This interview is a rehash of her earlier "pornish rewrites" rant.
Anyone who's read Annie knows she's not big on happy endings. However, having written the story, with all its ambiguity, and the nerve she struck in so many people, she'll just have to get used to the fact that, although she "owns" the characters, Jack and Ennis now belong to the world.
It's bigger than her. Of course people get that it's about homophobia. It just doesn't end there. It's a springboard for all kinds of things.
I agree with this and with Amanda's posts here on this thread.
I am still surprised that this is Annie Proulx's reaction to having struck a nerve and managed to reach so many people with her story. People *do* get that BBM is about homophobia, - those who write "happy ending" stories are stating that they wish homophobia was a thing of the past, or a thing of less impact in society - and they use two beloved characters to make that statement and to show how a society and a relationship possibly could be, if and where this alternate development had occurred. Granted, I'm sure, some of it is poorly written and some of it is "porn without plot" - but at least she's inspired a reaction from readers who do not just shrug and go on without caring.
I'm of course not disputing that she has copyright to her story and its characters.
And I can very well see how she could be extremely annoyed by fanfiction being sent her - especially if they say
"here's what you should have written" which I somehow find it difficult to believe that many people actually would be dumb enough to tell her to her face. She doesn't have to read it though, or even glance at it - and how does she know the senders are who they claim to be anyhow?
I don't think adding to a story, making up scenes, thinking out alternate endings is anything new. I bet everyone including Annie Proulx has done that when they read a riveting story. Doesn't everyone do that? From they're quite young? Even if they don't put the stories on paper/screen and don't write fanfiction?
I remain surprised at the way she dislikes readers with "strong fantasy lives". The story is ambiguous, and deliberately so - there are lots of open spaces for interpretation. One such interpretation is Ang Lee's film.
IMO fanfiction is another way of interpreting and discussing an author's story and its characters. Nobody (I think) will write fanfic about characters and plots that leave them profoundly indifferent. It is because she's moved people deeply and stirred emotions that a number of readers use this way of working through their feelings and opinions. Even if some readers aren't very verbal or choose unfortunate ways of expressing their admiration. I think it wouldn't hurt her if she was gracious enough to consider this, and to let be, let be.
She's created a story and two characters for the ages. They've taken on lives of their own. Many authors go their whole life without achieving that. I wish she could be proud of it, and not so annoyed with everything that follows.
Also I wish she could find it in herself to be less publicly dismissive of her readers' ways of expressing their feelings, their interpretations and - ultimately - their gratitude.