At this point in your life, you’ve either written a fanfiction or are actively considering doing so. Let’s be honest: If you’re reading this, you probably want to write one, and you might even consider it a compliment. However, before you begin, you need to ask yourself some important questions.
Is This a Genre I Can Add Value To?
Every piece of writing has value, but not every piece of writing will make you a better business or creative person. For instance, if you’re looking for a career in journalism, you might want to consider focusing on more reputable media sources. And if you’re trying to create artwork, you might want to explore different styles or try your hand at cartooning or caricaturizing.
However, if you’re looking to write fiction as a hobby or for yourself, you can add value with your particular brand of fiction. As an individual, you can explore different perspectives and scenes, and expose yourself to various storytelling techniques. In business, you can use your writing to connect with audiences and show off your knowledge of the subject matter.
How Much Time Do I Have To Devote To This?
All businesses, even the most established ones, face challenges now and then. In the case of freelance writers, that challenge is time. While some clients may be able to accommodate longer deadlines, others require a more flexible schedule. If you want to write fanfiction, you may want to consider taking on smaller projects to start and see how things go.
As you build your reputation as a freelance writer, you can negotiate more lucrative projects and better terms with your clients. And in the meantime, you can continue to write fanfiction for fun.
What Platform Should I Use?
Like many other freelance writers, you may want to consider experimenting with different platforms to find the one that’s best suited to your needs. If you want to write fanfiction for fun, you may want to try using WordPress or a similar content management system. Even if you’re not planning on monetizing your fiction, you may still want to use a content management system to keep track of all your stories. And if you want to be able to share your fiction with the world, you may want to look into publication platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing or Smashwords.
If you have a specific story you want to tell, you may want to consider using a dedicated writing platform like Wattpad or Scribblar. These platforms were designed with writing in mind and make it much easier to keep track of the many drafts you’ll need to go through if you’re planning on writing a novel. Of course, you don’t need to limit yourself to one platform. If you have a specific story you want to tell and you need an outlet to do it, you can use a free blog platform like WordPress or a comparable content management system and start building your audience.
How Should I Format My FanFiction?
Just because you’re writing fanfiction doesn’t mean you have to stick to the traditional narrative form. In fact, it’s a great opportunity to experiment with different formats and see what works best for you. If you’re going to write something in the form of a short story, you may want to consider using a short-short story format like the flash-fiction genre. This genre isn’t as well-known as other forms of fiction, but that’s probably because there aren’t that many platforms designed for short-short stories. If you have a specific story you want to tell and don’t have the time to write something longer, this is the perfect format for you.
On the other hand, if you have a longer story and you want to use a more traditional narrative structure, you may want to look into using an online document to keep track of your ideas and the many versions of your story. This way, you can ensure you have the correct ending and don’t have to worry about losing any of the versions you’ve already written. Of course, you don’t need to limit yourself to one medium either. If you have a specific platform (or two or three) that you feel most comfortable with, you can use those to tell your story.
As much as possible, you want your fanfiction to match the quality of a reputable publication. Therefore, it’s important to take the time to learn from reputable authors and see how they write. If you’re looking to make your writing more accessible to a wider audience, you may want to consider using simpler language and cutting unnecessary words. Make sure to learn how to use the right words too. A good author will make sure that their reader understands what they’re saying without having to retell the entire story. For instance, if you’re writing about a historical figure, you may want to use words and phrases that are used in reference to that person in modern times. This is something that could easily be taught and is not something that can be instinctively learned.
Where Should I Post My Fanfiction?
You may want to consider posting your fanfiction on platforms designed for short-form content. Although there isn’t a specific type of fiction called “short fiction,” there are many platforms designed for publishing short stories, poems, and other similar pieces of content. These platforms range from simple blog-style websites to dedicated writing apps and even social media channels like Twitter and Instagram.
If you’re using a blog platform, make sure to include a short bio about yourself with your story. This will also become the bio for your blog, and it’s a simple but effective way to establish yourself as an authoritative voice in your industry. Plus, by including a bio, you’re showing the reader you’re a human being with feelings and a conscience. This makes you more relatable and, in turn, more likely to engage with your audience. It could even land you a few new subscribers or fans.
As much as possible, you want your fanfiction to be accessible to a wide audience. Therefore, it’s important to consider platforms like Amazon Kindle that can be easily shared with friends, family, and the public. You also want your work to stand out and be unique. If these goals match your own personal writing ambitions, you may want to consider self-publishing your work using platforms like Amazon Kindle. However, if you’re looking for traditional publication, you may want to consider looking into smaller publications or even doing it yourself if you can find the right readers.
In terms of social media, stories posted via social channels tend to perform better than those posted on blogs or websites. This is mainly because people are more used to reading content in the form of short-form stories and GIFs that appear on social channels. Additionally, those who are reading your content probably already have an idea of who you are and what you look like, so they have a better chance of connecting with you on a more personal level. For all these reasons, it’s often a good idea to post your work on social media first and then follow up with a blog post or two. Doing the reverse typically leads to a poor performance because it takes the reader out of the story.
What About Copyright And Moral Rights?
Just because you’re writing fanfiction doesn’t mean you have to give away all of your intellectual property for the world to enjoy. Like any other form of art, you can keep some of the original material private and offer the rest for public consumption. This is especially beneficial if you’re planning on sharing your fiction on social media channels. If someone identifies the source material in one of your stories and brings it to the attention of the legal team, they could file a lawsuit against you. If this happens, you might want to consider removing the source material from your public-facing platforms.
In terms of morals rights, just because you’re writing fanfiction doesn’t mean you can make light of topics that are difficult for some readers. If you’re using a specific character or situation, you may want to consider whether or not it’s appropriate to use in your fiction. If you believe that the use of that character or situation wouldn’t be considered fair use, you may want to avoid using it altogether or, at the very least, be very sparing with your use of it.
Do I Need Feedback?
As a writer hoping to improve his or her craft, you may be tempted to seek out feedback, particularly from established authors you admire. However, if you’re just starting out, it’s best to leave feedback for when you’re finished. Unless you’re exceptionally skilled, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to provide useful feedback to someone who is still learning. Additionally, at this point, you don’t even know whether or not you’ll like the feedback you get. Considerate writers will usually wait to give feedback until they’ve heard from the reader one more time before they offer any. This way, if there are any errors, they can be corrected before publication.