Fanfiction can be a wonderful way to keep enjoying a story long after the book, film, or TV series it's based on has come to an end. Trying your hand at writing fanfiction is also, unquestionably, one of the best ways to flex your own creative muscles. How do you get started, though, and what do you do once you have written your very own fanfic?<\/p>\n
Fanfiction \u2014 also called fanfic, fic, or simply FF \u2014 has exploded on the internet in recent years. This particular genre has, however, existed for a very long time, and fanfiction can be defined very simply as fiction that was inspired by an existing work of fiction, written by someone else in an unauthorized capacity. Fanfiction is famous for being written by amateur or novice writers, though there are exceptions.<\/p>\n
Examples of types of fiction that often inspire fans and artists to craft their own spin-off works include:<\/p>\n
Some fanfiction is based on non-fictional events, as well. Within this sub-genre, writers may craft stories around historical events \u2014 typically involving known historical figures \u2014 or celebrities.<\/p>\n
What sets fanfiction apart from other types of fiction? Fanfiction takes tangible and immediately apparent inspiration from existing works, a journey that is almost always undertaken by people who greatly admire a work of fiction and who have been so stirred by it that their minds have sprouted unique story lines based on the original work.<\/p>\n
Elements from the original work or franchise that are often found in fanfiction include:<\/p>\n
The plot, however, is usually entirely novel. Fanfiction may continue where the base work left off, exploring what might have happened next, or it may be set in an \"alternate universe\", allowing the fanfiction author to take a plot in a completely new direction.<\/p>\n
Fanfiction is considered to be an entire genre. Within the genre of fanfiction, however, a multitude of sub-genres have developed. Among the more established sub-genres popular in fanfiction are:<\/p>\n
Do you find yourself inspired by something you've watched or read? Do you have a story idea for a fanfiction that doesn't fall into one of these popular categories? You don't have to constrict yourself to existing sub-genres, and can write whatever you feel like!<\/p>\n
People write fanfiction for three primary reasons. Some simply love the universe \u2014 they're superfans \u2014 and engage in the fanfic community as a way to share and explore their love of the original work with other fans in large online communities. Others are \"struck\" by creative ideas of their own, and would like to see how the story would have played out if some aspects of the original work would have been different.<\/p>\n
Yet others are aspiring writers who think of fanfiction as a gentle way to begin their writing careers. The fanfic community is active and supportive, and it is fairly easy to get critical creative feedback on a work of fanfiction, which can help budding authors develop their writing voices. What's more, it is hard to create an entire world from scratch \u2014 but when you are working within a pre-established framework, it becomes easier to focus on developing plot lines.<\/p>\n
Would you like to try your hand at penning a work of fanfiction yourself? Writing fanfiction is a low-pressure way to dip your toes into fiction writing. There are few rules, and your fanfic can be as short as a few well-crafted paragraphs, or as long as a typical novel.<\/p>\n
Some aspiring fanfic writers already have their source of inspiration, and already know exactly where they would like to take their story, but others also decide to write fanfiction without even knowing what work they are going to use as the base.<\/p>\n
Whoever you are, we hope this step-by-step guide to writing fanfiction can help you get started!<\/p>\n
Are you completely new to the world of fanfiction? In that case, you may want to begin by reading some of the other works of fanfiction people are publishing on the internet, and exploring different \"fandoms\". If you are hoping to publish your fanfic online, for others to read and comment, it is good to know that each fandom has its own atmosphere \u2014 and different sub-genres are popular within each. Consider getting to know the community, and interacting with it by leaving comments on other people's works of fanfiction, before posting your own.<\/p>\n
Many aspiring fanfiction writers don't have to ask themselves this question at all \u2014 if you are a huge fan of Harry Potter <\/em>or The Hunger Games<\/em>, and your main motivation in writing a fanfiction is to engage with other fans and to develop your favorite characters further, you will already know exactly what universe your fanfiction will be set in. You may, indeed, only want to learn about writing fanfiction because you have a great story idea.<\/p>\n If that's not you, and you're hoping to write fanfiction with the goal of becoming a better writer, you may not know what medium to choose as your base, yet. Pick a work you genuinely love and know a lot about, so that you can start writing as soon as possible. Consider re-reading the base work, or watching it again, and taking notes as you do so.<\/p>\n From hereon out, it is best to approach your fanfiction in the same way you would if you were creating your own world from scratch; the very best fanfiction has well-developed plot lines, and three-dimensional characters. Many authors make notes and outline their chapters before they settle down into the writing process. It helps to keep in mind that all novels should contain:<\/p>\n In writing fanfiction, you are borrowing elements from an existing work of fiction \u2014 and in some cases, relying on those elements heavily. Nonetheless, if you are writing any work of fanfiction that is longer than a few paragraphs, such as a new novel or short story, keep in mind that the same fundamental ideas that make any fiction a pleasure to read extend to fanfiction, too.<\/p>\n Are you writing a short story \u2014 perhaps showcasing a plot twist you would have enjoyed in the original work? Penning your fanfic may not take that long, and if you are feeling inspired, you may even complete the fanfic in an afternoon. Fanfic authors who would like to write original novels inspired by others authors, however, will need to develop a creative process. Writing a novel is hard work, and you may want to:<\/p>\n Writing and editing are two separate processes, and most authors cannot do both at once. Write as much as possible during the height of your creative flow, without stopping to second-guess your word choices or to proofread your chapters for typos and unfortunate sentence constructions.<\/p>\n Once a section of your fanfic is complete, however, go back over it. Analyze every detail, in stages:<\/p>\n Many people find great joy in sharing their works of fanfiction with other members of their fandom, or with other budding writers. Others simply write to satisfy their own creative curiosity. If you are hoping to gain recognition or to get feedback, you will definitely want to publish your fanfiction online, though! This can be one of the most satisfying aspects of writing fanfiction, as others may enjoy reading your fanfic as much as you loved writing it.<\/p>\n Can you make money from your fanfiction?<\/strong><\/p>\n Many popular works of fanfiction rely on copyrighted works as their source material \u2014 something that can create legal complications and require permission from the original author. This isn't always true, however. Terry Prachett's novel Strata<\/em>, for instance, could easily be considered a fanfiction \u2014 it took immediately-apparent inspiration from Ringworld<\/em>, by Larry Niven. If you are in doubt, and you would like to formally self-publish with the goal of making money from your fanfic, you would be advised to consult a lawyer.<\/p>\n Why is fanfiction mocked so often?<\/strong><\/p>\n Artists have always drawn inspiration from the things they encounter in their lives \u2014 and that includes other works of fiction. Fanfiction has gained a reputation for being poorly-written, or even \"cringe\", in recent years, but that is likely because of its association with \"ships\", or specific types of slashfiction that focuses on relationships. This reputation is undeserved, as every work of fiction was inspired by something<\/em>. Indeed, nearly all historical dramas, from The Crown<\/em> to Six Flying Dragons<\/em>, could be considered to be fanfiction. Don't let the naysayers stop you! If you feel inspired, write!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Fanfiction can be a wonderful way to keep enjoying a story long after the book, film, or TV series it's based on has come to an end. Trying your hand at writing fanfiction is also, unquestionably, one of the best ways to flex your own creative muscles. 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Developing Your Fanfiction<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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4. Writing Your Fanfiction<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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5. Editing Your Fanfiction<\/strong><\/h3>\n
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6. Sharing Your Fanfiction with the World (Optional)<\/strong><\/h3>\n
FAQ<\/h2>\n