Like, to be a writer you must actually write, and I’m sorry to say it and to hurt so many feelings but writing fanfiction will not prepare you for the publishing world. It’s a way different sort of game, writing for A03 where you can delete the hateful comments or on Tumblr where you can focus in on the positive takes of your work. Truly, if you’re going to write for like, real publications and some real shit and some real people, they’re not going to be interested in that precious passive tone. They’re going to tire of that fanfiction voice, going to know that you haven’t created worlds of your own, that you’ve only been borrowing other people’s characters. And it’s hard, I know! But you have to do more than write fanfiction, have to do way more than read fanfiction. If you really want to write and be a writer and an Author for The Monies, you’re gonna have to push yourself instead of trying to get that Keith x Lance modern au published, you know?
I think it’s worth explicitly saying that while crafting a good work of fanfic is different from crafting a good work of traditionally-published material, it’s not that one is harder or more valuable as an art form.
This is why I’m really hesitant to say that a real writer is one who has a publication deal, or whatever. While both traditionally-published books and fanfic rely on the same general toolbox of being as strong writer, I think that they require different specific skills, and understandings of very different paths to provide what the reader is expecting.
You could be the world’s best gymnast, and still not be able to play major league baseball, and those baseball players would probably struggle with basic gymnastics. Both are fields that require deep amounts of athletic skill that only a tiny percent of humanity can even dream of, but even though athletes in each field are strong and limber and fit, they aren’t interchangeable, and athletes who do multiple sports have to focus on different aspects of their training depending on the season. That doesn’t mean that doing each sport doesn’t enhance your work in the other, or that one isn’t worth pursuing.
Some of the things that are seen as weaknesses in fic may be incredible strengths in traditionally-published original works. (This works the opposite way as well, of course, but a lot of people say that, and not as many say this.) Writing fic isn’t “just practice for real writing.” It’s not bad. But the process is different, and the results are different as well.
I’d also like to point out that fanfic writing is translatable to others forms of media/art as well.
As someone who takes pre-made characters and siphons them through a variety of different situations, often connecting their fics in to one larger timeline, do you know what you’d probably be amazing at?
Screen writing for a TV show.
We’re also problem solvers. We read in to situations and people’s motivations for their actions extremely well.
You don’t need to be a “real writer” like OP has defined. And the people who read your fics are REAL people.
Don’t tell me shit about “original writing” when they’re remaking Dr. Dolittle for the third fucking time.
I guess I qualify as a “real writer”, editor, publisher, and former English professor. I have the degrees to back it up, too. 🤷🏽♀️
That being said? Some of the best writing I’ve read over the last couple of years has been fanfiction. The ability of these writers to build original characters and seamlessly put them into established worlds is more than commendable. Their ability to take a sliver of dialogue and craft an entire universe is breathtaking.
The “problem” with fics, or “real” writing, comes in when the author isn’t serious about their craft. You can write original trash all day if you aren’t actively working towards making your writing better.
If anything fics let writers experiment in supportive environments and hone skills that translate into other genres. Want to be better at poetry? Try a drabble that forces you to be economical and deliberate with your word choice. Want to write a novel? Test out a multi chapter fic to see if you can carry a plot across that many pages. Want to write a screenplay? Try fics because they help you learn how you as a writer best engage your audience.
Skills are developed in a variety of ways. It’s up to you to determine what you get out of it.
I’m a “real” published writer and an editor and you know what?
It’s… the same fucking thing. The actual goddamn writing? SAME. FUCKING SAME.
Fuck you OP.
“The idea that you’re not a writer until you’re published is a lie. The idea that you *are* a writer because you’re published is also a lie.”
- Andrew Vachss Slushpile interview - https://bit.ly/2lxWL7o
