#it's such an specific but rewarding genre of fanfic tbh

[bulbasaurfan]

Treating myself by re-reading pikachu centric pokemon fics

[mostlymaudlin]

Rory I want to start writing fanfiction but I have no idea where to start! Any tips?

omg friend i am very excited for you to embark on the wild journey that is fanfic. it is often very terrible but it is rewarding. im honored that you’ve asked me tbh — maybe if any of my writer mutuals have additional tips they can reply to this too??

ive only actually been writing fanfic for a few months! i jumped into it after writing a lot professionally, so it wasn't as daunting for me. but i rmr as a teen i always wanted to write fic but i had no writing background and id get so overwhelmed and just. give up lol

i guess i have three things… first, know the basic elements of a story. second, read!! and third, steal shit. ill elaborate under the cut...

story elements

i used to teach high school english and there wasnt a huge emphasis on narrative writing in the curriculum. but i always did a quick & dirty memoir unit just to expose kids to it. everyone talks about plot/theme but i don’t think that’s the hard part — you can have a pretty good idea of what story you want to tell, but that doesn’t make it easier to tell it. so i always refer to the four elements of a narrative (which i stole from a colleague or the internet or something… should probably figure that out one day.)

anyway. you’ve got character, which seems self-explanatory, but a big part of writing character is knowing them well enough to make decisions that seem right for them. you’ve got setting, which is where your characters are. this is my favorite sandbox to play in… i spend a lot of time thinking about whats in the room with my characters that they can interact with. it's a great way to overcome writers block when you can just be like: oh no someone spilled a drink on my guy! oh no it started raining! what do they do now? you've got dialogue, which is obviously the conversations, but more specifically, how is it formatted? what types of words is your character going to use? and finally, you've blocking, which is the description of what your characters are doing — did they scratch their ear? did they walk to the bar? did their eyes crinkle when they laughed? this kind of thing.

read!!

i was kinda vague about the elements because i think the best way to figure them out is to look for them in writing that you enjoy. that’s what i did in class — i gave the definitions, did an example round where we read and highlighted different elements in a text together, and then i let them practice a few more times with choice texts. look for these elements when you read and see what you think works. its different for everyone, because *style* — and thats a good thing! when you get an idea of the things you like when you read….

STEAL 😈

ok i am obviously not endorsing lifting whole parts of people’s fics. but fanfic as a genre is all about stealing bits and pieces from here and there and making whole new stories. so if you like the way someone describes something, make it your own! if you like a setting someone used, put your characters in it! you’re learning and practicing, it’s okay to mimic writers you respect.

this applies beyond just style stuff tho — steal as much from the source material as you need. i think it’s much less overwhelming to write little canon compliance/divergence stories, because you’re sticking within the clear bounds of an already created world. so like: what happened between these scenes? what would this scene look like from this characters point of view? what would happen if the character did this instead of that? aus can be super fun because you get to do whatever you want, but that can also make it daunting. half my fics on ao3 are that kind of close-to-canon tidbits — they’re quicker to write for me, so i just kind of spit them out when inspiration strikes lol. also, this isn't even fic-specific advice; i always had students write memoir because it's a scene from your own life. you know what has to happen, but now you get to practice the how of it all.

but yes! see what you like in others’ work and bring it into yours. share snippets with folks to get feedback or have them pump you up. and don’t wait until your writing is perfect to start publishing. i used to write for newspapers, and i cringe when i see some of my first bylines. but im glad i wrote them because i only got better every time i wrote something else. and also, the engagement you get from posting fic instead of letting it languish on google drive is great motivation to keep going.

ok. i got really long-winded here. but please!! write!! i wish id started writing fanfiction years ago instead of waiting until i was more confident in my writing. for one, id probably be a better writer. but also its just really fucking fun!!

and if you ever want to, come off anon/send me things!! that goes for anyone really. im very down to read ur stuff and pump u up if i have the time to!! (and give feedback, but only if you want it :))

[spaceorphan18]

Thinking about All the Other Ghosts

So - I just finished up Rainjoy’s All the Other Ghosts for the podcast episodes that @notthatbea and I will be doing...  

This is the first time in a long, long time that I read it and really, really read it.  Rainjoy’s writing can be so dense at times that you really have to pay attention, so sometimes you can reread the thing and only catch certain things, or only read elements or chapters you really liked.  But this was interesting.  To read it on a really analytical and academic level.  

Of course, I’ll be going super into it on the podcast - but just to get the thoughts out of my brain.  

I’m partially torn??  It was both a rewarding and tedious project to do.  

Some (opinionated and therefor possibly alienating and polarizing) thoughts... 

The bad: 

The characterization of Kurt and Blaine is just /off/.  RJ obviously took a left turn from season 2 and never looked back. 

Kurt was female coded nearly the whole way through - to the point that sometimes he felt more like a woman than a man or even someone who walks that line (or is gender fluid), and there’s a lot of strange things about gender that I think unintentionally come up - because I think Kurt becomes a stand in for a lot of (understandable) issues that RJ felt passionate about, and passionate writing about.  Some of it fixed itself the more women characters were introduced in the story.  Still... the whole thing went in an odd direction when it came to Kurt that I don’t fully know how to unpack other than - this doesn’t feel like Kurt. 

Meanwhile, Blaine, by default, gets the masculine role - and Blaine doesn’t feel like Blaine either. 

Is it weird to say that I think the weakest element of this phenomenal fanfic about Klaine is Kurt and Blaine themselves? 

This whole story makes me question the line of - how far can you go AU before it hits original fiction? 

The sheer repetitiveness of inner monologues.   I’m not judging fanfiction lack of editing because people do this for free and out of love, so this really isn’t a criticism per se.  But I feel like about 1/5 of the story could have been taken out, and the story would have been just fine.  

I’m going to praise her writing in a minute but, besides the repetitive thing - sometimes there were sections that were almost too vague.  Like? What is the action going on in this sequence? How did we get from point A to B?  Sometimes the imagery is too fuzzy to get a clear picture, and sometimes a plot point is in a single sentence buried around a lot of other things going on that it can be easily missed.  And every once in a while, I’m not even sure what was going on.  (Again - it needed an overall editor, but I get why it didn’t, really no judgment, I swear!) 

I think the beginning-middle-ish section 5-15 suffered from dragging along.  Fanfiction doesn’t need to have any kind of structure but I think this particular story worked better when it was working towards the goal of its plot more than the repetitive introspection of the characters.  (And I don’t think introspection is a bad thing either - I just think there were parts that felt like the story was spinning its wheels because it was waiting to get to a certain point.) 

The Good: 

RJ is a phenomenal story teller.  Really, besides my gripes up there - she has a great eye for detail and atmosphere.  When she does describe something and its clear, you can really feel the emotion and reality of what’s going on.  She can suck you in with the words and make you feel like you’re right there - and that’s pretty impressive.  

She’s (mostly) great with structure.  She understands story telling, and the reason I’ve been so fascinated to look at this one in depth is because it works beyond how fanfiction usually works and is an actual novel, a structured traditional narrative.  

She really understand fandom.  Really understands it, and is able to use it, not only as a fourth-wall breaking, meta commentary on it, but can use it as a narrative function as well.  It’s possibly the best thing about the story, tbh. 

She really understands the superhero genre.  Again, really understands it.  She knows how the tropes work, and I’m guessing is either super into the films or really does read comics and understands how they work.  This fic hits all the tropes and does them very well - maybe even better than some actual comics I’ve read over the years. 

She really understands symbolism, allegory, and multi-layered story telling.  There is a lot going on in this story to unpack that goes beyond just the plot of the story, or even understanding Kurt and Blaine’s emotional journey together.   I don’t expect every story I read to have lots of shades of grey going on, but man fanfic doesn’t usually have it, and even published fiction doesn’t always get as complex as this, so I find it fascinating.  

She really understands world building, and while fanfic can give you a template to start off with, she was able to mold that template into something uniquely her own.  

The main plot (that wasn’t the Kurt and Blaine emotional arc) was incredibly well done (when the story picked up on it).  It’s intriguing and specific to Glee, but molding it into something of its own, which is incredibly impressive.  It’s almost like a perfect crossover without being an actual crossover.  She handles that AU elements very well, as well as having the plot itself be incredibly engaging.  

While I do have criticisms with the characterization, I think she handled the emotional arcs of Kurt and Blaine (mostly) well - and I appreciate that it wasn’t a slow burn, but a journey of figuring out who you are with your partner, which in this story’s case, is the better story to tell.  

The side characters were pretty well done.  Except for Burt, who I’m meh about, I think the other characters were great.  Finn and Rachel are better than their canon counterparts.  Cooper has more depth to him.  Mike, Tina, the other little cameos, well done, imo.  She even was able to bring in a few original characters and make them work - which is always tricky in a fanfic. 

She was able to fold in enough Glee-ish things that it still felt connected (in unique ways) to canon.  When you trip over little tidbits that are nods to canon, it doesn’t seem out of place or gratuitous, but handled really well.  

So yeah - that’s where I’m at with ATOG - and like I said, we’ll discuss it more in-depth on the podcast.  

Still.. It’ll be interesting getting into Grey, which I think is both better than worse than the original?  

[gaybluesargent]

1,2,4,5,6,9 for writers asks? (Or literally any one you want to answer. I'd be happy to pretend that that's the one I asked). :-)

aaa thank u raleigh!!! :’) 💛 under the read more because i’m incapable of not rambling omg

writer asks!

1. Favorite place to write.my favorite place to write is actually in my parked car! i wrote almost the entirety of both my current original WIPS in my car, in parking garages or parking lots. it’s perfect for me, because i can control the environment (temperature, music) and limit the distractions (no wifi, nobody in the vicinity to interrupt)! 

2. Favorite part of writing.honestly? idk if this is a good answer, but, the part where i get to share it. there’s a lot i love about the writing itself (following the flow of ideas, learning the characters), and there’s a lot i love about the revising (the victory of finally nailing a scene i’ve been dreaming of or finally untangling a plot point that’s been plaguing me), but my favorite part is letting other people read it. i’d still write even if nobody else ever saw the words, but there’s nothing better than finally getting to experience the story with someone else after having it all to yourself in your head for months and months!! (of course, it’s also the scariest part, but! you know!)

4. Do you have writing habits or rituals?yes! every morning, on my way home from taking my brother to school, i eat a granola bar and then sit and my car and write. and once i’ve written all i can, either because i’ve run out of words or because i’ve gotta go do something else, i reward myself with a bagel and/or smoothie from panera. :’)

5. Books or authors that influenced your style the most.oh man... obviously, the raven cycle. like. gestures to the 90k of fanfic i’ve written for this fandom. but other than that, i don’t know if there’s been specific authors or books as much as genres? there was a time in 8th & 9th grade where i read obsessively, like, i could give you a full-length review of literally Every Book on the YA shelves. that was back in the era of fantasy-romance (vampires, werewolves, magical-realism) and dystopian-romance (defy categorization and overthrow the government but also love triangles), and i think consuming a truly massive amount of that stuff surely left a mark on my writing, omg.

6. Favorite character you ever created.who can choose just one favorite character!! i love them all So Much... they’re my kids.... but for the sake of giving an answer, i’ll pick adrianna, just because she’s gone through such a cool transition. she started as an OC for roleplaying on neopets dot com, and she evolved into the protagonist of my first novel. seven years later, she’s almost unrecognizable, but it’s been so cool to work with her over all this time and see what’s changed and what’s endured. :’)

9. Least favorite trope to write.anything involving sex tbh, i’m horrible at it and avoid it at all costs omg

[micdropragnarok]

40 Questions with Ao3 Writer Emilyymay_x

So I saw this on tumblr and thought I would answer some questions, I have adapted a few, but hopefully y’all can learn a bit more about me and my work <33 

1) How old were you when you first starting writing fanfiction? I was 14/15!

2) What fandoms do you write for and do you have a particular favourite if you write for more than one? I used to write for the CW show Arrow, but not so much anymore. I also used to write for Daredevil/The Punisher, but again not so much these days. Currently, I am writing for BTS which is my main focus - and It is my favourite :)

3) Do you prefer writing OC’s or reader inserts? Explain your answer. I think for the first two things I wrote for it was ships, but I prefer writing reader inserts for BTS. I think that’s because of what I enjoy reading more - it’s easier to imagine yourself in a character in some ways than an OC!

4) What is your favourite genre to write for? I am a sucker for romance tbh. Just cute fluffy stuff - it kills me.

5) If you had to choose a favourite out of all of your multi-chaptered stories, which would it be and why? Draw My Heart - It’s an olicity fanfic, and whilst it isn’t my most popular, it was so enjoyable to write, plan out, and I created this whole new world which was super fun to do. I hope people like it as much as me. It was also a lot longer than anything I had really written, so it was challenging for me which I liked! Here’s the link if you’re interested:  https://archiveofourown.org/works/11911494/chapters/26914737

6) If you had to delete one of your stories and never speak of it again, which would it be and why? Werewolves and Vigilantes. It was a Teen Wolf and Arrow crossover, which was... well, I tried to be dramatic and I should have just stuck to my fluffy roots! I will never delete it though - I’m still kind of attached!

7) When is your preferred time to write? Free time during the day, definitely. As a student, I am quite flexible with my time.

8) Where do you take your inspiration from? I get inspired by films, tv shows, and other fanfictions, definitely. There is so much content out there to be inspired by! 

9) What’s your favourite kind of scene to write? I love writing scenes where characters get together, or express their love for each other. That’s always magical.

10) Have you ever amended a story due to criticisms you’ve received after posting it? Yes - Only in the following chapters, I rarely go back to change things. Fanfiction for me has always been about fanservice, and I take criticism to heart - which is not always a good thing! But usually the readers are thinking the same as me - so I’m happy to change things.

11) Who is your favourite character to write for? Why? I like writing for Namjoon, my bias - which for me makes it more challenging, but rewarding.

12) Who is your least favourite character to write for? Why? I find it hard to write for Tae, but I’m hoping to write some more with him. I just haven’t had any ideas that have suited him yet.

13) Post a line from a WIP that you’re working on. “I love you. And there is nothing stronger than the power of love. I will find my way back to you.” 

14) Do you have any abandoned WIP’s? What made you abandon them? Unfortunately! I only really abandon stuff in the early stages, though, so its no real loss. Usually, it’s because the idea isn’t good enough to flesh out into a proper story.

15) Are there any stories that you’ve written that you’d really love to do a sequel to? I recently added a short sequel to my first fanfiction, Fate, Luck & Tequila, which was so much fun. I would love to add a sequel to Draw my Heart... maybe with different characters, but in the same universe. A BTS one would be amazing!

16) Are there any stories that you wished you’d ended differently? I think I end up where I usually want to, it’s often the middle that can be tricky!

17) Tell me about another writer(s) who you admire? What is it about them that you admire? I have always admired supersillyanddorky06. She is the only olicity fanfic writer that I read anymore - she is so talented, and is turning one of her works into a novel, which I am definitely going to be first in line to read! More recently, I have fallen in love with jincherie, whose work tentacledipity, in particular, is just spellbinding, and so wonderful to read. I am constantly inspired by these two writers in particular, and wish I was even HALF as good at writing as they are!

18) Do you have a story that you look back on and cringe when you reread it? My first ever fanfiction on wattpad (gah, I know!) is a bit hard to reread, but it’s all a learning curve I suppose!

19) Do you prefer listening to music when you’re writing or do you need silence? it varies. If I do listen to music, it will be chilled or with no lyrics or lyrics in different languages than what I am writing in - so I don’t get confused whilst writing!

20) How do you feel about writing smutty scenes? I’ve grown fonder of it - I certainly read more smut than fluff, although I think for me it's important to combine the two genres. I don’t think I would feel comfortable writing smut without plot, but that’s just me.

21) Have you ever cried whilst writing a story? No - although I have whilst reading other stories - most recently it was paper cranes - https://aquaminwrites.tumblr.com/post/183853221169/paper-cranes-kim-taehyung-m this tae fic had me SOBBING.

22) Which part of your works is the hardest to write? I have to say I do find it tricky to write the middle mundane part of stories? I always feel like I have a solid beginning and ending, but the middle can sometimes be tricky! ha- I’m working on it!

23) Do you make a general outline for your stories or do you just go with the flow? Depends. If I think of a scene that I haven’t quite got to, I usually write a plan for it. 

24) What is something you wished you’d known before you started posting fanfiction? Not everyone is going to love your work, and don’t rush things! Think about WHY you are writing in the first place.

25) Do you have a story that you feel doesn’t get as much love as you’d like? Like I said earlier, my favourite fic, Draw My Heart, doesn’t get as much love as some of my other olicity fics. I hope it can one day.

26) In contrast, is there a story which gets lots of love which you kinda eye roll at? Not eye roll per say, but I was surprised at the attention my one shot wonders collection of olicity stories got - I guess people really do love one shots more than multi-chapters!

27) What’s the biggest compliment you’ve gotten? I’ll never forget one of the first comments I got - that I wrote like a seasoned professional - it stuck with me and made me so happy :)

28) What’s the harshest criticism you’ve gotten? - Usually, it’s pretty specific, which makes it slightly less painful!

29) Do you share your story ideas with anyone else or do you keep them close to your chest? Sometimes I share with a friend who loves fanfictions as much as me to get her take on it.

30) Can you give us a spoiler for one of your WIP’s? I’m writing a soulmate au and a futuristic au at the moment, with Namjoon and Jungkook, respectively. The former is nearly complete and is a ball of FLUFF - although it has angsty undertones. It involves soulmate marks that change colour once you have found your soulmate, you know, the usual fluffy goodness.

31) What’s the funniest story you’ve written? Fate, Luck & Tequila has some very fun and funny moments - it’s definitely a comedy!

32) If you could collab with any other writer on here, who would it be? (Perhaps this question will inspire some collabs!) If you’re shy, don’t tag the blog, just name it. I would be too scared to collab with anyone, hahaha. But if anyone wanted to collab with me, I wouldn’t hesitate! Two is always better than one :)

33) Do people know you write fanfiction? Yes - although only two people have read them irl.

34) Song fic - What made you decide to use the song? I use a lot of songs in fics, but I was listening to ghostin by ariana grande the other day and wrote a yoongi fanfic on it, just because the lyrics held a lot of power and emotion that I wanted to put to paper (or online I guess!)

35) Has anyone ever guessed the plot twist of one of your fics before you posted it? Oh yeah, definitely! But I think a lot of people have got it wrong too- - or inspired me to write it after reading their ideas!

36) What is the last line you wrote? It’s fitting actually: “At the end of the day, you have to write what your passionate about - and you need to be passionate about writing.”

37) What spurs you on during the writing process? Honestly? Excitement, adrenaline, and maybe a bit of boredom of other stuff in my life :)

38) What’s your favourite trope to write? I love meet cutes, soulmate stuff, anything with fluffy tones!

39) If you could write only angst, fluff or smut for the rest of your writing life, which would it be and why? I do like a bit of angst now and then, but probably fluff - at least I would be happy and it would probably come most naturally. I could just imply smut anyway ;)

40) What would you like to write that you haven’t written already? I would like to write a hybrid fic. I love reading them so much! Hopefully one day I can get round to it!