80
AdAptAtion in the Age of MediA ConvergenCe
already bring audiences with them to the book market that are interested
in and familiar with these forms of communication and add – through their
engagement – to the value of a series or text.
Beyond the feedback loop and communication between authors and
audiences, Clare and James also replicate writing strategies, specific forms
of serialization and adaptation that are similar to those established in the
fanfiction context. Cassandra Clare stands out as an author who extensively
engages with the imaginary world that she has created. Just like the sprawling
amount of fanfictions that continuously explore the world of Harry Potter,
Clare has continued to write in the Shadowhunter universe of The Mortal
Instruments, adding prequels and sequels as well as zooming in on individual
characters, for example in the e-novellas that focus on the character Simon.
James, on the other hand, has specifically taken up a feature of fanfiction
writing by retelling the story already told in Fifty Shades of Grey from the
perspective of a different character in Grey. While serialization is a common
feature in popular culture in general, James’ latest installment in the Fifty
Shades of Grey series that narrates parts of the series again from the perspective of Christian instead of Ana is more common in the fan realm than in
other writing contexts. On her site, she published the press announcement
of the book, which was released on June 18, a date which, it is argued, is
significant, and “devotees may remember as Christian’s birthday.” Further,
the release argues: “Since the publication of Fifty Shades of Grey in 2011,
thousands of readers have written to James requesting Christian’s POV.” The
detailed knowledge of readers, the requests of readers for specific content,
and the development of this content is common in the communication
between authors and readers in fanfiction contexts, which is also related
to the sentiment of gifting these stories to fans of, for example, a specific
pairing. Fanfiction related to the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy was already
very popular online, and had taken on the task of relating Christian Grey’s
perspective before James. Alexandra Alter explains that popular fanfictions, like those published on Emine Fougner’s blog, garnered an enormous
readership. Fougner has generated a staggering number of 14 million views
on the page. 61 By now, Fougner’s writing has also transitioned to the e-book
market as Echoes in Eternity – The Pella Series Novel, an erotic novel with
fantastic elements, which not coincidentally features a relationship that
resembles the power dynamics of Edward and Bella or Christian and Ana.
61 Alexandra Alter, “‘Fifty Shades’ Fan Fiction Assumes a Life of Its Own,” New York Times,
June 19, 2015.
AdAptAtion in the Age of MediA ConvergenCe
already bring audiences with them to the book market that are interested
in and familiar with these forms of communication and add – through their
engagement – to the value of a series or text.
Beyond the feedback loop and communication between authors and
audiences, Clare and James also replicate writing strategies, specific forms
of serialization and adaptation that are similar to those established in the
fanfiction context. Cassandra Clare stands out as an author who extensively
engages with the imaginary world that she has created. Just like the sprawling
amount of fanfictions that continuously explore the world of Harry Potter,
Clare has continued to write in the Shadowhunter universe of The Mortal
Instruments, adding prequels and sequels as well as zooming in on individual
characters, for example in the e-novellas that focus on the character Simon.
James, on the other hand, has specifically taken up a feature of fanfiction
writing by retelling the story already told in Fifty Shades of Grey from the
perspective of a different character in Grey. While serialization is a common
feature in popular culture in general, James’ latest installment in the Fifty
Shades of Grey series that narrates parts of the series again from the perspective of Christian instead of Ana is more common in the fan realm than in
other writing contexts. On her site, she published the press announcement
of the book, which was released on June 18, a date which, it is argued, is
significant, and “devotees may remember as Christian’s birthday.” Further,
the release argues: “Since the publication of Fifty Shades of Grey in 2011,
thousands of readers have written to James requesting Christian’s POV.” The
detailed knowledge of readers, the requests of readers for specific content,
and the development of this content is common in the communication
between authors and readers in fanfiction contexts, which is also related
to the sentiment of gifting these stories to fans of, for example, a specific
pairing. Fanfiction related to the Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy was already
very popular online, and had taken on the task of relating Christian Grey’s
perspective before James. Alexandra Alter explains that popular fanfictions, like those published on Emine Fougner’s blog, garnered an enormous
readership. Fougner has generated a staggering number of 14 million views
on the page. 61 By now, Fougner’s writing has also transitioned to the e-book
market as Echoes in Eternity – The Pella Series Novel, an erotic novel with
fantastic elements, which not coincidentally features a relationship that
resembles the power dynamics of Edward and Bella or Christian and Ana.
61 Alexandra Alter, “‘Fifty Shades’ Fan Fiction Assumes a Life of Its Own,” New York Times,
June 19, 2015.