One of those things...

I’ve had one of those fanfic things happen and am trying to figure out how to feel about it. I just finished reading a story that had many elements that I’m SURE were inspired by my fic Unwanted Attention. Not just one or two, but A LOT of elements, right down to specific conversations. Not word for word as in plagiarism, but very directly inspired.

I know certain themes crop up repeatedly and it’s hard to read fic without having bits stick with you. It happens all the time to every writer. I recently read a fic by a major writer that had a mirror image of the opening scene from my Worth It, but then it went completely another direction, so I considered that maybe a compliment. Probably a lot of the time we don’t even know we’re doing it. I couldn’t say my own fic is totally free from ‘inspiration’, either.  This was a little much, though. 

 Part of my conflict about it is the type of story it was. I love a nice spot of attempted non-con, where our bubby gets a bit of sexually oriented whumping, as happened to Daniel in Unwanted Attention. This other story, though, went into full-on, kidnapping and repeatedly and graphically raping Daniel, while through the miracle of technology everybody else got to watch.  Gah!  And it was listed as slash, even though the only man on man was Daniel's rape by OMC's.   I probably wouldn’t have read the whole thing (it was LONG) except that I was curious as to whether more familiar things would happen.

And I also don’t know what to do about sending feedback. Despite the subject matter, it wasn’t a badly written story, and I like to send feedback especially when a story is long. But what would I say? Interesting story. I couldn’t help but notice the parallels to my own fic.? I guess the best thing is to say nothing, but that’s not very satisfying, given the situation.

I must repeat to myself : It doesn’t matter. Fanfic is public property. There are way more important things in life. 

It just would have been nice for there to be some acknowledgement of what seems to me more than coincidental inspiration.