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Can reading fanfiction actually improve your fiction writing? To put it simply, yes! Reading fanfiction can improve your fiction writing skills! Fanfiction is an underutilized tool for aspiring writers. One of the great things about fanfiction is that it allows readers and authors to explore their passions in productive and useful ways. All fanfiction you read might not deserve to be studied in a classroom, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth reading. As the saying goes, “Variety is the spice of life.” While this idiom applies to life in general, it also applies to reading. The best way to become a better writer is to read and to read a lot.
“If you want to be a writer, you must do two things above all others: read a lot and write a lot.” (( Says, Apkprofit, et al. “Famous Quotes on Writing.” The Writers College Times, 27 July 2020, Famous Quotes on Writing. ))
As a writer, you can use fanfiction to your advantage. A writer’s relationship with fanfiction begins by reading it. Find out what you like or don’t like and keep that in mind. Next, you should start writing your own fanfiction. Use what you’ve learned from the fanfiction writers you’ve read to start crafting your own style. Finally, after reading and writing fanfiction, you’ll be in a good position to start writing your own completely original works of fiction.
Getting Started
Writing good fiction stories is hard. It takes a lot of dedication and practice to improve writing skills. But what does the process of developing writing skills actually look like? According to famous authors and other writing experts, reading, getting feedback, and writing consistently are all key to becoming a better writer (( Bianchi, Nicole. “How to Improve Your Writing Skills in 2020.” Medium, Copywriting Secrets, 16 Jan. 2020, How to Improve Your Writing Skills in 2020 | by Nicole Bianchi | Copywriting Secrets. )). You can tick each of those boxes and more by reading and writing fanfiction!
Read And Read A Lot! It’s Free!
The best way to start to develop your own writing voice is to figure out what you like and don’t like to read. There are tons of different writing styles and voices in the world. The best way to get a holistic understanding of what shape your voice can take is to read and read a lot.
“Read, read, read. Read everything – trash, classics, good and bad, and see how they do it…Then write. If it’s good, you’ll find out. If it’s not, throw it out of the window.” (( Leibowitz, Glenn. “50 Inspiring Quotes About Writing from the World’s Greatest Authors.” Inc.com, Inc., 24 Aug. 2017, 50 Inspiring Quotes About Writing from the World’s Greatest Authors. ))
Most importantly, you have to read a variety of different authors, genres, and styles of writing. Only reading fanfiction won’t help you be as good of a writer in the same way that only reading the classics won’t help you be as good of a writer. You need to read both.
Find A Fandom
The great thing about fanfiction and fanfiction websites like fanfiction.net and archiveofourown.org is that there are thousands of stories to read. However, the problem with the number of stories is that the sheer number can be overwhelming. But fanfiction on these websites tends to be very organized.
“Close the door. Write with no one looking over your shoulder. Don’t try to figure out what other people want to hear from you; figure out what you have to say. It’s the one and only thing you have to offer.” (( Says, Apkprofit, et al. “Famous Quotes on Writing.” The Writers College Times, 27 July 2020, Famous Quotes on Writing. ))
More specifically, most fanfiction is organized by fandoms (think Harry Potter or Percy Jackson). Therefore, I recommend starting by finding a fandom that you’re interested in. Additionally, writers usually put their social media usernames in their author’s notes before a chapter, making them easy to follow. Writers often tend to be part of fandom communities on platforms like Tumblr, Reddit, Discord, and more! So, by finding your favorite writer on social media, you’ll be able to keep up with their work. Use social media to your advantage to follow writers who you really enjoy. These fandoms will keep you reading and reading a lot!
Writing Fanfiction
Now, it’s time for you to get to writing your own fanfiction! One of the most important aspects of your writing that you’ll have to develop is your “voice.” In other words, you’ll have to figure out how you personally like to tell a story. Your voice is composed of elements like “syntax, diction, punctuation, character development, dialogue, etc.” (( Zhang, Kat. “Literary Voice: Developing It…and Defining It.” Pub(Lishing) Crawl, 10 Sept. 2015, Literary Voice: Developing It…and Defining It. )). The best way to develop your voice is to start writing!
Be Self-Indulgent
Do anything to get yourself writing consistently. After reading other people’s fanfiction, you should have a pretty good idea of the character types, tropes, and fandoms you enjoy reading. Use your likes and interests to generate your own stories.
“Don’t bend; don’t water it down; don’t try to make it logical; don’t edit your own soul according to the fashion. Rather, follow your most intense obsessions mercilessly.” (( Leibowitz, Glenn. “50 Inspiring Quotes About Writing from the World’s Greatest Authors.” Inc.com, Inc., 24 Aug. 2017, 50 Inspiring Quotes About Writing from the World’s Greatest Authors. ))
It’s fun to write, and you can be as self-indulgent as you like. Just write about whatever makes you happy. There’s a lot of freedom that comes with writing fanfiction, and you can always choose to write under a pen name.
Develop Creative Plot Lines
One of the hardest parts of writing a story is coming up with the characters, but you don’t have to create characters by writing fanfiction. By using existing characters, you can focus more energy on coming up with an awesome plot! Fanfiction can be really interesting because there are no rules. For example, if the original content you’re writing fanfiction about is set in the year 1800, there are no rules that say that your fanfiction must also be set in the same year. You’re free to play around with time and setting, which allows you to put the characters into new and exciting situations that the original creator may not have thought of.
Find A Writing Group
If you could find a little fanfiction hub on social media, use it to your advantage. Sharing your work with others and receiving feedback is really crucial to becoming a better writer. Reach out to other writers in your fandom, and see if they’ll trade stories with you. Or, you can see if there’s a writing group you can join.
“And by the way, everything in life is writable about if you have the outgoing guts to do it, and the imagination to improvise. The worst enemy to creativity is self-doubt.” (( Says, Apkprofit, et al. “Famous Quotes on Writing.” The Writers College Times, 27 July 2020, Famous Quotes on Writing. ))
Another place to find feedback would be in the comments section of any stories you post on fanfiction websites. While all of the comments might not be the most constructive, they are unbiased, as the commenter probably doesn’t personally know you. The comment section is also a great place to receive encouragement about your writing and motivation to keep going.
Writing Original Work
Now, you can use what you’ve learned from writing fanfiction to create your own original work. Use some of the plots you’ve developed and change them up with original characters to make them completely your own. Or, start from scratch with a new plot and new characters, using the skills you’ve refined by writing fanfiction.
“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” (( Says, Apkprofit, et al. “Famous Quotes on Writing.” The Writers College Times, 27 July 2020, Famous Quotes on Writing. ))
You could indeed follow some of the steps I mentioned with any genre of writing. However, only by reading and writing fanfiction can you find such dedicated communities of writers who love the same kind of work you do. Fanfiction websites also facilitate a lot of interactions directly between writers and readers. Additionally, fanfiction is also a very different style of writing that not all writers practice. While you may not want to write fanfiction forever, the lessons and practice you’ll get from trying it are invaluable. So, find something you love and start writing!