Fanfiction, the reason why my imagination no longer has a purpose

Fanfiction is a hotly debated topic nowadays. Is it good? Is it bad? Does it constitute plagiarism? Honestly, these are hard questions to answer. I love fanfiction. It gets hard waiting for that next Cassandra Clare book and sometimes I just want Clary and Jace to go on an adventure that may have never been written! Of course you lose the amazing writing of the author, but the characters still get to live on. But what happens when you read fanfiction for a series that you assumed was finished, but then another book gets published years later? This happened to me on two occasions. First with the Alienated series which I love to pieces. Melissa Landers had told her fans there was more coming, but she only had a book deal for the first two in the series. I didn't know how long I would have to wait before the next book would come out so I read a lot of fanfiction about it. Then the lovely United was published. While the book was still great, I felt kind of let down and I never ended up finishing it. I think this was in part due to the fanfiction I read. I don't regret reading fanfiction because a couple of them were really good, but  I wish it hadn't altered my reading experience. Now flashforeward to today, or I guess last week. I'm currently reading Restore Me, the amazing and totally unexpected fourth book in the Shatter Me series. Tahereh Mafi is one of my favorite authors and her writing is so unique and original and explores important topics without losing any quality in entertainment and writing style. She is also one of the best YA authors at incorporating humor into her Dystopian world. The last book in the series (or so I thought) came out in 2014. Ignite me still stands as one of my all time favorite books that I can continue to reread and never get tired of. It is really only beat by The Selection, Eclipse, and the entire Harry Potter series. Restore Me came out this year (2018). After four years and an ending that was honestly perfectly done, readers had no reason to assume another book (and two others after this!) were coming. I have read all of the good (and plenty of the bad too) Shatter Me fanfiction. This has had absolutely no effect on my reading experience with Restore Me. Now, why did fanfiction effect one book, but not the other? Its all about ambiguity my friends. Not only is ambiguity a great literary device to include during the reading experience, its also prefect to keep readers guessing for the next book. While I couldn't predict the exact plot of United, the generic plot arc and characters feelings were very easy to guess. Sure it was satisfying to have the characters do exactly what we want them too, but it wasn't enough and that is why I couldn't finish the book. I essentially already know how it ends because all of the other books have a race against the clock plot line as well. Now Tahereh Mafi knows how to keep readers on their toes. I have only been able to predict one thing in her books, which is that (cover eyes for spoilers!!!!) Warner would also be able to touch Juliette. Everything else is a complete surprise. I have not finished Restore me yet, but it is nothing like the fanfiction or my imagination, but all in a very good way. It is so much better to still be excited by the book because you can't already guess the story. No matter how predictable the bad jokes Kenji makes are, the rest of the book isn't something some random fanfiction writer could easily predict. So what does all of this mean? If you want to read fanfiction, go for it, but think about this warning first. Does the author of the book tend to write predictable stories? Are more books coming out soon? Do you hate reading about characters when the writing style is not similar to the author? If you answered yes to these questions then I would suggest passing on fanfiction for that book and picking up some good Harry Potter or Twilight fanfiction. Here is a link to Buzfeed's compilation of the best Harry Potter fanfiction (which I totally agree with. I have read a bunch of them and they were all really good!) Or even better? Just pick up a different book. I tend to read fanfiction when I am in a reading slump and I can't find the motivation to pick up another book. Instead of fanfiction maybe try reading something varied and super short like webcomics (try the app line webtoon, it is really great I promise!) or try listening to an audiobook or a podcast (remember to check out After School Club Podcast, link in About Me!). Overall, fanfiction is definitely a personal decision. The most important thing is to never compare the  author to the fanfiction, they have to be separate things.
Happy Reading!

Shatter Me Series Will Be Continued!

****DO NOT READ IF YOU HAVE NOT READ THE SHATTER ME SERIES BY TAHEREH MAFI****

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG THERE IS A NEW BOOK!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So for those of you who don't know, I love the Shatter Me series! I have read Ignite Me a total of 7 times and every time I get to the ending and while I am extremely happy, I have to go read a bunch of Fanfiction because I want more. Well I just found out that there is a new book! Restore Me will pick up where Ignite Me ended and give us that Juliette and Warner fix we are all craving! Also if you look on goodreads you can see that there are two other books set to be in the series after that! I know that isn't extremely reliable as on goodreads it also says that there will be two more books after The Host by Stephanie Meyer and that is never happening so...But anyways, I was actually screaming and jumping for joy when I heard there was going to be another book. I'm not quite sure why after three years of silence about the series and believing it was over, the series will now be continued, but I'm assuming it has to do with Tahereh Mafi and being able to get a book deal for the rest of the series. Or maybe she had writers block for the series and now has miraculously recovered. Whatever it is, I am so happy it happened, because it is basically the answer to my prayers! I mean seriously guys, first Marissa Landers finally gets a book deal for United and releases it, then I find out that there is a graphic novel continuation of the lunar chronicles, and last week I preordered the newest John Green book, and now this! I mean all that is left is for Stephanie Meyer to announce that she actually is going to write Midnight Sun and for the sequel to Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe to finally be released and all of my dreams will have come true! Well I hope you are as excited as I am about this book release! As always Happy Reading!-Becca    

Shatter

Hi everyone! I asked around last summer to find out if anyone would be interested in having short fiction and poetry included on this blog. You guys said you would like to read some of my writing so here it is! This poem called Shatter was inspired by the Shatter Me series by Tahereh Mafi. If you haven't read anything by her yet I would highly, highly recommend it too you! Anyways I hope you like my poem and please comment and tell me if you would like to continue reading my writing! You can find more under my new writing page. Happy reading!-Becca

warm summer colors swarm my vision

turn down the street to meet the division

the fork in the road it may appear

and even though we sit nowhere near

I feel your voice right in my ear

and know your thoughts are still right here

and I shatter as your words unravel my mind

Icy blue winter freezes the door hinge

hands so cold my touch makes you cringe

out of my hands the icicles fall

my phones not ringing but I hear you call

the reflection says short but we stand so tall

my words stumble and trip as they ring through the hall

and I shatter as your words unravel my mind

you fracture my breath

you ignite my heart

the glimmer in my eyes was yours from the start

you capture my aura

you unlock my soul
you turned my vision sharp now the worlds not dull

and I shatter as your words unravel my mind

crisp fall wind blows away stray hair

dance through the meadow, anyone can see we don’t care

the sky is raining leaves colored like blood

tight cotton shirts stained with mud

wherever you walk flowers start to bud

visions blind me as I fall into your arms with a thud

and I shatter as your words unravel my mind

you fracture my breath

you ignite my heart

the glimmer in my eyes was yours from the start

you capture my aura

you unlock my soul
you turned my vision sharp now the worlds not dull

and I shatter as your words unravel my mind

and I shatter as your words unravel my mind