Fanfiction is a great tool for readers and writers. For readers, it’s a way to become more invested in a story. For writers, it’s a way to learn what readers want to see more of. Over time, it helps them improve at their craft and build a bigger audience.
However, fanfiction is a bit of a mystery to most people. If you’re one of them, below are ways to help you get started with fanfic reading and writing.
What is Fanfiction
Fanfiction is where a story is written featuring the universe, characters, or plotlines of an existing movie, TV show, or book. These writers who are “fans” of the original works take to fanfiction to show their fanaticism for the original work. The hardcore fans are known as “fandoms”.
Fanfiction is great for a number of reasons. It’s a great way to engage more deeply as a fan. Didn’t like how a scene happened? Rewrite it! Wish something else happened? You can make it happen! Fanfiction puts you in control of the story.
Fanfiction is also great practice for writers. With fanfiction, writers don’t need to design a whole universe, backstory, or characters. You can choose what you want to start with and go from there. Want to practice character development? You can create your own characters and drop that character into the universe of your choice, for example, the Wizarding World, where the character can go to Hogwarts. In that case, you don’t need to worry about worldbuilding and can focus on the character. You can take any area you want to work on and drill in on it.
The Stigma With Fanfiction
Reading and writing fanfics come with some challenges that may discourage you. There’s a stigma accusing fanfiction writers of being unwilling to create their own plots and stories. There’s a misconception that readers of fanfiction are unable to enjoy or even recognize actual works of literature. There’s also a fear that most people wouldn’t approve these as a writer’s hobby.
All of these ignore the rich and varied context surrounding fanfiction. They also belittle its considerable value and creative opportunities.
If you have any of those or any other prejudice against fanfics, get over it today. Figure out the real facts behind fanfiction. Start using its creative freedoms to become the writer you want to be.
The proof? Real movies and books have come from fanfiction. E.L James’ 50 Shades of Grey is the most famous example, becoming a worldwide bestseller from a story that began as a Twilight fanfic.
Read a lot of fanfiction to learn the ways
Reading is one of the most important practices for a writer. Instead of getting inspired by only one author, reading a lot of books forces you to learn other contexts and POV styles.
If you frequent fanfiction sites, you’ll immediately see a range of different writing styles. From here, you can get inspiration in every story. Fanfiction is also a great introduction to various styles of narration. This will help you establish your own voice later on.
Sometimes, though, the length of the fanfics stop you from reading more. In terms of word count and construction, they’re already similar with novels or novellas. If you’re not keen on reading those right away, you can opt for fan-made flash fiction.
Get a feel on how fandoms work
Discovering an online fandom is an eye-opening experience. Just take a look at the fan-generated content on Tumblr. Head to Twitter as well. See for yourself how some fandoms rule over the trends at random hours.
Then there’s fanfiction. Fanfic writers do more than just post their reactions or upload photos, GIFs and videos. They entertain and explore possibilities. Through writing, they’re able to express their ideas and their love for their respective fandoms. Wattpad, FanFiction.Net, and Commaful’s fanfiction section are treasure troves of fanfics that will give you further understanding of how fandoms work.
If you’re still confused about the intricacies of being in a fandom, pinpoint the celebrities, TV shows, books or films you enjoy the most. You might have been a casual fan long ago. As such, find the fanfictions and other forms of fan labor that your fellow fans have created. You’re likely to understand some of the references and jokes.
Show your fandom some love
Fanfiction works because it taps into the fandom where you belong. For a budding writer like you, you might be wondering whether you should dive into the pool of fanfic. If that’s the case, the easiest and safest place to start is by writing more about the fandom you’re already a part of. Both reading and writing are ways of expressing your fan love.
Observe and understand the fanfics being written in your fandom. Which authors and stories do you enjoy? Who creates the fan art or fanfic that captures your fandom? These are the people you want to emulate.
Learn their characters. Mimic their style. These will give you a sense of the genre you wish to enter on your own. These will also make you realize what kinds of things cause readers to fall in love with a given story or character.
If you don’t want to plunge into the world of fanfiction yet, don’t worry. However, keep in mind that you don’t need to be exceptionally popular in a fandom in order to start. In case you’re an author struggling with generating ideas, you can use fanfic as a creative sandbox. Think of it as a virtual writers’ café where you can bounce ideas off of other people without pressure. Or, you can snatch the best parts and use it as the inspiration for your own work.
Choose a fanfic style
Keep on reading fanfics until you’re ready to write one yourself. Once you decide to heed the call, remember the fanfic style you like the most. Then, apply it as you write.
Alternate universes, or more fondly called as AUs, are among the easiest styles to try out. Essentially, it involves taking the world you know, and twisting it around in your own way. (For example, your Harry Potter fanfic will feature the magical school named Durmstrang instead of Hogwarts.) While it’s technically possible to make them unrecognizable from the original source, for most AUs, the similarities are more important than the differences.
Pick out an intriguing plot or pairing
Have you ever watched a film and thought that the other guy is more deserving of the girl? Or, after reading a book, did you like a different ending or wish that a subplot was given more attention?
To explore an intriguing plot or pairing is a prompt to become a writer. If you’re a frustrated fan or an imaginative one, making fanfic is easier because you have detailed plots and established characters to choose from.
In case you’re scared of getting criticized for your take on a plot or a pairing, don’t worry as there are likely more bizarre fanfics out there. Who knows? Some fans may already be considering the ideas you’re presenting on your fanfiction.
Just Write
Once you have it, just start writing. The best part about fanfiction is that fanfiction already has a built in audience. People already love Harry Potter and are actively seeking out new Harry Potter fanfics to read. It can still help to promote your fic and do what you can to get it in front of Harry Potter fans, but it’s often much easier to build an initial readership, which helps build your excitement as a writer and helps gather feedback on your writing from real live readers.
Getting started with fanfic reading and writing is easier if you’re already a fan. After some time, you may even find it hard to get out of this rabbit hole.
About the Author
Hayley Zelda is a writer and marketer at heart. She’s written on all the major writing platforms and worked with a number of self-published authors on marketing books to the YA audience.
