What is fan fiction?

Fan fiction, often shortened to fanfic, is a form of creative writing where fans use characters, settings, and storylines from existing works of fiction – such as books, movies, TV shows, video games, and even real people (RPS or Real Person Slash) – as the basis for new stories. It's a transformative work, meaning it takes something pre-existing and changes it in some way.

Here are some key aspects of fan fiction:

• Source Material: Fanfic is always based on pre-existing intellectual property. The source material provides the world, characters, and sometimes even plot points that the fan fiction author draws upon.

• Authorship: Fan fiction is written by fans, not by the original creators of the source material. It's generally a non-commercial activity driven by passion and a desire to further explore or reimagine the source material.

• Genres and Tropes: Fan fiction encompasses a wide range of genres, mirroring those found in traditional fiction. Some popular tropes include Alternate Universe (AU), where the story is set in a different world or time period; Crossover, where characters from different fictional universes interact; Fix-it Fic, where authors attempt to "fix" plot holes or character flaws in the original work; Shipping, which focuses on romantic relationships between characters; and Hurt/Comfort, which explores themes of injury, illness, and recovery.

• Platforms: Fan fiction is primarily shared online through dedicated websites such as Archive of Our Own (AO3), Fanfiction.net, Wattpad, and Tumblr.

• Legal Issues: Fan fiction exists in a gray area legally. Copyright laws protect the intellectual property of the original creators. While fan fiction is technically a derivative work, it's often tolerated as a form of fan expression, especially when it's non-commercial. However, copyright holders have the right to take down fan fiction that infringes on their intellectual property.

• Community: Fan fiction fosters a large and active online community. Authors share their work, receive feedback, and participate in discussions about their favorite fandoms.

• Types of Fanfiction: There are many kinds of fanfiction. Character Study is a type of fanfiction that analyzes or examines a certain character to learn more about them. Mary Sue is a type of character which is an idealized and seemingly perfect character.