Tips and Ideas: Writing a better fanfiction story

10 Tips for writing Fanfiction

10 tips for writing fanfiction

So you’re interested in writing a little fanfiction, eh? I’ve had an impressive number of people email me asking how to become a fanfic writer. I was asked for links, advice, tips…anything I could share with you to get you started.

In the beginning I was answering every email with something like, “Pick a show, movie, play, music group, etc. and search the web for fanfiction-based on your choice.” Most of the folks who responded to that email said, “Yeah, yeah, I know all of that. I want you to give me some rules. I need a lesson on fanfic etiquette.” There are an innumerable number of rules and sometimes there are fandom-specific rules that writers must follow.

I don’t even pretend to know every rule out there so I thought I’d give you a list of principles that are broad enough to cover most fandoms:

If you use music to inspire you, don’t be afraid to say so

…even if it’ll reveal your secret adoration of the group WHAM! Personally, I find that I write better when I’m listening to music. Music is such a universal language. When a writer uses music, the tone and tempo of the piece are reflected in the content of their writing. If they’re writing about an argument and are listening to something like “So What” by P!nk, it might bring up just enough bitterness in the heart of the writer that it spills onto the page in biting, clawing, wonderfully divine bits of nasty dialogue!  If a writer is in need of a song to inspire puppy dog eyes and first kisses, “Whisper” by Oval Opus would most likely do the trick. Remember that a writer doesn’t have to find a song to match the mood, though. There are times that music actually jump-starts  creativity and  ends up writing because of the song!

Let me suggest one other thing: If a song is the kindling to the writing fire lit under you, tell the reader. If you have to, print the lyrics before or after the song. Readers will often find the song you’ve used and listen to it in order to get the full understanding of what your writing was meant to portray. If the song moved you, chances are it’ll move your readers.

Don’t change a character’s personality unless you properly explain the reason.

Fanfiction is not written about original characters. Although there may be “cameos” of original characters, the story is based on characters owned by someone else. Fanfic, by definition, is fictional writing by fans. Works produced by the individual who created a character is often referred to as a “sitcom” or “movie” or some such thing. Remember that there are other fans out there who might read your work. They most likely will be livid if you turn their favorite nun into a murderous hussy. For this reason, you shouldn’t go changing much unless you’re going to commit to it 100%.

What does that mean? Well, take Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Buffy) as an example. There is a lot of Buffy/Faith fic on the web. Although Willow and Tara were the lesbians on the show, people can’t seem to get enough of “Fluffy” (the term given to Buffy/Faith fic in which they’re in a relationship with each other.) How does a writer make that leap and have everyone else drooling for more? Come on, who could miss the opportunity to use resentment, jealousy and anger as the catalyst for an illicit love affair? The pairing works because they’re tough, feminine and HOT! If you can give a reasonable explanation of why you changed the character’s personality, the readers will forgive you.

Be creative, but don’t push it.

There are many things you can change other than the personalities of the characters. Era, locale, even some of their physical features are just a few of the things over which a writer has free reign. The fanfic community is all for stretching limits, at least some of the limits. But take this advice: don’t change the details so much that the reader no longer recognizes the characters.