“Stop Writing Fanfiction”
How Writing Fanfiction Taught Me to Be a Better Writer
“Stop writing fanfiction and write your own work.”
If you are a fanfiction writer, you probably heard this before.
But today, I wanted to talk about why you shouldn’t just stop.
This isn’t a big list. Just four reasons, in fact, and I think by the end of it you might actually see the benefits of writing fanfiction. At the very least, this is what I learned, and why fanfiction can fuel my “own writing” — and your writing, too.
#1: Writing dialogue only
Have you ever sat down to write, but everything sounds…meh?
I don’t always edit my fanfiction works. I don’t get beta readers, much less expect readers half the time. In fact, I think it would stress me out if I had a huge fanbase for my fanfiction works.
I don’t take fanfiction “seriously” because I do it for fun — and for myself.
I want to publish a novel one day, and every time I write fanfiction my mom’s words echo in my head saying, “You should be writing your own novel.”.
But one day, an idea for a fanfiction just kept bugging me, and I really wanted to get it out on paper. The only problem was, when I sat down to write, I just…couldn’t.
Instead of giving up or forcing it, I decided to start by writing mainly dialogue with tags, and sometimes things in brackets like [INSERT ACTION SCENE] and [CHARACTER SOMEHOW MAKES IT OUT] just so I can think — and write — it later.
When I went back to write, I realized that the words were just flowing beautifully, and I haven’t had that kind of moment in years.
#2: First, second, and third drafts
Technically, I try to avoid multiple drafts with my fanfictions.
However, the more I write fanfiction, the more I understand my writing style.
For example, I have noticed I liked using tip #1 when writing my “zero” or “skeleton draft”. This is the draft that will never be seen by someone and is an outline. This way, I know the general idea of where my story is going without getting side-tracked.
After all, I am pretty certain I have ADHD. 😭
Needless to say, I have learned it’s okay to have a lot of drafts: The zero draft, the first draft, the second, the third if I must…
#3: Learning what ‘type’ of writer I am
“Are you a pantser or prancer?” Wait, that’s not the saying…
Do you write your story with or without an outline? Are you somewhere in the middle? More to the left? More to the right?
Writing fanfiction has made me realized that I am still learning what type of writer I am…however, I seem to be more in the middle of “pantser” or “plotter”.
Mostly because if I don’t understand what I’m doing, I will get side-tracked and never finish the novel.
Which is why I haven’t finished one yet…
Anyway, moving on.
#4: Creating characters (and not just the OC’s)
OK, look, I seem to like to write in the young adult and new adult category, and I know what my target audience seems to like.
I want them to connect with my characters — and I want these characters, even the “side characters” to feel like they are living and breathing on their own.
I want them to be reading my book and giggling or blushing or gasping or crying.
I want them to be obsessed. I want fandoms. I want theories. I want Tumblr blogs talking about my books.
One day, at least.
That’s my motivation to create unique, amazing characters and plots.
And writing fanfiction has taught me this because I am that fan: The one that connects with a character, that giggles and gasps and has to shift in my seat because the plot is suddenly getting intense, and I am so deep into the story I can’t pull away.
For my fanfic writers: keep on writing.
Don’t let anyone tell you to stop.
It’s a form of practice and expression, and that’s amazing.
After all, you can always edit the hell out of it until the original characters become unrecognizable and your story turns into something even more beautiful and unique.
