"Fan Fiction is Cringey!"

Alright, alright you don't have to be a d*ck about it. I'll admit there is a lot of...unsatisfactory compositions out there, but I'd argue that they only make the good ones even more preciousss...

There is Hope

Like I often say, there's the good, the bad, and the ugly sides of fan fiction. I used to feel somewhat embarrassed introducing myself as a fan fiction writer. I still do sometimes. However, I've realized that there are worthy and amiable reasons as to why dabbling in the world of fan fiction can be a good thing!

It's good writing practice

"Write, write, write!" they always say. Good or bad. Inspired or uninspired. Just. Write. Fan fiction may be a regurgitation of existing characters or settings - or even a writer's romantic fantasy with a celebrity, but it's still a story that needs building and storytelling skill to engage readers. Or rather...traditional readers.

When I began writing Colder Than Winter, I had every intention to pants it, or in other words, make it up as I go along. Little did I know that it wasn't good enough for me to walk into the story without a plan. I needed a direction to move towards. I also learned that a story can get boring if you don't make sure there's at least one consequential event in every chapter. This is an obvious thing, but information just hits differently when you're actually doing the project, you know? My point is, I would have never learned these things about writing had I not just started to write. Yes, I could've learned these things with an original plot too, but if you're a perfectionist like me, you prefer saving them for when your padawan writing has progressed to master Jedi mode.

Fan fiction is a great training arena for aspiring authors who similarly would like to do their dream plots justice (and who are movie nerds and bookworms.) You learn so much about your writing style, tone, bad habits, and what plotting style is best for you. And, who knows? Maybe your fan fiction will have the potential to become an original work after a few tweaks.

One thing is for sure though. If you are an aspiring author, I'd recommend not depending on other fan fictions to direct your writing skill. Treat your fan fiction as though you are writing a manuscript to submit to a publishing company.

Be the Standard You Want to See

Every fan fiction reader has their own preferences. Some prefer text imagines or lines upon lines of only dialogue. Asterisk play by plays. Some and probably too many live for smut - it's all fine, I'm not judging! We like what we like. Ain't nobody gonna tell us different. But some of us like 90k+ word stories where relationships are realistically developed, where characters change over time to learn valuable lessons about life, and where the word "eyes" aren't replaced with "oRbS!"

Maybe all the good writers have moved on and learned they could make money writing about non-copyrighted material. (Leave us all in the dust why don't you! Kidding...lol!) But if you simultaneously love the art of words and fan fiction but hate the stigma that surrounds fan fiction, write it! More specifically, write what you think fan fiction ought to be.

Reading is a magical and essential skill! It expands our vocabulary, our understanding of ideas, and improves our literacy and articulation. If fan fiction captures the attention of young readers shouldn't we be filling that space with more sophisticated options instead of scoffing at it?

It Gives Fellow Fans More of What They Love

What ever you're a fan of, there are most definitely others out there who love it just as much as you. One of the beauties of fan fiction is that you know the people who stumble on your work are fellow fans. This means they will be very passionate about what you've done to their precious characters and/or world. Which can be pretty daunting if you're sensitive to criticism but constructive criticism is helpful for improvement and some people just express their passion differently. On the flip side there will be others who LOVE and fangirl over it and it's just the best feeling ever!

Fandoms have always been a space where people with similarities can socialize and connect over their favorite stories. Fan fiction can offer that same type of space and has! It's also a way of supplying our need for more of the books that we love. I can never accept that Harry Potter and The Lord of the Rings are things of the past. So when I'm waiting for the next Fantastic Beasts movie or The Rings of Power series on Amazon, I'll fill my need with some fan fiction until then and again when they're both over.

A Little and Vision and Intention

There's a lot that's disappointing about the fan fiction world but with a little vision and intention, there can also be a lot of good. Whether you're in the training stages of becoming a best selling author, inspiring youth, or catering to fans who's passion you empathize with, all of these things share commonalities. They help to improve and help people connect!