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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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EDINBURGH, UNITED KINGDOM – JULY 15: Harry Potter author JK Rowling arrives at Edinburgh Castle where she will read passages from the sixth magical children?s title ?Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince?, on July 15, 2005 in Edinburgh, Scotland. 70 junior reporters from around the world, aged between eight and 16, make up the audience, and meet and ask questions to the author ahead of the midnight release of the new volume. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
EDINBURGH, UNITED KINGDOM – JULY 15: Harry Potter author JK Rowling arrives at Edinburgh Castle where she will read passages from the sixth magical children?s title ?Harry Potter And The Half-Blood Prince?, on July 15, 2005 in Edinburgh, Scotland. 70 junior reporters from around the world, aged between eight and 16, make up the audience, and meet and ask questions to the author ahead of the midnight release of the new volume. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images) /

J.K. Rowling’s approval of fanfiction comes with conditions

The Harry Potter franchise is magical, and it all began with the best-selling book series. It will come as no surprise that J. K. Rowling’s much-loved novels have inspired hundreds of thousands of fanfics over the years. Potter fanfiction has taken on a life of its own to the extent that Rowling couldn’t remove it from the web even if she tried.

Okay, she probably could, but fortunately, Rowling gave fans her blessing to write their stories online. Her only stipulations were that they remain a non-profit practice and that the writers steer clear of adult-themed content. No Harry Potter and the Deathly Swallows then?

The spokesman for her literary agency at the time, Christopher Little, said:

"JK Rowling’s reaction is that she is very flattered by the fact there is such great interest in her Harry Potter series and that people take the time to write their own stories. Her concern would be to make sure that it remains a non-commercial activity to ensure fans are not exploited and it is not being published in the strict sense of traditional print publishing."

Additionally, fanfic writers had to ensure they credited the stories to themselves, not to Rowling, and that the stories were still child-friendly. He warned that if young children were to come across characters in X-rated stories, there’d be trouble.

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