Why I Write Fan Fiction
Mar. 25th, 2013 03:14 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
butterflyslinkyAs mentioned before, I have been reading and writing fan fiction for more than ten years, ever since I discovered the medium. Over the last seven years, I have written more than forty fan fics and am quite proud of most of them (a few exceptions are/will be noted).
Then one day, my friend Melanie as me, "why?" Why do we write fan fiction? What's the point?
I tried to answer, but I really needed to think about it. Because, really, writing fan fiction, is, well, kind of silly. All it is is either ridiculous AUs, wild speculations, or porn, with a few serious characters studies here and there.
But then I realized that's exactly why I write fan fiction. I've read or watched all the canon stories, and I want more. I want to explore the characters and setting more, see how they react in different situations and to other characters they didn't necessarily interact with in the books. I like writing character studies and really exploring how they feel and react to canon or even non-canon events. I like speculating about what will happen next, even if it's in a series that's over.
I write fan fiction to try new things that help me become a better write in other ways. Most fan fiction communities are non-judgemental and offer constructive criticism, so trying new styles or topics is always rewarded. I would never attempt second-person perspective in my regular writing, but in fan fiction, it's okay and kind of fun, and maybe someday I'll be able to write a whole book like that.
So why do we write fan fiction? Simply put, it helps us become better writers by allowing us to experiment with style and address important topics without the pressure of creating characters. It's a way to bring fans together and express their love for the creation. It's a chance to explore the world and learn more about characters we didn't spend too much time with in canon. It's an excuse to write events and see how they affect everyone, not just the main character.
Or we just want free porn.
Then one day, my friend Melanie as me, "why?" Why do we write fan fiction? What's the point?
I tried to answer, but I really needed to think about it. Because, really, writing fan fiction, is, well, kind of silly. All it is is either ridiculous AUs, wild speculations, or porn, with a few serious characters studies here and there.
But then I realized that's exactly why I write fan fiction. I've read or watched all the canon stories, and I want more. I want to explore the characters and setting more, see how they react in different situations and to other characters they didn't necessarily interact with in the books. I like writing character studies and really exploring how they feel and react to canon or even non-canon events. I like speculating about what will happen next, even if it's in a series that's over.
I write fan fiction to try new things that help me become a better write in other ways. Most fan fiction communities are non-judgemental and offer constructive criticism, so trying new styles or topics is always rewarded. I would never attempt second-person perspective in my regular writing, but in fan fiction, it's okay and kind of fun, and maybe someday I'll be able to write a whole book like that.
So why do we write fan fiction? Simply put, it helps us become better writers by allowing us to experiment with style and address important topics without the pressure of creating characters. It's a way to bring fans together and express their love for the creation. It's a chance to explore the world and learn more about characters we didn't spend too much time with in canon. It's an excuse to write events and see how they affect everyone, not just the main character.
Or we just want free porn.
