Reflection and Analysis

Fandom: OTP, What it Is and Isn't (4/27/2016)

The first thing that comes to mind when people think of OTP is, "oh, that's my favorite pairing."

The problem is, contrary to popular misconception, OTP is not your favorite pairing. The misconception comes up for two reasons in particular. The first comes from a group of essay writers over the last five years who tried writing about the subject of OTP without actually knowing what an OTP was, and yet they attempted to define the word. The second reason for the misconception lies with writers who attempted to argue OTP based on emotional appeal only. While it is true that there is an emotional attachment to your OTP of choice, one can not argue a pairing as an OTP on these grounds alone. In fact, how a writer and/or reader argues for their OTP actually shows what kind of fan they are.

Another thing people don't know regarding OTP is the fact there is a stigma, or there used to be, to actually declaring your OTP. The reason for the stigma comes from rabid fans of a pairing declaring their OTP, and basing their logic on emotional grounds only, but also starting up shipping wars regarding pairings. These rabid fans never opened themselves up to other possibilities, and steadfastly argued their pairings as the only option, attacking any writer who voiced an opposing opinion regardless of whether they were a fan of the pairing or not. In reality, most of the OTP shippers claiming to be OTP shippers really were not OTP shippers, as there was no truth to their pairing, but only hardcore denial. Hense the stigma regarding OTPs back ten years ago when I first started writing fanfiction, and why I and others of that generation still struggle with declaring our OTP.

OTP is short for "one true pairing", and the whole point of an OTP is that you can argue that the pairing is true. I'm going to go so far as to argue that an OTP need not be a favorite pairing either, but simply a pairing for any given fandom which you would argue two canon characters are the most "true" option for each other. In other words, while OTP and favorite pairings may overlap at times, they do not mean the same thing.

I know this doesn't sit well with some; in fact, I still remember one young writer getting really upset when I told her that her favorite pairing wasn't an OTP. I can understand where they're coming from, though, as to them, I'd just told them their favorite pairing wasn't true.

What though is true in life?

For something to be argued as true, a person needs solid facts, and not just opinions to argue the point. Add to this, an OTP must be true without bending the rules for the fandom. The reason OC pairings and crossover pairings can't be OTP lies in the fact one needs to bend the rules of the fandom to get the pairing to work. This is not to say the pairing can't work, for if the rules are changed, then they can become true. The problem lies with the fact you've got to be able to argue an OTP without changing the rules.

This means you can't gender bend a character, you can't make siblings no longer be blood related to other, or change who that character is just to get it to work. If you're having to do that, and arguing that the pairing is an OTP than not only do you not have an OTP, but you are in serious denial. This said this shouldn't be confused with writers who explore alternate situations for their OTP, trying to figure out different ways for them to interact.

Whether your OTP is real or not will also show in your writing, that, or what will show is the place you need to grow as a writer. For a pairing to be a true OTP, a good writer - and not a writer whose still learning - will be able to write a story where the reader, regardless of where their OTP is, will be able to believe the pairing is true. They won't feel like the pairing is being shoved down their throat, or that you took the reader's willingness to suspend their disbelief for granted. They're also able to admit when their pairing isn't an OTP, but simply them exploring alternate possibilities.

Another thing to note about OTP, it is possible to have more than one OTP. Some people have an OTP for every fandom, but others have multiple OTP for a given fandom, none of which overlap. There are also writers who have het-OTP and slash-OTP, where they have a het and slash OTP for one character depending on the characters sexuality, which is not defined in fandom.