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Approve or Disapprove: What 8 famous authors think of fanfiction

By Monique Jacobs

SAN DIEGO, CA - JULY 25: Writer George R.R. Martin of "Game of Thrones" signs autographs during the 2014 Comic-Con International Convention-Day 3 at the San Diego Convention Center on July 25, 2014 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Tiffany Rose/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CA - JULY 25: Writer George R.R. Martin of "Game of Thrones" signs autographs during the 2014 Comic-Con International Convention-Day 3 at the San Diego Convention Center on July 25, 2014 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Tiffany Rose/Getty Images) /
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The Silver Chair
Image: Walt Disney Pictures/The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe /

The Chronicles of Narnia author C.S. Lewis encouraged fanfiction

Throwing intellectual property concerns to the wind, C.S. Lewis’ approach to fanfiction was chill as heck. Lewis felt he had taken his Chronicles of Narnia tales as far as he could and he seemed entirely unphased by attempts to embellish or continue his stories. In truth, he was often the one to suggest that children do just that. It’s rather sweet if you ask me.

In a March 1961 response letter to a reader named Jonathan Muehl, Lewis said, “there will be no more of these stories.” However, he encouraged the boy, saying, “But why don’t you try writing some Narnian tales? I began to write when I was about your age, and it was the greatest fun. Do try!”

In another letter, he thanked a young reader for writing to him about the books and added, “There is a map at the end of some of them in some editions. But why not do one yourself? And why not write stories yourself to fill up the gaps in Narnian history? I’ve left you plenty of hints — especially where Lucy and the Unicorn are talking in The Last Battle. I feel I have done all I can!”

Lewis, it seems, saw the creative value of writing fanfiction and sought to nurture it in young writers.

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