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Monday, May 6, 2013

The Merits of Reading and Writing Fanfiction

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Whether you're a fan or a critic of Fifty Shades of Grey, there is no denying that the novel has a universal appeal. Fifty Shades of Grey was originally written as a work of Twilight fanfiction paying homage to the work of author Stephanie Meyer. E. L. James took her fanfiction, altered some names and book-specific details, and made a massive profit from her work. You may not be interested in reading or writing anything related to Twilight, but there are many other kinds of fanfiction out there. If you want to know why you should look into reading or writing fanfiction, let this blog post be your guide.

One of the greatest benefits of fanfiction is that it explores a wider range of issues than mainstream fiction. Fanfiction is noncommercial, so authors can write about whatever they want without fear that the subject matter will affect their book sales. The anonymity of fanfiction is another factor that allows authors to address whatever issues they want without worrying about being too controversial.

Another wonderful thing about fanfiction is that it is free. This case is one in which you get much more than what you pay for, however. No pay means that fanfiction writers aren't in it for the money. They're passionate about the craft. You could say that fanfiction is extremely cost-effective.

Fanfiction is also interactive. Thanks to the magic of the internet, readers can submit reviews and ratings for stories they enjoy. Writers receive the feedback and use it to improve their work. These reviews also serve as motivation to keep writing. You're more likely to finish a project if you know that people are interested.

If you want to write fanfiction, it's easy to get into. There are pre-established stories, characters, and settings - all you need to do is come up with a scenario. Fanfiction comes with preset fan bases. Everything is online - check out Fanfiction or Archive of Our Own to get started. Read a few stories first to get an idea for the format.

Fanfiction is a great way for beginners to practice the craft of writing. You can post stories, get feedback, and gain a better understanding of your prowess as a writer. Readers and writers alike can benefit in many different ways from the world of fanfiction. So what are you waiting for? Get out there!

What do you think? How do you feel about fanfiction?

3 comments:

  1. I like your blog; it has a fresh feel and the content is interesting. As far as fanfic goes, IMHO, I have noticed that artists sometimes hide out writing derivative fanfic in order to avoid creating for themselves. That's not to say that fanfic has no place. I'm sure that there is some great fanfiction in existence. My point is a creative must really be as conscious as possible of their own creative motivations. A piece of beginning fiction is a great creative investment for most artists. Fanfic? Not so much. #shadowartist

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  2. I wholeheartedly agree. Fledgling writers who are uncertain of their skills often hide out in the security of fanfiction. Thanks for checking out my blog. I hope to see you around!

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  3. Yes! You're so welcome. To quote the Terminator:

    "I'll be back!"

    ReplyDelete

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