Podcast Summary: The Creative Penn Podcast For Writers
Episode: Writing Fan Fiction, And Multi-Passionate Creativity With KimBoo York
Host: Joanna Penn
Guest: KimBoo York
Date: September 8, 2025
Theme: Writing Craft and Creative Business, Fan Fiction, Multi-Passionate Creativity
Episode Overview
In this episode, Joanna Penn interviews author, coach, and podcaster KimBoo York. The discussion delves into the world of fan fiction—what it is, where it lives, its cultural context—and explores what it means to be a "multi-passionate creative." The conversation provides inspiration and practical advice for writers grappling with multiple projects, brands, or creative interests, as well as those curious about transitioning from fan fiction to original writing or publishing. The episode is filled with real talk about managing diverse creative passions, fandoms, shifting publishing trends, and the importance of embracing one's "weird self" as a writer.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. What’s New in Publishing and AI (Joanna’s Segment)
- Discussion of Kevin Kelly’s article, Everything I Know About Self Publishing (00:50)
- Key insight: The traditional publishing system’s peak is over; owning your audience is critical now.
- Quote (Kevin Kelly, via Joanna):
“For the most part the peak of this traditional system is gone, finished, over... Established mass market publishers are failing and they are merging to keep going.” (01:45) - Crowdfunding: Both benefits and pitfalls, particularly the challenge of fulfillment. Joanna emphasizes completing projects before launching campaigns.
- Current self-publishing news: KU authors possibly able to distribute ebooks to libraries, but proceed with caution regarding Kindle Unlimited exclusivity (09:00).
- AI and copyright updates:
- Anthropic lawsuit settlement over book training data—indie authors may be eligible for compensation if copyright is registered in the U.S.
- Joanna emphasizes the new reality: “I see lots of people going, oh, this is a real win for authors. But...this essentially solidifies training on copyright data as fair use.” (11:45)
- ElevenLabs’ 11Reader now lets authors sell AI-narrated audiobooks direct to readers, with varied customization levels (13:50).
- Joanna’s personal updates: Launch of her short story collection The Buried and the Drowned on Kickstarter, upcoming webinars on AI for authors, continuing fascination with creative tech and AI. (15:20)
- Listener letters touch on nostalgia for physical audiobooks, fandom collecting, and personal journeys in genealogy and history (16:45).
2. Managing Multiple Creative Brands (Interview with KimBoo York)
KimBoo’s Business Update and Brand Segmentation
-
2025 has been a challenging year; more freelance work, restructuring around multiple brands (24:30).
-
KimBoo’s many personas/brands:
- Kim Boo York (fiction, romance, fantasy)
- Cooper West (gay male romance, thrillers)
- Author Alchemist (craft, coaching, podcast)
- Task Mistress (holistic productivity)
- Skeptic’s Inspirational (daily inspiration, soon to be a book)
- Patience and Fortitude (grief blog/memoir)
-
Embracing a “studio” framework: HouseofYork.info as a unifying umbrella for all projects (27:00)
- Benefits: Keeps brands distinct yet connected; organizes marketing and outreach.
- Email list segmentation is in progress; for now, one main list (28:00).
-
Notable Quote:
“For a long time I tried to keep everything very separate. And that took so much work and energy, as you know. And then I tried to put everything under one banner and that just became cluttered... What I needed was a studio-type of branding.”
(KimBoo York, 26:00) -
Both Joanna and KimBoo affirm the realities (and joys!) of being multi-passionate:
- “You can’t just stay in your lane...I’m a seven-lane highway.” (KimBoo York, 29:50)
3. Fan Fiction: Definition, Sites, and Legal Issues
What is Fan Fiction?
- “Fan fiction is the interaction of a creative person...with a property or fiction story that they love. It's them engaging with it on a personal level.” (KimBoo York, 32:00)
- Often unauthorized, using existing characters/settings from shows, movies, books, etc.
- Examples: Supernatural, Teen Wolf, Game of Thrones, Avengers, Chinese dramas, etc. (33:05)
- Fanfic can be for fun, to reimagine scenes, or to explore alternate story directions (fix-its, alternate universes, etc).
Where is Fan Fic Posted?
- Archive of Our Own (AO3): Community-run, legal advocacy, robust tagging system
- Fanfiction.net: Oldest, clunky interface
- Wattpad: Somewhat ambivalent/hit-or-miss
- Writers use specific tags to clarify which Fandom/Universe (i.e., “Thor MCU” vs. “Thor mythology”) (37:20)
Copyright and Legal Boundaries
- Public domain works can inspire both fanfic and commercial books (e.g., fairy tales, mythology), but derivative works based on new IPs cannot be monetized
- Writers should be careful about distinctions between official properties and public domain inspirations—some properties (e.g., Sherlock Holmes) are partially copyrighted depending on region and edition (39:08)
- “You can publish on a website, but you can’t publish and make money off of this.” (KimBoo York, 34:30)
Does All Fanfic = Romance/Erotica?
- No. Wide variety—gen fic (“general” stories) is popular, and writers come from all backgrounds and ages (40:01)
- Time travel/fix-it fics, alternate realities, and general adventure stories are common
- “It's not all written by 14-year-old girls. In fact, ...[early fandom] you had to have access to a Xerox machine... those women were full women.” (KimBoo York, 40:35)
4. Fanfic as Inspiration and Gateway to Original Fiction
From Fanfic to Professional Publication
- “Filing off the serial numbers”: Popular fanfics have been reworked into original novels (e.g., 50 Shades of Grey from Twilight).
- “You have to really file it down enough...change the setting, you change some of the dynamics.” (KimBoo York, 44:00)
- Tropes are universal—“time travel fix-it”, “klutzy genius”, etc.—can be used in both original and fan works
Fanfic’s Historical Stigma and Modern Shift
- Fanfic long carried a stigma (“horny lonely women,” “not real writing”) and could derail professional careers; now, many publishers and agents seek popular fanfic writers (45:25)
- Example: Highly-read Harry Potter “Dramione” fanfics were only lightly altered for recent publications (52:00)
- Modern indie genres like “Omegaverse”, “reverse harem”, and “romantasy” often emerge from fanfiction experimentation (49:50)
5. Multi-Passionate Creativity & Navigating a Changing Industry
Writing Across Genres and Embracing Your Unique Voice
- KimBoo and Joanna both write across multiple genres/brands and advocate for being true to your “weird self” (60:54)
- Discovery and fulfillment, not market conformity, should be prioritized—especially as AI changes the creative landscape:
- Quote:
“For me, trying to write to market, trying to narrow down and stay in your lane, felt like trying to turn myself into a machine...The humanity is what we own as humans.”
(KimBoo York, 58:00)
- Quote:
- Generative AI/search will make it easier for readers to find cross-genre or “weird” books outside the traditional categories (62:07–63:56)
- Joanna: “You need to be your weird self” (64:18)
6. Transitioning from Fanfic to Original Work
- Many fanfic writers struggle when switching to “original” work, sometimes losing their creative spark by trying to be too different (53:44)
- KimBoo’s advice:
- Identify what you love about your favorite stories, extract the tropes or character dynamics, and use those as building blocks in your own worlds and characters (55:41)
- “If you sit back and look at it, like, okay, what is it about Indiana Jones or Kirk or [a character] that I love...Can I pull on that, introduce it into my own characters and my own stories?” (KimBoo York, 56:32)
Notable Quotes
-
On Fanfic Stigma:
“There was a lot of shame...whose careers were almost derailed...because it was revealed they had written fantasy fiction.”
(KimBoo York, 45:25) -
On Multiple Brands/Projects:
“I’m a seven-lane highway. I can’t just stay in my lane.”
(KimBoo York, 29:50) -
On Humanity in Writing vs. AI:
“The humanity is what we own as humans. Our experiences, our insights...AI is very generic. Even at the point where you say you can push a button, have it write a book...it's going to be median, ...average.”
(KimBoo York, 58:00) -
Joanna’s Takeaway:
“You need to be your weird self.”
(Joanna Penn, 64:18)
Timestamps for Important Segments
- 00:50 — Kevin Kelly on self-publishing, trends, and owning your audience
- 09:00 — KU library distribution news & warnings for authors
- 11:45 — Anthropic lawsuit: AI, book copyright, settlement details
- 13:50 — ElevenLabs 11Reader: distributing AI-narrated audiobooks
- 24:00 — KimBoo York: separating brands, managing multi-passionate creativity
- 32:00 — What is fan fiction? Definitions, platforms, culture
- 37:20 — Copyright, public domain, legal risks for fanfic
- 40:01 — Stereotypes and diversity in fanfic writing
- 44:00 — Turning fanfic into original fiction: “filing off the serial numbers”
- 49:50 — Fanfic trends influencing publishing (reverse harem, Omegaverse, romantasy)
- 58:00 — AI’s impact: “The humanity is what we own”
- 62:00 — Future of search, finding niche/cross-genre reads, “be your weird self”
Additional Resources
- KimBoo York’s “studio home”: HouseofYork.info
- Archive of Our Own: archiveofourown.org
- Kevin Kelly’s blog & self-publishing article: kk.org
- ElevenLabs 11Reader: 11reader.io
Conclusion
This episode is a must-listen for writers exploring fandom, fan fiction, brand-building, and navigating creative passions in an industry transformed by technology and shifting audience behavior. Through frank, often funny, and always practical conversation, Joanna and KimBoo offer reassurance and actionable ideas for anyone feeling “too complicated” or out of place as a creator. Their central message is clear: Stay true to what makes your writing uniquely yours—especially now, as we enter a new era of opportunity and connection for the “multi-passionate” creative.