no, fanfiction is not just 11-year-olds writing bad smut
Hello, people of the internet!
If you’re a millennial, and part of a fandom, you’ve probably read – or at least glanced at – some fanfiction. But lots of people dismiss it as plagiarism and meaningless, explicit, smut. While there might be some sexual content in a few fanfictions, that is not the only thing there is and the whole community shouldn’t be judged based on them. There are so many beautifully written fanfictions that are about the feelings, the psychological profiles, and chaste relationships of characters. I’ve come up with a list of reasons why fanfiction is not a joke, but a revolution.
Fanfiction provides satisfaction.
Maybe the stories aren’t fully canon, or approved by the creator, but it keeps the reader satisfied (except me, cause i’ll never be satisfied~) until more content is released. Suppose there’s a one year gap between the release of a book or movie in a series/season in a TV show. Of course, you’ll be really excited for the new release – but sometimes you crave more of that fandom. And what better way to get more than through fanfiction?
Fanfiction writers are the literal best.
Most fanfic authors are just so nice?? I cry. They’re accepting of everyone, and whenever there’s a natural disaster – or a similar crisis – they will fight for it. In 2011, fandom writers and artists raised over $110,000 for earthquake aid in Japan. Members of the Teen Wolf fandom (wolfies?) raised almost $20,000 for Wolf Haven International. They have strong opinions and aren’t afraid to tell them to people. (ง’̀-‘́)ง
Fanfiction cultivates creative, tech-savvy women.
Even though there are a lot of guys who write fanfic, most of them are teen girls (there are lots of adult women, too). Writing fanfic, or even drawing comics for fanfiction (yes it counts), helps them grow and learn new stuff. They teach each other code, how to use video editing software (to all the fans who make Hamilton animatics: I LOVE YOU), and how to make beautiful graphics. It teaches girls to be more tech-savvy and curious.
Fanfiction fixes things, like lack of representation
Imagine you’re reading a book. (Or watching a movie, or a TV show.) You’re holding your breath with anticipation for what lies on the next page – only to discover that one of your favorite characters has been killed off. You cry. If I was making this, they would still be alive, you think.
When something awful happens, fanfiction is a great way to rewrite history. It helps you take control of something, to take two already existing characters and make them do what you want to. (Okay, that came out wrong.) It also adds more representation in fandom: all the cute non-can gay ships (laurens x hamilton, draco x harry, etc., etc.), or OCs (original characters) of color, are great and should be more appreciated. (Especially Lams. Historically, the ship is accurate.)
Lots of famous authors got their ideas by writing fanfiction.
There are so very many books that are based off of fanfiction. The Mortal Instruments, by Cassandra Clare, started off as a Ginny x Draco fic – come to think of it, you can notice similarities. Ginny and Clary both have bright red hair and are #sassy. Jace and Draco are both natural platinum blondes who are #classy. Even Fifty Shades of Grey started off as a Twilight-inspired fanfiction. There are lots of fanfictions that people deemed good enough to be published, too: like Wattpad author Anna Todd’s One Direction fanfic, After, got selected by Simon and Schuster to be published. (Surprising, I know.)
Anyways, the main point of this post was: don’t hate on fanfiction for no reason. (Unless it’s really bad. Like, “My Immortal” bad.)
What about you? Do you love fanfiction? Do you write fanfiction? Do you hate the idea of it, or think that it’s plagiarism? Do you not have an opinion on the topic at all??? TALK TO ME.
I just found your blog and It is so awesome.How did you even built such an amazing page.It looks like you paid a proffesional to make It.And I have just started writing a fanfic about my fav boyband BTS (I am obssesed with so many things I cant even keep count anymore but you probably know that from my name 🤗) and I have read quite a few my own and I love them and i agree with everything in the list.Great post.
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Oh my god you’re so nice???? Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU so much!!! And ha ha, I definitely relate with the obsessing over things bit. I’ve only heard a few BTS songs, but I really liked the ones I heard! And thank you again!!!! 😀
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💋I am binge reading your posts now 😍
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Oh my gods thank you so much ❤ 😀 😀
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Btw is it ok with you if i do an A to Z challange myself
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Of course!! It’d be awesome 😀
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I agree that fanfiction certainly provides satisfaction, since it’s not limited to anything at all! Ships can occur without people bashing you for it unlike in the main storyline, which is what I like about fanfiction. In addition, there are people who write fanfictions that are very creative.
Come to think of it, I have never ever considered whether fanfiction could be plagiarism.. Though I wouldn’t say that it is plagiarism since the fanfictions that I have read don’t talk about the main storyline of a book/TV show. They are more of a creative story so I think not??
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Nonetheless, interesting topic!
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Yeah, that’s definitely the best thing about fanfiction! There’s no line you can’t cross.
You’re right with what you say about fanfictions, they don’t usually focus on the main storyline. Mostly they’re just side tangents of the characters. It’s just that a lot of people think that since someone else created the characters, it’s unfair if you write stories about them. Which is kind of dumb, because every fanfiction has a disclaimer saying that the credits go to the author.
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Haha, yes! That’s so true.
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Fanfiction is amazing tbh, like all of the reasons you’ve listen above are totally accurate??? Like if I’m being completely honest I’ve read better writing in fanfiction than I have in “actual” books. I like how fanfiction can like remedy a lot of the things poorly written scripts/plot points have done because like you can write whatever. Yeah, I just love fanfiction a lot and this is such a nice post !!!!!!!! (Your posts are all amazing???? I’m suing, it’s not fair to the rest of us 😉 )
(and don’t get me started on why fanfiction is viewed as lesser literature because it mainly has women authors and readers…..)
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Yesss, fanfiction ftw!! And yep yep, I completely agree. There are some fanfictions that are just so nicely written it makes me cry and laugh at the same time lol. And yeah, I totally agree! Some story arcs just don’t make sense (*cough cough* maximum ride *cough cough*) ((thank you!!! you are the literal nicest 😀 )
(yeah, that’s definitely one of the most annoying things people think about fanfiction.)
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ugh i need to read the maximum ride series…. and fan fiction is my life and it’s sad !! thank you !! (and someday i’m going to write a bunch of political rants on my blog 😉 )
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I was going to type fanfiction and then I typed fam squad??? #oops Anyways, fanfiction is awesome!!! The smut is… odd, but there are really some great fanfics out there! I just tingle inside with happiness because I GET TO READ MORE ABOUT THESE CHARACTERS??? I also think fanfiction is a good way to start writing! You can use the characters and setting of the author (except if it’s AU stuff), and all you have to do is make up a plot! And YAS I SAW THAT HAMILTON REFERENCE. Also I read your convo with Amelie and you two are so cute. XDD
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I’ve never read fanfiction, but it sounds like fun. The Hamilton reference was perfect-o. 😀
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It is fun! And thank you 😀
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Technically, all fanfiction authors are part of the same fam squad?? So you’re not wrong. Yeah, fanfiction is really amazing!! OMG YES. It’s like you never want to let the characters go away, and you can still read about them through fanfic!! And yeah, that’s true. Most fanfic writers end up coming up with amazing original stories. YAY YOU SAW THE HAMILTON REFERENCE! And awww, thank you 😀
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a protip if you start reading max ride: don’t read the extra novels after book 5. the story arcs make zero sense and are really cringey. warning.
fanfiction is my life too!!! don’t be sad, you’re not alone!! (i will definitely read those and fight everyone who disagrees in the comments)
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thank you for the tip. a bunch of my friends are super into the series (but at the same time they all have horrible taste in books) so i don’t really know how accurate their opinions would be 🙂
yay thank you !! (as i’ve already said, you are actually the nicest ❤ ❤)
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no problem. 😀
(so are you ❤)
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I know about the glory of fanfiction due to my brother who ADORES it! He loves all the crossover ones where characters from one bookverse come to another bookverse and go on adventures and things. He loves the dialogue in fanfic too and all the crazy things that can be said. It’s cool because the ones writing fanfic so love the character that many times they are spot on in how they capture them!
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Yess crossovers are amazing when written well!! Dialogue in fanfic is hilarious, because you can make the characters say all the jokes and puns you’d thought of. And yeah, you’re completely right!! Fanfic authors are geniuses.
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I did it 🤗
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yasss imma check it out
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We have a lot in common
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yeah! i can tell by the words 😀
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I agree! I actually got into reading through fanfiction , weird right? And now I can’t put books down
I was obsessed with the vampire diaries , and wanted the Miakelson family vampires to have more storylines , and I got my satisfaction from fanfiction !
I love your blog posts BTW
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Oh, that’s so cool! Fanfictions about TV shows are always really fun to read, for me at least.
And I’ve heard so many things about the Vampire Diaries! I never actually got around to watching it, I just read the first book in the series…
Thank you so much! 😀
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Ohhh, I’m super glad I stumbled across this post and your blog (thanks Dani!) 🙂
I am not ashamed to admit that I still read fanfiction because it’s WONDERFUL and all these authors are sharing such brilliant stories with the world WILLINGLY and WITHOUT GETTING PAID and I feel like they deserve so much more appreciation for it!
Wonderful post! 💜
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Thank you!! And I completely agree with what you said, they’re so underrated??
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YES, JUST DISCOVERED YOU VIA DANI’S POST. And I wholeheartedly agree.
I used to read fanfiction (I don’t anymore because #busy) but I DO READ IT AFTER REALLY GOOD SERIES AND WHEN I NEED CLOSURE. CLOSURE, OK?
Also DID I SPY A FREAKING HAMILTON REFERENCE. I THINK I DID. *Scrolls up to find your bio* YES. I LOVE HAMILTON TOO.
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YAY DANI’S AWESOME.
And yes, fan fiction is amazing! It’s awesome to find so many people who love it.
AND YESS GO HAMILTON. HAMILTON IS AMAZING. WHO’S YOUR FAVORITE CHARACTER??
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YES DANI IS.
I know, right! It helps bookish peple find their #community
I LOVE ANGELICA. AND ELIZA. I LOVE THEM BOTH???
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YESS ANGELICA. SHE’S AWESOME. I ALSO LOVE LAFAYETTE AND LAURENS SO MUCH ❤
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*screams with you*
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Love the blog. I don’t like the fact that it’s called ‘plagiarism’. I understand why it may come off that way because usually a LOT of the fanfics are the same but then again it’s what teenage girls fantasize about right? They wrote what they want to happen in one way or another. They write what excites them and makes their hearts skip a beat. I mean come on, as much as a fan wants to meet their idol, they know there’s probably one in a million chance of that actually happening so they write about it instead. And honestly I think that’s amazing.
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Thank you! And yes, it’s extremely annoying and demoralizing when people refer to fanfiction as plagiarism. While the fanfic author is using the same world and characters as the original book, or maybe writing about real life celebrities, they’re exploring with their writing skills and imagination. Like you said, it’s amazing. 🙂
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I love fanfiction, currently I am reading an AMAZING Hamilton one set in the present day. I would love to make my own aswell, I just don’t have time
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Ooh, what’s it called? I must check it out 🙂
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Coffee and Turtles… On Fanfiction.net
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Thanks! 😀
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