116 replies to this topic

[Trident]

Since we've brought this chestnut of a thread idea over from M16, maybe we should import Hitch's "Let's talk fan fiction..." thread as well. I guess I'd just like a thread here where we could talk about reading and writing FF in general.

I seconded this idea to 'bring over' a general discussion about fanfic here. Well, since there have been passing a few days without anybody else doing this, I think there is no other way but to start this on my own. And no time like the present, is there?

Now, I'm really not the person best fitted for this task as I've hardly written anything worth mentioning up to now. So my degree of experience in this field is really rather limited. To say the least. I'll probably best start with talking about what I like reading in other people's fanfic as it's generally what I try to aim for whenever I feel one of my (seldom) urges to write.


And what is it that I like in fanfic? Generally speaking, I like it when some piece is doing something different. Not necessarily new, mind you. But different in some way.

Of course there are thousands and thousands of stories out there that are pretty conventional, going the way that God intended things to be: some kind of introduction; briefing with M/banter with Moneypenny; first contact with villain; casino/sports/golf scene [order to personal preference]; fight scene; car/motorbike/donkey chase [again interchangeable order]; shootout/capture/torture scene; climactic fight; end credits [no interchangeable order with those, I'm afraid]. Intersperse with girl/seduction/sex scene and spice up with any number of posh and nifty brands, spectacular places and even more spectacular guns and gadgets. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that; quite a lot of them are really, really jolly good fun! And if you enjoy reading and/or writing those, so all the better for you!

It's just that my tastes are running for diversion. Why? Well, ought to be obvious, isn't it? I highly doubt that I could contribute anything even remotely substantial to these 'basics'. Thousands of fans have done so already, hundreds of them much more gifted than I could ever hope to be. But perhaps I might be able to think of something that hasn't been done with Bond before? Highly doubtable, but not entirely impossible. I hope.


Basically, I see two major ways to achieve this:

1) giving the scenes above a twist while still staying on familiar thriller territory, or

2) giving the character(s)/circumstances a twist while either staying or leaving the familiar boundaries; this way, one may even end up with something completely unexpected. Perhaps even something that may not be 'mere' fanfic any more? Who knows?


Of these two, I find the second one more rewarding, for it can lead you to any number of possibilities, opening up new doors to previously undiscovered rooms. The character of Bond IMO is still capable of some development. Being witness to this, perhaps, if everything works out, even trying to implement some development myself, is what I would try to aim for. And what I like if I find it in other people's works.

[Hitch]

Cheek!

[Scrambled Eggs]

I hope everyone understands that, for this to be in the true spirit of the original, we all have to be drunk?

[Trident]

Cheek!

SNAP!

[Mister Asterix]

A small thought.

I like to see the character of Bond expanded on in fanfic. Not so much changed mind you, just give me more insight into Bond than I had before. Bond taking a shower the same way he has a million times before won’t interest me. At this point if you wrote, ‘Bond showered.’ We’d all know exactly how he did it. No need for anything more. Give me a new detail about Bond: his shoe shining routine (when a service isn’t available, of course), how Bond interacts with his tailor, how he organises his desk, that sort of thing.

[Trident]

I hope everyone understands that, for this to be in the true spirit of the original, we all have to be drunk?

That mandatory? No problem with me. I feel like the last sober day I've seen was in July 1979. Early July, I might add.

[ImTheMoneypenny]

Hi Trident! I hope more folks stop by here looks like it could become quite a thread.

Bond fan fic is really the first fan fic I've ever fully read. Someone once showed me their Harry Potter fan fic ( not a fan actually). Not only was it was terrible but the woman had such an ego it turned me off to fan fic until I came here. Every one I've read so far puts that woman's work to shame quite easily and without the ego.

But anyway so, I'm in the middle of my first ever fan fic. It's not as easy as I expected. I'm used to writing for my own character and playing by my own rules. It's an all new experience to play by a different set of rules as well as characters not of my own making.

I decided to go for vintage Bond. Though when I'm finally finished with my story I'm thinking of doing a modern Bond thriller as the modern Bond stories on this site have put me in the mood, especially Harry Fawkes' adventures. So perhaps in my future I'll attempt something bigger and modern, and in my own style, that's in between bouts of my own works of course!

[Trident]

Bond taking a shower the same way he has a million times before won’t interest me. At this point if you wrote, ‘Bond showered.’ We’d all know exactly how he did it. No need for anything more. Give me a new detail about Bond: his shoe shining routine (when a service isn’t available, of course), how Bond interacts with his tailor, how he organises his desk, that sort of thing.

Yes, exactly what I was trying to express with the 'basics'. The shower routine itself is so much standard that it's not really interesting any more. But Bond scrubbing away the stink of somebody's blood and the chemical stench of gunpowder from his fingers, trying to get rid of the stains under his nails while the water soaks him. And then giving himself yet another rinse with soap because he still can detect the faint smell..., now that I would once more appreciate.

To change the character would not necessarily be an aim. But seeing him interact with situations, circumstances that are not the usual standard. That doesn't discount change entirely. Bond would still have to be Bond, his past experiences a part of his personality. But when I look at how much my onw life, not a particularly adventurous one, has changed over the years, then I think Bond would also be entitled to some development. The dynamics would come from Bond acting, reacting to new situations. Not from Bond suddenly losing his entire personality just to do something different for the hell of it.

[MkB]

Bond fan fic is really the first fan fic I've ever fully read.

Same here! After reading the Fleming novels and some continuation ones, I was curious to know what fans would do with the Bond character. Actually, the fan fic section was what led me to CBn first (the "official" fanfic section, I mean, with the PDF novels: I discovered the fanfic forum way later, which is a shame since there are some very good pieces there!).

There are different things that I like in Bond fanfics.
A personal take on the Bond character / universe is one of them: I appreciate when writers can take their distances with the Fleming rules (and the EON rules), and propose their own vision. But I like writers to have a good knowledge of the rules before taking their distances: it's fun to play with limits and references, but you can play only if you know them.
Anyway, I believe this personal take is the most attaching feature of fanfics: writers write a bit about themselves through their vision of Bond.

[Trident]

Hi Trident! I hope more folks stop by here looks like it could become quite a thread.

It's Hitch's thread really. So kudos to him. I merely hijacked the idea.

But anyway so, I'm in the middle of my first ever fan fic. It's not as easy as I expected. I'm used to writing for my own character and playing by my own rules. It's an all new experience to play by a different set of rules as well as characters not of my own making.

To me it's bloody hard work; much harder than it looks. One cannot just go every which way, has to carefully select ones ideas, try to make them work with Bond. Difficult and sometimes even impossible. Notr every idea is good, after all. And even some of the best may absolutely be no material for Bond. Since delving this kind of fanfic I've spent much more time thinking than actually writing. And being one of nature's lazy creatures I've really only written a fraction of what I originally intended to.

I decided to go for vintage Bond. Though when I'm finally finished with my story I'm thinking of doing a modern Bond thriller as the modern Bond stories on this site have put me in the mood, especially Harry Fawkes' adventures. So perhaps in my future I'll attempt something bigger and modern, and in my own style, that's in between bouts of my own works of course!

Personally I favour period Bond too. But I suspect I really was spoilt for modern Bond by the not-so-fantastic continuations. And it's much harder for me to accept a hero living Bond-style today than back in the 60's. But this is very much a personal preference and not really a problem. Ironically, in spite of my reluctance where modern Bond is concerned, I haven't written anything period up to now.

There are different things that I like in Bond fanfics.
A personal take on the Bond character / universe is one of them: I appreciate when writers can take their distances with the Fleming rules (and the EON rules), and propose their own vision. But I like writers to have a good knowledge of the rules before taking their distances: it's fun to play with limits and references, but you can play only if you know them.
Anyway, I believe this personal take is the most attaching feature of fanfics: writers write a bit about themselves through their vision of Bond.

A very good observation. Haven't thought about that aspect up to now, as I took it for granted. But this is of course right. Expanding, breaking limits needs knowing those first.

[MkB]

Since delving this kind of fanfic I've spent much more time thinking than actually writing.

This is exactly what happened to me when I was trying to write my own fanfic Glad to know it's not my problem only

[MkB]

There are different things that I like in Bond fanfics.
A personal take on the Bond character / universe is one of them: I appreciate when writers can take their distances with the Fleming rules (and the EON rules), and propose their own vision. But I like writers to have a good knowledge of the rules before taking their distances: it's fun to play with limits and references, but you can play only if you know them.
Anyway, I believe this personal take is the most attaching feature of fanfics: writers write a bit about themselves through their vision of Bond.

A very good observation. Haven't thought about that aspect up to now, as I took it for granted. But this is of course right. Expanding, breaking limits needs knowing those first.

Thanks Trident
Well, it should be taken for granted, but the Bond universe is complicated: some of us are Fleming fans, some others "Fleming + film franchise" fans, and some others are "films only" fans, so the set of rules can radically differ from one to another. I, for one, am not interested in fanfics not based on the "rules and limits" of the Fleming/literary Bond character. Mind you, a fanfic based only on the cinematic Bond is perfectly OK and respectable, but it's not my cup of tea: the Bond there is a different chap!

[ImTheMoneypenny]

Since delving this kind of fanfic I've spent much more time thinking than actually writing.

This is exactly what happened to me when I tried to write my own fanfic Glad to know it's not my problem only

Same here. I'm about to start a new chapter, but I have to really think it out properly. I've got through a bunch of ideas but none of them sit right with me.

As Trident put it, it's bloody hard and you have to tread lightly. I've known people who've just done as they pleased when writing various fan fic, usually putting an inappropriate slant on a character just because they wanted it to be like that. A friend of my sister's went through a phase where she wrote Spiderman fan fic, which my sister would complain to me about. One of the issues my sister went on about was that he girl put The Joker( ) in Spiderman fan fic! Not only that but making him a gay interest for Spiderman because that's what she wanted. I find such disrespect appalling. Because of things like that, I really think hard before I put pen to paper.

I am all for fan fic that explores Bond's world and what we know about him/his routine. I know that writers here would do such things with a healthy dose of respect.

[Joyce Carrington]

Three cheers for this thread.

To change the character would not necessarily be an aim. But seeing him interact with situations, circumstances that are not the usual standard. That doesn't discount change entirely. Bond would still have to be Bond, his past experiences a part of his personality. But when I look at how much my onw life, not a particularly adventurous one, has changed over the years, then I think Bond would also be entitled to some development. The dynamics would come from Bond acting, reacting to new situations. Not from Bond suddenly losing his entire personality just to do something different for the hell of it.

I quite agree. Fan fiction, for me, is a way to explore all the 'what-ifs' the official canon hasn't yet proposed. What if Buffy the Vampire Slayer was pregnant? What if Sherlock Holmes suffered from amnesia? That sort of thing. It's about taking characters you know and putting them in new situations and discovering how they react. It's fun.

[Trident]

Thanks Trident
Well, it should be taken for granted, but the Bond universe is complicated: some of us are Fleming fans, some others "Fleming + film franchise" fans, and some others are "films only" fans, so the set of rules can radically differ from one to another. I, for one, am not interested in fanfics not based on the "rules and limits" of the Fleming/literary Bond character. Mind you, a fanfic based only on the cinematic Bond is perfectly OK and respectable, but it's not my cup of tea: the Bond there is a different chap!

That's something I haven't thought about when starting this thread. But yes, it would seem there's an ever growing number of fans out there that comes via the screen to Bond (like I daresay most of us, myself included, although back in '77 when the number of films and novels was still rather small, Bond's world fairly lucid) and hasn't ever read a Bond novel. And these fans naturally base their fanfic on the desire to capture what fascinated them in the films. I suspect that, being somehow interested in writing, they sooner or later get to read a Bond novel, and hopefully discover Fleming's originals sooner or later. But they may still be more attracted to a contemporary, more cinematic model and keep their own stories within that universe.

Now, given the growing distance between lit-Bond and the film counterpart, there's long since been a point-of-no-return after which both protagonists couldn't be matched without major discrepancies. So it's fair to assume at least two sets of 'rules' or 'boundaries' or whatever one may call them.

Really?

The more I think about it, the harder it seems to nail down what these rules really are. What exactly? It's really far easier to define what's beyond. For example (concentrating on lit-Bond at the moment) Bond having a belated coming out and living a gay lifestyle could easily be recognized as 'beyond limits'. It just isn't Bond anymore, rings wrong even in the most openminded ears. Or at least I think so. No offence meant here.

But Bond as a complete drop-out? Leaving SIS, town, golf course and married girlfriends? Rings equally wrong. Yet it was done by his creator. Of course, after a nervous breakdown, a personal revenge, a shattered skull and a major case of amnesia. But that's not really the point, is it? Bond didn't live on a Japanese island of his own free will. Or did he?

'Ama means "sea-girl" or "sea-man", and Kissy wore the marks of competing with the creatures of the ocean with obvious indifference, and her skin, which might have suffered from constant contact with salt water, in fact glowed with a golden sheen of health and vitality. But it was the charm and directness of her eyes and smile as well as her complete naturalness - for instance, when she mopped at Bond's face and chest - that endeared her so utterly to Bond. At that moment, he thought there would be nothing more wonderful than to spend the rest of his life rowing her out towards the horizon during the day and coming back with her to the small clean house in the dusk.'

[You Only Live Twice, Ian Fleming 1964, p. 129]


Extremely un-Bond, the whole affair, yet one of the best (if not THE BEST) Bond novels. Fleming himself has been extremely busy to escape the cage of his own formula. Not many Martinis, girls and guns on Kuro. No Bentleys, Morlands, Jack Daniels or tailored suits. And still absolutely Bond. Because Fleming has cleverly extended the limits of his creation. And was doing so for quite some time, actually.

Therefore I think it's safe to say that Bond's limits, the area of his particular literary niche, may perhaps be much less strict than we use to think so often.

[Harry Fawkes]

A small thought.

I like to see the character of Bond expanded on in fanfic. Not so much changed mind you, just give me more insight into Bond than I had before. Bond taking a shower the same way he has a million times before won’t interest me. At this point if you wrote, ‘Bond showered.’ We’d all know exactly how he did it. No need for anything more. Give me a new detail about Bond: his shoe shining routine (when a service isn’t available, of course), how Bond interacts with his tailor, how he organises his desk, that sort of thing.

James Bond slipped out of his sweat soaked, tattered clothes and, naked, crossed over to the long Cheval mirror against the wall. His face was filthy and he hadn’t shaved in two days.
His now weary grey-blue eyes fell down to the scars on his body.
There were many but the 'freshest' and most prominent were the two ugly puckered ones on the left side of his chest; dangerously positioned a few centimetres away from his heart. One was the size of an old ten Pence coin while the other beside it was slightly smaller.
Entry and exit wounds, and only seven months old...
Bond shivered as if someone, somewhere had just stepped over his grave...

[clinkeroo]

Thanks Trident
Well, it should be taken for granted, but the Bond universe is complicated: some of us are Fleming fans, some others "Fleming + film franchise" fans, and some others are "films only" fans, so the set of rules can radically differ from one to another. I, for one, am not interested in fanfics not based on the "rules and limits" of the Fleming/literary Bond character. Mind you, a fanfic based only on the cinematic Bond is perfectly OK and respectable, but it's not my cup of tea: the Bond there is a different chap!

Agreed.

The Bond fan fiction readers' club we had a few years ago opened my eyes to some of the film ff. I usually wrote off anything that had a female M, sci-fi gadgets, one liners, or author's that began with an actor's name when describing their Bond, or their story, but a good story, is still a good story, even if it doesn't make a passing nod to Papa Fleming. None of us are writing canon. No one has written canon since Fleming died (even as much as I enjoy CS, it still amounts to only a clever, well-written pastiche.)

I wrote Bond fan fiction because when I finished reading Octopussy I wanted more. Thankfully, there were a few people with the same desire.

[MkB]

Thanks Trident
Well, it should be taken for granted, but the Bond universe is complicated: some of us are Fleming fans, some others "Fleming + film franchise" fans, and some others are "films only" fans, so the set of rules can radically differ from one to another. I, for one, am not interested in fanfics not based on the "rules and limits" of the Fleming/literary Bond character. Mind you, a fanfic based only on the cinematic Bond is perfectly OK and respectable, but it's not my cup of tea: the Bond there is a different chap!

Agreed.

The Bond fan fiction readers' club we had a few years ago opened my eyes to some of the film ff. I usually wrote off anything that had a female M, sci-fi gadgets, one liners, or author's that began with an actor's name when describing their Bond, or their story, but a good story, is still a good story, even if it doesn't make a passing nod to Papa Fleming. None of us are writing canon. No one has written canon since Fleming died (even as much as I enjoy CS, it still amounts to only a clever, well-written pastiche.)

I wrote Bond fan fiction because when I finished reading Octopussy I wanted more. Thankfully, there were a few people with the same desire.

Actually, I belong in the "Fleming + film franchise" fan category, so I am not that strict on the mixing of elements As long as it makes sense character-wise, it's OK for me. I have no problem for instance with a female M, for a Bond story set nowadays (you may have noticed ).
Trident came up with interesting arguments too against the "different sets of rules", and it actually made me think about my initial point.

Come to think of it, maybe the problem (to me) occurs only when one writes from the unique point of view of the cinematic Bond, who lacks some features of the literary one (character wise) and appears like a more "unidimensional" guy, living in a slightly different universe (more sci-fi, etc.). Not to mention the Bond girls, who also are rather different. Besides, my opinion is that it's very difficult to write something inspired by a "non-literary" universe, if you see what I mean? It's easy to come up with something more like a film script (not only in the structure, but also in the fashion you describe things, build up the story, etc.), or more like an "Bond actor" fanfic rather than a "Bond" fanfic.

But I am not a Fleming purist at all, so I am interested in stories mixing features and elements from both universes (again, as long as it makes sense)! I guess we all (?) have our "personal Bond", a mix up of literary and cinematic features, and it's interesting to see how it works. That's also what I mean by "playing with the rules and the limits": writing a good Bond fanfic is a bit like preparing a good cocktail, you have to know the rudiments of the "Bond mixology"

[Joyce Carrington]

But I am not a Fleming purist at all, so I am interested in stories mixing features and elements from both universes (again, as long as it makes sense)! I guess we all (?) have our "personal Bond", a mix up of literary and cinematic features, and it's interesting to see how it works. That's also what I mean by "playing with the rules and the limits": writing a good Bond fanfic is a bit like preparing a good cocktail, you have to know the rudiments of the "Bond mixology"

Agree, and I also usually find myself in the literary+film-Bond-mix area. Although there might be a third element there in the mix that is all my known, as you say, a "personal Bond".

But perhaps I only feel that way because I've never seemed to get Bond 'right'. And that is also partly why he's not the main character in my fics.

[Mister Asterix]

A small thought.

I like to see the character of Bond expanded on in fanfic. Not so much changed mind you, just give me more insight into Bond than I had before. Bond taking a shower the same way he has a million times before won’t interest me. At this point if you wrote, ‘Bond showered.’ We’d all know exactly how he did it. No need for anything more. Give me a new detail about Bond: his shoe shining routine (when a service isn’t available, of course), how Bond interacts with his tailor, how he organises his desk, that sort of thing.

James Bond slipped out of his sweat soaked, tattered clothes and, naked, crossed over to the long Cheval mirror against the wall. His face was filthy and he hadn’t shaved in two days.
His now weary grey-blue eyes fell down to the scars on his body.
There were many but the 'freshest' and most prominent were the two ugly puckered ones on the left side of his chest; dangerously positioned a few centimetres away from his heart. One was the size of an old ten Pence coin while the other beside it was slightly smaller.
Entry and exit wounds, and only seven months old...
Bond shivered as if someone, somewhere had just stepped over his grave...

Yes. I love it.

[Trident]

A small thought.

I like to see the character of Bond expanded on in fanfic. Not so much changed mind you, just give me more insight into Bond than I had before. Bond taking a shower the same way he has a million times before won’t interest me. At this point if you wrote, ‘Bond showered.’ We’d all know exactly how he did it. No need for anything more. Give me a new detail about Bond: his shoe shining routine (when a service isn’t available, of course), how Bond interacts with his tailor, how he organises his desk, that sort of thing.

James Bond slipped out of his sweat soaked, tattered clothes and, naked, crossed over to the long Cheval mirror against the wall. His face was filthy and he hadn’t shaved in two days.
His now weary grey-blue eyes fell down to the scars on his body.
There were many but the 'freshest' and most prominent were the two ugly puckered ones on the left side of his chest; dangerously positioned a few centimetres away from his heart. One was the size of an old ten Pence coin while the other beside it was slightly smaller.
Entry and exit wounds, and only seven months old...
Bond shivered as if someone, somewhere had just stepped over his grave...

Yes. I love it.

Seconded. Quite vividly.

[Mr. Blofeld]

A small thought.

I like to see the character of Bond expanded on in fanfic. Not so much changed mind you, just give me more insight into Bond than I had before. Bond taking a shower the same way he has a million times before won’t interest me. At this point if you wrote, ‘Bond showered.’ We’d all know exactly how he did it. No need for anything more. Give me a new detail about Bond: his shoe shining routine (when a service isn’t available, of course), how Bond interacts with his tailor, how he organises his desk, that sort of thing.

James Bond walked into his office. It was a crisp, clear day at Regent's Park, and office lore made it clear to avoid the Admiral when his sinuses were runny, so Bond steered clear and headed for his desk. A small metal ashtray lay askew atop it; Bond straightened it. He slipped off his coat and hung it over the peg, making a weary sigh as he did so. That shoulder wound still...

[MHazard]

I'm delighted to see this thread started and I'm finding the discussion quite interesting. It will come as no surprise to any of you who've slogged through my efforts that I place my Bond in Fleming's universe and time (at least a date where Fleming's Bond could still be young enough to not need to use a walker). I'm sort of torn on the whole discussion of rules here. It seems to me, there really are no rules when we're talking about fanfiction. I would think that if it's supposed to be on a Bond fan fiction site then it should have some connection to Bond, but really aren't we all ultimately writing for ourselves? One of the things I find fascinating, particularly after reading FYWR is how Bond fan fiction becomes sort of like an inkblot test for the writers. Each of them takes what they get from Bond and puts it in a different direction that matters to them. Thus, Scrambled Eggs, MkB, Clinkeroo, Bryce, Joyce Carrington and Harry Fawkes (among many others) are all writing fan fiction that is worth reading but all quite distinguishable. You would not, for instance confuse a Scrambled Eggs story with a Clinkeroo story even though both are reasonable takes on the character. Although I wouldn't want the threads cluttered with irrelevant non-Bond element stories, they really carry their own penalty which is no one reads them. Although we are all writing them for ourselves, who among us hasn't checked the postings because we were dying to know what others thought?

Now, I have probably unfairly and certainly pompously, served as an informal "continuity police" for some of you who were trying to write a Fleming universe consistent character, but I wouldn't say that should be required. That's just the character take I like and find most interesting. Like at least one other poster if I start a story and it's got a female M or makes reference to Mr. White, I'll probably stop. I may be denying myself a good read, but oh, well.

Now in my own fan fiction, which consists of three stories total, I have tried to explore aspects of Fleming's Bond or answer questions that Fleming's work raised. For example, my first effort concerned the question, why hasn't Bond been killed by a beautiful woman already, since that seems like the easiest way to to do it. My effort in FYWR tried to put him in a moral dilemma that he hadn't faced in the novels before to see how he'd react. So, perhaps that's a different take on the same guy that some of you suggested were the types of stories you most wanted. Interestingly, I actually was planning sometime on writing a more traditional formula story just because I haven't-so far my James hasn't "gotten the girl". But, of course, that's just what interests me and if my Bond is a somewhat cynical, getting older, but extremely good at his job professional-and one who drinks too much while also having a tinge of repressed melancholy, well perhaps that's what either I bring to the character or the character brings to me. I have seen a lot of fan fiction here that I thought was wonderful but that I couldn't or wouldn't have ever written.

So, it seems to me the beauty of all this is there are no rules, but a forum where each of us expresses what fascinates us about Bond or his universe and uses it to express our own demons (or angels). I'm interested in what we find interesting in the works of others but also in discussing how we approach our own writing as well. On that long-winded note, let me just say, I'm delighted with the thread and looking forward to participating in our on-going discussion.

[Mister Asterix]

James Bond walked into his office. It was a crisp, clear day at Regent's Park, and office lore made it clear to avoid the Admiral when his sinuses were runny, so Bond steered clear and headed for his desk. A small metal ashtray lay askew atop it; Bond straightened it. He slipped off his coat and hung it over the peg, making a weary sigh as he did so. That shoulder wound still...

Another .

[Jim]

If you don't understand the thing you want to push, you won't know how, how far and where you can push it.

Before one writes, one must read.

I have other such profound sayings kicking about. You won't want to read them.

[MkB]

I'm sort of torn on the whole discussion of rules here.

Since I'm afraid I'm the one who clumsily started to talk about "rules" here, I think I should make something clear: of course, there are no rules about fanfiction, and that's what is great about it. I was referring to "rules" about the characters (cinematic and literary), and how we can play with them. Actually, I suppose that "features" would be more appropriate than "rules".
My point is that it is perfectly fine to me to have Bond ordering a cup of tea in a fanfic. But I find it more interesting if the writer knows that he is transgressing and has reasons for that (be it that he just, himself, considers coffee "a cup of mud" instead of tea ).

[Mister Asterix]

[...]So, it seems to me the beauty of all this is there are no rules[...]

Well, yes and no. There are no rules when one looks at writing fan fiction for one’s own satisfaction.

But to please others there’s that tricky ‘there are rules that are okay to be broken so long as you know the rules’. And these rules that you must know aren’t the same rules from reader to reader so there’s little way to know the rules that must be known.

So go back and write for your own satisfaction. So long as you know the rules.

[Jim]

Well, yes and no. There are no rules when one looks at writing fan fiction for one’s own satisfaction.

But to please others there’s that tricky ‘there are rules that are okay to be broken so long as you know the rules’. And these rules that you must know aren’t the same rules from reader to reader so there’s little way to know the rules that must be known.

Ah, the unknown knowns. Or known unknowns. Good old Rummy.

[Trident]

If you don't understand the thing you want to push, you won't know how, how far and where you can push it.

Before one writes, one must read.

I have other such profound sayings kicking about. You won't want to read them.

Oh, but of course!

I find this a very good point, especially where pushing the envelope is concerned. Although not everybody does want to push it. Nothing wrong with that. Whoever is content with covering the familiar turf shall do so and enjoy!

But is pushing is an issue, there'd have to be a certain amount of mental work first, no matter which kind of Bond one prefers.

[Jim]

If you don't understand the thing you want to push, you won't know how, how far and where you can push it.

Before one writes, one must read.

I have other such profound sayings kicking about. You won't want to read them.

Oh, but of course!

I find this a very good point, especially where pushing the envelope is concerned.

Pushing an envelope is very easy. Envelopes are not heavy. Here is an envelope. I am pushing it. Ooh, the effort. Pushy pushy, envelopy-welopy.

Bugger, paper cut. Ouch.