Fanfiction Writing Advice

If you're here reading this, then I'm sure that like many other people you've become way too obsessed with a book, movie, TV show or anime and are ready to take the step into writing fanfiction. You've got so many ideas in your head that are on the verge of bursting free, and you're desperate to share them online and see what other people think. But I'm sure you'd like to know what you're getting into first, and luckily, I'm here to help with plenty of advice and useful tips.

I've been on the fanfiction scene for ten years now, so I've definitely picked up a thing or two during that time. Of course, fanfiction is always your own thing, and there's no one set way of writing and taking part in this activity, but there are ways to make the process less stressful, and help you create a more successful story that people can enjoy reading if you're hoping to attract a lot of attention to your story. Whether you decide to take this advice on board is entirely up to you.

Fanfiction and writing in general can actually be a lot harder than you think. There are so many things that are involved if you're hoping to make a success of it and garner attention. For those that take it incredibly seriously, it can be like writing an actual novel. There's a lot of hard work involved. But don't be put off. It'll all be worth it. So whether you're wanting to write a one-shot or full-length fic, here's some handy tips to help you along your way.


Planning:

1. Ideas can be inspired by the strangest things.

Inspiration for a fanfiction idea often tends to hit people out of nowhere. When watching or reading a certain moment in your fandom, you could wonder what would happen if something else had taken place instead, or you might be inspired by a theme in another fanfiction. Sometimes a completely unique idea might just strike out of nowhere. Most of my ideas tend to hit me randomly rather when I'm not searching for anything. So embrace any form of inspiration.

2. Make notes.

This one is incredibly important. As soon as an idea, no matter how mundane the idea seems at the time or how good you think your memory is, write it down! It doesn't matter how scruffy your notes are, you can always organise them later, just make sure that you get that random idea down on paper. After all, it is important that your story makes sense and that there's no huge plot holes in it, so writing everything down will help prevent any mistakes or potential writer's block in the future.

3. Don't think too hard. 

I know this might sound like a weird piece of advice, but thinking too hard about ideas can often lead to stress and writer's block. Allow your mind to wander. Take some time to daydream as that's often when your brain can come up with the best ideas and solutions to problems. Daydreaming is great for creativity and is really useful when trying to come up with story ideas.

4. Listen to music.

This is something that I cannot recommend enough. Music is always a great source of inspiration and can really help kick your brain into action. Listen to music that fits the theme you're wanting to go with for your story. If you want to create a sad story, listen to sad music, and if you're wanting to create a dark story, listen to dark music etc. Or perhaps some certain song lyrics will help inspire an idea or a certain scene in your story, or may even help with describing how the characters are going to be feeling at certain moments.

5. Create a timeline of events.

This is something else that is quite important if you want to avoid plot holes and to make sure you don't get confused when writing your story. It's very important to know what order events are going to happen in, especially if you're hoping to characterize properly. It helps tidy up your notes and helps organise the story so that you know exactly what you're going to write and when. It helps keep your narrative structure nice and clear too, allowing you to clearly visualise the beginning, middle and end, as well as any potential twists that you might want to add. This is also highly recommended if your narrative structure is more episodic and features flashbacks.

6. Ideas can change as you're writing.

As scary as this may sound, it's usually bound to happen at some point. Halfway through, you might think to add something else in or take something out. This is fine to do as long as your story continues to make sense. Sometimes as you're writing, characters and situations take on a life of their own, and this is perfectly normal. This is why it is important to make notes and keep a written plan so that you can ensure that any changes you make halfway through the story still make sense with what has happened so far and isn't going to cause any problems for you down the road.


Writing:

1. Pump yourself up.

It's always easy to come up with ideas, but writing and typing everything out can often be a daunting task. This is why it's always good to pump yourself up and get yourself excited for writing a certain chapter, and try not to think about how much hard work it's going to be. Focus on the pay-off. It's easy to slip into procrastination or take short-cuts when writing, so limit the chances of this happening by getting yourself excited for writing and sharing your idea with others. Stay positive!

2. Study the characters you're writing about.

If you want to keep your story close to the canon, then this is incredibly important. You need to make sure that the characters are behaving in a way that people would expect them to behave. If your story is an AU, then you don't have to worry about this as much, and it's more reasonable to have the characters as slightly OOC in that scenario. But no matter what, it's still wise to keep their characterization as similar as possible. It's always easy to think about how you would react in that situation and insert your own morals and thoughts into a character, so try to avoid that. Stop and think, "what would this character do in that situation?" Most importantly, don't be afraid to highlight and explore their character flaws. No one likes a Mary-Sue or Gary-Stu. A good story, even when the characters are more OOC, always has well-rounded characters with a variety of qualities.

3. Set word goals.

This is something that's useful for people who have difficulty concentrating or are easily distracted. Set yourself a word goal such as writing 1000 words by eight o'clock and then reward yourself afterwards with a quick browse of social media or a quick snack or something. Then just keep that process going. This way, you ensure that you get things done and create an environment of postive reinforcement for yourself.

4. First or third person?

Pick whichever one works for you best. Don't listen to people who might tell you third person is more professional or that first person is easier and things like that. There isn't one that's better than the other and they don't determine success or failure. Wide usage of each one usually depends on the fandom, but you shouldn't let that stop you from going against the norm if that's what you think and work with best. Do what feels right for you or fits better with the narrative. But just make sure that as soon as you pick which one you want to use that you stick to it. A switch from third to first person halfway through would be a little weird and confusing.

5. Points of view.

When writing in third person, you do not need to tell the readers whose point of view it is. They will easily figure this out for themselves by the context of what's happening. However, when writing in first person, it is slightly more acceptable to quickly let the reader know whose point of view we are reading. Also, don't not change point of view too much in one chapter. One, maybe two times is more than enough. You'll likely confuse and annoy readers if you keep jumping back and forth constantly. It also makes the story slightly more hard to follow. What I would personally recommend is pick a point of view for one chapter and stick to it, with maybe only changing over once if it's really necessary.

6. Trust and respect your readers.

You don't have to hold the readers' hands all the time when you're writing. You don't always have to constantly spell everything out for them. It's highly encouraged to leave certain areas of the story more ambiguous and up to interpretation. It can often make things more intense for the reader, because if you're constantly spelling everything out in black and white to them, it may get a bit boring and patronising. Trust your readers. Not only that, but respect them by not treating them like they're stupid through providing them with an experience that they can get lost in and enjoy thinking about.

7. Listen to music.

Once again, this is something I would highly recommend. Like when planning, music can be a great source of inspiration and can help when working on the theme when writing a particular chapter. However, unlike the planning stage, when writing, it's best to listen to music that does not contain lyrics. Lyrics can often be distracting, where as purely instrumental music can help boost concentration. Instrumental music that I highly recommend and use a lot when writing my stories is music by Adrian von Ziegler. He has created playlists that are perfect for most themes.

8. Let it flow.

This is some advice that's also similar to advice for the planning stages. Don't strain your brain and put too much pressure on yourself when writing. Just let yourself go and allow the words to flow from your brain and onto the paper or keyboard. Don't worry about it being bad, just get it all down first. Once you've done that, then you can go back over it all and edit as you think necessary. Creating multiple drafts of a chapter is also a good idea.

9. Opening lines.

When creating an opening line to a story, a chapter, or even a sentence, it's always wise to come up with something unique and try not to open up with pronouns too much. Constantly opening with pronouns can get boring. Using other words creates more variety and keeps things from becoming repetitive. It can also help in making moments more dramatic and intense. Readers are much more likely to be invested in your story if they see that you have put some thought into your syntax and lexis. Just don't use hundreds of posh words that most people won't be able to understand.

10. Descriptions.

Too many fanfiction writers fall into the trap of not having enough descriptions and descriptive language in their stories. This often results in fanfictions feeling a lot more like a script than a story. Description is always essential if you want your story to come alive. A lack of description can make a story feel souless and make scenes feel dull. Describe surroundings, describe what and how characters are feeling, explore their thoughts as well as including dialogue. Use similes, use metaphors, and use personification. All of this is great for bringing a story alive and placing readers in the world and situations that you have created. Make a reader feel like they are actually there.

11. Keep it all relevent.

This is another trap that a lot of fanfiction writers fall into: describing every mundane thing. Bouncing off the previous advice point, while descriptions are great, there is always that risk of taking it way too far. You don't have to describe in detail absolutely everything that's going on. Keep it all relevent. Don't be afraid to use timeskips if nothing of revelance happens. Don't describe every detail of what your character did at school or work if it adds nothing to the plot. You also don't have to describe in microscopic detail what a character is wearing that day or what their make-up routine is like. There are times when you can just keep things simple. The best way to judge that fact is by asking yourself one simple question: is this relevent to the plot?


Grammar:

1. Make sure you understand the basics.

It goes without saying that the correct usage of capital letters, full stops, commas, speech marks, question marks and exclamation points is highly important. If a reader sees that you can't even use basic grammar, they're very likely to bail after the first few sentences. So make sure that you at least know the basics of grammar, and if not, refresh your memory by checking spellings and punctuation usage with a quick Google search. It will be well worth it to keep your readers on board, as very few people like to read a story that's riddled with basic grammatical errors. Readers want to at least be able to understand what's going on. 

2. Vary sentence length.

One of the oldest writing techniques in the book. It's always important to make sure you have long sentences and short sentences, and that you use them appropriately. Each sentence length is important when creating a certain effect for a reader. Short sentences can be good for dramatic effect, while longer sentences can be good for when a character might be panicking or afraid, or when they're overly excited. It's always important to have a good mixture to provide an interesting reading experience. This can also apply to paragraph length.

3. Paragraphs.

On the subject of paragraphs, understanding how they work can be just as imporant. Always start a new paragraph when going on to describe a new subject or topic, and make sure that your paragraphs aren't ridiculously long as this could give readers a headache. Also, always start a new paragraph when someone new starts talking. Never have two different characters talking in the same paragraph. Too many fanfictions do this and it can be incredibly confusing for readers and is just bad grammar. New person, new paragraph.

4. Advanced punctuation.

As a general rule, if you don't know how to use more advanced types of punctuation like colons and semi colons, then avoid using them. While it's true that using them can be useful in providing certain effects, your story can live without them, and it's better to have a story that doesn't have them than one that does and uses them incorrectly. So unless you're not confident in using them, then don't feel pressured to. Also, don't use them too much either as it can interupt the flow of a chapter, make you look like some sort of snob, and also a lot of the time they just aren't necessary.


Editing:

1. Proof-read!

This is definitely one of the most important things that you need to do. While it's likely that you're not going to be able to spot every single error or typo that you have made, it's best to clean as much of them up as possible to provide your readers with a pleasant, mostly uninterupted experience. Most people can forgive one or two typos that you might have missed, but if your story is riddled with errors, it's likely going to start annoying people. Not only that, but it's the policy of many fanfiction publishing sites that you try and make your work as grammatically correct and as error free as possible for the sake of readers.

2. Take a break.

Before editing and proof-reading, it might be wise to take a break from your chapter. That way, you can come back to it with fresh eyes and a well rested brain. This will allow you to be able to more easily spot any errors and typos that you might have made. When you're tired, you're more likely to miss things, so taking a break before editing is highly advised.

3. Change the font.

While editing, it might be worth changing the font. This might also help you in spotting any mistakes more easily. This is something that might be really useful for those that can't find the time to take a long enough break between writing and editing, as it will help give your eyes something fresh and different to look at.

4. Read out loud. 

You might feel silly, but it really helps. By saying a sentence out loud, you'll be able to more easily determind whether it makes sense or not. Plus, you read a lot slower out loud than you do when reading in your head, which means you're less likely to rush and skip over errors.

5. Check word definitions.

I think it's happened to a lot to us where we thought a certain word meant something but it turns out it actually means something else. So when editing, if you're unsure about a certain word, it's always best to double check the definition of it to make sure that you're using it correctly. There have been times where I've nearly used words thinking it meant one thing, but it turned out it meant something else entirely. If this happens, it can end up confusing readers. So make sure you're using words that you're postive you know the definition of, and if you're unsure, it only takes a few seconds to check.

6. Use a thesaurus. 

Sometimes we can use the same words over and over again and not even realise it. If this is something that comes to your attention while editing, then I'd recommend using a thesaurus to see if you can find any words that have a similiar definition so that you can add some variety to your writing. It's really quick and easy to do. Also, if you're unsure about any repetitive words in your chapter, then a website I would recommend is Wordle. Just copy and paste your text into that site and the larger the word appears on the screen, the more frequently you have used that word.

7. Have someone else read your work. 

This is great way to garauntee that a fresh pair of eyes are checking your work. They might be able to spot errors that you may have missed and provide you with feedback on your punctuation and grammar. Of course it's always best to ask someone who knows the English language very well. But by asking someone else, they should at least definitely spot any obvious typos that you may have made.

8. Get a Beta Reader.

This is similar to the advice above, however, asking a Beta Reader for help is the best way to ensure that your chapters and story are properly polished. Beta Readers know exactly what they are doing and what to look for. They'll help you clean up your work as well as provide you with advice and help with inspiration. Of course, this can be slightly more time consuming and you can't just ask anyone. Usually Beta Readers specialise in different fandoms, and don't be disheartened if they say no. Just keep looking as there will always be someone who is willing to help you. But remember that Beta Readers also have their own lives, so they won't be at your beck and call, and it may take them a bit of time to work through your chapters.


Posting:

1. Title.

It's recommended that the title of your fanfiction is appropriate, relevent, memorable and unqiue. It's easy just to pick a few words that sound cool, but it's always useful to have the title be related to the story that you're trying to tell. That way it makes it more easily findable if people want to look for it. I'd also recommend searching for the title you're planning to go with in the archives of your chosen fanfiction site to check how many other writers have used that title idea. The more unique your story title is, the more easier your story will be to find should someone want to look for it.

2. No errors.

It is absolutely imperative that the title of your story, as well as the description, have no spelling or grammatical errors in them. The title and description will be the first impression a reader will get of your story, so it's important that you give them a good first impression. If your description is full of errors, then it's likely that people will immediately scroll past it. Capitalize the first letter of every word in the title that isn't 'and, of, the' etc.

3. Rate/tag appropriately.

It's always important that you use the correct rating when first posting your story. Each website will always have their own guide on what each rating means, so it's best to give that a quick read. If your K or G rated story has strong language or a steamy scene in it, then you'll most likely have a few angry and confused people on your back. When in doubt, ask other people, or ask your readers if you think that your rating needs to be changed. Don't forget that there are underage people on these sites as well as people who just don't want to read things like that. The rating system exists for a reason, so use it properly. The same goes for any fanfiction site that uses tags as well. It's important to tag or warn people of anything that might be triggering such as sexual assualt, graphic violence, abuse, drugs, self-harm, feelings of suicide etc. That way if a reader can't handle those things, they can back out if they want to.

4. Shipping.

Let's face it, most fanfiction involves shipping in some way. That's why it's always important that these are always highlighted correctly, and never trick anyone into reading your story by tagging one ship, but then only dedicate a few sentences to them. Be honest with the main ships that are in your story. That way those that are a fan of that ship can find your story, and no one is going to be disappointed by the lack of appearance of a ship that they were led to believe was in that story.

5. Check format.

Always check to make sure that the format of your chapter is clear and is how you intended. Sometimes when uploading a document or copy and pasting work, things can glitch and your paragraphs might end up bunched together, or a certain symbol you have used might not have registered. So it's always best to check to make sure that you're not posting a messy chapter and that everything is clear and readable. It's also best to check if the document type you are using is compatible with the website that you want to upload it to.


Afterwards:

1. Response.

Don't feel disheartened if you don't get the response that you were hoping for. It is difficult and can require some luck in order for your story to capture attention. But perseverance is the key. Just keep trying. Attention for your story is usually gradual, and things will likely pick up after posting a few more chapters. Not to mention it can take a few hours for your story to actually appear on the site. The best way to attract attention is to use certain keywords that you know will be popular and that people will be searching for, but of course only as long as your story includes those keywords.

2. Statistics.

Usually on every fanfiction site, you can track the statistics of your stories. You can see everything that is going on with your stories such as how many people are reading it, how many people are following it as well as read any reviews that people have left. This is a great tool to use if you want to keep track of everything, and will allow you to spot any trends that might help you attract more attention to your story. It will help you figure out what works and what doesn't, and will allow you to monitor the comments to make sure that everyone is behaving themselves.

3. Criticism.

Uh oh. This is one thing that most writer's dread. But have no fear. Usually ninety-nine percent of the time, any criticism that you get will be constructive and is only the reader trying to help you, not hurt your feelings. So don't take it too much to heart. Take it as a compliment that someone has taken the time to offer you advice and try and help you improve your skills. Start a discussion with them and try and get more detailed thoughts and advice off them. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and you're not going to please everyone. Flame reviews (harsh, bullying reviews) are usually very rare, and if you get one of those, just ignore them as they're usually just trolls. Of course bullying is never tolerated and you can report them. But just remember that nothing is perfect and that there are always ways you can improve, so don't take criticism as the end of the world and let it put you off. Handle it maturely and use it to help you improve.

4. Updating.

This is something that is difficult to give advice for as everybody is different and many people have busy lives. Honestly, you are under no obligation to upload. No matter how much people nag you, you don't owe them anything. You will likely encounter people who will try and order you to update, but just ignore them and write and upload at your own pace. However, if you're hoping to become a success and would like to know what the best update schedule is, then I'd recommend updating your story once a week. You don't want to be updating too frequently as you want to give people time to read the latest chapter, but you don't want to leave it too long where people will forget what has been going on. Once a week tends to be the best way to upload when it comes to attracting attention, but as I said earlier, updating is entirely your choice and down to you. 


Remember that at the end of the day, fanfiction is often just a fun hobby that most people have. You don't have to be able to write on a professional level, and there's no pressure to come up with the best story in the world. A lot of fanfiction writers are aspiring writers using it as practice, some people just want to show their love and devotion to a fandom, some write it to be funny, and some write to explore different ideas and directions. It should be about what feels best for you.

However, I do hope that my advice has helped, especially if you want to be a serious fanfiction writer that produces more higher quality writing, and wants to try and attract attention to their work. But still, the most important thing is to have fun, respect other writers and respect readers. It's a community to share ideas and share love and devotion to fandoms, and for people to express themselves. So the best piece of advice I can give everyone is to have fun.

If you can think of any other advice or have any questions, don't be afraid to leave a comment.

I wish all fanfiction writers and aspiring fanfiction writers out there the best of luck!