Fanfiction refers to a type of fiction that uses the setting or characters of an existing work as a tribute to the work. If you're a big fan of a certain fictional world, you may decide to write about some of the characters yourself, either by extending the official story or changing the whole story. While fanfiction readership tends to be fairly low-key and focused, the people who will read your writing are sure to be as excited about the source material as you are. Fanfiction is a fun and creative way to express interest in something, and the possibilities are almost endless.
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Part 1 of 4: Browse the Source Material
Step 1. Choose the source material as the basis for writing
Fanfiction is always based on an existing work of art. Basically, you're extending a story or changing an existing fiction. The media options to choose from are endless. Many people have written fanfics about books, movies, television shows, video games, and various other things based on narratives and fandoms that adore them. You have to choose a fictional world that already feels close to you. Common choices for writing fanfic are Star Wars, Harry Potter, and a number of anime series.
The choice of worlds you take as the basis of your work will have the greatest impact on the story and the resulting storyline. Certain worlds are also useful in approaching fanfic. However, it's important to remember that your options as a fanfic writer are endless. You can do whatever you want with the source material, even if that means turning it into a completely different new work
Step 2. Read about the fictional world
Most fanfiction tends to be based on science fiction or fantasy themed worlds, like Harry Potter or Star Trek. This is an excellent choice as a base for fanfiction because they both feature a vast world with endless storytelling possibilities. Search the internet and read as much as you can about the world. Even if you want to break away from the canon (official work) with your fanfic, it never hurts to understand the rules first. That way, you don't have to worry about violating these rules in the future.
Step 3. Read some fanfiction
The best ideas you can come up with for your work will be inspired by the source material itself. Even so, seeing what fans have created from the same idea will still be worthwhile. Visit a website like fanfiction.net and browse through a number of fanfictions that match the selected source material. Read some stories that other people have written. Most importantly, understand the methods others are using and adapt the sources accordingly.
When looking for fanfiction for reading material, you may get the impression that a lot of fanfiction is of poor quality. Being part of a fanfic community means realizing that not everyone has the same skill level. Most fanfiction is amateurish and a lot of fanfiction is honestly not worth reading. Finding really good works will require patience
Part 2 of 4: Planning Your Own Story
Step 1. Define the scope
Because fanfiction is so diverse and has an open ending, it's helpful to make a few rules for yourself before you start writing. Will your story be large or small? While some fanfiction can be as long as a book, most fanfiction is quite short. However, there is a lot of debate within the community about how long the perfect fanfiction should be. Certain lengths and styles are better suited to a topic than others. Ultimately, the length of your writing will be determined in the actual writing process, but it's a good idea to remember the scope to apply before putting all the pieces together.
- The shortest fanfic is called "drabble" (short writing). Drabble is usually between 50-100 words long. Telling a story in a completely confined space is very challenging. This can be a great starting point if you want to test your skills without spending a lot of time.
- The piece called " fluff " is short and feels light. These fanfics tend to be less than 1000 words in length and tell the everyday aspects of the characters' lives.
- More complicated fiction can be hundreds to thousands of words. This is usually the fanfic that people pay the most attention to, given that it is plot driven which affects its length.
- Fanfic does not need to be narrative or conventional prose. You can write a fanfic in the form of a poem, or write a description of a character's mental state during a particular scene.
Step 2. Imagine a "what if" scenario for the source material
All fanfics are based on speculation. Whether you decide to write a sequel to a work or a different version of history, everything is based on "what-if" questions at an early stage. What if a character dies (or doesn't die) at some point in the story? What do you think will happen after the credits are finished in the film? These are the kinds of questions to ask yourself in the early stages of fanfic planning.
- Explore more source material if you're having trouble finding a creative starting point. Otherwise, check out more fanfics. Seeing what others have done with the story can be inspiring.
- Some writers even include themselves in fanfics, which show them interacting with the characters themselves. Characters that are intended to represent the author are known as "avatars".
Step 3. Consider writing a crossover fanfic
Crossover fanfic refers to fanfic that combines characters from various fictional worlds. As with any chemical, the possibilities are almost endless when you decide to mix two different things. There seems to be a lot of very poor quality crossover fanfiction strewn all over the place, mostly due to the fact that it takes a much higher level of skill to use multiple fictional worlds at the same time. However, this type of fanfic provides many extraordinary opportunities for aspiring writers.
- One example of a crossover fanfic might be incorporating Star Wars characters into the world of Star Trek or Mass Effect.
- You are advised to try writing a crossover fanfic if you are confused about writing between two or more different worlds for your next fanfic.
Step 4. Decide how close your story is to the original work
Since fanfiction is so diverse, it's a good idea to decide where you stand on the whole story. Some fanfiction will be so different from the source material to the point that it bears no resemblance to the original work at all. Other authors will make faithful developments to the original work. In general, no matter what you're going to do, the most powerful fanfics at least retain the spirit of the original work.
Considering the concept of "canon" is a good idea. In simple terms, canons state whether something is 'true or not' in a fictional world. For example, describing Han Solo from Star Wars' as a battling hero might be right to be loyal to canon, but writing that he's a fan of the 90s sitcom Friends certainly isn't canon
Step 5. Write from the outline
The right outline can go a long way when it comes to writing fanfiction. While you may find the presence of an outline too rigid for a job that should be enjoyable, knowing your direction in writing can help minimize writer's block and result in more fluid work in the end. A lot of fanfiction uses a similar dramatic storyline. The storyline can be broken down into:
- Beginning. The beginning should set the setting well enough, as well as build the motivation and stakes of the main characters.
- Opening conflict. Something that puts the hero on his adventure often happens. This is often, (but not always) the work of the antagonist. The rest of the story will involve the protagonist trying to fix things.
- The middle part of the story. The middle part of the story can be seen as the core of the character's adventure. This is when the world in the story is clearly delineated, the character's relationships are built and strengthened, and the character's stakes gradually increase.
- Low point. Before reaching the resolution of the story, there is usually a point when the characters are at their saddest, when everything feels out of place, you can probably imagine a lot of movies going this way.
- Resolution. This is the climax when the protagonist achieves victory. Usually this will happen immediately after the main character's lowest point, and take over the momentum all the way to the very end. Usually there is an ending (falling action) after which shows the outcome of the final conflict.
Step 6. Sharpen the groove
With a defined outline, you'll have a visual reference to use to see how well the flow is going. Before getting ready to write, it's a good idea to go through the material you already have and see if any sections can be shortened (or extended). Originality tends to emerge during the editing process, which is when you can trim things that don't fit your vision. Remember that a plot is arguably the most important thing a work of simple fiction should have. Even if you don't have the best writing skills, you can still grab the reader's attention if you tell a great story.
Part 3 of 4: Writing Masterpieces
Step 1. Start entering actions early
Assume from the start that whoever reads your fanfic will have the same knowledge as you have of the source material. Giving information or description in advance will not interest the reader. Instead, you need to perform actions that will keep them interested in reading.
When it comes to fanfiction, descriptions are useful, but there is a tendency to overdo it. Keep your descriptive writing concise and effective
Step 2. Refer to the source material
If you're experiencing a writing stalemate or story development is slowing down, going back to the source material and enjoying it again will help a lot. Even if you have to go back to the original if you're trying to stay true to the canon, you should still look at the source material in case of major revisions. Good fanfic is driven by an interest in the source work as well as natural creative talent. Thus, taking the time to re-enjoy the original work is a healthy habit to start with.
At various stages in the process of writing your own work, you can better understand how your work fits (or ignores!) the nuances of the original work by referring back to the work. Given the thought that has gone into writing your own fanfic, it's likely that you'll have a sharper eye for the source material
Step 3. Stay true to your characters
While the setting and story can be changed more freely, readers won't like it if you change the characters yourself. A character is more than just a visual display, and while your creative instincts should decide everything, it's best to give the character a different name altogether if you're going to make him do something the character wouldn't have been able to do in the first place. Keep in mind that this is different from trying to rework a character on purpose.
One example of a radical change of character that is successful is in the case of 'parallel world' fanfiction. In general inspired by alternate world episodes in Star Trek, you can write fanfiction set in a parallel world, depicting the characters as evil versions of themselves. Adding a beard or a beard to a character to signal evil can be fun, but it's not necessary
Step 4. Write every day
Creative energy will only really flow if you dedicate yourself to the same project every day. Writing is a definite activity in this case, because you need to think about what to write on a regular basis. Set a time to write each day, and try your best to stick to it. Writing can be done during lunch hours or after office hours. Creating a consistent writing habit will ensure your story builds quickly. Before you know it, you will have a work worth considering that can be called your own.
- Many writers find it a good idea to listen to music that matches the tone you're trying to achieve. For example, if you're writing a "Star Wars" fanfic, listening to John Williams' scores can put your mind in the right mindset for it.
- Most fanfics are less than 1000 words in length, but it is advisable to try to write longer. Longer stories will give you more opportunities to explore characters, themes, and settings.
Step 5. Edit your work
Editing is indispensable in any type of writing. If you want your fanfic to be reckoned with, rest assured that you have to go through this process too. Reread your work and find out what you can do to improve it. Eliminate unnecessary parts in the work, and add what you can if you think something needs to be explained.
Showing work to a friend early on can help. You can get feedback before spending a lot of time editing it. It's possible that he'll be able to tell you specifically what sort of things can be polished
Step 6. Write consistently
Writing fanfic will be a learning experience. Chances are, you will gain expertise during the writing process. However, it is important from the reader's perspective that the work feels fairly consistent, either in terms of nuance or the general quality of the writing. If you feel like your work has changed considerably over the course of writing a fanfic, spending the extra time editing the initial sections can go a long way.
Part 4 of 4: Releasing Your Works
Step 1. Upload your story on the fanfiction platform
Fanfiction has a wide and loyal fan base. There are various communities where you can upload your material. It can be said that the best known and recommended tool is FanFiction.net. The website has a comprehensive list of categories, genres, and crossovers that might be right for your story. Create an account there and look for the appropriate category for your source material.
- Quotev and Wattpad are options worth considering if you also want to publish your story elsewhere. If you can, it is recommended to publish your story on various websites to maximize the publicity of your story.
- There are a number of websites that specifically contain fanfiction from certain sources. For example, if you want to read or write fanfic from the world of Harry Potter, there is at least one website specifically dedicated to it.
Step 2. Submit your work to a publisher
As a general rule, fanfiction should not be written with the intention of being published commercially. Copyright will prevent people without a license from using a creative property. However, publishers began to accept the idea of publishing fanfiction works. While the publisher's choice will be limited to those with the proper creative licenses, their acceptance of your manuscript may provide the opportunity to convert your work into a serial canon, as long as it doesn't conflict with the existing canon.
For fanfiction writers looking to achieve commercial success, you can omit licensed names and ideas from your stories and replace them with original content. Some of the best-selling 'original' fiction, such as E. L. James' Fifty Shades of Gray and Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan Saga began as fanfiction works
Step 3. Network with other fanfic writers
If you're starting out with your work, the best thing to do is talk to other fanfiction fans. Websites like FanFiction are a great choice for that. Not only will the website be able to provide useful tips and advice on how to develop your work, but it may also help promote your work if it is liked enough. As a general rule, if you provide feedback on other people's work, chances are you will receive feedback from them as well.
You will, of course, receive the most helpful feedback from authors who are fans of the source material you use
Tips
- Even if you're not interested in writing fanfiction, reading it can be a lot of fun.
- Some people enjoy writing fanfiction over time, but to avoid a long writing stalemate and prevent people from leaving your story, it's a better idea to write it early and upload it in sections!
- If you write fanfic just for yourself, there are no rules at all.
- Fanfiction is not limited to conventional narrative prose. You can even write poetry from a character's point of view.
- Add a disclaimer if you are concerned about copyright.
- Reading the works of Joseph Campbell can be very helpful when it comes to fanfiction. If the storyline of a dramatic hero feels common to most stories, it will be much easier to compare your story to the story from the original material.
- While feedback is important, not all of it has to be taken as true. Sometimes no matter what you write, some people will still critique. But don't let that discourage you.
Warning
- Fanfiction is basically unlicensed, so writing fanfiction makes almost no money. If your top priority is commercial success, it's better to create your own creative work.
- Fanfiction must follow many standard narrative writing rules. The rules here include staying consistent and paying attention to basic things like correct spelling and grammar.
