Fanfiction
I write fanfiction. This is obvious to many as it makes up most of my work and is a huge joy to me, but as I write more and edit even more works by other writers, I’ve been wanting to share some tips to help new or veteran writers of fanfiction (or any kind of writing) see how they can continue to improve their work. Fanfiction is notoriously known on the internet as a simultaneous treasure trove and a pile of sh*t. There is no in-between and like most things, this can be true yet so false but it’s something I really enjoy seeing online. Like any kind of art, you have great pieces, some that might not be your taste, or you might think need some work. Regardless, I see all pieces of writing as opportunities because there are so many ways to create and polish these stories about your favorite characters.
What is Fanfiction?
Fanfiction is a sub-genre of fiction that focuses on writing material with copyrighted/ preexisting characters, stories, and scenarios. For example, if you are a fan of a movie, you might want to write stories using those characters for fun. Today I want to talk about ways you can strengthen your story while avoiding mistakes I often see in fanfiction.
Descriptions in Fanfiction
When writing a story about an established character or setting, you might write it without describing anything because who needs to be told what Darth Vader looks like in Star Wars? While that might be true, this is the worst thing you can do in a story. Even when you are working with a setting or characters that are well-known, it is best to pretend your readers and audience know nothing about them. This will help you present your stories coherently as you describe the characters and well-known elements so your story makes sense. If you don’t do this, it’s easy to read your story and not understand what is happening or be unable to imagine what is going on because no images or descriptions are given to the reader. Images are a key part of storytelling—don’t forget them!
Example: Darth Vader entered a conference room on the Death Star.
(Do you get a single image from that line? See how you can work in images instead in the following examples.)
Example Image 1: Darth Vader, bedecked in his black suit and helmet, entered the conference room in a rush. His black cape slithered past the wall before he slammed his fist on the table.
Example Image 2: Darth Vader entered a conference room with a stealthy stride. Tracks of fluorescent lights along the ceiling glanced off his helmet, highlighting where his lifeless eyes should be behind the mask.
By giving us an image (the movement of his cloak and agitation or the lights on his helmet) give your readers something to picture. These details can convey mood or meaning into the scene.
Character Usage in Fanfiction
When writing a fanfiction, you will want to use all your favorite characters. I understand, but there is an important balance to strike. I’ve received orders for stories where the client might want 10+ characters in a single scene because they want everyone from the show they like involved. That’s doable but at the same time it is not. It might be tempting to use everyone, but this can quickly create a scene of chaos in the written format. Any character that is in a scene will need to be up front and shown to the reader. If we have 10 characters in a scene but only 2 are doing all the talking, why is everyone else there? If 5 characters are in the room only parroting or arguing everything the main character is saying, why are they there? This can make your story hard to read because it is disruptive and really drags it along. Imagine reading a scene with 10 characters and they all must have their say in a particular moment. It will start to feel like a rollcall instead of an organic conversation.
Stories from Different Mediums
Fanfiction can be written based off stories from videogames, movies, books, television shows, and more. It’s important to keep in mind the different styles of these mediums when writing. I want to write an entire Writing Weekly on this topic, so I am going to be brief. Each different medium has a different goal. For example, videogames often have information presented to the player in a way so they can understand the mechanics of the world around them, the controls, where to go on the map, and more. This means that information is presented in a different way when compared to how a story might show things to readers in a book.
A big example is how role-playing videogames often give you a tour of the area you are in, the people there, and some random side-quests right in the beginning of the game so the player knows how to play and find their way around the map. If you write a story this way where the main character is literally given a tour and meets a bunch of people and does things that are not plot-driven, it can become boring and unimportant. In a book, every scene, character, and detail, must have direct influence on the plot of the story so approaching it in the style of a videogame can hurt the story progression.
Movies highlight visuals and audio effects.
Books focus on the delivery of images through words and language.
TV shows have multiple arcs to carry suspense through every episode.
Videogames have built-in manuals and instructional segments to inform the player.
Conclusion
Like every media and creative outlet in the world there is good and bad art. That’s how it has always been so as a writer who works with fanfiction, I understand the pitfalls and successes of this sub-genre. I’ve read my share of horrible fanfiction, but I’ve found some good ones too. That’s how all types of art are and it’s amazing because we have great opportunities in such a technologically connected world to be able to share works from so many different people.
Fanfiction is simply writing a story. It’s a craft, and I love to see people continue to hone that craft as they practice and improve their writing skills. The best way to keep growing is to keep writing. I hope these tips are helpful and I want you all to know I am here cheering you on. Happy writing!
Best,
Danni Lynn, Evangeline40003