word for word from Barbara Delinsky's novel, "The Stud."

Now, I never read this story, but the fact that this stuff happens is really sad. And it angers me. It makes me ask what would compel a person to rip off someone else's work, word for word, and readily accept the nice reviews that people leave. How dare they waltz into the fandom and try to dupe people. Apparently, this author also plagiarized a number of other Harlequin novels.

Why do you think people do this? Is it just human nature to want to be "included"?

Props to the person(s) who caught swangirl66 out for the plagiarist she is - I like the constant vigilance displayed in our community. That being said, do you think our fandom is as vigilant as it could be?

EDIT: The profile now has a message claiming that swangirl/twilightsweetie committed suicide. It's obvious this message is not from the "sister". Look, just leave. You plagiarized. Don't fake your death.

EDIT 2: Okay, hopefully she has left now. It's so lame, I can't even be bothered checking. 

Thanks to everyone who participated in the campfire!

I have the option to replace one of my classes, yet I can't decide what to replace it with.

I have four picked out:

EDU 367 Elementary & Secondary School Media
This class will explore the role of the teacher librarian and role of the library media center at three different levels of education (elementary, middle, and high school). Students will research programs, library practices, teaching styles and management in the facilitation of a library media center.

ECE 214 Nutrition & Health of Children and Families
This course provides a study of the health and nutrition needs of children and families.

ENG 318 Creative Writing
This course provides writing experiences in fiction, nonfiction or poetry for students who have a strong interest in creative expression and have some experience in writing in one of these genres. Various aspects of the imaginative process are explored with separate application made to the genres of fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Students choose one genre, participate in workshops with instructors, join with instructors and writing practitioners in critiquing colleagues' work, and make presentations of their own work.

ECE 335 Children's Literature
Students learn how to select and use children's books and other media relating to physical, cognitive, emotional, and social development of babies and preschool-aged children.

I'm leaning heavily towards the last two, becuase at some point in my education I plan to get an English degree.

Has anyone taken any of these classes?

Thanks!!!