I’ve only recently stumbled onto FanFiction.Net. (Don’t ask.) I’ve never written fan fiction, but I’ve discovered that I’m not above reading it: If you’ve got an idea for how Booth and Brennan should finally get together on Bones and it’s rated M, count me in.
While some of the hundreds of series represented on the site make perfect sense to me (Buffy the Vampire Slayer had 33,396 stories at last count), others made me do a double-take: 1,122 for Scarecrow and Mrs. King; 158 for The Nanny; 153 for Caroline in the City; 122 for Remington Steele (left); 12 for ALF (right); 3 for Punky Brewster; and 1 for My Two Dads. Really?
So, here’s what I want to know: Have you ever written fan fiction? Answer in the convenient EW.com poll below. If so, for which show(s)? (Reveal all in the comments section.) If you don’t write it, but you read it, tell us why.
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I have written one piece of fan fiction, and one only (and hopefully never again). It was for The X-Files, which I have a feeling is likely to have one of the largest fanfic bases. I mean we X-Philes were devouring fanfic long before anyone else got their hands on it.
Any way, it was a short story where Mulder and Scully confessed their love to each other or something. Probably was better than the second movie. Would love to find it again and laugh at myself.
God, I don’t even admit this to my friends and family–but yes, I write fan fiction. (Hooray internet anonymity!)
In my defense, I don’t write because I want to marry someone else’s characters. I’m a novelist who has written three books, and I am a firm believer in practice makes perfect–I need to write every single day or I start sliding backwards, skillwise. So when I’m between projects, or suffering from bad writer’s block–yep. Fan fiction. It’s fun and low-maintenence, just messing around in other people’s worlds for awhile. And yes, I do post it, and that’s just all about feedback. Since I write good-quality fan fiction, I get praise for it, which is reeeeally really nice for an author who occasionally has to deal with rejection in the real world. It’s a kind of encouragement that is sometimes necessary to let me know that maybe I am good enough to eventually make it in an official capacity. With my own characters. With my own world.
I didn’t think I would ever actually admit to this but I totally read fan fiction on fanfiction.net. Theres some good anime fan fiction. And now I just admited I read anime fan fiction. Oh well.
I have never written fan fiction, but discovered fan fiction.net a few years ago, during my second year of college. It was pretty good (albeit ridiculous)way to avoid doing homework. I have to admit, I still check out that site a couple times a month. I’ll admit that I’ve read a lot of Buffy fanfic, as well fanfic based on various sci-fi shows (including the X Files). Man, it actually feels good to confess that!
I wrote fan fiction when I was an angsty teenage girl obsessed with the X-files.
I grew out of it, and the last time I wandered into a Buffy fan-fiction it was a Buffy/Giles sex one, and it made me feel physically ill. I haven’t ventured back.
Yes, written it, read it, way before the Net and do still. And please don’t judge by FF.Net, some of the worst stuff is over there (not that there’s not good but it is not all fic on the Net by a long shot!). Go find the actual fic archives for Bones, I’m sure there is one.
The first fanfic I stumbled upon was Buffy fic. And then Heroes got me started on actually writing the stuff. It’s fun to play with established characters in the way you think things should go, should’ve gone, or would NEVER go. *thinks of the multitude of slash fic…which is a genre she has written in*
Written and read it…. Buffy, Trek, X-Men, Breakfast Club (there are like 4 stories in that fandom) Alias, Highlander, Harry Potter (all Snape all the time), Supernatural, CSI, Battlestar Galactica, Sentinel… and yes the list goes on…
I used to read FF.net waaay back in the day – this is when they still posted fics using real people and NSync and Backstreet Boy fics reigned supreme. Man, what I wouldn’t give to go through those archives and find all of my favorites that had Lance and Justin making sweet, sweet love.
I adore fanfiction. It’s a great way to see the different ways a storyline could have gone, for characters to take a different path then the one they took, or to read the different futures for characters after the show/movie/book ended.
I read fic mostly for Twilight and The West Wing but also for Gilmore Girls, Roswell, Daria, Once and Again and Pride & Prejudice.
I have written fanfic for The Magnificent Seven (short-lived t.v. show), The X-Men, Supernatural, and Stargate Atlantis. I’ve read fanfic in those fandoms as well as The Sentinel, Buffy, The X-Files, Harry Potter; and a few fics here and there for any number of t.v. shows. Fan fiction is a fun way to engage the source and share enthusiasm for it, as well as a fun way to explore ideas and characterization that the source does not.
Yes, I have both read and written fan fiction. In particular writting stories about my favorite couple, Shawn and Belle on Days of Our Lives. I have read countless stories on them. And I have tried writing stories about Max and Liz from Roswell; haven’t completed the story yet but I am working on it. But I have read countless Roswell fan fiction. Sometimes they are better than the actual show. I have read stories for West Wing, and others. Some of the writers of fan fiction are amazing writers.
My friend has been writing Les Mis fanfic for 5 or 6 years, at least. No, not fanfic based on the musical adaptation, but fanfic based on the actual book. She also writes fanfic based on The Scarlet Pimpernel. I’m not that cerebral when it comes to fan fic- I’ve only written Buffy and BSG fanfic.
Yes, I read it. And yes, I have written it. And I plan on writing another fanfic next month. It can be very cathartic, especially when a favorite show goes away and you want to know what happened with the characters.
I write it and read it. I’ve written fanfic for Cold Case, The Invisible Man, Firefly, The Magnificent Seven, CSI, wrestling. My current fannish addiction is reading and writing Primeval fanfic (the series, not the stupid alligator movie).
Got into it years ago with reading (and writing a little) Harry Potter fanfic. Now my reading tastes have drifted to Stargate Atlantis, Heroes and Doctor Who. As well as (shh!) Live Free or Die Hard.
Fanfic (especially from the Jossverse) is my guilty pleasure-the smuttier, the better:) There’s actually some that are well-written (imagine my shock when I stumbled upon one of those). I have never tried to write it, mostly because the reason I love these characters is for the way they are written. I’d hate to botch it up…
Kudos to all those who do write and revealed themselves here. It’s possible I’m a fan of your work:)
I’ve written and read it. It’s fun, harmless way to spend time. And I really do believe it’s helped me with my original stories.
I write fan fiction! But I keep it to myself. Lord of the Rings/Silmarillion (book based), Phantom of the Opera (again, book based) and some X-Men.
I was actually just thinking of fanfiction.net.
I write and read. When I was a freshman in college (about eight years ago) I started a Lord of the Rings story I never finished. Then in Feb. ‘07 I started a really long Battlestar Galactica story that was based on the rumor that Starbuck disappeared. I still want to finish it, but school has gotten in the way. Also, these long waits between episodes makes it hard to find the tone of the characters. I write because it relaxes me and I think it’s good practice, since I’d like to write/publish my own stories one day. And yes, some of it is pretty awful, but there’s also some good stuff out there.
I got super into American Idol this year, and discovered Idol fanfic. Some of it was NC-17 rated slash featuring Cook and Archuleta…ewww! But it was such a train wreck that I had to keep reading! I can understand people using established characters to work on improving their own writing, but elaborate sex fantasies about real people? Count me out.
I read and write it. My two fandoms are The Outsiders and Four Brothers. I actually stumbled on ff.net a few years ago and then a plot bunny took hold and I couldn’t shake it. For me, it’s very relaxing and offers me a chance to practice my creative writing, something I hadn’t done in years.
Stargate Atlantis, Stargate SG-1, and Harry Potter
There are some amazing writers who write in the Veronica Mars fandom. Check out http://community.livejournal.com/veronicamarsfic/, and http://community.livejournal.com/vm_fic/
These two communities have gotten me through a personally difficult time in my life.
[And yes, I write in that fandom as well now...but not under this name.]
‘Firefly’ fanfic is also amazing. See http://www.fireflyfans.net/bluesunroom.asp
Many of us are writers trying to improve our craft with characters we love. Some people consider so-called fanfiction an art form that has been around since “The Odyssey”. Certainly published fanfiction, such as that for Star Trek, has been extremely popular. There is a satisfaction to reading about characters you have already grown to love, and of course some writers / readers use fanfic to address topics that TV cannot or will not address. And fanfic fans are incredibly generous with their feedback for aspiring writers.
Your mileage may vary, as they say.
Guilty.I read Harry potter fanfiction. Sometimes a thought that a I read too much, but my excuse is that I was just waiting for the 7th book to be out. Now that I know what happend to the characters, I read less, but that really do not excuse me for reading Buffy and Angel fanfiction, specially when Faith is the main character.
To Stacey: If you ever finish your Max/Liz story I would love to read it! There is definitely a lack of good Roswell fanfic out there, and it is one of my favorite shows.
I’ve been reading fanfic for a couple years and only recently starting writing one. My fic is a Draco/Hermione story which is one of my favorite ships. My username is bookworm708 if you want to check it out, BTW. My absolute favorite is Buffy/Spike (check out bloodshedverse.com for some good stuff), but I can’t write Spike properly yet, so I haven’t tried.
Mandi, I love that you’ve just discovered FF.net. Now you can get addicted to it like the rest of us.
I love the site cause it gives fans of shows canceled too soon a chance to finish up the story, and also to explore what-ifs. It’s a great way to keep writing without being too serious about it.
not usually for shows – sometimes heroes, but that gets way to intense to read, to many things that could go on. sometimes gilmore girls. usually i read/write harry potter or tamora pierce.
it’s SOOO embarassing.
I’ve written Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Newsies, Peter Pan, Blues Brothers, 10th Kingdom, Phantom of the Opera and I’m drawing a blank… even though I know for sure there’s more.
I don’t read it all that often, or really write fan fiction. I call it writing spec scripts…but since i’m in college it’s not as if it goes anywhere.