In this article we will try to answer the question of how to write fanfiction. In connection with the development of set literature, many new genres have appeared, their hearts and such as fan fiction. Usually he is fond of the younger generation, but the idea of ​​coming up with a continuation of the adventures of his beloved heroes may come to a fully grown man who wants to practice writing.
What is fan fiction?
Fiction is called a work of art (most often all stories, less often novels and novels), which describe the world or act heroes already created by other authors. Most often, fan fiction is written by fans for the same fans, and the works are laid out on special forums and sites.
What can fan fiction be written about? As practice shows, about anything. This can be an adventure story, drama, tragedy, comedy, etc. The main thing is that existing heroes act in it. You can even mix several pieces and push characters from different worlds. The only limitation is the limits of your imagination.
However, choosing fan fiction as a hobby, you need to remember that you won’t be able to make money on it, since all the rights under the law belong to those authors who created the characters and worlds that you will write about. But such creativity can be an excellent training for imagination, literacy, your style of presentation.
For beginners
So, what you need to know if you decide to write the first fan fiction. First you need to decide on the volume of future work. For the first experience, it is better to choose a story, since it will be much more difficult to master a story or a novel. May not be enough experience, patience or time. The reader will also read your story much faster and leave a response. If everything goes well, then you can lay out a whole series of stories about your favorite characters.
An inexperienced author should not take up the description of bloody battles or frank love episodes. Write about what you know well, what you are familiar with, what you have a clear idea of. Otherwise, the scene may turn out to be implausible and funny, even if the work was conceived far from humorous.
Where to begin
First you need to choose the basis for the work. This can be a favorite book, film, anime, video game, manga, etc. You can swipe at the crossover by combining heroes from different universes. However, when choosing, remember that you must be well versed in the work. Therefore, it is better not to take the heroes that you just recently started reading a book or watching a movie. To write a good story, you need to thoroughly study your heroes and the world in which events will take place.
You can write the beginning of fan fiction, of course, and having a superficial idea of ​​the original, it is unlikely that you can develop the plot and finish it. And potential readers, who are usually well versed in the universe of the original, will be able to catch you on inaccuracies or errors.
What to look for
The main thing in any work is, of course, the plot. So he should pay attention. And first you need to answer the question about what to write fan fiction about. In each story, the main thing is the climax, it is for its sake that everything is written. What will be the culmination of your fan fiction? It can be finding some important thing or discovering secrets, or it can be completely turned to the relationship of the heroes or the internal struggle of one of the characters.
Another plus of fan fiction is that you don’t have to adhere to the canon, that is, the original story. If you don’t like a part of the canonical plot, you can rewrite it or ignore it. You can also describe what happened to the characters after the end of the storyline.
Coming up with a plot, it is best to take a blank piece of paper and sketch out all the versions that come to mind. Then choose the most interesting, in your opinion. You can even try to combine two or three plot ideas. The main thing is to remember that your fan fiction should be a complete story, not pieces of disparate episodes that are not interconnected.
Write a piece of your plan
So how to write an interesting fan fiction? Having decided on the plot, write the first few paragraphs on paper and let someone read or publish it. So you can find out how well you can write. Usually a good start immediately attracts readers, and they ask for continuation. At the same time, you attract readers to your work, as a small passage is read quickly and allows you to form an opinion on what will come of it.
You can publish not the very beginning of the story, but some exciting scene or introduce a new hero. The main task is to draw the attention of the reader. It can generally be any fragment of the work, except for the denouement. Although, if the denouement is intriguing, then the reader may be interested in what kind of actions led the heroes to it. So do not be afraid to experiment.
How to make fanfiction special
How to write good fan fiction? It's simple - add a unique element to it. It can be a hero or some kind of change in the world where events take place. Add something of your own to the "canon".
To interest readers and diversify the familiar story, add a new hero. It will not be enough just to give him a name and sketch out his appearance. The hero must come to life, that is, he must have character, bright personality traits, some features in appearance or speech. If you can’t immediately come up with such a character, then you can include yourself or a good friend in the work. The main thing is more details, from which an integral picture of the personality of your new hero should emerge.
However, do not create the perfect character. Usually, fanfiction writers sin by portraying a kind, smart, beautiful girl without flaws, who will end up in the arms of a strong and courageous hero. Such stories are more often criticized and attacked by fans.
If your plans do not include the creation of a new hero, then there are other ways of making your creation unique. Try changing the space surrounding the characters. For example, go back in time, depict events that occurred several years before the canon or after. You can also try to transfer the action to an unusual environment or universe. Or change the roles of the characters. Make the boss subordinate and vice versa. Or take a minor hero and turn him into the main one.
The most important thing is the details.
How to write a popular fan fiction? As the saying goes, the devil lives in small things. In our case, in the details. It is they who make the work interesting and fascinating. Therefore, the details must be carefully thought out and worked out. In addition, they allow the reader to better understand what is happening and understand the motives of the characters or their nature.
For example, if you describe a character who has been waiting for someone for a long time, then you can write not just “he was waiting for him at the gate” , but add to this “he had already smoked two cigarettes and now he turned the third one in his hands” - from this description you can see that the hero is not just waiting, but also nervous.
Plot development
How to write fan fiction from which it is impossible to break away? Develop a plot. History should not be linear, from time to time go away from the main line, come up with new conflicts and trials. This diversifies the story and may lead you to a new idea for a decoupling or climax. Try to avoid boring and protracted scenes in which nothing interesting happens.
However, all new and unexpected events should look natural and fit into your original idea, otherwise logical inconsistencies will begin, which readers usually quickly find and criticize.
How to register an ending
We figured out a little how to write fan fiction, it remains to talk about the finale. This, by the way, is the most important part. The finale must be thought out, it must be exhaustive. The reader should not have any questions about the plot after reading, unless you are going to write a sequel. Do not forget to bring all plot threads to their logical conclusion.
Many writers, even experienced ones, often first come up with the endings of their works, and then they prescribe the beginning and plot so that there are no inaccuracies or implausible scenes. Do not resort to cliches and battered finals. For example, “it all turned out to be a dream” or “they lived happily ever after . ” The reader will not appreciate this, as he will feel understated, incomplete or unnatural. In any case, you will receive a lot of negative and indignant reviews.
Editing
Well, here we have learned how to write fanfiction. However, after the work is completed, do not rush to publish your creation immediately. You must edit it first. Re-read the first thing. Check for spelling and grammar errors, make sure there are no logical inconsistencies. If you don’t like any of the scenes, rewrite it or remove it. Nothing should get out of the picture. Imagine that you are a reader, and think about what you might not like in this work.
Then you can give your creation for proofreading to a friend, it is better if this person has a philological education. You may simply not notice or miss some errors in the text. A third-party reader with a fresh look will immediately notice the errors.
The main thing is to publish the text only when it completely suits you and there is no longer a desire to correct or redo anything.
How to relate to criticism
Regarding what kind of fan fiction to write, it is better not to listen to outside opinions, since you know your strengths and weaknesses yourself and understand what is good and what is not. But here reviews about the finished product should not be ignored.
Just note that you can not take criticism negatively, especially if it is constructive. If you are pointed to any errors (it doesn’t matter - subject or spelling), and you see that they really are, then correct. So you will get a new experience and the next time you will not be mistaken. Such an attitude will help improve writing skills.
However, there are gross negative reviews in which there are no claims on the merits. Such messages are best ignored altogether. However, when publishing fan fiction, be prepared for the fact that not everyone will like it. Therefore, do not lose heart. Even published and well-known authors have ill-wishers.
How to write good fan fiction: tips
And now we give some tips that will not be superfluous for anyone who writes or is just about to start writing in the fanfiction genre :
- Your story should not be filled only with joyful events. It is necessary to add dramatic and sad scenes, this will make the plot more exciting.
- If you are at a standstill, take a break, get distracted. You cannot write an entire work in one go.
- Take writing seriously. Write as if your story is being read by the whole world.
- Find a beta reader who will evaluate your work, give advice on the plot and correct grammatical errors.
- Your hero should not be invulnerable, otherwise all interest in him will be lost. Any, even the most powerful magician or warrior has his own limit.
- If you do not know what may happen next, then lose a few different options in your head and choose the one that most harmoniously fits into the story.
- Do not go too far from the canon and change the artistic space of the original.
- Remember that usually stories involving non-canonical heroes receive fewer positive reviews.
Now you know how to write fan fiction correctly, it remains only to apply all of the above in practice.