When does an AU cross the line?

[Salmastryon]

We've all read them Alternate Universe fics. The vary from "What if?" to full on rearrangement of the world. I'll admit that I truly love AU fics.

However, I've noticed something in reading them over the years. At some point, some of the fics vary so wildly from the original series that the only simularities between the two are character names and physical characteristics. This does not mean the stories aren't great to read, they are.

However, have they crossed the line from being fan fiction to being original fiction inspired by a series? I'm sure you know the stories I'm talking about the ones where if you changed the names you would have no clue it had anything to do with the original series. At what point should an AU be written not as fan fiction but as original fiction?

[D-chan]

When every last character is OOC. End of story. You can have a canon story, non-AU, and if every character is OOC (or even several of them, at least two) it's AU and you should consider writing original fiction.

And I mean wildly OOC, not "there's a possibility of this" or "he/she's IC half the time."

[kanshu]

An AU is no longer an AU when the characters only resemble in looks and name, and other basic traits have been lost completely. Basically, when the character is rehashed into something completely different.
Though, that happens more often than not with "canon" stories as well, that are not supposed to be AU. So the question should be "When does fanfiction stop to be fanfiction and only plays in a setting inspired by someone else"...

[Salmastryon]

You are both right. I was only thinking about AU fiction, and when an author should go the step further and make the changes to make it completely original. The truth of the matter is there are stories which are suppose to be set in the canon universe that for intents and purposes could easily be original story with a few changes.

So, I guess the real questions is when should an author go to the extra effort and make it an original story, or should they. Is there some benefit in taking a largely original story and shoehorning it into a fanfiction?

[Me-Nuriko]

A very good example of a fic that easily could be turned into a an original story, is the very long WK story Salmastryon and I have read, but since it's NC-17 I can't say so much about it here. But when I read it one of my first thoughts was, why didn't she write this wonderful story as an original fiction? I bet she could have gotten it published if she had written it as such. At least if there was a little less sex in it.

What do you think, Salma?

[Salmastryon]

Oh definately. With more polish and editing and removal of unnecessary sex scenes or at least toning them down it could probably be published. Though, I think the m/m relationship would be more of a stumbling block in getting it published then the sex.

However, the characters in that are fairly in canon with the fandom depictation. So, I guess something being excellant foder to be an original story isn't limited to writing the character OOC. I remember an excellant Spirited Away fanfic that got taken down cause the author was going to turn it into an original story and try to get it published.

[Me-Nuriko]

Salma: I recently recommended a book on the 'Book recommendation' thread, which is m/m, so it's possible to get such books published. I must admit though, that in the book I recommended, the love is much more subtle than in the fic.

[MsCongeniality]

To kind of jump on a little late and go back to the original question...

I've wondered similar things about AUs before and have come to the conclusion that it's all a matter of perspective. That sounds like a cop-out answer to me, too but the simple fact is that no matter how far beyond the pale I think someone's AU fic is the author still believes that they are remaining true to the original story or characters in some way.

As for whether or not a story should be fanfic or original fiction, I guess that's a question of how comfortable the author is with the idea of original fiction. For my part, the answer is 'not very'. I have an idea for a large, expansive story that involves original characters and that I could very easily turn into a piece of original fiction but I'm not very comfortable in doing so because I don't have enough faith in my ability to create characters wholesale and I'd want to share it - but doubt that I'd have a decent forum to do that in outside of fanfiction.

And...erm...yeah. I guess that's it for now. That was my .02, your mileage may vary.

[Terra Fire]

Hm, very good point there. I think that it all boils down to how the author sees the characters, and if they think it's a fandom or an original. I have two AU fics of my own, one of them was first an original. Though, when I was finished, it reminded me so much of the characters. Then again, someone else may see it diffrently.

See, I'm an author of fanfiction and original fiction, and I feel comfortable in both. However, if I write a fanfic, and convert in into an original, I still see the same characters and same thing with turning original fiction into fanfiction. I see them as I first write them.

Anyway, that's just my opinion.

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[kanshu]

Well... maybe some part of it has to do with... "getting reviews". ;D

Writing fanfiction, if you're a half-way talented author, will give you feedback of some sort. Try that with original fiction...

I have one fanfic that evolved into an original novel, but that means that no one will see this story until it will get published some day. Unless I'll post it on fictionpress, or something.
I love original characters and original settings and all.
But to tell the truth, I like the occasional ego-stroking that you get when reviews come in after posting a new chapter. Yes, I'm pathetic like that.

But back on the topic... Of course, the author can write whatever they like. But from a fan-reader's POV, it really annoys me to have "wasted" time on reading an OOC story when I want my fandom fix. Not to say that OOC fics are badly written... but it's just not what the show/manga/anime/book was about - if that makes any sense.

[Terra Fire]

Ok, now that I look at it that way, OptiMoose does have a great point. I mean, the reason someone reads a fanfic is so they can see their favorite characters do things that aren't in the creators story line. If a person wanted to read an original story, they would do just that. Right?

[MsCongeniality]

Possibly.

I started reading fanfic because I don't have money to spend on DVDs and manga and I'm not comfortable with downloads of copywrited material.

If I want to see the characters in different situations, I'll read a canon or continuation fic. If I'm looking for something else altogether, I'll probably go with an AU. I might go for that AU over a piece of original fiction regardless of whether or not I think it relates at all to the original characters or story as long as the AU itself is well written and enjoyable.

[Terra Fire]

I would do the same thing. I will read almost anything that holds my interest, whether that's an AU or an original story. And, truthful, my second reason for reading fanfiction, would have to be that I'm broke and have no extra money to pay for anime and manga.

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[Salmastryon]

It seems to me we are actually talking about three different things here: the OOC fic, the AU fic and a straight old simple fan fic.

From the perspective on my own little head here is how I define the three.

First off the OOC fic and AU fic are sub sets of fan fiction, but for the sack of discussion here when I refer to fan fic from now on I'm excluding those two sub catagories.(If someone has a good label for what I'm taking about let me know.) Also, these three catagories are generalization for the sake of discussion. I realize that in reality things ar enot so neatly catagorized.

So that brings me to what I think a fan fic is. In its most simpliest for a fan fiction is a piece of fiction written about a particular fandom. It is something written for the entertainment of fans and/or the writer. While there is nothing explictedly saying so, I personally expect a fan fic that isn't labeled OOC or AU to have the characters generally in character and to pay attention to the continuity of the original. In practice most fan fics are to fanon as appose to canon.

To me an OOC fic is a fic where the author has decided not to attempt to try and write the characters in character. Unlike an AU where the characters are often OOC this not to explore so facit of personality or plot, but more simply the desire to remold the characters as the author sees fit.

An AU fic(a favorite subgenre of mine btw) is when the author changes the settings or characters to explore an interesting story. This could be setting characters from sci-fi series in a fantasy setting to making a character a vampire or changing an element in the continuty to show what have happened instead.

I guess what I'm saying is that in my mind the OOC label is the warning most often misunderstood and misused. I've come across more fics than I can count that aren't labeled OOC that should be and fics labeled OOC that aren't. Also, it seems silly to label an AU OOC because by default you should know that the reality is going to be different since it is an alternate universe, so I really don't view AU fics as OOC fics.

Personally, unless an OOC fic is really well written, I'm not very interested in them. This is probably because most OOC fics are about living the author's fantasies. They are to entertain the author not the reader. This BTW is fine with me just don't expect me to read them. ^^

Hmm.... the more I talk about this the more I think I agree with ya'll. It all comes down to audience. In fanfiction world, you have a captive audience actively seeking something out.(Not to mention a universe already created that you can adjust to suit your needs) This makes writing easier. By definition the better an author writes and the further from strict canon they get the more it would seem to the reader that this would make a great original story.

You guys have given me some stuff to think on. Let me mull on it some more and I'll have a better response.

[Terra Fire]

Now that I think about it, you have a very good point. I didn't see it that way before. An AU is an OCC story, because it changes the settings, therefor the characters should be changed somewhat.

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