Unleash Your Imagination

Let’s talk about fan fiction, aka fanfic.  Most people fall into three categories: you don’t know what it is; you know what it is, and think it’s silly; or you are passionate about it.  Like  me.

In the driest terms, fanfic is the accumulation of all the stories written by fans about the settings and characters of an original work, or the “canon” that was created by the published author.  Fanfic is written by fans for fans, building off the original canon universe, so it is usually most enjoyed by those who have knowledge of the original work.

Some question the legality, as the original spark comes from another person’s work.   I think, though, that once an author crafts a world for readers and hands it over to them, it’s theirs too.  The original author might write a description of a willow tree, for instance, but the exact slant, texture, and coloring of that tree are determined in the readers’ mind.  They now own a piece of the original.

Fanfic enables readers to become writers and let their own imaginations take the wheel for a spin.  We’ve all finished a really great book and had a lingering sense of regret upon reaching the last page, with nothing new to discover.  In fanfic, that doesn’t have to be the case.  If you wanted something to happen differently or wished there was another chapter to the story,  you write it yourself and share it with others.

Did you ever wonder what Romeo and Juliet would have looked like if Juliet had preferred Mercutio?  Or maybe you were curious how Harry Potter would have faired in Gotham City?  There are no roadblocks in the world of fanfic.  If you can dream it, you can share it.  Adventure, tragedy, humor, romance, angst…anything goes.

In the Internet age, access to fan fiction databases is easier than ever before, and the result has been an explosion of fanfic online—readers have more options than ever, and those who want to contribute their own work have more options from which to choose.

Besides the obvious entertainment value, taking part in fanfic is a great way to hone your writing skills.  Often, the hardest thing about writing is starting, but with fanfic the setting and characters have already been created and you can simply start running with them, learning your own style and taste along the way.  You can write your own stuff and get immediate peer feedback and criticism.  And you can learn a lot about what works and what doesn’t by reading what’s already out there.  Unfortunately, there is a lot of sub-par work.  For every good piece you find, you must sort through ten bad ones.

Though it’s far from fun to see the generic, the uninspired, and the less than eloquent, you can learn a lot about how to become a better writer.  Published works have already thrown out the worst so you never have to see it, but with fanfic you see the good and the bad, side by side.  But it is all worthwhile when you find an especially good writer or a unique perspective on a canon you love.  And even if the worthy pieces are never published, fanfic is relevant to the community of writers and readers.

Recently,  some fanfic has been acknowledged by the original canons that inspired them.  In the case of the CW show Supernatural,  writers cleverly referenced the fanfic spun from their own characters and plots.  Validated!

It’s a whole new world;  check it out for yourself.