History SoYouWantTo / WriteAFanfic

Don't be shy to choose what you like. If you write about less known works, there will usually be at least a handful of fellow admirers who will appreciate finding FF for it.

Before anything else of course you choose your '''Work of Fiction'''. If you look for example at FanfictionDotNet, you will find that people have written fanfics for any genre, any medium, from {{Shakespeare}}'s works to the ''{{Thief}}'' series to ''BridgetJones'' to ''TheTransformers''.

* [[http://www.archiveofourown.org Archive Of Our Own]] - Similar to Fanfiction.net above, but far easier to use and has a much, ''much'' more versatile tagging and archiving system, and offers the user a very great deal more freedom in general. It also features pages and coding to make some of the above fests easier to run (and hosts the well-known [[http://fanlore.org/wiki/Remix_Redux_6#We_Invented_The_Remix_Redux Remix_Redux]] and [[http://fanlore.org/wiki/Yuletide Yuletide]], among many others), and unlike Fanfiction.Net, allows the user to create a category for a particular canon if it doesn't already exist. It also has a reputation for quality. However, it's noted for low comment rates (although it does have a Kudos function, similar to "likes" on YouTube or Facebook but with more impact) and something of a dearth of anime and manga fandoms, and currently requires invite codes to get an account (although they're not necessarily too hard to find, with a bit of Googling.)

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* '''ElsewhereFic''': Using the setting minus the main cast of characters as a backdrop for some new characters and their adventures. Video games, TabletopGames, and especially {{MMORPG}}s lend themselves very well towards this. Many games like ''DungeonsAndDragons'', ''[[{{Warhammer 40000}} Warhammer 40000]]'', and ''CityOfHeroes'' are almost exclusively designed just for this purpose. One still has to follow the established rules of the universe, though.

* '''DayInTheLimeLight''': Maybe you aren't interested in writing more about the hero, and would rather explore the motivations of the EnsembleDarkhorse, or the wacky escapades of the resident TerribleTrio. If so, go ahead and give them their own story; even the AlphaBitch has ''some'' fans, and a little CharacterDevelopment never hurt anyone. For the daring, you could even try [[{{Spinoff}} seperating them from the main cast]], and replace them with an OriginalGeneration supporting cast. The biggest problem though, is that if you like your character too much, they may be at risk of becoming a PossessionSue, especially if they end up gaining superpowers or something. And even if you avoid that, your AlternateCharacterInterpretation may rub some readers the wrong way if it's too divergent from Canon.

* '''OutOfCharacter''': Make sure you keep true to the personalities of the cast. Even if something about the starring character is being changed, it should be changed accordingly. {{Anti Hero}}es don't become sweet and nice just because they're your DracoInLeatherPants.

<<|SoYouWantTo/SeeTheIndex|>>

* Fandom-specific archives - These are ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin, and until WikiMagic compiles a list of the best-known, Google is once again your friend.

*** But keep in mind, there can be too much of a good thing. If it ever feels like you have to get your revelations from [[AssPull out of your lower intestine somewhere]] then give yourself a BreatherEpisode or three. Trying to [[SerailEscalation steadily increase the awesomeness]] all the time can add more stress to the rigors of keeping up a long story up. Planning out and writing in arcs can go a long way to prevent the burnout that epics tend to bring.

*** But keep in mind, there can be too much of a good thing. If it ever feels like you have to get your revelations from [[AssPull out of your lower intestine somewhere]] then give yourself a BreatherEpisode or three. Trying to go BeyondTheImpossible all the time can add more stress to the rigors of keeping up a long story up. Planning out and writing in arcs can go a long way to prevent the burnout that epics tend to bring.

* '''[[CrackFic Something Completely Different]]''': Sometimes, you just want to use the characters as a CommediaDellArte troupe, or have something that doesn't fit in any other area. Stories like this usually take an idea or concept in the series proper and averts, subverts, inverts or just plain fucks with it. Either that, or it takes the established characters/world as [[InNameOnly very loose guidelines]]. Very closely linked to the ''AlternateUniverse'' or ''Divergance'' methods of fic writing, but can conceivably work in any style. Some fic tend to break down into this on the way to DeadFic territory as well. This is the hardest one to pull off, as it requires breaking of certain literary/characterization/canon rules. However, if you want to play with the story and its characters; this can take you to great heights (or at the very least, get you some interesting reviews).

* LiveJournal - Doesn't have the same stigma as Fanfiction.net, and a lot more pleasant and intuitive to use, as well as a lot more customizable and much better for talking to people. However, it was designed as a blog site first and foremost, and thus there isn't really one large archive of fic the way there is on other sites. However, it is possible to find fandom, character, or pairing-specific communities and post your fic, or links to it, there, which can help it reach a much wider audience - just don't spam! LiveJournal is also notable for playing host to a lot of {{KinkMeme}}s, competitions, fests (occasions where people create fanworks in line with a theme,) and the like, although its popularity is dwindling slightly.

* [[http://wwww.archiveofourown.org Archive Of Our Own]] - Similar to Fanfiction.net above, but far easier to use and has a much, ''much'' more versatile tagging and archiving system, and offers the user a very great deal more freedom in general. It also features pages and coding to make some of the above fests easier to run (and hosts the well-known [[http://fanlore.org/wiki/Remix_Redux_6#We_Invented_The_Remix_Redux Remix_Redux]] and [[http://fanlore.org/wiki/Yuletide Yuletide]], among many others), and unlike Fanfiction.Net, allows the user to create a category for a particular canon if it doesn't already exist. It also has a reputation for quality. However, it's noted for low comment rates (although it does have a Kudos function, similar to "likes" on YouTube or Facebook but with more impact) and something of a dearth of anime and manga fandoms, and currently requires invite codes to get an account (although they're not necessarily too hard to find, with a bit of Googling.)

** '''Fetish Station''' Simply a fanfic that was written to involve characters as the meter maids when you need to refill your FetishFuel tank. Often a subgenre of romance. PlotWhatPlot can be included in this.

* '''Summarize''': Most fanfiction sites display a summary of your story on the index page - think up a good one! [[ISuckAtSummaries Tell somebody you're bad at summaries]], and why should they believe you'll be any good at writing a story?

** "Do I have time in my life to commit to this? Or, am I standing at a crossroads where I may soon find fanfiction writing (especially for ''this'' series) unimportant and childish?"

Before anything else of course you choose your '''Work of Fiction'''. If you look for example at FanfictionDotNet, you will find that people have written fanfics for any genre, any medium, from {{Shakespeare}}'s works to the ''{{Thief}}'' series to ''BridgetJones''.

* '''Summarize''': Most fanfiction sites display a summary of your story on the index page - think up a good one! Tell somebody you're bad at summaries, and why should they believe you'll be any good at writing a story?

* '''DayInTheLimeLight''': Maybe you aren't interested in writing more about the hero, and would rather explore the motivations of the EnsembleDarkhorse, or the wacky escapades of the resident TerribleTrio. If so, go ahead and give them their own story; even TheLibby has ''some'' fans, and a little CharacterDevelopment never hurt anyone. For the daring, you could even try [[{{Spinoff}} seperating them from the main cast]], and replace them with an OriginalGeneration supporting cast. The biggest problem though, is that if you like your character too much, they may be at risk of becoming a PossessionSue, especially if they end up gaining superpowers or something. And even if you avoid that, your AlternateCharacterInterpretation may rub some readers the wrong way if it's too divergent from Canon.

However, there are some guidelines one must follow to create well-received fanfiction. This guide won't concern itself with [[SoYouWantTo/WriteAStory how to write decent stories]] in and of themselves, but don't think that writing decently in and of itself is not important. One should read one of the other guides involving the genre they're going to writing as well as this guide.

Don't be shy to choose what you like. If you write about less known works, there will usually be at least a hand full of fellow admirers who will appreciate finding FF for it.

If you choose a spectacularly popular work, you will find yourself writing in a continuum. Thousands and thousands of works exploring the main couple's relationship and just as many about the hero and his best friend. Hundreds of [[EnsembleDarkhorse that one guy who is much cooler than the hero anyway]] saving the day as he deserves to do. There can be certain stories or [[BigNameFan writers]] who are well known, who might have left a mark on an entire style or genre in that fandom. There are certain [[ShipToShipCombat sub groups]], well known terms, [[{{Fanon}} interpretations of canon]] and [[AlternateCharacterInterpretation characters]], [[FandomSpecificPlot plots that are used frequently]]. Luckily there are always a lot more casual fans than hardcore ones and you can ignore fannish culture entirely if you wish. On the other hand, once you are familiar with it, you can try to play around with it's conventions.

* '''FandomSpecificPlot''': If a certain pairing in your chosen fandom has hundreds of Hurt/Comfort fics with Character A and Character B, try something other than Hurt/Comfort when writing that pairing.

* '''OutOfCharacter''': Make sure you keep true to the personalities of the cast. Even if something about the starring character is being changed, it should be changed accordingly. AntiHeroes don't become sweet and nice just because they're your DracoInLeatherPants.

** '''Fetish Station''' Simply a fanfic that was written to involve characters as the meter maids when you need to refill your FetishFuel tank. Often a subgenre of romance.PlotWhatPlot can be included in this.

* '''ElsewhereFic''': Using the setting minus the main cast of characters as a backdrop for some new characters and their adventures. Video games, TabletopGames, and especially {{MMORPG}}s lend themselves very well towards this. Many series like ''DungeonsAndDragons'', ''[[{{Warhammer 40000}} Warhammer 40000]]'', and ''CityOfHeroes'' are almost exclusively designed just for this purpose. One still has to follow the established rules of the universe, though.

* '''Summarize''': Most fanfiction sites display a summary of your story on the index page -- don't forget to write one! Do not advertise to the world that you are not good at writing summaries. Remember that summarizing thoughts, ideas, and events makes up a fair chunk of the craft of writing in the first place; if you tell everyone you're bad at that, you're basically saying you're bad at writing!

* '''OutOfCharacter''': Make sure you keep true to the personalities of the cast. Don't turn the AntiHero into a DracoInLeatherPants or a good-hearted protagonist into RonTheDeathEater, unless the nature of the fic is humorous or satirical.

* '''DayInTheLimeLight''': Maybe you aren't interested in writing more about the hero, and would rather explore the motivations of the EnsembleDarkhorse, or the wacky escapades of the resident TerribleTrio. If so, go ahead and give them their own story; even TheLibby has ''some'' fans, and a little CharacterDevelopment never hurt anyone. For the daring, you could even try [[{{Spinoff}} seperating them from the main cast]], and replace them with an OriginalGeneration supporting cast. The biggest problem though, is that if you like your character too much, they may be at risk of becoming a PosessionSue, especially if they end up gaining superpowers or something. And even if you avoid that, your AlternateCharacterInterpretation may rub some readers the wrong way if it's too divergent from Canon.

* '''[[DayInTheLimeLight]]''': Maybe you aren't interested in writing more about the hero, and would rather explore the motivations of the EnsembleDarkhorse, or the wacky escapades of the resident TerribleTrio. If so, go ahead and give them their own story; even TheLibby has ''some'' fans, and a little CharacterDevelopment never hurt anyone. For the daring, you could even try [[{{Spinoff}} seperating them from the main cast]], and replace them with an OriginalGeneration supporting cast. The biggest problem though, is that if you like your character too much, they may be at risk of becoming a PosessionSue, especially if they end up gaining superpowers or something. And even if you avoid that, your AlternateCharacterInterpretation may rub some readers the wrong way if it's too divergent from Canon.

* '''MarySue''': If you decide to use an OC in your fan fic, please try and flesh him/her out as much as possible. If you plan to write a SelfInsertFic, that's fine, just don't overpower your insert character.