Thank you so much! i got accussed of stealing one of my fics because it had a similar plot line- I just like the found family trope with that one specific character and I got attacked for it
I'm so sorry you dealt with that 🫂 I usually try to be upfront in my A/Ns if I know an idea in my fanfic was explicitly inspired by another, but sometimes you just independently think of the same idea as someone else 🤷
I hadnt even read the fic i was acussed of stealing it from so i was super confused afterwards i read it and yeah they're similar but there's some big diffrences
I had never heard of the two-cake rule before, and it really put my mind at ease. Usually, in moments of useless crisis, you rarely think about this. Thank you!
Happy birthday! 🥳 Love the Two-Cake rule! I really hope more people embrace it. I've noticed a bit of a worrying trend where people will be quick to accuse others of theft if their ideas are even slightly similar. There was a recent incident in my fandom on Twitter where a big name account accused an artist of referencing their art without crediting them because a character had a similar pose. It wasn't even a unique pose. The character was trying to pry a gate open while shouting, "Let me out!" Even worse, the artist claimed the dialogue was further proof that their art was copied, even though someone saying "Let me out!" when they want to get out of some place is just . . . a normal thing to say. Insane that someone would accuse theft over a standard pose and 3 words. I was recently accused of stealing a joke from a Tumblr user (who I never even heard of) for a comment I made on a video even though it wasn't anything unique. W/O going into too much deal, it was about a character saying she could "Eat you lot for breakfast." while two known cannibals were sitting in the room, and I just commented about how that's a bold statement to say in front of two people that would literally eat her for breakfast. I wasn't upset about the accusation but more concerned about the mentality the accusers had. They couldn't seem to understand that two people could have the same idea on their own and the only explanation is that one had to have stolen from the other. I fear that this will discourage fic writers from baking that second cake and leave them disheartened if they're accused of stealing. I don't know the cause or solution for this mentality but if I had to guess, it's that not enough people are engaging in creative outlets, such as drawing, writing, and making comics. Perhaps that would help them understand the creative process and how it's not uncommon to come up with an idea that's similar to someone else's, even when you've never heard of them or seen their work. I feel that your channel is helping by encouraging more people to get into fic writing, but I'm not sure how we can get through to those that are content to just consume. The last thing I want to see is a new fic writer, who finally got over their fears and posted their labor of love, being chased away by theft accusations.
The creative space has worsened for so many with the influx of new people treating fan works as “content” and not the labour of someone’s sheer investment and love for a character or concept. So much of fandom has become glorified bullying rings and it’s just been getting worse ever since the pandemic quarantines where people who would’ve typically never gotten into fandom turned to it out of boredom and never adapted the basic courtesies people have in these spaces. I joined during that time as well but the behaviour of the people I see who got into fandom then is just so embarrassing. I’ve only been fic writing for two years now but I can’t imagine how intimidating it’d be for new fic writers to post their stuff and get hounded with all sorts of complaints or, even worse, comments about “completing” their fics with ai. People truly have no respect for writers or artists anymore and it’s just so disheartening.
@@appletart7262 Yeah, too much fandom can be bullying rings, but that's why a large part of fandom is learning to curate your own experience to keep them out. I stopped posting on FFN because the commenters there were so rude, entitled, or willfully misinterpreting the text, and the website features only enabled that. I decided posting on AO3 was enough, because I find that they do know that etiquette, and if they don't, or refuse to adopt it after you take the time to explain (since sometimes it's honest ignorance on their part), there are ways to kick them out of your space. I use smaller Discord communities to engage with fandom and I curate who or what fandom stuff I see on my dashboard, not just through which people or tags I follow, but who I block and what I blacklist. I wouldn't participate in fandom on Reddit or Twitter because I wouldn't be able to use those same features. Now it might help that my main fandom skews older, and when some seed of drama does begin to grow in my main fandom server, I have enough influence to tell them to stop (not because I'm a mod, but because most people there are fans of my writing, so the idea of me seeing them in a negative light might intimidate them), but I still think those principals of curating your own space are key in every fandom. Bullies are still going to bully, but we can at least hold true to our boundaries and build a space for ourselves that makes it harder for them to do so.
I'm so sorry you dealt with that 🫂 The emphasis people put on being "original" and "who owns ideas" is honestly ridiculous, and the Two Cakes Rule also serves to remind us that originality doesn't come from the concept itself, but the execution. I may prefer to write concepts that are original within the context of my fandom, but they're still grounded in a lot of fantasy cliches, and I'm still inspired by other fanfics for smaller elements. To me, that's not only a normal part of fandom, but inherent to it. I would also be thrilled if someone took the same concept as mine in a different direction. My fave ongoing fanfiction slipped a few references to my fic and another I love and it was so exciting! I felt like I was finding Easter Eggs 💖
i feel like when it comes to writing fanfiction the only thing that matters is that it satisfies *you*. readers will surely come along. let's say college au's are treding in your fandom; if you only write to keep up with the trend you're not going to be satisfied. so i totally agree with you! it's okay to write something similar because it's what calls you and what you're going to enjoy and make you feel creatively fulfilled; otherwise it's okay to try new things too! the most important part of being in a fandom and doing creative "work" (idk how else to put it but hopefully it doesn't come off weird) is that you're enjoying yourself and the time spent doing those activities i do think fandoms need to do better, because sometimes people are too quick to accuse of plagiarism when only the idea is similar and the development is completely different. everyone has their own take on the same scenarios, and i think it's a great part of fandom to explore all of them. loved the video, can't wait for the next one!! ever since i found your channel i'm writing so much, i'm so excited
Something I usually do is pretend there are 0 other fics in the fandom but still a large fanbase desperately waiting for one. Cause no matter what Idea I cook up, original or unoriginal, the fandom would *obviously* love it. Then I don’t feel pressure to fit specific tastes of readers or the fear of ‘copying’ someone, however if anyone does this, do remind yourself to not be disappointed if you don’t get as much engagement as you were pretending you’d get. :3
I filled a prompt and I encouraged others to fill it, too, since the premises was so amazing. No takers yes, but hopefully someday. Aside from that, I want ALL the secretly dating or secretly married plots for my OTP in my current favorite fandom. All of them. Are there a bunch? Yep. Do I have some favorites? Yep. Will I read any more I come across? Yep! Great video.
3:44 This is actually why I'm avoiding reading any of the fics for my OTP currently on ao3 - and in fact why I'm keeping interactions with the ship's fandom to a minimum. I'm deathly scared of giving into the urge to fit in and conform to what everyone else is already doing, so to be extra sure I do my best to immerse myself in the source material + additional inspo and write what I want to read, first and foremost
That may help in the meantime, but I think it would also be good to work on that fear of conforming. Not in a "You should conform because conforming is good!" kind of way, but in a "I trust myself to hold true to what I want to do, regardless of if it conforms to the status quo or not" kind of way. It sounds like your fear is preventing you from enjoying some great fanworks, and sometimes influence from other fanworks (that influence can also be a "rebellion" against fanon btw) can be positive and enhance your story. There's no need to be afraid of it. You can enjoy other fics from the fandom you write for AND diversify your reading.
@@CoraMaria that's a great point actually. It's definitely a me problem in the sense that I'm very prone to second guessing my own original ideas. I guess one solution could be to take a break from my wip every now and then (fortunately I only have one because it's the only one that I care about enough to keep working on it through ADHD burnout lol) and take that as an opportunity to 1) enjoy other fanworks and 2) have a chance to look at my own work with fresh eyes when I pick it up again
Fantastic video! I agree - while if you want to make new original stuff for your fanfic it might not be that helpful to think to this classic principle as you said (and therefore it is important to read more, to broaden horizons and open your mind to the inspiration that can be found everywhere) when you do have a fic idea you really want to make but worry it's an oversaturated genre? Write it anyway, because hey, two cakes are better than one! But then, by saying all of that, I'm just restating the video lmaoo
Yes! Plus often when a genre is saturated enough, it then opens the door for all sorts of fun twists and subversions, or to update them for modern values. High school AUs often get a bad rap for how they tend to pit girls against each other or rely on stereotypes, but readers love my high school AU because I focused on writing nuanced, well-rounded characters instead.
I am a big fan of warrior cats and obey me but no crossovers exist, so im making a fanfic where obey me is in the warrior cats universe and their all cats in their different clans. but I would love to have more fics of it, bc i think it is an interesting and fun concept. Also hi, so happy to see you again
I remember seeing someone say "I would be very sad if someone decided they shouldn't write my favourite tropes because some fics about it already exist." It's why I'd love to see more people baking the same type of cake as me! I want mooooooore!
Do you have a video on how to send our complements to the chef? I'm not sure what to say in comments in fan culture. It feels a bit trite to type how much I love it with capslock engaged. Yet I'm not sure if my actual opinions on favored sentences or characters are good? What do authors actually like for all their hard work?
I do plan to do a video on how to give comments in future, but for now, I can say that authors love capslock about how much you love their work! The only time I'd recommend you avoid it is if the author mentions that they're blind or rely on screenreaders, which means they'll hear a robotic voice read out your comment letter-by-letter. Also authors will appreciate you pointing out ANY part of the story you enjoy. They liked it enough to put it online for you to read, didn't they? I love when readers quote my writing back at me or say they love how I wrote a character, whether those elements are something I especially adore or ones I looked over. There aren't all these "secret rules" for what exact things are okay/not okay to comment on.
I know you didn't ask me, but as a writer, I can promise you that any positive comment is great! Comments really help motivate us fanfic writers and they mean a lot, regardless of content, since they're a sign that people actually read and like our work. Most writers will probably appreciate actual feedback or elaboration, but it's in no way a necessity. If all you can come up with in the moment is a bunch of emojis, or a simple statement of "I loved it!", then that's still great and will most likely make the author smile. And of course, if you do have the time, willingness and ability to write more, then yeah, I totally agree with Cora's advice. Quoting and/or highlighting your favourite parts of a fic is always a good way to show your appreciation :)
Also a fic writer dropping in my unsolicited two cents- I appreciate any and all comments, but the ones that stick out give a specific piece of feedback, such as liking the way the author captured certain aspects of the characters well, appreciating the imagery or language, mentioning the writer's grasp of lore, anything that you particularly enjoyed. And, if nothing else, just a bunch of emojis can always do the trick.
Mention all of things you liked about the fic, and don’t hold back going all caps! People love when you do that, even if you don’t know it! Just.. pour out all of the hype and feeling the fanfic gave you!
Hi! Thanks for the birthday wishes, but I would just like to gently discourage parasocial relationships in which you see me as a friend/sister. I think it puts a lot of pressure on me to be perfect and infallable because it means that any mistake I make that upsets you will end up feeling like a personal betrayal. I'd rather you think of us as peers within the same hobby space 💖
Thank you for the video! I hope you had a wonderful birthday! I don't think that I will ever come across this in my own writing, but it is still interesting to learn about.
Hello, thank you for this video! I have a little problem with an idea for a fic I want to write. It has a very similar plot line to a different fic (its quite literally the same, but just a different setting and a different ending, also my fic may be a lot longer with the twist at the end.) Do you think this is fine? Or should I try to make more changes to it?
I think it should be fine if you make sure to credit the other fic writer and link to their story, but at the same time, it never hurts to look at every repetitive plot point or element and take some time to question it. Sometimes we find ourselves repeating certain tropes, clichés, or fanon without questioning why we decided to include them in the first place. Doing so might not make you want to remove them, but it could help you figure out new and interesting ways to execute them. We can add a lot of depth to our otherwise "cliché" stories that way.
I bake cakes no one's ever baked before because I want the recipes to become popular
Inspiring!
I forgot you existed, now I feel the need to write 20,000 fanfictions
Write away, fellow fic-writer! Write away!
FR
Thank you so much! i got accussed of stealing one of my fics because it had a similar plot line- I just like the found family trope with that one specific character and I got attacked for it
I'm so sorry you dealt with that 🫂 I usually try to be upfront in my A/Ns if I know an idea in my fanfic was explicitly inspired by another, but sometimes you just independently think of the same idea as someone else 🤷
I hadnt even read the fic i was acussed of stealing it from so i was super confused afterwards i read it and yeah they're similar but there's some big diffrences
That sucks! Your fanfic still has lots of value!
I had never heard of the two-cake rule before, and it really put my mind at ease. Usually, in moments of useless crisis, you rarely think about this. Thank you!
I'm glad I could help you by sharing this! Keep it in mind whenever you feel the comparison demon creeping in
Yes! Thank you for sharing!
@@CoraMaria🙏💖
Happy birthday! 🥳
Love the Two-Cake rule! I really hope more people embrace it. I've noticed a bit of a worrying trend where people will be quick to accuse others of theft if their ideas are even slightly similar. There was a recent incident in my fandom on Twitter where a big name account accused an artist of referencing their art without crediting them because a character had a similar pose. It wasn't even a unique pose. The character was trying to pry a gate open while shouting, "Let me out!" Even worse, the artist claimed the dialogue was further proof that their art was copied, even though someone saying "Let me out!" when they want to get out of some place is just . . . a normal thing to say. Insane that someone would accuse theft over a standard pose and 3 words. I was recently accused of stealing a joke from a Tumblr user (who I never even heard of) for a comment I made on a video even though it wasn't anything unique. W/O going into too much deal, it was about a character saying she could "Eat you lot for breakfast." while two known cannibals were sitting in the room, and I just commented about how that's a bold statement to say in front of two people that would literally eat her for breakfast. I wasn't upset about the accusation but more concerned about the mentality the accusers had. They couldn't seem to understand that two people could have the same idea on their own and the only explanation is that one had to have stolen from the other.
I fear that this will discourage fic writers from baking that second cake and leave them disheartened if they're accused of stealing. I don't know the cause or solution for this mentality but if I had to guess, it's that not enough people are engaging in creative outlets, such as drawing, writing, and making comics. Perhaps that would help them understand the creative process and how it's not uncommon to come up with an idea that's similar to someone else's, even when you've never heard of them or seen their work. I feel that your channel is helping by encouraging more people to get into fic writing, but I'm not sure how we can get through to those that are content to just consume. The last thing I want to see is a new fic writer, who finally got over their fears and posted their labor of love, being chased away by theft accusations.
The creative space has worsened for so many with the influx of new people treating fan works as “content” and not the labour of someone’s sheer investment and love for a character or concept. So much of fandom has become glorified bullying rings and it’s just been getting worse ever since the pandemic quarantines where people who would’ve typically never gotten into fandom turned to it out of boredom and never adapted the basic courtesies people have in these spaces.
I joined during that time as well but the behaviour of the people I see who got into fandom then is just so embarrassing. I’ve only been fic writing for two years now but I can’t imagine how intimidating it’d be for new fic writers to post their stuff and get hounded with all sorts of complaints or, even worse, comments about “completing” their fics with ai. People truly have no respect for writers or artists anymore and it’s just so disheartening.
@@appletart7262 Yeah, too much fandom can be bullying rings, but that's why a large part of fandom is learning to curate your own experience to keep them out. I stopped posting on FFN because the commenters there were so rude, entitled, or willfully misinterpreting the text, and the website features only enabled that. I decided posting on AO3 was enough, because I find that they do know that etiquette, and if they don't, or refuse to adopt it after you take the time to explain (since sometimes it's honest ignorance on their part), there are ways to kick them out of your space. I use smaller Discord communities to engage with fandom and I curate who or what fandom stuff I see on my dashboard, not just through which people or tags I follow, but who I block and what I blacklist. I wouldn't participate in fandom on Reddit or Twitter because I wouldn't be able to use those same features.
Now it might help that my main fandom skews older, and when some seed of drama does begin to grow in my main fandom server, I have enough influence to tell them to stop (not because I'm a mod, but because most people there are fans of my writing, so the idea of me seeing them in a negative light might intimidate them), but I still think those principals of curating your own space are key in every fandom. Bullies are still going to bully, but we can at least hold true to our boundaries and build a space for ourselves that makes it harder for them to do so.
I'm so sorry you dealt with that 🫂 The emphasis people put on being "original" and "who owns ideas" is honestly ridiculous, and the Two Cakes Rule also serves to remind us that originality doesn't come from the concept itself, but the execution. I may prefer to write concepts that are original within the context of my fandom, but they're still grounded in a lot of fantasy cliches, and I'm still inspired by other fanfics for smaller elements. To me, that's not only a normal part of fandom, but inherent to it.
I would also be thrilled if someone took the same concept as mine in a different direction. My fave ongoing fanfiction slipped a few references to my fic and another I love and it was so exciting! I felt like I was finding Easter Eggs 💖
Certainly was a "Respectless" move to play
@@Skrill99 You could say they acted without more intelligence.
i feel like when it comes to writing fanfiction the only thing that matters is that it satisfies *you*. readers will surely come along. let's say college au's are treding in your fandom; if you only write to keep up with the trend you're not going to be satisfied. so i totally agree with you! it's okay to write something similar because it's what calls you and what you're going to enjoy and make you feel creatively fulfilled; otherwise it's okay to try new things too! the most important part of being in a fandom and doing creative "work" (idk how else to put it but hopefully it doesn't come off weird) is that you're enjoying yourself and the time spent doing those activities
i do think fandoms need to do better, because sometimes people are too quick to accuse of plagiarism when only the idea is similar and the development is completely different. everyone has their own take on the same scenarios, and i think it's a great part of fandom to explore all of them.
loved the video, can't wait for the next one!! ever since i found your channel i'm writing so much, i'm so excited
Ahhh I'm so glad I've got you writing!!! And thanks for sharing your POV on two cakes :)
im always looking for a third cake in fanfictions i swear xD
Something I usually do is pretend there are 0 other fics in the fandom but still a large fanbase desperately waiting for one. Cause no matter what Idea I cook up, original or unoriginal, the fandom would *obviously* love it. Then I don’t feel pressure to fit specific tastes of readers or the fear of ‘copying’ someone, however if anyone does this, do remind yourself to not be disappointed if you don’t get as much engagement as you were pretending you’d get. :3
I filled a prompt and I encouraged others to fill it, too, since the premises was so amazing. No takers yes, but hopefully someday. Aside from that, I want ALL the secretly dating or secretly married plots for my OTP in my current favorite fandom. All of them. Are there a bunch? Yep. Do I have some favorites? Yep. Will I read any more I come across? Yep! Great video.
3:44 This is actually why I'm avoiding reading any of the fics for my OTP currently on ao3 - and in fact why I'm keeping interactions with the ship's fandom to a minimum. I'm deathly scared of giving into the urge to fit in and conform to what everyone else is already doing, so to be extra sure I do my best to immerse myself in the source material + additional inspo and write what I want to read, first and foremost
That may help in the meantime, but I think it would also be good to work on that fear of conforming. Not in a "You should conform because conforming is good!" kind of way, but in a "I trust myself to hold true to what I want to do, regardless of if it conforms to the status quo or not" kind of way. It sounds like your fear is preventing you from enjoying some great fanworks, and sometimes influence from other fanworks (that influence can also be a "rebellion" against fanon btw) can be positive and enhance your story. There's no need to be afraid of it. You can enjoy other fics from the fandom you write for AND diversify your reading.
@@CoraMaria that's a great point actually. It's definitely a me problem in the sense that I'm very prone to second guessing my own original ideas.
I guess one solution could be to take a break from my wip every now and then (fortunately I only have one because it's the only one that I care about enough to keep working on it through ADHD burnout lol) and take that as an opportunity to 1) enjoy other fanworks and 2) have a chance to look at my own work with fresh eyes when I pick it up again
I believe in you!!
Now I really want cake. Literal cake.🍰
That aside, thank you for another thoughtful video! I appreciate your work and time so much.
You're welcome! I hope you can find a scrumptious local bakery to get some cake from
💖
Yes I’m craving chocolate cake noww
Fantastic video! I agree - while if you want to make new original stuff for your fanfic it might not be that helpful to think to this classic principle as you said (and therefore it is important to read more, to broaden horizons and open your mind to the inspiration that can be found everywhere) when you do have a fic idea you really want to make but worry it's an oversaturated genre? Write it anyway, because hey, two cakes are better than one! But then, by saying all of that, I'm just restating the video lmaoo
Yes! Plus often when a genre is saturated enough, it then opens the door for all sorts of fun twists and subversions, or to update them for modern values. High school AUs often get a bad rap for how they tend to pit girls against each other or rely on stereotypes, but readers love my high school AU because I focused on writing nuanced, well-rounded characters instead.
I am a big fan of warrior cats and obey me but no crossovers exist, so im making a fanfic where obey me is in the warrior cats universe and their all cats in their different clans. but I would love to have more fics of it, bc i think it is an interesting and fun concept. Also hi, so happy to see you again
I remember seeing someone say "I would be very sad if someone decided they shouldn't write my favourite tropes because some fics about it already exist." It's why I'd love to see more people baking the same type of cake as me! I want mooooooore!
Do you have a video on how to send our complements to the chef? I'm not sure what to say in comments in fan culture. It feels a bit trite to type how much I love it with capslock engaged. Yet I'm not sure if my actual opinions on favored sentences or characters are good? What do authors actually like for all their hard work?
I do plan to do a video on how to give comments in future, but for now, I can say that authors love capslock about how much you love their work! The only time I'd recommend you avoid it is if the author mentions that they're blind or rely on screenreaders, which means they'll hear a robotic voice read out your comment letter-by-letter.
Also authors will appreciate you pointing out ANY part of the story you enjoy. They liked it enough to put it online for you to read, didn't they? I love when readers quote my writing back at me or say they love how I wrote a character, whether those elements are something I especially adore or ones I looked over. There aren't all these "secret rules" for what exact things are okay/not okay to comment on.
I know you didn't ask me, but as a writer, I can promise you that any positive comment is great! Comments really help motivate us fanfic writers and they mean a lot, regardless of content, since they're a sign that people actually read and like our work.
Most writers will probably appreciate actual feedback or elaboration, but it's in no way a necessity. If all you can come up with in the moment is a bunch of emojis, or a simple statement of "I loved it!", then that's still great and will most likely make the author smile. And of course, if you do have the time, willingness and ability to write more, then yeah, I totally agree with Cora's advice. Quoting and/or highlighting your favourite parts of a fic is always a good way to show your appreciation :)
Also a fic writer dropping in my unsolicited two cents- I appreciate any and all comments, but the ones that stick out give a specific piece of feedback, such as liking the way the author captured certain aspects of the characters well, appreciating the imagery or language, mentioning the writer's grasp of lore, anything that you particularly enjoyed. And, if nothing else, just a bunch of emojis can always do the trick.
Mention all of things you liked about the fic, and don’t hold back going all caps! People love when you do that, even if you don’t know it! Just.. pour out all of the hype and feeling the fanfic gave you!
HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY❤❤ TAKE CARE FANFIC INSPIRATION/BIG SISTER
Hi! Thanks for the birthday wishes, but I would just like to gently discourage parasocial relationships in which you see me as a friend/sister. I think it puts a lot of pressure on me to be perfect and infallable because it means that any mistake I make that upsets you will end up feeling like a personal betrayal. I'd rather you think of us as peers within the same hobby space 💖
Woahhhh very inspiring, thank you!!
This is such a great rule to keep in mind, thank you :)
And happy birthday month!
Thank-you~!
happy birthday month cora :3
Thank you for the video! I hope you had a wonderful birthday! I don't think that I will ever come across this in my own writing, but it is still interesting to learn about.
Glad you enjoyed the vid! I did have a lovely birthday, thank-you 💖
You can always pass on the two cakes rule to someone else who might need it ☺
@@CoraMaria Awesome! Absolutely! Will do! :)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CORA!!! i always get so happy when you post :)
Thank-you!
This video was so nuanced and helpful! Thank you for all your hard work!!
You're welcome~!
Happy Birthday!
Thank-you 💖
Hello, thank you for this video! I have a little problem with an idea for a fic I want to write. It has a very similar plot line to a different fic (its quite literally the same, but just a different setting and a different ending, also my fic may be a lot longer with the twist at the end.) Do you think this is fine? Or should I try to make more changes to it?
I think it should be fine if you make sure to credit the other fic writer and link to their story, but at the same time, it never hurts to look at every repetitive plot point or element and take some time to question it. Sometimes we find ourselves repeating certain tropes, clichés, or fanon without questioning why we decided to include them in the first place. Doing so might not make you want to remove them, but it could help you figure out new and interesting ways to execute them. We can add a lot of depth to our otherwise "cliché" stories that way.
@@CoraMaria Thank you for your advice. I was thinking about crediting the author.
You beat me again! (And I was so close this time)
Happy birthday month, I hope you enjoy your two cakes 💜💜
You'll get me next time!
i just realised i didnt sub to you yet
Mood! Just last night, I realised I wasn't subscribed to one of my favourite web comics 😂
Everything has been said before, but not by you