Q&A with a fanfiction fanatic

“Because the story’s not over until we say it is!” — Fanfiction Writers

I’m not sure what time it is or where I am or how I got here or what year it is or when the last time I ate was. And is it Saturday or Tuesday? 

I’m not even sure what world I’m currently living in. I’ll tell you why: fanfuckingfiction! Like self-help books, reading fanfiction is like crack. I recently came off binge-reading fanfiction, and now I'm entirely rethinking life.

So what IS fanfiction? (Also called “fanfic”).

Fanfiction is fictional writing based on someone else's original work, using characters from popular books, movies, television shows — and now celebrities and even songs —reimagining all the what-ifs.

Basically, if you have that one (or ten) television series, film, celebrity, or character in a book that struck a chord with you, or that you are such a fan of that it’s impossible to let them go, or if the ending left you thinking, “But how can you just…end? AFTER ALL WE’VE BEEN THROUGH!”

Well, fanfiction writers keep characters alive by imagining all the what-if or where-are-they-now scenarios, and then making them into a narrative.

Fanfiction writers can be so imaginative: I just read a story about that former orange-faced president asshat having an affair with Hilary Clinton. In fanfiction, this is often called “ships," when the writer puts two characters in a romantic relationship that wasn’t in the original movie or show…or would never happen in reality. 

For fanfiction writers? The possibilities are truly endless because of all the great TV shows, books, and movies we’ve got at our disposal.

Their imagination is nothing short of mind blowing! And these stories can be so totally addictive that, once you get into them, you’ll almost certainly suffer from “chaptigue” — the tiredness you experience the day after staying up until 3:00 a.m. reading. 

Fanfiction writers’ imaginative plot twists will leave you thinking, "I don't need sleep. I need answers!”

Fanfiction has become a global sensation, especially for teenage or university-level readers, who find these stories much more enjoyable than their assigned reading lists — so much so that one university student admitted to ditching reading novels published by traditional publishing houses entirely.

But first…um, did you know that Taylor Swift was pregnant? I just read this:

“And now here she was, a month short of being 4 years together, with a ring on her finger, planning a wedding with the love of her life, her 8th album, one she wasn’t planning on putting out for a long time but somehow it came about in those few months of quarantine, is out and doing better than she could have dreamed. Here she is with the most cliche thing that can happen to her in lock down. F*cking pregnant.”

And, um, fans of the TV show Friends? Did you know that Monica and Chandler are now grandparents, Joey became a dad, and Rachel and Ross had another son and moved back to Long Island, where Ross got a job as head of the palaeontology department?

Um, Sex and the City Fans — did you know Carrie gets pregnant and is excited about it? “As soon as the timer goes off, my life may change. It was only another couple of seconds, and then I would find out if I was  pregnant. How would Big react?” (Also, she plans to name her baby Robyn Melody if it’s a girl and Robyn Charles if it's a boy.) Also, did you know Carrie has a sister?) Or that Miranda became a judge? Or that Charlotte had to go to court to fight to keep her adopted daughter Lily, because Lily's birth mother wanted her back?

Did anyone know all this? You would if you read fanfiction! 

These stories are written by fans because of their sheer admiration for certain existing characters and the world they live in. (Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling says she’s “flattered people want to write their own stories” based on her characters.)

Re:book's motto is “What’s good is read. What’s read is good.” 

Another motto for this newsletter is, “Literary snobs, troll elsewhere!” 

I’m reminding you of this because the literary world can be quite elitist. Many in the publishing world do look down on, or completely ignore, fanfiction writers.

Personally, I do not think fanfiction authors are less "real" or “legitimate" than other writers because again: “What’s good is read. What’s read is good.” 

What’s most re:freshing to me is that fanfiction writers write, it seems, simply for the joy of writing. Something very touching…and also rare. 

By this I mean they don’t expect a book deal. They don't expect to become famous. They are simply passionate about writing. They simply love writing, exploring, and experimenting with the characters and universes they love so much (while practicing their writing skills) because they enjoy it, regardless of wanting, or not wanting, to pursue a writing career. 

And since tens of millions are reading fanfiction on their electronic devices, how could one argue that it's NOT a legitimate literary genre, especially in this modern age? 

So, those who look down on fanfiction writers and readers, IMO, can fic right off!

Reading should never feel like a chore (one of re:book’s core beliefs). And if it does, you're reading the wrong book. Fanfiction writers bring tens of millions of readers joy. If you're the kind of person who feels ripped to pieces and completely lost when a book or movie series ends, why not try fanfiction?

There are people in their forties and fifties who have been reading fanfiction for decades. Well, I found one such reader and asked her to explain exactly what fanfiction is, what the appeal is, and why you should try it.

A FAN-tastic Q&A with a 49-Year-Old Fanfiction Fanatic

RE: How long have you been reading fanfiction?

Nora: I’ve been reading fanfiction for over 20 years! So, since my 20s (right when computers and the internet started becoming “a thing!”) I am 49 years old.

RE: How did you find out about this genre?

Nora: When you have a computer (or in my case, a friend who had a computer), the world opens up for you — hence the  “world wide web.”  All you have to do is enter the keyword, and voila! A thousand, if not a million stories written by fans of the show or movie or celebrity pop up, and then you are transported for the next few hours!

RE: If you were speaking to a 70-year-old, or frankly anyone who hasn't heard of fanfiction, how would you describe what it is? 

Nora: I would say, “Do you remember watching the television shows Bewitched or I Love Lucy or Dynasty? Well, what if those television shows never ended? What if you could continue ‘watching’ it in the form of reading?”

Or I’d say, “Let’s say you walk out of a movie theatre and really liked the movie, but the ending, you didn't really care for. Well, there are similar fanfiction authors out there —and really, you don't need to be an author to write; you just need to be a fan — who agree with you! And they will write an alternate ending or AU (alternate universe) for that movie you just watched, and they are fantastic! Usually, in the first few paragraphs while reading fanfiction stories, you will have a sense of the writing style and figure out if it’s for you. There are so many writers out there and so many writing styles. That doesn't mean one is better than the other. It’s just different views.”

RE: Can you describe the appeal of fanfiction for those who haven’t tried reading this genre?

Nora: Well, if you really like something — in this case, television shows or movies, or now celebrities — and you want more and you need more, fanfiction authors fulfill that need. You might see a movie or a television series finale and hate how it ended, so you’re disappointed. Well, you wouldn't be alone! 

So by going online, you can find fanfiction authors and writers who think similar thoughts as you and fill in the gaps, or reimagine what could have happened instead. And you think, “Wow! See? The ending my way was much better!” (LOL) 

Again, it is the fantasy of what COULD have been or happened, or what you would have liked to see, or how you wanted the show to end, or what the characters could have done instead, or imagining/fantasizing what they would be doing NOW if the movie or television series hadn’t ended.

Fanfiction authors are so passionate. They create different worlds with the same characters, but still just as wonderful as the original. In fact, sometimes even better! 

RE: Do you remember the first fanfiction you read?

Nora: The first fanfiction I ever read was written by an author named Xanthe. They are still around! The X-Files was a huge television show in the 90s, and I was a huge fan (I still have all seasons on DVD). But I needed more! But what, I didn't know. Like I mentioned, the Internet was just starting to exist in people’s lives.

I definitely wanted something of a “connection” to someone or something. Something to let the world know, “Hey, I really love this show and I want you to love it too. I can't be the only one in love!” 

So, I started to go out looking for people also in love with the same television shows, and the internet helped me find that love in the form of fanfiction stories based on our mutual love of a show.

I remember feeling, and still feel, “What a wonderful adventure fanfiction takes us on!”

RE: Were you immediately addicted to reading fanfiction?

Nora: Was I addicted immediately? What do you think? YES! Definitely yes. Fanfiction can be very addictive. There are authors out there continuing their stories based on characters from shows for many years. It’s just that good! 

Fans, readers, and writers of fanfiction will continue to read and write about their favourite characters for, literally, years. (I am reading one right now that's been around for a good fifteen years and is still going strong!) Fanfiction stories transport your favourite characters to places you didn't know could exist.

RE: When did you start noticing fanfiction REALLY taking off? It seems what once was this "underground" genre has now taken off into the mainstream.

Nora:  Really early on in the early 2000s, when television shows were the biggest entertainment. Rookie authors came out of the woodwork and really showcased their talents, experimenting with fanfiction, reimagining what characters could have done instead, or writing how they fantasized the characters acting differently. And, truly, there are some amazing rookie authors and writers out there! If you are passionate about something, your talent really shines.

I think one show that truly advanced the fanfiction genre was a show called Queer as Folk, which came out in the year 2000. The fanfic writers (and readers) EXPLODED! There wasn’t enough room on the internet for all the stories that were being written for the American version of Queer as Folk. The show has been off the air for 16 (!) years, and fanfiction is STILL being written about it (mostly because fans did NOT like the ending of the show.) Even I’m still reading fanfiction stories about it. 

Right now, I’m reading a fanfiction story called “Negotiations,” a specific story about the two main characters of Queer as Folk, Brian and Justin.

RE: Where do you find your fanfiction to read? Are there certain sites you'd recommend? 

Nora: You can join groups like livejournal, or Facebook groups. But the biggest websites, and the best, are fanfiction.net, archiveofourown.org and Wattpad. You can find anything about anyone in the show business industry to read, where fanfiction writers have re-imagined television or movie characters’ actions and scenes, or other celebrities’ lives. 

Archiveofourown.org is my favourite. You type in any topic/movie/TV show/rating/length/ and it is right there. (You can filter your findings even further to zone in on your specific wants, as well.) 

You can even just type into Google your favourite show like, “Friends fanfiction,” and it will lead you to fanfiction sites and stories instantly. The great thing about fanfiction is whatever a reader is into at that very moment, you can find online. And it will always be there.  

RE: If you had to convince someone to read fanfiction, or at least try it, how would you do it? 

Nora: I would say, “Oh, you like <insert fave tv show here>? Well, if you go to this site, you can find so many great stories about it! Be forewarned: I won't hear from you for a few days.” 

RE: There’s this assumption that fanfiction is solely for those who love supernatural shows, along with the assumption that fanfiction isn’t considered “real literature.” How would you respond?

Nora: First, I would say, “So, um, you don't watch television or movies at all? That's a shame!" Also, I would say they lack imagination, and I would feel sorry for them. Why? They don't want to see or know about anything beyond what they just saw, and I think that's sad. 

There is a world of possibilities out there, and fanfiction writers are gracious enough to let you into their heads for a glimpse into another way a character might have acted. Just think: all these fanfiction writers are giving you the chance for all those what-if questions, especially when a television series or movie you love ends. 

What if those two characters had gotten together instead?

What if they killed off a character?

What if that show had continued?

What would the characters be doing now, ten years after the show ended?

What if the character wasn’t white or straight?

It’s really quite amazing and thrilling to see how imaginative fanfiction writers can be!

RE: Do your friends read fanfiction too? Or is there still a stigma around reading fanfiction? 

Nora: With some of my friends, that’s how we met! And they are friends to this day! Think of it as recommending your favourite author, who has a new book out, for a book club, but the book club is entirely online. It's even more fulfilling when friends share similar interests in shows or characters because you can swap stories and ideas and give each other insight into what’s good. It really is like an online book club. Reading fanfiction is a commitment. It's an investment of your time, just like reading any book, but again, almost entirely online.

RE: Do you see this genre growing and affecting traditionally published books? 

Nora: Well to a certain group, they think (or want to think/assume) that fanfiction is a trend. For example, I am a fan of the television show Supernatural — two gorgeous men driving around in a classic car hunting monsters and ghosts — and the fanfiction writes itself. You can get lost for days just finding a fanfiction story to read because they ALL sound good! 

I have so many fanfics saved to read based on this one television show. Like I said, it's been over 20 years for me as a fanfiction reader, and I’m still going. I cannot even imagine a person who is into multiple shows and wants to read fanfiction stories on all of them. Good luck to them! I'm on just one show right now, and I can say it feels like I’m years behind on my reading. 

RE: Fanfiction Wattpad writer Beth Reekles received a book deal with Random House after publishing her romance fanfiction story at age 15 (!) for her series The Kissing Booth. And Anna Todd wrote After, which became a Wattpad sensation and then got adapted into a film, in her mid-twenties. So, is fanfiction writing only for teens and young adults, like so many people assume?

Nora: The authors who mostly write fanfiction — at least that I read — are middle-aged women. Some are professional authors who write fanfiction under pen names (e.g. S.E. Hinton)  

But, yes, there are a ton of much younger fanfiction writers that are taking fanfiction writing to a whole other level. Many are definitely not PG and there is an audience for “totally out there” alternative universes (AU) that these fanfiction writers have created for their characters. 

Teens are way more tech savvy. I haven’t read much fanfiction by younger generations, but I do know much younger fanfiction readers who love fanfiction just as much as I do, but follow TV shows, songs, books, movies, and celebrities they are fans of. It’s also a great way for writers who have previously been marginalized to change the narrative, giving them an open, safe space to share their work.  

I prefer to stick with my G-rated fanfiction writers and choose to go on an adventure with them. I know teens and young adults are writing fanfiction, which is great! But sometimes, they are taking their audience on a different type of adventure, based on the shows or celebrities they love, and they really take their characters into some crazy places, often leaning towards X-rated. No judgement! I just prefer reading fanfiction where the characters remain G-rated.

RE: Is there any downside to reading fanfiction?

Nora: I would have to say not enough time to read! That’s the ONLY downside. Take the leap — you will not be disappointed.

I recently read that English is now students’ least favourite subject and that many high-schoolers despise — yes, despise — reading.

I believe students would read if they got to choose what they wanted to read, just like I believe adults would, including fanfiction. And it is!

It’s slowly starting to enter classrooms. "I go into 2nd- or 3rd-grade classrooms and say, ‘Everybody start writing stories about Minecraft,’" one educator said. “They ask if they can keep going through recess; they are so excited.”

So, shout-out to fanfiction writers and readers for not giving a F*C! Keep writing and keep us readers entertained. (I want need to see how Carrie and Big parent! And then I want to see them as grandparents, and then I want to see…)

xoxo

Rebecca