The term fanfiction refers to a fictional literary work that uses the setting or characters of an existing work as a tribute. If you are a great lover of a specific fantasy universe, you can decide to write a story about its characters yourself, to expand the official story or change it entirely. Even though fanfiction readers are a small and niche audience, the people who read your works will be as passionate as you are about the universe you are describing. Fanfictions are a fun and creative way to express your love for something; the possibilities are practically endless!
Steps
Part 1 of 4: Exploring the Source Material
Step 1. Choose sources to start from
Fanfictions are always based on existing works of art. In practice, these are stories that enlarge or modify in some way an already invented fantasy universe. The means of expression you can choose from are endless. Fanfiction has been written about books, movies, television shows, video games and any other work that has a narrative base and an adoring audience. You should choose a fictional universe that you already know very well. The most common choices are Star Wars, Harry Potter and many cartoons.
The choice of the universe is the decision that has the greatest impact on your story and its development. Some scenarios favor certain approaches to writing a fanfiction. It is important to note, however, that your choices are endless. You can do "anything" with the source material, even turn it into completely new content
Step 2. Do some research on the fantasy universe of your choice
Almost all fan fiction is based on science fiction or fantasy universes, such as Harry Potter or Star Trek. The examples cited are excellent foundations for such a work, as they offer huge worlds with endless stories to tell. Search the internet and read everything you can find about the setting you have chosen. Even if with your work you intend to break the canon established by the author, knowing the rules before breaking them will be very useful.
Step 3. Read some fan fiction
You can get the best ideas for your work by reading the source material. However, studying the works of other enthusiasts who have had the same idea as you can also be very useful. Visit a website like Fanfiction.net and take a look at the texts taken from the material you have chosen too. Read some of the stories written by other people, trying to understand how they used and adapted the original sources.
When you go looking for fanfics, you may get the impression that many of them are of poor quality. To join this community, it is important to remember that not everyone has the same skill level. Many works are amateur and, often, not even worth reading. It takes patience to find the real masterpieces
Part 2 of 4: Planning the Story
Step 1. Decide the scope of your work
Fanfictions are very varied and have no specific rules, so it can be helpful to establish rules before you start writing. Will your story be narrow or wide-ranging? While some fanfics are as long as books, most of them are quite short. Keep in mind, though, that there is no unanimous opinion within the community on the perfect length for a fanfiction. Some styles and formats are better suited to certain topics than others. Ultimately, you will decide the length of your work during the writing process, but considering the right perspective before starting is a great idea.
- The shorter fan fiction is called "drabbles". They are usually 50-100 words long. It's surprisingly difficult to tell a story in such a small space, so if you want to test your skills without wasting too much time, this is a good place to start.
- The so-called fluff works are short and deal with light topics. Often they do not exceed 1000 words and narrate the most mundane aspects of a character's life.
- The most complex fan fiction can be hundreds of thousands of words long. These are the works that attract the most attention, especially if a compelling plot justifies its length.
- Fanfictions don't have to be traditional short stories and may not even be written in prose. You can compose poems, or paint a picture that represents the mental state of a character during a scene.
Step 2. Imagine what-if scenarios based on the original material
All fanfiction is based on speculation. Whether you decide to write a sequel to an alternate opera or story, it all stems from the same question: "What if…?". What would happen if a certain character died (or didn't die) at some point in the story? What do you think happens after the credits of a movie? You should ask yourself these questions early in planning your work.
- If you can't find creative inspiration, explore the source material again. If even this advice doesn't help, read more fan fiction. Other people's work may inspire you.
- Some writers even go so far as to insert themselves into their fanfiction, to interact with the characters in first person. The character that represents the reader is known as an "avatar".
Step 3. Consider writing a crossover fanfiction
This term refers to a genre of works that unite characters from different fantasy universes. As in chemistry, the possibilities become endless when you decide to mix two elements together. You will find a lot of bad crossover fanfiction on the internet, because to manage two environments at the same time you need even more common sense. These works, however, offer many wonderful opportunities for an aspiring writer.
- An example of a crossover is a work that places the characters from Star Wars into the universes of Star Trek or Mass Effect.
- If you can't decide between two or more universes for your fanfiction, writing a crossover can be a good idea.
Step 4. Decide how faithful you want to be to the original
Fanfics are hugely different from each other, so it's a good idea to figure out what your style will be. Some of them distort the source material to the point of not resembling the original work at all. Other authors try to create plausible expansions of the base setting. In general terms, no matter what your intentions are, the best fan fiction at least maintain the spirit of the parent work.
Consider the concept of "canonicity". In very simple terms, the canon establishes what is "true or not true" in a fictional universe. Portraying Star Wars' Han Solo as a swashbuckling smuggler is following the canon of the film, but writing that he is a fan of the 90s sitcom "Friends" certainly is pure invention
Step 5. Write following an outline
A basic structure is very important to your fanfiction. While you may consider this advice "too professional" for a project that is ultimately supposed to be fun, you can minimize writer's block and be able to achieve a smoother finished product by deciding in advance where to direct your creative endeavors Many works of fantasy follow the same dramatic arc. You can break it down like this:
- First part. The introduction of a work should contain descriptions and explanations, as well as expose the reader to the reasons that push the main character to act and the risks he runs.
- Opening the conflict. Often, something happens that forces the hero to follow his mission. In many cases, but not always, it is the antagonist who pushes the hero. The rest of the story tells of the protagonist's efforts to bring the situation back to normal.
- The center of the story. The core can be considered the main part of the protagonist's mission. In this phase you will have to better describe the setting, develop the relationships between the characters and endanger the hero.
- The lowest point. Before the resolution of the story, the main character usually has to face a difficult situation, where everything seems lost. You are probably thinking of many films that use this cliché.
- The resolution. A climax in which the protagonist triumphs. Usually, the most difficult moment for the hero happens shortly after, and the positive thrust of his undertaking leads the work to the end. In some cases, the author inserts an epilogue describing the consequences of the final conflict.
Step 6. Refine the texture
Thanks to your structure, you have a visual reference that allows you to evaluate the effectiveness of your story. Before you start writing, browse the material you have available and look for sections to cut (or expand). Originality often emerges during the revision of a work, because you will have the possibility to eliminate the elements that do not respect your vision. Remember that the plot is probably the most important aspect of a fictional tale. Even if you're not an excellent writer, by telling a great story you can still grab the attention of the audience.
Part 3 of 4: Writing your own masterpiece
Step 1. Present the action right away
Take it for granted that anyone reading your fanfiction will know the source material as well as you do. Starting the work with a long descriptive section will not attract readers. Instead, you will need to propose some action that prompts them to continue reading.
In the case of fanfiction, descriptions are useful, but many authors have a tendency to exaggerate. Compose concise and effective descriptive sections
Step 2. Refer to the source material
If you get stuck or if your progress slows down, you should go back to the source and enjoy the motherwork again. If you try to respect the canon imposed by the original author, you must always refer to the work from which you are inspired, but do not forget to do so also on the occasion of important revisions of your manuscript. The best fan fiction is made up of equal parts of creative talent and a passion for the setting, so get into the habit of checking the original canon early on.
At different stages of the writing process, you will be able to better assess whether your work respects (or completely distorts) the tone of the original. Thanks to the hard work you put into writing your fanfiction, you will probably be able to grasp more details of the parent work
Step 3. Respect the characters
You can freely edit settings and stories, but readers don't like the changes to the characters themselves. A character is not just an image, it also has its own personality. For this reason, even if your creative spirit should always have the last word, if you intend to make a character of the canon perform actions that completely contradict his nature, perhaps the best choice is to invent a new character, which he can cover. that role in your story. Remember this is a different attempt than a conscious review of a character.
An example where radical changes to a character can work is the case of a "parallel universe". Drawing inspiration from the Star Trek alternate universe episode, you could write a fanfiction that takes place in a parallel universe, where the characters are evil versions of themselves. Adding a beard to your characters to indicate their malice can be fun, but it's not necessary
Step 4. Write every day
Your creativity can only flow freely if you dedicate yourself to the same project every day. Writing a text is a perfect example of this concept, because you will have to think about your work regularly. Choose a time each day to write and do what you can to honor your commitment. You can decide to take the pen in your hand during your lunch break or after work. By making writing a constant habit, your story will develop quickly. Before you know it, you will have a work well underway in your hands.
- Many writers, as they work, enjoy listening to music that recalls the setting in which they are immersed. For example, if you're writing a Star Wars fan fiction you can get the right mindset by listening to the soundtrack composed by John Williams.
- Most fanfics don't exceed 1000 words, but you should try to write a longer one. The larger stories offer more possibilities to explore characters, themes and settings.
Step 5. Correct your work
Review is a key part of writing. If you want your work to be taken seriously, you will need to attach great importance to this stage of the process. Reread what you have written and try to improve your material. Remove the parts that don't work and add some clarification sections.
It may be helpful to show your work to a friend early on. You will be able to receive his opinion before starting the review. He may point out specific points that you need to improve
Step 6. Write consistently
Composing a fanfiction is an educational experience. Your writing skills will likely improve as you write the work. For the reader, however, it is important that the text appears coherent, in terms of tone and quality of writing. If you feel that your way of working has changed considerably during the writing, take the time to review the first parts of the work, to bring them to the same level as the last.
Part 4 of 4: Promote your Work
Step 1. Publish your story on the internet
Fanfiction has many devoted fans, who populate the different communities where you should post your material. Probably the best known and recommended medium is FanFiction.net. This site offers an exhaustive list of categories, genres and crossovers. Create an account and find the category where to place your work.
- If you want to publish your story in other media as well, Quotev and Wattpad are viable alternatives. If you can, post your fanfiction on multiple sites for maximum exposure.
- There are some sites that specialize in fanfiction on particular sources. For example, if you want to read or write fanfiction about the world of Harry Potter, visit the site dedicated specifically to them.
Step 2. Send your work to publishers
As a general rule, fan fiction should not be written for commercial purposes. Copyright laws prevent unauthorized persons from exploiting intellectual property that belongs to others. The publishing houses, however, are opening up to the idea of publishing fanfiction. The choice of the publisher will be limited to the one with the appropriate creative license, but if your work is accepted and the content of the fanfiction does not conflict with the original material already published, you would have the possibility to transform your work into part of the canon of the series.
- If you are a fanfiction writer with commercial aspirations, you can remove all copyrighted ideas and names from your work and replace them with original content. Some "original" fantasy bestsellers, such as 50 Shades of Gray by E. L. James and Lois McMaster Bujold's Cycle of Vor, started out as fanfiction.
- If the book you are writing is in the public domain, it may be published without changing names as long as it is only based on original works that are in the public domain.
Step 3. Connect with other fanfiction writers
If your project starts to get serious, talking about it with other enthusiasts is the best thing to do. Sites like FanFiction.com are perfect for this purpose. You will be able to get useful advice on how to improve your skills, as well as find people willing to help you promote your work, if you really make a good impression. As a general rule, if you offer an opinion on someone's work, they will return the favor.
Of course, you'll get more helpful comments from writers who are passionate about the same source material you're covering
Advice
- Even if you're not interested in writing fan fiction, reading them can be a lot of fun.
- Some people prefer to publish their fanfics in multiple parts as soon as they are written. To avoid writer's block and not lose readers, however, it is better to complete the work in advance and publish it in several episodes!
- If you're writing fanfiction just for personal pleasure, you don't have to follow any rules.
- Fanfiction is not limited to conventional fictional prose. You can decide to write a poem from the point of view of one of the characters.
- Add a disclaimer if you are concerned about copyright infringement.
- Reading Joseph Campbell's works can be surprisingly helpful in writing fan fiction. If a hero's dramatic arc is common to almost all stories, it will be much easier to compare your work with the source material.
Warnings
- Fanfiction has to abide by many of the rules of traditional fiction writing. This means that you will need to be consistent and pay attention to spelling and grammar.
- Fanfictions are not licensed by nature, so you can't make money by writing them. If your goal is commercial success, try to make up your own stories.
