Fanfiction An almost original power point by Kaya White, based on the original lectures of Maggie Chan.

FanfictionAn almost original power point by Kaya White, based on the original lectures of Maggie Chan

What is it? Fan fictions (also called fanfics or just

fics) are fan written works based on an already established work of fiction. They are unauthorized, unpublished, and usually unread by the creator of the original work.

“Fanfiction is what literature might look like if it were reinvented from scratch after a nuclear apocalypse by a band of brilliant pop-culture junkies trapped in a sealed bunker. They don't do it for money. That's not what it's about. The writers write it and put it up online just for the satisfaction. They're fans, but they're not silent, couchbound consumers of media. The culture talks to them, and they talk back to the culture in its own language.”—Lev Grossman, TIME, July 18, 2011

The stereotype

a teenage girl—or rather, an obsessed, friendless, and love-sick teenage girl. Her only interest in writing is to get her two favorite characters in an absurd relationship or Stockholm syndrome-esque situation. So she’ll sit down at her laptop and, in tattered grammar and weak English, she’ll type up a tale filled with gleaming purple prose, bipolar characters, and over-the-top description. Or worse, she’ll create a “Mary Sue” character and stick it with the male canon character she secretly wishes was real. (The Mary-Sue is her * hint hint *)

Just like in the physical world of “real” publishing, there are good and bad writers who write good and bad stories.

The people who write good fanfiction—and good books—tend to be far different from the stereotype, and different from each other, living in countries all over the world.

Above all they are people who like stories, and people who aren’t too absorbed in their own creations to recognize and appreciate genius in the ideas of others.

A bit of background Fanfiction is nothing new The Testament of Cresseid by Robert

Henryson based on Chauncer’s Troilus and Criseyde (15th century)

Charlotte Bronte wrote about the Duke of Wellington

Star Trek

The Final Frontier Star Trek (60s) Popularized and defined fanfiction Fanzines Mail Also started conventions Mostly female writers

Also: Doujishini 60s and 70s Independent manga/novels based on

existing material Began as a way for new artists to make

a debut School clubs

So let’s go on an Adventure! http://www.fanfiction.net/

Fic Types Drabble One shot Multi-chap Song fic Plot bunny

Plot Types

Know before you go OC AU Mary-Sue/Gary-Stu Canon Fanon Crack Lemon/lime Flame drabble Fandom

Shipping Characteristic!

Character Slash/yuri/yaoi OOC Self insert Otp ! Crossover

Cross Overs Based off two or more works

Where? fanfiction.net The Older Sibling who used

to be the favorite but now lives in the basement with cats and hot pockets http://www.fanfiction.net/

Live Journal No Summary, be carefulTumblr no summary, and good luck

finding it amongst the other fandom worksArchive of our own classier ff.net

You say: But why? It’s useless! It’s pathetic! To which I respond: they will never find your body

Fanfiction is like training wheels—a way to learn to write and be critiqued Plot, character, the whole she-bang

• A realistic writing scenario -- Movie and TV writers (who are paid to write) have to work with other people’s characters, style, and plotlines Publicity

https://www.fanfiction.net/stats/story.php

So, you wanna write fanfiction?

Which fandom do you want to contribute to?

Oc? Pre-existing? AU? Ships? Cross over? Prequel? Sequel? Drabble? Crack?

Do’s Keep in character—or as close as

possible Research! Know the canon Write a summary about your fic

Don’ts

“first fic, be gentle” “Wait to find out!” Bash characters/ships Bash the creator (yes, even Smeyer) Copy someone else’s fic (ask first to do double

fic) Tell Mrs. White you wrote this instead of an

original poem/story/song for Tangent not that I would know

Congratulations! You are now somewhat prepared to

venture forth into the realm of fanfiction!

Or at least no longer stumbling upon pits of centipedes.

Challenge! Writers: Pick a fandom. Write a drabble.