How Do You Write A Fanfic?

[bubblefishy]

How do you write a Fanfic?

[fallenangel]

Random tips from a reader and former writer...sort of.

1. Don't suck. Seriously, if you're not a great writer, start off with some exercises, small practice things to work on the areas you're weak in. Dialogue, plot, description, etc.

2. Spelling, grammar, and proof reading are very important. Even though you're not being graded, no one wants to read a story full of typos and punctuation errors. Have someone else read it before posting it if you need to.

3. Before coming up with a story line, [i]think[/i] about the characters. It's not like writing your own story; the characters are already there, and it's your job to make them the same characters everyone remembers, not just in their appearance. Sure you can change them a little to fit the story you want to tell (like making alternate romantic pairings), but their personalities should stay the same, or else the reader's left thinking "why the hell is he doing that? He'd never do that!"

4. Almost any storyline is possible, but you [i]have to make[/i] it possible. You can't just start a story with two rivals acting like best friends. You have to explain how it happened and not just expect readers to suspend everything they know about the original and believe your version. And never do that by adding a little disclaimer at the beginning like "In my version, ____ and _____ are best friends". Again, keep their personalities the same. If they hate someone, you'd better give a reason [i]in the story[/i] for them to feel otherwise. Some event. The bigger the change, the more time you'd better spend on it to give the reader time to adjust to the change.

5. Don't rush. Just like with any writing, make sure to move slow enough that you aren't speeding through the story with no substance or detail anywhere.

6. Script format is 95% of the time BAD. It's very difficult to write a good script, and unless you've had a lot of practice (real practice, not just writing them on your free time) it's best to just not do it. Even if you're great at it, a lot of people don't enjoy reading them. It's generally best to stick to standard writing, even if writing a script (a bad one, mind you) is easier.

7. Know where the story is going. Don't expect to just start writing and figure something out along the way because most of the time that leads to stories being unfinished because the person writes themselves into a corner and doesn't know where to go with the plot. Even if it's as basic as sitting down and figuring out where you want the story to start, what the end will be, and a basic outline of events that will happen in the middle.

8. NEVER pressure readers into reviewing. Tactics like "I'll only continue if I get 10 reviews per chapter!" make the person not even want to bother starting because they aren't guaranteed you'll ever finish.

9. One of the hardest things the best fanfic writers master is giving the characters depth. Think about and examine the characters to the point you know every aspect about them. Some things are given to you and a lot aren't. Fill in those things that aren't keeping in mind what you do know. If you don't know about a character's past, but you know he's an evil villain, come up with something in his past that made him the way he is. Make there more to the character than what everyone else already knows. It keeps a story interesting and the reader wants to keep going and find out more.

Other than that, just write as you would a normal story. The only difference is instead of creating your own characters, you have to understand ones that already exist, and you have to write a story keeping in mind the story that's already taken place. Even if you're writing an alternate ending to something, you have to keep in mind the rest of the story and not expect readers to automatically forget everything about the original.

Hope some of that helped.
_________________
"I care about people as much as I care about lawn furniture" - Dexter/Michael C. Hall

[bubblefishy]

No....how do you get it on the computer?

[fallenangel]

<_< Greeeeat way to phrase that first question, honey. I'm sure you're a great writer.
_________________
"I care about people as much as I care about lawn furniture" - Dexter/Michael C. Hall

[Lexar]

Another thing, don't add to many original characters. People read fanfics because of the characters from the show/book/anything, not because they want to read about a creation of yours, or at least thats how I feel. I really dislike it when people start of with introducing 5 or so original characters. You just know it's going to suck. One or maybe two original characters is plenty I think.

[fallenangel]

I don't mind several originals as long as they're supporting characters and don't interfere with the main ones. Like if two characters are supposed to be together (enemies, friends, lovers, whatever), I really don't want to read about someone's original character taking the place of the other. Like if character X is "supposed" to fall for character Y, it's annoying to read about someone's original character completely eliminating Y. And usually it's done poorly because the author just sticks themself in the story. "OMG he's so hawt! Im'a right a stry about us 2gether!!!111" Eesh.
_________________
"I care about people as much as I care about lawn furniture" - Dexter/Michael C. Hall

[Chibi_Inu]

Fallenangel, your first post, I know, helped me! ^___^, thanks.

[fallenangel]

Well at least it served some purpose then.
_________________
"I care about people as much as I care about lawn furniture" - Dexter/Michael C. Hall

[Chibi_Inu]

It made me laugh too...::Sweat drop:: But isn't it already on the computer...like aren't you typing it on Mircosoft word?

[Seto_lover]

Do you mean put up here?

If so:

I type it on Microsoft Word, then paste it on the site.

[QueenofHearts]

Wow, fallenangel's first post was so good and a great rubric for any fanfiction writer, and then the irony popped up.

Another thing not to do while writing fanfiction, make the lines understandable. People will only read and respond to it if they know what the author is trying to say.

[fallenangel]

Yeah. As common sense as it sounds, [i]read[/i] what you wrote before you post it. There'ss reaslly no xcuse 4 tipings lyke this. "its teh uber stoopid"
_________________
"I care about people as much as I care about lawn furniture" - Dexter/Michael C. Hall

[Mouse-chan]

how do you get it on the computer? type it up in a typing program like microsoft word or note pad. Then, send it in to websites if you want to.

[Powtaz]

u have to be talented.

[silver_dreams]

how do you get it on the computer? you see, you gotta get some glue and stick it to the screen...

well, maybe if you were doing it literally

but how do you get it on the computer? i think humanity has just reached a new low...

[Stratadrake]

But, I don't think I can really top fallen's list of pointers. But I do recommend writing your stories in HTML format. Not only are HTML files [b]smaller[/b] than Word files, and you can edit them in any plain-text editor (I use WordPad, myself), but if you ever have a site of your own they won't need any translating.
_________________
Strata here: [url=http://www.nanowrimo.org/eng/user/242293]Nanowrimo[/url] - [url=www.fanart-central.net/user-Stratadrake.php]FAC[/url] - [url=http://stratadrake.deviantart.com]dA[/url] - [url=www.furaffinity.net/user/Stratadrake/]FA[/url]
[size=9]Disclaimer: Posts may contain URLs. Click [url=http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/TVTropesWillRuinYourLife]at your own risk.[/url][/size]

[KFelidae]

[stupidity]

First, ya' grab an android--

[b]Jim:[/b] Hello!

--and ya' smoosh him down into iddy biddy bits of computer language and shove him up your A:/ drive. Then ya' tell him to write himself into a good story, or else! And when he does, you give him a toaster and say, "Good boy!"

[/stupidity]

Okay, really.

I think the most terrible thing someone can do to a story is take an existing character and give them a Spartan personality, totally laconic with no soul. That does NOT mean that a chacter who is [i]supposed[/i] to be a soul-less jerk is bad! I'm just saying, when some people write, they make all the characters flat, without face or personality. I agree with fallen: PLEASE research your character. Know what makes them tick. Why do they do what they do? What are their morals, their drives, and their goals? Do they like pie? That last one may sound very silly, but you have to know these things.


-KF

[Sirius]

To add my 2 $ worth.

Don't write fanfics I know a lot of authors don't appriciate this kind of thing.
Seriously.Since it's their sandbox as it were they don't like you playing in it.
They have no control over quality when you write stories in their world.
And the excuse but ohh i'm only doing him a favor.And it's not harming him don't work either.It's his/her i.p
So legally you have no right whatsoever to write something which uses it.
to expand on this he/she even has a right to sue.Although i'm the first to admit that doesn't happen often.But still it could.
Just write an original story.

[KFelidae]

I can see where you're coming from, Sirius.

A lot of people think fanfic is just the lazy man's writing. Maybe it is, for some. But then there's the good stuff, and you get into the whole mindset of someone who writes it: They like the characters enough to want to give them another adventure, another story, another memory.

I write fanfic for a couple of comic book characters. But It's not the only stuff I write. I just LIKE writing for them. I enjoy opening up their histories and digging through stuff, expanding things, and giving them a more rounded personality.

When you write for an original character, maybe you know all their details, quirks, and habits. But someone else doesn't. Writing fanfic gives two people common ground. The writer and the reader know exactly where the other's coming from.

I like the characters I create. But I also have grown very fond of the ones I write for. I can't say which is better, I really can't.


-KF

[Sirius]

If you write fanfic for your own consumption i really see no problems with it.
But when you start posting it on the net it becomes a whole different ballgame.

Btw this is something a real author posted on his mailing list

[quote]
Every time I find it I fire off a cease and desist letter. It's
copyright infringement and illegal. Some owners of copyright are
indifferent. Star Trek looked the other way for a long time, until the
Kirk/Spock stuff started being circulated, then they got pretty angry
about it and started hammering authors, including raiding dealers rooms
for non-licensed stuff. Star Wars was always against it from jump
street, to the point that Lucasfils hired Sony Cooper to visit
conventions and tell fans if they do it and George found out, they were
going to be sued.

Me, I don't like it because 1) 90% of it is pure trash and the other
10% is usually just pretty bad 2) it's my universe and I get to decide
what happens in it 3) if it's my universe I get to decide who writes
about it.

Consider it a quality control issue as much as a legal concern over the
value and worth of my copyrights and trademarks.

Best, R.E.F.
----
[/quote]

This is the author who wrote the riftwar series
Also he's one of the nations top selling fantasy writers