How To Write a Fanfiction (and What to Know Before You Do)
Ollie Ander
Is probably just a couple cats in a trench-coat—the hair shedding and sunlight napping are highly suspect.
The last decade has seen a rise in mainstream inclusion of fanfictions. Authors are having their stories rebranded and published traditionally as bestsellers. 50 Shades of Gray started as a Twilight retelling, and now the debut by a prominent Harry Potter fanfiction writer, SenLinYu, is piquing interest across the bookish space with Alchemised. The appeal of being known through fan spaces, and the possibility of having one's fanfiction picked up by a publisher is palpable.
Although it’s a highly inclusive hobby for writers of all skill levels, there are considerations to be made before pursuing this genre. Unbeknownst to those who have never participated in such spaces, sharing fanfiction has many pros and cons outside of typical online publication. Here’s where to start, and things you should be aware of before moving forward.
Find your Fandom
The first order of business when writing fanfiction is picking which fandom you wish to participate in. Ideally, you’ll pick something you are a fan of yourself.
Fanfiction should come from a place of admiration and love for the source material. Many fan bases with flourishing fan content communities are considered "fandoms," which denotes a higher level of endorsement among fans than an average franchise.
However, you needn't limit yourself to writing fanfiction in already established fandoms. Every fan base has to start somewhere, with someone.
Write to whatever community you enjoy, whether that’s joining a large one or spearheading a new one. Whichever you choose, there are a few things to consider before posting your stories to the internet at large.
Participate as a Fellow Fan
To write fanfiction requires a thorough understanding of the source material. Whether it’s a show or a movie, watch it, and watch it again! If it’s a book series, don’t consider yourself an expert after one sitting. You don’t need to be a die-hard follower to write fanfiction of something, but many of the fellow fans consuming your work will be, so it helps to be well-versed.
A great way to do research for writing fanfiction is to read others’ fanfiction and consume fan content. You may find that there are ongoing, favored topics. For example, many fandoms have "ships" (pairings that fans make of characters, canonical and non-canonical). Fanfiction is known for its use of #tags to help readers find their desired characters or tropes. Knowing what others like to read and are already looking for will give you a solid starting point, as well as a built-in audience.
Always Respect the Source Material
The fanfiction genre has a tentative relationship with copyright laws. Every franchise will respond differently to fan-made content. Where some individual authors adore their fans’ creations and encourage communal participation, just as many corporations condemn (and will even financially pursue) those who infringe on their intellectual property.
Whether fanfiction is welcome will have to be determined on a case by case basis, and it would be recommended that you not engage in fan-made content of any unwilling subject.
Even if fanfiction is welcomed by the creators, it is imperative that fans’ content is made respectfully, and does not encroach on the market of the original content. Fanfiction is all about sharing appreciation and love for a fandom, so it’s not advisable to attempt to derive profit from others’ copyrighted material.
Traditional Publishing Exceptions
It is only in the case of mass interest and the act of large alterations that some select fanfictions make it to traditional publishing. In those cases it’s best to understand that fanfiction was the gateway, not the end goal: it’s okay to say a novel is "inspired by" another work, but should never be "based in" someone else’s intellectual property.
Weigh the Risks Before Posting
More than the legal implications of sharing fanfiction, there is an added amount of social vulnerability to being a fanfiction writer. Although this can be said about posting anything creative online, there is an extra factor to posting fanfiction or fanart that doesn’t apply to original works: both you and your audience are all only fans.
As fans, you’re on an even playing field. Even though the writing is yours, the characters/world is not, and those entrenched in fandom can be quite opinionated on what constitutes proper use of the source material.
This can be seen in the light fun of "shipping wars" where fans will banter over which non-canonical relationship has the best chemistry, but unfortunately, there have been instances of fandoms’ "dark side" surfacing. Fandom communities are full of impassioned people, and certain niche’s intensity can rival that of political debate. Presenting a "bad take" in a fandom space runs the risk of disagreement (which is perfectly acceptable if broached respectfully), but has been known to escalate to bullying, dogpiling, even threats.
It is important to remain anonymous if you intend to share fanfiction online, for your legal safety, personal security, and mental health. If you are worried about the reception of your writing, consider sharing your work within a smaller, niche group. There’s sure to be like-minded people out there who can provide a safer space than if you were to post your fanfiction at large; peers who yearn for the type of fanfiction you’re so eager to share!
The intention of this article is not to push you away from writing fanfiction, far from it! There are few things as fun as participating in an active fandom, there are just also risks to be aware of before starting.
I wish you the absolute best in finding your community and a fandom that brings you joy! However, if you are a bit of a worry-wart like myself, here is a more in-depth article on the hobby’s complications. Check out "$ Is Fanfiction Legal? A Lawyer's Guide to Copyrights & Avoiding Lawsuits$ ," to make sure you’re well-informed!
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