What Is Fan Fiction? – Fan Fic 101 (Best Guide)

Have you ever wondered what would happen if your favorite characters from a beloved series were placed in a completely different setting? Or perhaps you’ve imagined a romantic relationship between two characters that the original author never explored. These things are what inspire people to write “fan fiction.” But what exactly is fan fiction, and how do you write it? Let’s take a deeper look.

Fan fiction, or “fanfic,” is a genre where fans take existing characters or settings from books, movies, TV shows, or other media and create their own stories with them. It’s a way for fans to explore their favorite universes, characters, and relationships in new and exciting ways.

Beyond the simple definition, there is a lot to know about fan fiction. Below, we’ll look at some examples, go over the unique language and key terms of fan fiction, and give you a complete beginner guide on how to write fan fiction. Ready? Ok, let’s get started.

What is Fan Fiction?

As mentioned in the intro, fan fiction is a genre where fans take things (characters, settings, etc.) from media they enjoy and create their own stories with them. This is a great way to explore your favorite universes, characters, and IPs in new, exciting ways.

For example, fans of the Harry Potter series have written countless stories about what happened after the Battle of Hogwarts. Some explore a romantic relationship between Harry and Hermione, while others delve into the darker side of the wizarding world. Regardless of the topic, these are stories set in the Harry Potter world, written by fans, that never happened in the original work.

Similarly, fans of Star Wars might create stories about the adventures of Han Solo and Chewbacca or explore the lives of lesser-known characters like Obi-Wan Kenobi. Fan fiction is really only limited by the imagination of the writer, which leads me to some of the challenges of Fan Fiction because it is unique in this regard.

Is Fan Fiction Legal?

Once people discover what fan fiction is, the first thing that comes to mind is legality. Is fan fiction illegal since you’re writing stories with other people’s copyrighted characters and settings? Well, it’s complicated. If you Google the question, you usually see something like:

“Fanfiction and fanart typically fall in a legal grey area. They are not technically infringing on copyright because even though the characters and setting may be someone else’s intellectual property the fanfic/fanart is a derivative work under US copyright law.”

However, after some research, this is a little oversimplified and not entirely correct. Disclaimer: I am not a lawyer or anything. Here is a bit more of a detailed breakdown:

• Derivative Works and Copyright: Copyright law grants copyright holders exclusive rights to create derivative works based on their original creations. Fanfiction and fanart, which use existing characters, settings, and storylines, are considered derivative works. Therefore, technically, they do infringe on copyright.   
• Fair Use as a Defense: The “fair use” doctrine is a legal exception that allows limited use of copyrighted material without permission from the copyright holder. There are four factors courts consider when determining fair use:
  1. Purpose and character of the use: Is it commercial or non-profit? Is it transformative?
  2. Nature of the copyrighted work: Is the original work factual or creative?
  3. Amount and substantiality of the portion used: How much of the original work is used?
  4. Effect of the use upon the potential market for or value of the copyrighted work: Does the use harm the market for the original?   

Fanfiction And Fair Use (The Gray Area)

Fanfiction can potentially qualify as fair use, particularly when it’s non-commercial and is transformative. “Transformative” means that the fic adds new meaning, expression, or purpose to the original.

For example, a story that explores a new relationship dynamic between existing characters or places them in an entirely new setting (an AU) is more likely to be considered transformative than retelling the original story.   

So, the statement that fan fics are “not technically infringing” because they are derivative works is probably misleading. Being a derivative work means they are covered by copyright and, therefore, could be infringing. It’s the potential application of fair use that creates the gray area. So, this isn’t a blanket exemption.

That said, at the end of the day, will you get in trouble for writing fan fiction? With a little common sense, you should be more than ok. Don’t outright copy the original work and say it’s yours, and never try to sell your fan fiction, and you’ll be fine.

It’s also worth mentioning that the original authors may take issue with anything highly offensive or “harmful” to the original brand. I think this most often refers to gratuitous violence or explicit sexual content with underage characters. In these cases, you or the site where you posted the story may be sent a cease and desist letter and have to remove the story.

Challenges Of Fanfiction

While fan fiction offers some advantages over traditional, original works (like a pre-existing world and characters), it also presents unique challenges that set it apart from original fiction, which you should be aware of.

Balancing Source Material With Creativity

Imagine writing a story in which everyone who reads it has a preconceived notion of how the characters should act, speak, and think. In fan fiction, they do! And staying true to what makes a character them is crucial.

It’s essential to respect certain aspects of the original work, especially the characters and their key/core elements. Let’s say you write a piece of Song of Ice and Fire fan fiction and portray Ned Stark as disloyal and ignoble. Many readers of the original works would take issue with this because it’s so far out of character for Ned.

That said, there are such things called “Out of Character” or (OCC) works that do this type of thing on purpose. However, it’s got to be intentional and done with good reason to be effective. The same is true for the core elements of the original cannon world. Unless you have a very particular reason for core changes, you want to be faithful to the world you’re writing in.

But the entire point of fan fiction is to add something interesting and fresh. What you write is something that did not happen in the original, and that takes creativity. Walking this line between being creative and staying true to what fans like about the original stuff is the key.

If you analyze some of the Best Movie Adaptations of All Time, they do this very well. So, if you’re interested in a deep dive into how to balance authenticity with someone else’s work while adding value, check out the article via the link.

How To Write Good Fanfiction

Now that we’ve covered some of the challenges of fan fiction let’s look at a few tips to set you up for success with your fic writing.

1. Know Your Source Material: A deep understanding of the original work is essential for staying true to its core elements.
2. Develop Your Style: While you’re working within a pre-existing universe, you can still develop your unique writing style. This takes time and practice.
3. Engage with the Fandom: Participate in discussions, share your work, and seek feedback.
4. Be Original: While it’s okay to use popular tropes, try to add your own unique twist to them, and remember that in fanfic, anything is possible.
5. Have Fun: The most important thing is to enjoy the writing process.

How To Start Writing Fan Fiction

A very common question from people interested in writing fanfic is, “Where do I start?” And the general answer is to just jump in and start doing. While that’s really the only answer, there are some things I recommend to make starting easier, especially when sharing your work.

First things first, your story does not have to be a masterpiece or perfect to be worth posting. My advice is to post something you feel proud of and not compare yourself to others. Next, mentally prepare for feedback and interaction or lack thereof.

Your story may get good comments, bad comments, or no reaction at all. In general, don’t sweat the comments, and don’t let the prospect of opinions deter you from posting. That said, if someone offers genuine feedback in a polite way, perhaps consider it if you’re new to writing.

As far as actually posting your stuff and getting familiar with the community, here are a few things I want to mention:

• Pick the best platform for you. AO3 and Fanfiction.net are good options. Explore which you like better and read the rules.
• Learn and use your tags in an accurate way so that readers can find your story. (More on this later.)
• Get familiar with common terms – Fic has a lot of terms and lingo (Oc, OOC, Whump), and you’ll learn them as you spend time in fic archives. We’ve also got a glossary below. That said, don’t be afraid to look up anything you don’t know.

Fan Fiction Terms And Lingo

Fanfiction is really an online culture, and there is a lot of language, terms, lingo, and slang. I will provide a list of typical stuff, but there are too many terms to make a comprehensive list. Instead, I want to paint a picture of why it exists and what purpose it serves.

There are many different ways to write fanfic, and many readers enjoy reading particular troupes. For example, many people write “Enemies to Lovers” stories in which characters originally at odds become a couple.

The terms below serve as a sort of shorthand way for writers to tag their stories so that would-be readers can know what type of fic it is.

Fan Fiction Glossary

Many terms or troupes you’ll come across are self-explanatory, like “amnesia,” “body swap,” or “unhappy ending.” However, a lot of them are not obvious and are down-right lingo or jargon. Here is a quick list of some more common but less obvious ones.

General Terms

• Fluff: A lighthearted and romantic story.
• Missing Scene: A story that fills in a gap in the original canon.
• AU: Stands for Alternate Universe. This refers to a story that takes the characters and basic premise of the canon and places them in a different setting or situation.
  • Coffee Shop AU: A story set in a coffee shop. Example story here.
  • College AU: A story set in a college or university.
  • Fairytale AU: A story that reimagines characters in a fairytale setting.
  • Historical AU: A story set in a historical period.
  • High School AU: A story set in a high school.
• Crack Fic: A humorous and often nonsensical story.
• Cross-Over: A story that combines characters or settings from different fandoms.
• Fix-It Fic: A story that rewrites a canon event to have a different outcome.
• In Vino Veritas: A story where characters reveal their true feelings while drunk.
• PWP: A story that focuses primarily on sexual content.
• Ship: A ship (as in a “relationship”) is a romantic pairing between two characters. For example, “Hinny” is a ship between Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley.
• Pairing: Similar to “shipping,” but more specifically refers to the two characters in the desired relationship.
• Slash: A genre of fanfiction that focuses on romantic or sexual relationships between male characters (originally from the “slash” between Kirk/Spock in Star Trek).
• Femslash: Same as “slash,” but with female characters.
• Het: Short for “heterosexual,” referring to romantic relationships between male and female characters.
• Angst: A genre or element in a story that focuses on emotional pain, suffering, and conflict.
• Fluff: Lighthearted and feel-good stories, often focused on cute or domestic situations.
• Hurt/Comfort (H/C): A genre where one character is injured or distressed, and another character provides comfort and care.
• Lemon/Lime: These terms refer to the level of sexual content in a story. “Lemon” indicates explicit sexual content, while “lime” suggests suggestive or implied sexual content.
• ABO: A genre of fiction where characters are divided into Alpha, Beta, and Omega categories, often with supernatural abilities or hormonal cycles.

Length-Based Terms

Traditional fiction has specific terms for stories of a particular length – Novel, novella, short story, flash fiction, etc. Fan fic has its own words that you may see when browsing stories or posting your own.

• Drabble: A story that is 100 words exactly.
  • Double Drabble: 200 words exactly.
  • Triple Drabble: 300 words exactly
  • Quad Drabble: 400 words exactly
• Ficlet: Under 1000 words.
• One Shot: A story that is one chapter long, regardless of length. However, 10k is usually the limit for one part.
• Long FIc: Long Fic can have some variance. In general, anything over 10k words and several chapters fits the bill.

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Formatting And Publishing Fan Fiction

To share your fan fiction with others, you can use online platforms like Archive of Our Own (AO3). That said, I want to briefly cover how to make a post because there are a lot of fields that may be daunting for a first-time poster.

First, you have to “request an invitation” via your email and wait to hear back before being able to create an account. According to AO3, this system ensures they “grow in a controlled manner,” so they don’t grow beyond what their hardware, bandwidth, and support can handle, and “everyone using the AO3 gets the best possible experience.”

You can find their Invitations FAQ Page by following the link and get more info. Once you’ve got an account, you’ll be able to write and post work. I suggest this YouTube video as a posting guide, as the visuals really help the process.

Writing Fan Fiction With LivingWriter

LivingWriter is the best writing app on the market and has a few things that are particularly helpful for fan fiction. As I mentioned above, being true to key qualities of the fandom you’re writing and whichever characters you’re including is a huge part of writing good fan fiction.

Manuscript Chat For Better Characters

LivingWriter’s AI Manuscript Chat can advise you on your characters, even when they come from an established IP.

For example, in my Song of Ice and Fire fic about Ned Stark, I asked, “If I wanted to stay close to key traits of Ned Stark from A Game of Thrones, should I change anything?” Not only does the AI know my story, but it also knows how the character behaves in the book. So, you get some very tailored advice.

Here is the full answer:

“To stay true to the key traits of Ned Stark from *A Game of Thrones*, consider the following suggestions based on your information:

1. Honor and Integrity: Emphasize Ned’s unwavering commitment to his principles. Rather than having him entertain thoughts of bending the rules, focus on his resolve to navigate challenges while maintaining his honor. His internal struggle should stem from the pressure of his responsibilities rather than a willingness to compromise.

2. Internal Conflict: Highlight his internal turmoil more vividly. While it’s natural for him to experience doubt, make sure this comes from a deep sense of duty rather than a shift towards cunning. His character is defined by his noble heart, so frame his decisions around protecting his family while grappling with the moral implications.

3. Relationship with Catelyn: Deepen the connection between Ned and Catelyn. Their discussions should reflect both their shared concerns and her supportive role in helping him stay true to his values amidst chaos. This will bolster Ned’s integrity and showcase their partnership in navigating the treachery of their world.

4. Consequences of Choices: Maintain the theme that every choice comes with weighty consequences. Rather than outright lies, lean towards strategic honesty, portraying Ned’s choices as calculated moves that still align with his core beliefs, emphasizing honoring commitments over deceit.

By making these adjustments, you can craft a version of Ned Stark that remains faithful to his character—one rooted in honor and duty, wrestling with his natural tendencies while navigating a world ready to challenge his ideals.”

Timelines With LW Boards

Fanfiction often deals with complex timelines, especially when exploring “what if” scenarios or filling in gaps in canon. LivingWriter’s standard and freeform grids let you visually map out events, ensuring consistency and preventing plot holes. This is especially useful for AUs or stories that deviate significantly from the original timeline.

Advanced Character Profiles

This is crucial for any writer, but especially for fanfiction. LivingWriter’s character profiles allow you to detail every aspect of your characters, including their appearance, personality, backstory, relationships, and key traits. This helps maintain consistency, especially when introducing a large cast of OCs.

Typing the name of a character into your manuscript pulls it in like a link. Clicking the link will pull up the character profile, where you can quickly and easily see their name, description, nicknames, relationships, pictures, and any notes you’ve made.

Speaking of pictures, you can add your own images to your characters and locations, which I love for fan fics, as you’ve probably got a very clear idea of how they fit into the given world. You can even have LivingWriter Character AI create images based on your character.

World Building

Similar to character profiles, managing locations is essential for worldbuilding. This is especially important in fanfiction, which explores new settings within a familiar universe or creates entirely new AUs. You can store details about locations, including their appearance, history, and significance.

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Collaboration (If Applicable)

LivingWriter’s collaboration features can be very useful if you’re co-writing a fan fiction. You can share your manuscript with co-authors, leave comments, and track changes. Plus, LW allows multiple users to work on the same document simultaneously.

This eliminates the need to constantly send files back and forth and ensures everyone is working on the most up-to-date version. This is crucial for maintaining consistency and avoiding conflicting edits.