Publishing Startup Out to Prove FanFic Authors Can Have Mainstream Success
Davies' frustration inspired Big Bang Press, a small press with deep roots in the fan fiction community, referred to by participants as fandom. Davies and her fellow editors actively participate in fandom, and have named the press for one of the biggest events in the community. "Big Bang is a yearly sort of get-together of fans in a certain fandom who would all agree to write long stories -- usually longer than 20,000 words -- and who would then be paired up with fan artists who would illustrate them. They'd have regular check-ins and all post their completed stories around the same time." The name fits, not only because it is identifiable to Davies' biggest supporters, the "fanfic" community, but also because it echoes the very work she and her editors are doing, which is to create longer works of fiction within a supportive community.
Ellen Harvey is a freelance writer and editor who covers the latest technologies and strategies reshaping the publishing landscape. She previously served as the Senior Editor at Publishing Executive and Book Business.