Anonymous asked:
Hi there! I love your blog so much! I started writing fan fiction years ago and I’ve always received generally positive feedback and great constructive criticism which has been really helpful in improving how I write. Now however I want to focus on original fiction, and when I first let someone read some chapters of my original stuff I was told it read too much like my fan fiction. Do you have any tips for writers transitioning between the two?
Thank you so much! I am always happy to help. :) <3
I think any time you get constructive criticism like that, you need to ask for clarification. Otherwise it doesn’t mean anything to you. What, exactly, made the reader think of your fan-fiction when they read your original fiction? Were your characters too similar to fandom favorites? Was your story structure too much like fan-fiction? Was there too much dialogue and not enough exposition? If there’s any way you can comfortably ask for clarification, do it. The more you know, the easier it will be to tackle the problem.
Outside of that, I think it helps to understand the differences between writing fan-fiction and writing original fiction, so let’s start there. :)
Original fiction requires more set-up.
In fan-fiction, the reader is presumably going into the story already familiar with the characters, setting, and world of the story, so there isn’t much in the way of character introduction, world building, or setting description.
In original fiction, the reader knows almost nothing of the world they’re entering into and they haven’t yet met these characters or been introduced to the setting. So in original fiction, it’s very important to take the time to set all of this up for the reader so that they can get invested in the story.
Original fiction requires a stronger hook.
In fan-fiction, the reader is already invested in the characters and the long-term story, so all the writer has to do is hook their interest in the plot itself.
In original fiction, the reader needs to find compelling reasons to invest in not only the plot, but the characters and the world of the story itself. The hook has to make them want to know more about all of these elements so that they’ll want to keep reading.
Original fiction requires more character development.
Although fan-fiction often explores facets of character development that are left unexplored in fandom, as well as AU character development, most of the character development work is already done for you. Not only in terms of the reader’s familiarity with the characters, but in terms of how the character behaves, how the respond in certain situations, their relationships with other characters, back story, etc.
In original fiction, you have to do all of that work from the ground up. You have to actually create that content, and then you have to get that content to the reader within the confines of the story. And, you have to allow the character to develop within the story’s context, as the story unfolds.
Original fiction requires more world building.
Just as with character development, in fan-fiction, most of the world building is done for you. You don’t have to take the time to explain Platform Nine and Three-Quarters or Hogwarts Express. You don’t have to lay out the rules for quidditch or go into the finer points of potions class, because anyone reading Harry Potter fan-fiction already knows these things.
In original fiction, you not only have to create that content, but you have to deliver it to your reader by weaving those details into the story so that the world of the story grows as they read. You have to spend more time describing the scenery and how the world of the character works.
Original fiction gives the writer more freedom.
With fan-fiction, you’re starting with at least some pre-defined canonical element.
Even with AUs that are so AU they’re practically original, there’s still something anchoring you to that canon world. That’s what makes it fan-fiction. Any time you’re starting with a pre-defined element (or many), you’re going to be somewhat limited.
In original fiction, you’re starting carte blanche. You’re creating the canon yourself, from the ground up, which allows you to define every aspect of the characters and their world. Even better, you have free reign to tweak things as you go. Nothing is final until you’ve finished the final draft, and even thing, there’s such a thing as retconning.
Original fiction requires a different writing process.
Ever writer has a different writing process, and those processes can even vary within genres. But, for the most part, the writing process for original fiction is vastly different than the process for writing fan-fiction. For one thing, if you like to plan your stories in advance, fan-fiction requires much less planning since everything comes pre-defined. Any planning that’s done has more to do with plot than anything else.
Original fiction can of course include short stories and novellas, and fan-fiction can be novella or novel-length, but most of the time, fan-fiction is shorter than original fiction. As such, it doesn’t typically require as many drafts or a complex editing process. And while some fan-fiction writers do use beta readers, you’re probably not consulting a critique partner, writing group, etc. with fan-fiction the way you are with original fiction. So, in a lot of ways, writing fan-fiction can be a more self-contained, private process.
Different stakes, different goals, different considerations.
Not everyone writes with the intention of sharing, but for those that do, sharing original fiction can harder than sharing fan-fiction, especially if the end goal is publication. When share fan-fiction, it’s going to be read primarily by other fans rather than by professionals. Sure, fans can be pretty critical and even mean, but at the end of the day you know their opinion doesn’t really matter. When you’re getting the opinion of professionals, especially those who have a say in whether or not your work is published, that criticism has a lot more weight so the stakes are a lot higher.
Not everyone who writes original fiction does so with publication in mind, but most fan-fiction can’t legally be published, so publication is rarely the goal. Writing with the intent to publish does come with a whole different set of considerations. For one thing, fan-fiction can be shared under anonymity, whereas it’s difficult to maintain total anonymity when publishing a book, especially through a traditional publisher. For one thing, your agent, editor, and publisher need to know who you really are, so you can’t hide behind a screen name when the constructive criticism starts to roll in. That can mean a lot more pressure for someone writing original fiction with the intent to publish. And with sharing fan-fiction (unless you’re submitting to a fan zine–do they still do those?), the only rejection you’ll face is readers who don’t like your story. With original fiction, you have to be prepared to face rejection because it’s part of the process.
Switching Modes Between Fan-Fiction and Original Fiction
Now that you know the major differences between writing fan-fiction and writing original fiction, it should be a bit easier to slip into a different frame of mind. Notice, I’m not calling it “transitioning” between the two, because that implies leaving one for the other. A better way to think of it is “switching modes,” because you can go back and forth between the two as necessary. The things that drove you to write fan-fiction in the first place don’t disappear, so you may find yourself writing both, either simultaneously or in phases. Many writers, even professional authors, write both, and I do, too, when the mood strikes. :)
So, do a little research into the different facets of writing fiction. If you haven’t been through it yet, my post master list has links to my major posts on every topic from beginning a story to the writing process. These might help you get your bearings as you work on your story.
Finally, if you’ve been writing fan-fiction for awhile, you’ve probably developed a unique style. That style will probably adapt itself to original fiction in time, but you have to be patient while that happens. Even though you’re an experienced writer, original fiction is a slightly different ball game, so it’s going to be a little while before you’ve developed that style so that it stands on its own. You’ll get there! :)