--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I adore the way fan fiction writers…" description: "\"“I adore the way fan fiction writers engage with and critique source texts, by manipulating them and breaking their rules. Some of it is straight-up ho..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff6/lev-grossman-747_critique_i-adore-the-way-fan-fiction-writers-enga_1312334.jpg" --- # I adore the way fan fiction writers engage with and… ![“I adore the way fan fiction writers engage with and critique source texts, by manipulating them and breaking their rules. Some of it is straight-up homage, but a lot of [fan fiction] is really aggressive towards the source text. One tends to think of it as written by total fanboys and fangirls as…” quote by Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff6/lev-grossman-747_critique_i-adore-the-way-fan-fiction-writers-enga_1312334.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff6/lev-grossman-747_critique_i-adore-the-way-fan-fiction-writers-enga_1312334.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ff6/lev-grossman-747_critique_i-adore-the-way-fan-fiction-writers-enga_1312334.jpg) > ““I adore the way fan fiction writers engage with and critique source texts, by manipulating them and breaking their rules. Some of it is straight-up homage, but a lot of \[fan fiction\] is really aggressive towards the source text. One tends to think of it as written by total fanboys and fangirls as a kind of worshipful act, but a lot of times you’ll read these stories and it’ll be like ‘What if Star Trek had an openly gay character on the bridge?’ And of course the point is that they don’t, and they wouldn’t, because they don’t have the balls, or they are beholden to their advertisers, or whatever. There’s a powerful critique, almost punk-like anger, being expressed there—which I find fascinating and interesting and cool.”” [Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Fan fiction can both honor and challenge original works, using creative alterations to question representation and corporate constraints. **In simple terms:** Fan fiction critiques originals. Key Takeaway Use creative writing to explore and challenge norms. Themes creativity critique representation media literacy Mood analytical inquisitive Type literary cultural When to use this quote - online fan communities - writing workshops - media analysis - activist art Key Concepts subversion identity politics fan culture Questions to Reflect On - How does fan fiction influence mainstream narratives? - What responsibilities do fan creators have? A Different Perspective May alienate original creators or fans who prefer canonical purity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Critique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critique/) [Critique Source](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/critique-source-4345703/) [Fan Fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fan-fiction-273294/) [Fan-fiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fan-fiction-61451/) [Fandom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fandom/) [Fanfiction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fanfiction/) [Fangirls Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fangirls-kind-4345704/) [Total Fanboys](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/total-fanboys-4345705/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [“This is fan fiction, but it’s the fan fiction of a classical scholar who knows his stuff, even if he is a touch irreverent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-warning-potentially-off-topic/this-is-fan-fiction-but-it-s-the-fan-fiction-of-a-classical-scholar/) [Sarah Warning Potentially Off-Topic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-warning-potentially-off-topic/) > [“I'd been writing for as long as I could remember, but once I read Otherworld, I'd stopped writing original stories to focus on fan…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-van-diepen/i-d-been-writing-for-as-long-as-i-could-remember-but-once-i-read/) [Allison van Diepen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-van-diepen/) > [“Keep in mind that in the whole long tradition of storytelling, from Greek myths through Shakespeare through King Arthur and Robin Hood, this whole…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-montoure/keep-in-mind-that-in-the-whole-long-tradition-of-storytelling-from/) [Michael Montoure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-montoure/) > [“He looks like a poem. One of those mournfully beautiful ones with short, unfamiliar words that sound ethereal when spoken and completely nonsensical when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/velvetoscar/he-looks-like-a-poem-one-of-those-mournfully-beautiful-ones-with/) [Velvetoscar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/velvetoscar/) > [“Actually, the full bell curve goes: brilliant; pretty good; mediocre; mediocre and interminable; dire; vile; dire and vile; and dire, vile, and interminable.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lois-mcmaster-bujold/actually-the-full-bell-curve-goes-brilliant-pretty-good-mediocre/) [Lois McMaster Bujold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lois-mcmaster-bujold/) > [“She had never before suffered from claustrophobia, but the room seemed too small to contain Luke's elation, and she felt that she could be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esther-spurrill-jones/she-had-never-before-suffered-from-claustrophobia-but-the-room-seemed/) [Esther Spurrill Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esther-spurrill-jones/) > [“Fanfiction isn't copying - it's a celebration . One long party, from the first capital letter to the last full stop!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasper-fforde/fanfiction-isn-t-copying-it-s-a-celebration-one-long-party-from-the/) [Jasper Fforde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasper-fforde/) > [“So, Houston, we have a prophecy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darija-di-angelo/so-houston-we-have-a-prophecy/) [Darija di Angelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darija-di-angelo/) > [“Here he is, the epitome of self-improvement, like I knew a more primitive and lesser form of him. He wasn't a full person then,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anna-green/here-he-is-the-epitome-of-self-improvement-like-i-knew-a-more/) [Anna Green](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anna-green/) > [“Hermione looked at him, not blinking. It was a moment before she replied, “I know that you served your time on Azkaban Station.” She…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/refictionista/hermione-looked-at-him-not-blinking-it-was-a-moment-before-she/) [Refictionista](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/refictionista/) > [“Smiling, I say, "Edward, tell me secret." He says, "I love you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yellowbella/smiling-i-say-edward-tell-me-secret-he-says-i-love-you/) [YellowBella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yellowbella/) > [“And then Harry Potter had launched in to a speech that was inspiring, yet vague. A speech to the effect that Fred and George…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliezer-yudkowsky/and-then-harry-potter-had-launched-in-to-a-speech-that-was-inspiring/) [Eliezer Yudkowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliezer-yudkowsky/) > [“I chose to make your wish come true because I saw through your heart, Yeol. I know how it feels to be so profoundly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baeconandeggs/i-chose-to-make-your-wish-come-true-because-i-saw-through-your-heart/) [baeconandeggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baeconandeggs/) > [“Irritated fans produce fanfic like irritated oysters produce pearls.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-jamison/irritated-fans-produce-fanfic-like-irritated-oysters-produce-pearls/) [Anne Jamison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-jamison/) > [“I’m not leaving, if that’s what you’re worried about.” “You’re...not?” “It seems you wanted me here. I can’t go back when you need me.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baeconandeggs/i-m-not-leaving-if-that-s-what-you-re-worried-about-you-re-not-it/) [baeconandeggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baeconandeggs/) ## More by Lev Grossman > [“It was about damn time something happened.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/it-was-about-damn-time-something-happened/) [Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/) > [We're wired to expect the world to be brighter and more meaningful and more obviously interesting than it actually is. 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Fatigue meant nothing when you actually wanted to suffer.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/being-brave-was-easy-when-you-would-rather-die-than-give-up-fatigue/) [Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/) > [As a writer I'm more drawn to villains who are just slightly mad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/as-a-writer-i-m-more-drawn-to-villains-who-are-just-slightly-mad/) [Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/) > [“He wasn't in a safe little story where wrongs were automatically righted; he was still in the real world, where bad bitter things happened…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/he-wasn-t-in-a-safe-little-story-where-wrongs-were-automatically/) [Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/) > [I love rare books. Not that I own a lot of them, mind you. You couldn't quite call me a rare-book collector. But I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/i-love-rare-books-not-that-i-own-a-lot-of-them-mind-you-you-couldn-t/) [Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/) > [By now he had learned enough to know that when he was getting annoyed at somebody else, it was usually because there was something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/by-now-he-had-learned-enough-to-know-that-when-he-was-getting-annoyed/) [Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/) > [About as close you can get to the perfect cerebral thriller: searingly smart, ridiculously funny, and fast as hell... I defy anybody to read…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/about-as-close-you-can-get-to-the-perfect-cerebral-thriller-searingly/) [Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/) > [“It's true," Eliot said. "Statistically, historically, and however else you want to look at it, you are almost never right. A monkey making life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/it-s-true-eliot-said-statistically-historically-and-however-else-you/) [Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/) > [“God, I hope we don’t have to use that,” was all he said out loud. “Oh, come on, Quentina. We’re not looking for trouble.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/god-i-hope-we-don-t-have-to-use-that-was-all-he-said-out-loud-oh-come/) [Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/) > [I mean, when you're tired of book reviews, you're tired of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/i-mean-when-you-re-tired-of-book-reviews-you-re-tired-of-life/) [Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/) > [My specialty as a collector is books that almost have value. When I love a book, I don't buy the first edition, because those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/my-specialty-as-a-collector-is-books-that-almost-have-value-when-i/) [Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/) > [I used to write in a local coffee shop, but there was another guy, another writer, who kept sitting in my favorite seat. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/i-used-to-write-in-a-local-coffee-shop-but-there-was-another-guy/) [Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/) > [I don't know if I've ever derived such an immediate sense of calm and well-being from any book as I did from 'Right Ho,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lev-grossman/i-don-t-know-if-i-ve-ever-derived-such-an-immediate-sense-of-calm-and/) [Lev Grossman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/) [Explore all 379 Lev Grossman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lev-grossman/) ## More Critique quotes > [I get that the media wants us to play theater critics and critique every other proposal. What I'm focusing on are my own policy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-cruz/i-get-that-the-media-wants-us-to-play-theater-critics-and-critique/) [Ted Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-cruz/) > [What’s looming in the shadows of our ignorance and denial is a critique of civilization itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lierre-keith/what-s-looming-in-the-shadows-of-our-ignorance-and-denial-is-a/) [Lierre Keith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lierre-keith/) > [If I think something is heinous, but the person feels amazing in it, who am I to critique it? If they think that those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-france/if-i-think-something-is-heinous-but-the-person-feels-amazing-in-it/) [Tan France](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-france/) > [“Rather than critique people, try admiring God’s creative handiwork.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/rather-than-critique-people-try-admiring-god-s-creative-handiwork/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [I want to decouple this idea that critique is hatred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindsay-ellis/i-want-to-decouple-this-idea-that-critique-is-hatred/) [Lindsay Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindsay-ellis/) > [America is not static. America is striving. And sometimes, America requires critique. Jingoism is an avoidance of realism. You can simultaneously love and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-blow/america-is-not-static-america-is-striving-and-sometimes-america/) [Charles M. Blow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-blow/) > [It's difficult sometimes to go and see a show and enjoy it and not go and see a show and critique it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-garratt/it-s-difficult-sometimes-to-go-and-see-a-show-and-enjoy-it-and-not-go/) [Jack Garratt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-garratt/) > [I love my family, even as I critique their dysfunctionalities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bell-hooks/i-love-my-family-even-as-i-critique-their-dysfunctionalities/) [bell hooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bell-hooks/) > [Liberalism can only be defined negatively. It is a mere critique, not a living idea](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-parker-yockey/liberalism-can-only-be-defined-negatively-it-is-a-mere-critique-not-a/) [Francis Parker Yockey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-parker-yockey/) > [I am not offering this is a critique of the internet, its just that there are a lot of factors involved. It does offer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/i-am-not-offering-this-is-a-critique-of-the-internet-its-just-that/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“novel excerpts rarely benefit from group critique. 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Some of it is straight-up homage, but a lot of [fan fiction] is really aggressive towards the source text. One tends to think of it as written by total fanboys and fangirls as a kind of worshipful act, but a lot of times you’ll read these stories and it’ll be like ‘What if Star Trek had an openly gay character on the bridge?’ And of course the point is that they don’t, and they wouldn’t, because they don’t have the balls, or they are beholden to their advertisers, or whatever. 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