Is Fanfiction Real Writing?
Coming in hot for this one… YES
The Urban Dictionary defines Fanfiction as someone takes a story or characters from a novel, show, movie, etc…and creates their own story.
Now, because I wrote fanfiction for years you could argue that my opinion is skewed and I’ll fight you on it. Just like published books, you can find errors and crappy stories, but you can also find amazing pieces. Do some people just write 100 words stories that are essentially: the characters that I loved together actually met back up after the end of the movie and fell in love? Yes. But I have read fanfics that span 200,000 words (or 800 pages) that are complex, heartfelt, and explore topics that publishers wouldn’t touch. To put this further in perspective Journey to the West is 1,896 pages, Les Misérables is 1,456, and Lord of the Rings is 1,178 pages (558,003 words).
Fanfiction is accessible as long as you have an internet connection. They can be kid-friendly, teen-appropriate, or contain adult content - it depends on where you look. Are there stories that are inappropriate stories out there? Oh yes, but as the saying goes, if you look on the internet you’ll find it. Speaking with a friend from a non-English speaking country she said that she and her friends use fanfiction to practice reading English.
These stories can let people know that they are not alone in their struggles. Let’s stray over to the LGBTQIA+ community for just a moment. Think about someone who is Asexual (someone who doesn’t experience sexual attraction to any gender or person) and how alone they might feel in a community where falling and love and sex are linked together. They might feel like they are broken as they don’t see themselves in media. The earliest reference to an asexual character I could find in traditional media was Paksenarrion Dorthansdotter from The Deed of Paksenarrion in 1992. As fanfiction is written by persons from all walks of life it gives new perspectives. The characters or show will draw readers in. They want to read more things about the world that they love. By seeing a piece of themselves in the world it can give them hope and a sense of belonging.
Fanfiction gives new writers a chance to grow and be a part of a community that will encourage them (ideally, of course, there is plenty of nonsense but let’s not focus on that). It gives more seasoned writers a chance to be nurturing to new creators and recognition for their hard work. Not everyone has the opportunity to publish, even in the self-publishing realm, but fanfiction gives a way for their words to be heard. I would put some of the stories on par or better than traditionally published books that I’ve read.
Fanfiction is real writing and real reading. It’s accessible and valid.
This writer is proud to have her backstory read: she started out by writing fanfiction. I won’t apologize or be embarrassed.
