general media Is it a good idea or not to hire fans to write a story?

[HorsesandMOARGaloar 300]

Yesterday, I posted a comment suggesting that authors and writers should hire some fans to complete their work:

Quote

As someone on the Internet used to say, "Fans make better works than the original writers". I think it would be good if writers can invite several fans to improve their work. I suggest that fanbases should elect and send their best members to join the staff. - from Twitter

Several people angrily condemned that idea, as they considered it to be a very horrible proposal. They considered it to bring the work down to the level of Netflix Voltron, Rise of Skywalker, and other poorly-written works.

This could help with certain angrier fans (like the past fandom dramas, the Fandom Menace, etc.). But do you think that it's a good thing for an author or writer to invite fans to write their work or not?

[DixonTheAdversary 1,635]

I feel like it's fine for fans to give suggestions, but they shouldn't be able to write an episode willy nilly. The original writers are professionals, they know what the process of writing a show/story entails. The fans are well, fans. They think they know the best thing for the show, but have no idea what the higher ups are expecting from the show or the direction the story is planned to head.

[They call me Loyalty 1,951]

It depends on the talent of said person. Among such a wide group of people, there could be those whose capabilities exceed the original writers'. Subjectively speaking.

But there is also the subject of ego undermining the possibility of cooperation between individuals. Which is reflected on both sides. As some fans are not willing to accept the original vision of the author.
The ignorance stemming from such individuality is the ultimate conflict of existence, as it creates separation, resulting in multiple clashing perspectives that increase polarization. Such is the case with the polarity of said quote, that implies overstepping the boundaries of one another, furthering conflict inadvertently or otherwise.

Now, a suggestion to not be controlled by said polarity, is to neutralize such polarization to the point the perceived meaning of the observed object becomes neutral, and one can co-exist in peace with the notion of one another. This is advisable given that the pursuit of conflict can, and often will result in trauma.

Being true to this notion, I have no answer to the question. Because the polarity resulting from the ignorance that created said question was neutralized. Meaning there was never any question, only the illusion of separation.

[Fluttershutter 2,667]

Considering how most writers couldn't seem to care less about fans and established story it couldn't hurt to try. Or at least have fans to fact check and weigh in.

Of course how do you qualify somebody as a fan?

"JJ Abrams is a big Star Wars fan. "

BULLSHIT!!!

[Megas 27,979]

Only thing that matters is if they can write a coherent story and good characters

Speaking from a Power Rangers fan's perspective, the best episodes in the franchise have been written by fans(Forever Red just as an example)

Edited July 9, 2021 by Megas

[Dark Qiviut 22,556]

One size doesn't fit all. Fans are every bit as capable of writing competent, high-quality stories that fit the scope of the canon as the professionals. It's a matter of direction, understanding the material, working within established guidelines, the audiences, execution, and working well as a team.

[Evil Pink One 13,523]

No it doesn't. ..,... No. You know why?

Because they're making fan fics and not making a story board. There's a reason why they weren't hired  and not doing the writers job. There's a reason the writers still there and the fan fics are .....somewhere?

Anyway if ya good you've been scouted already.

 

[Number62 1,266]

It sounds good on paper, but I don't know how practical it would be to let fans work on some episodes.

For one thing, you'll hear various things from various fans. So even an episode made from one certain group of fans won't please the whole fanbase. And trying to take literally every opinion into account (or taking to the most extreme, letting every single fan/viewer work on the show) will just lead to nothing getting done.

I'm hardly satisfied with what the show has offered, but if comments about the show on these forums are anything to go by, I doubt I'll be satisfied with the fans' offering.

From a production standpoint, I personally think that it's better for the writers to stick to their guns because there's no way to please everyone. That won't stop me from being dissatisfied with the show or calling out the show for some stupid decisions, but if it's not me calling out the writers, someone else will.

[Goat-kun 2,530]

Fans, maybe. I mean, it's good that you like the work, but many of the self-proclaimed huge fans don't want to act as caretakers of an IP but want to change it instead. Each of us Bronies has a weird-ass fanon. Many don't even give a shit about anything other than a specific character. Caretaker needs to be conservative in their approach unless the IP is in the gutter and needs to get revived.

 

Fanboys, definitely not. Fanboys are trash allergic to any criticism of the IP, valid or not. They are shills whose only purpose is to lick corpo boots with a shit-eating grin.

[Dreambiscuit 10,770]

I don’t see the harm in it. Sure, not all fans with great ideas are equipped to be writers, but not all professional writers are truly equipped to be writers either! Compared side by side and given the same criteria based on ability (not credentials) I think fans would make some superior contributions. They’re a lot closer to the material and wouldn’t make a lot of the blunders made by indifferent professionals. Fans are hungry for the chance whereas professionals are just signing on for another gig, researching it, and putting out product on a deadline. Fans would have the same deadlines but many write for fun and already have an impressive backlog of stories and ideas, so the work would be fresher and more original. Everyone has to start somewhere, and it takes more than a membership in the writers guild to qualify as a good writer. If nothing else, script doctors have been around since the beginning of the craft, so why not give fans a chance to polish up an existing script and let their work speak for itself?

[TBD 17,263]

As a writer myself- I will never allow my fans touching my work. I don’t do fan service nor should the other writers. If I were to become professional writer, what I would do instead is encouraging my fans especially those who enjoy writing to go and achieve their dream as a writer.   Encouraging them that if they need someone to help them get started in a writing Industry I got your back.

[Samurai Equine 53,700]

Hiring fans doesn't work.

History has tried this many times, and it has proven a failure 9 times out of 10. We are lucky if the fans ever managed to get something right. I'm sorry, it but it's true. I could list tons of fictional properties that were practically ruined because of "fans" being hired to make official content.

Give me a fandom, any fandom at all, and I'll show you fans who can never decide on the creative direction the property "should" go. Fans are the reason we have people who take the most child friendly things and turn them into something very inappropriate for children. Fans are the reason why creators have been attacked with death threats just because a story didn't go the way they wanted, or some other childish reason. Fans can have secret agendas, just like how some people behind the scenes have been accused of having an agenda.

Believe me, I hate that this is the reality we live in.  Once upon a time, that title meant something. It showed how educated and dedicated you were to something. But despite what studio heads want to believe, the term "fan" does not automatically mean you are in good hands. Because the truth is, the term "fan" is just so broad. For example, I once found a "fan" of Sonic the Hedgehog. Have they ever played a single game, watched the cartoons, read the comics books, or done anything a fan would normally do? No. They just liked the designs of the characters. To me, this is not a fan, but who am I to say otherwise? Who is anyone to deny them the title of fan? Gatekeeping doesn't make fandoms bigger or better, it just shuts people out. Still, this is a prime example of how being a fan doesn't actually mean anything anymore. Not if people can just throw that title around over the tiniest or the most shallow of reasons.

To me, if you are going to be hired because you are a "fan", there should be a bench test or something. There should be proof that you not only know how to write good stories and characters, but that you actually do understand what makes that specific franchise popular and unique. If you don't understand why it was appealing in the first place, if you're only going to pursue the creative changes you personally want to see, then you shouldn't be in charge of the project. I promise you, any time a fan actually did something right in an official capacity, it was because the project was a passion project by people dedicated to making a love letter to the material that was all ready good to begin with. I'm not against trying new things to keep a franchise fresh, but it should never be handled by people who think they know better than the original creators, the entirety of the fandom, and everyone else. At this point, if the original creators had an understudy or an apprentice, I'd sooner hand it to them than some random fan.  It's not a guarantee of quality or anything, but it might be better than the alternative. Especially if the original creator officially passed the torch to the apprentice.

But that ultimately leads me to my final point... Please, do not be in a rush to commit death of the author.
It's fun to have head canons. It's fun to write fanfics. It's fun to have ships and do all the things fans do. However, just because you don't like how a fictional story or property is being handled, that doesn't give you the right to say you know better than the original creators. If said author is actually dead and gone, if the ones in charge are not the original authors, then I can understand not being happy with their creative decisions and directions. However, if the original creators are indeed still involved, let them have their vision. Let them do it their way. You don't have to fully support or like it, but don't be in a rush to take their vision away just because you THINK you know better than them. After all, would you be accepting if it happened to you? One day, you could be the creator of something new and beloved by many. Now imagine having your work ripped to shreds and turned into something you never wanted, all because some self-entitled fans thought they know better. Does that ever make it okay? I realize many fictional properties will be so popular that they will outlive the original creators; and in this regard, they might belong more to the fans and the people than it ever did the creators. All I am saying is, don't be in a rush to act like an entitled fan who can just claim someone else's fictional work for their own at any given moment.