Fanfic!?

Most people look at the word fanfiction with a sneer and a scoff, complaining that it's hardly an art form and certainly not literature. However, fanfiction is a useful and highly effective tool for creative writing if approached correctly. After all, everyone can understand the in's and out's of their own characters -- but how difficult is it to step into the head of another author and try to understand a character from their point of view? This article explores how fanfiction can be beneficial to writers as well as featuring some excellent fanfic here from dA.

Fanfiction Tips & Tricks

Now, there's no use denying it. There is some really, really bad fanfic out there. The fanfiction community on the internet as a whole is one heavy with bad plot ideas, poor character development, and a lot of face palming from readers. However, this is not to say that good fanfiction does not exist.


If you're a writer of fanfiction, there are a few things you can do to help improve yourself and your writing to save yourself from being stuck with what is ignored as bad fic:


Know the character. Now, that doesn't mean think you know the character -- that means really understand how they work! If the character's original creator doesn't give a clear cut vision of how the character might react to a situation, it's up to you to use your knowledge of the character and a little bit of logic to figure out the right course of action.

Fanfiction writers have the extra challenge of having an entire fan basis who also knows the character, perhaps just as well as them, compared to a writer who is creating their own character. Because of that, it's important to reflect upon the character's actions: would the character do this? If you think he would, make sure you provide valid character actions and thoughts in your writing to support that conclusion. Logic is your friend in these circumstances. If you provide a clear look into the way your character is thinking and how it connects to the aspects of that character that everyone understands, you're headed in the right direction.


Fanfiction is writing too. By that I mean that you can't ignore the basics of writing when you're writing something, whether it is a poem, an essay, or even fanfic. You can have all the most wonderful character development, plot, and ideas in the world, but if it's not founded by a support from good writing habits, it won't do you any good!


There are a few things you can do to improve your fanfic in this area. First and foremost, don't be afraid to use your resources! The internet is a wonderful thing. For instance, Writer's Block offers guides to some terribly useful things from matters of using the correct tense and word usage to things like punctuation and abbreviations. Also be sure to never, ever underestimate the power of reading! When you read something, take note of how it is written; after all, reading promotes good writing habits too.


Also remember the importance of spell check and proofreading! Since programs like Microsoft Word don't catch many of our basic writing errors, it's always a great idea to have a friend who you can share writing with -- someone who can proofread your work, and hopefully, you can do the same with them too.


Step into their world. A big problem in fanfiction is seeing the repetition of situations or conflicts. Don't be afraid to step into the creator's world and see what you can find! The character's world is not a place with ultimate boundaries -- using a bit of logic and creativity, you can mold your own part of their world for them to step into.


This is important to keep the writing fresh and alive as well as keeping your readers engaged. Your readers will know all the bad guys your character has dealt with, will know all the places they have seen or been to; the trick is attempting to step into the creator's world and think of something new for them to experience while still fitting in that world. It's no easy task, but don't be afraid of it! It's what helps you and your readers discover new parts of that character that you might not have even seen yet.

Fanfiction on dA

And of course, I can't finish this article without presenting a few examples of fanfiction. You can thank =FreakishLemon, your local avid fanfic reader, for helping me scout out this talent!



Crash and Burn: Inspector Iroh by ~Invadrk

Of course, began the Avatar nerd that I am, I couldn't help but start off by featuring this piece. ~Invadrk takes the characters we know and love from Avatar and transfers them into a whole different take on the Avatar universe: the gritty life of Inspector Iroh.



A Borrow Podium by ~dark-amethyst

This extremely touching Full Metal Alchemist piece takes a look at the relationship between the Elric brothers. After Alphonse's death, Ed is forcing to take the podium at his funeral amongst other friends and family and deliver a eulogy to his departed brother. An excellent read, even if you've never seen FMA.



homecoming -- gurren lagann by ~Stupid-Aelita

Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann is relatively new on the scene on Anime, having only aired in April of 2007 for one season, but that didn't stop people from writing some awesome fic about it. ~Stupid-Aelita is a writer who's helping eliminate the stereotype that fanfic is bad writing; one read will allow you insight on character development that most writers would be envious of.



Remembrance by ~KittyBlues

And finally, what fanfiction article can escape without a little Pirates of the Caribbean? However, ~KittyBlues brings a new twist to a movie that's heavily written about. Step into the life of Jimmylegs, the Bo’sun from Davey Jones's deadly ship. It provides an insightful and interesting look at a character most people wouldn't consider to be more than background.

Still curious?

Still curious about fanfiction? Don't be afraid to write some of your own! Fanfiction is a fantastic tool for writers to develop the skills on how to understand and use a character in ways that reflect their actions. It may not be the most highly regarded form of writing, but this doesn't it can't be just as good as literature in some cases. So get out there and keep your favorite characters alive and kicking.






-@youthculture