How “Fan Fictions” Raised A Generation Of Readers And Writers
They’re not as “cringey” as you think.
Fandom culture has been around for decades. A “fandom” is a term which describes “communities built around a shared enjoyment of an aspect of popular culture, such as books, movies, TV shows, bands, sports or sports teams, etc.” This is an example of participatory culture, involving fans as not only consumers, but producers and creators of different forms of creative media as well.
In the 21st century, fan culture has evolved as different fandoms are now hosting their own events, mounting donation drives, doing charity work, and renting billboard advertisements, all for the love for their idols. Be it in Hollywood, the music industry, anime, or sports, one of the most controversial artistic expressions of fan culture is the creation of “fan fictions.”
Fan fiction, abbreviated as “fanfic”, is a “creative material featuring characters from works whose copyright is held by others,” as described by author Francesca Coppa in her book The Fanfiction Reader. It consists of fictional stories made by fans, where their original characters take inspiration from their idols in real life.
The 2011 blockbuster Fifty Shades of Grey was originally written by E.L. James as a Twilight fanfic. When it was published as a book, they replaced Twilight’s characters to avoid copyright. Another fanfic-turned-movie is Anna Todd’s After, which was originally published on the Internet as a One Direction fan fiction. These are just a few examples why fan fictions actually help young readers and writers to experiment with their creativity.
Cyril, 27, ran a Justin Bieber fan account when she was 16 years old. “I started reading fan fictions when I was relatively new to the fandom, around two or three months in. It actually made me love reading,” she shares. After finishing her first fanfic, she started reading Young Adult books, until reading eventually became a habit. “Ito ‘yung unang nagpa-realize sa akin na masarap pala magbasa, at dito ko din na-discover na mas masarap magsulat.”
Cyril then started writing her own fan fictions, posting them on free websites like Wattpad and Tumblr for other fans to read. “At one point it became my comfort. I loved seeing comments from readers saying they were looking forward to the next chapter, sometimes they also comment constructive criticism which I really appreciated.” As a confused teenager who didn’t know which career path to take, Cyril’s fanfic hobby became a light bulb moment. “I knew I wanted to take up Creative Writing, so I did.”
Diego has been an avid fanfic reader since he was 18. “I started getting into Harry Potter when I was a freshman in college. I knew that fan fictions existed back then but I never really got the hype.” It wasn’t until two years later that Diego started reading fanfics on Tumblr. “Tumblr is a really good website kasi it has amazing writers for different fandoms,” says the 25-year-old. “It’s very diverse and the community there never makes you feel excluded.”
These years from their teenhood immensely contributed to the career paths they eventually took. Cyril became a Junior Editor for a publication, while Diego now teaches English to high school students. “Naging eye-opener siya for me, because it exposed me to a lot of amazing writers who didn’t have the chance to get their works published, but are talented fiction authors nonetheless,” Cyril shares.
When asked about how the general public often calls fan fiction readers and writers “cringey” and “delusional,” Diego answers: “I mean, not every fanfic is exceptional of course. Pero manifestation siya ng creativity ng mga teenagers during my time up until now. These teenagers should be supported in finding their artistic voice.”
Today, more websites have been introduced where you can read fan-made stories for free, such as Archive of Our Own (AO3), Quotev, and Fanfiction.net. These platforms consist of different genres and tropes, so readers can explore which writing style they love the most. They also built a community where they can interact with fanfic authors to offer constructive criticism, praise, and theories about the story’s plot. “Getting messages was the best part of being in this community. The comments really motivated me to pursue writing and they made me feel like I was being appreciated,” Cyril shares.
Fan fiction might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s undeniable how it has changed pop culture.
And for those who still find it cringey, here’s an inspiring message from Cyril: “Not everyone will understand, but fandoms, along with these little quirks, has served as a safe space for millions of people, including myself. I built confidence because of it, I made friends, and I am a writer today because of that one story. It changed my life.”
This article originally appeared on OneLife.PH
