Fanfiction.net, a website that was originally launched in 2011 as a place for fans of popular stories to come together and engage with the characters they love, has become a place for authors to get published with famous literary figures as guest editors.
While the website’s focus is on fantastic storytelling, it also offers a way for amateur writers to have their work published. In return for writing a short story, the author gets paid a royalty every month based on the number of books sold.
So how does one go about getting paid to write for Fanfiction.net? It’s actually quite simple, and not at all like you might think. Let’s take a look.
The Basics
Before you can begin to think about getting paid to write for Fanfiction.net, you have to first join the website. There is no cost associated with joining, but you will need to create a profile setting up your contact details. Once you’ve joined, you’ll need to go through the “writer guide,” which walks you through the various steps to follow to begin earning money from your writing. Once you’ve mastered those steps, you can begin submitting your stories to the platform’s editors, who will review and edit your work prior to publishing it.
Step One
The first step is to simply join the website and create a profile. You’ll need to enter your name, email address, and choose a username (this is the name that will appear next to your byline on all the published stories).
Next, you’ll need to create an author page, which is where you can display your work, connect with potential readers, and promote new books. This is also where you can choose your royalty percentage (10% is the standard rate), and the payments schedule (standard monthly royalty or annual royalty).
Finally, you’ll need to provide a short story to build your portfolio. You have eight weeks to complete your first short story, although you can always come back to extend this further.
Step Two
The second step is to create your author page on the website and add your work to it. When you’ve finished your short story, you’ll need to scroll down and click the “submit” button to have it processed by the site’s editorial team. You’ll then receive a confirmation email, and you can check the status of your submission from that point onwards. When the editorial team approves your work, they’ll send you the “returned manuscript,” which you’ll need to print out and retain as a proof of your work.
Step Three
The third step is to edit and publish your work. To begin with, you’ll need to log back into your author page and click the “Edit” button on the top right hand corner. You can add a cover image and a blurb for the book in the “About” section, and then click the “Preview” button to see how the story will look when published. When you’re happy with the preview, click the “Publish” button and you’re good to go — your story will be live on the website.
Step Four
The fourth step is to promote your work. You have two options here. You can either click the “+ Get a free book” button and you’ll be taken to a page containing the titles of various books by well-known authors, or you can enter your email address in the box provided on the website and you’ll be subscribed to a newsletter containing the latest news on your favorite writers and their upcoming books. You’ll also find the option to join various mailing lists where you can be notified of upcoming book releases and get the chance to read advance copies of the books before they’re released.
Step Five
The fifth step is to repeat steps three and four. You can go back to your author page and either click the “+ Get a free book” button or enter your email address in the box to receive the author newsletter. Steps three and four will then send you an email alerting you to the availability of new content.
Fancy Some Quotes?
If you want to put your name to these stories, you can always find a selection of famous quotes and sentences, and use them as an inspiration to write your own.
For example, here are five quotes from famous literary figures that might make for a fun narrative: