Writing Fan Fiction: Frequent Mistakes

How to Make your Fan Fiction Popular

Dec 21, 2008 Daria Przybyla

What is it exactly that frequently makes fan fiction unattractive, dull and tiring to read? The following article might answer your questions.

Fan fiction, though a relatively new genre, has already gained enough popularity across cyberspace. Writers recount a diversity of stories drawn from computer games, anime, fantasy, cartoons, movies and many more.

Naturally, on-line readers who are not related to a specific fandom may have less interest in fanfics as such. However, even within the fan fiction community many works are considered disturbingly amateur and schematic. There are at least three main detriments of fandom-based literature which cause this particular effect:

1. The World Presented is Poorly Organized

Sometimes writers fail to render the exact construction of their imagined worlds. Stories lack continuity, settings are accidental and, consequently, the architecture of the represented reality is vague. This happens when writers don’t provide any common grounds for subsequent scenarios. Readers who aren’t acquainted with the original work may not be able to follow and they will possibly find the unfolding story artificial and rushed.

2. Character Psychology is Not Accounted For

Since fan fiction refers to protagonists already created by someone else, writers have a tendency to completely ignore characterization. Consequently, characters are not dynamic and they don’t have any chance to develop. This results in two paradoxically conflicting effects. First, no in-depth surface is provided as to thoughts and motivations of respective protagonists. And second, the logic of their proceedings becomes inevitably foreseeable. Given this, if readers get both bored and confused with the story, eventually, they may give up on it.

3. Language Style is Inadequate

Character psychology is not envisioned in the language characters use either. Many writers, apparently, lack the ability to switch writing styles or stick to previously chosen idiolects. Another trend is the usage of a largely simplified way of emerging idiolects; that is, some characters will permanently speak with exclamations (implying the character is active and energetic), and others with ellipses (implying the character is shy or uncertain). Moreover, writers often turn from action story style to poetic apologies which may confuse reader as to the mood of the story.

While most fan fiction stories are written by experienced and creative authors, it’s important not to fall into the trap of clichés and avoid predictability at all costs. If you write fan fiction yourself, you probably already experienced disappointment with reviews and comments about your work. Just remember that you have an absolutely amazing talent and you really are capable of capturing the imagination of your readers; keep it that way and don’t ever let schematics take over.

The copyright of the article Writing Fan Fiction: Frequent Mistakes in Writing Fiction is owned by Daria Przybyla. Permission to republish Writing Fan Fiction: Frequent Mistakes in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Thousands of fanfics emerge in the web every day	Create a new fictitious reality	Pay attention to characterization
Give your protagonists distinct idiolects	Gather feedback from readers