HELP: I'm 13 years old and I'm really into writting fanfics

IcyBleu1Love · Post by **IcyBleu1Love** » 25 Jun 2008, 18:01

I have a topic for my next story:
My boy character has a crush on this girl that he doesn't know for the longest time. Then one day she ends up missing and he is very serious into finding her.

I just can't think of what to write or how to start it off. I really need help. Does anyone have any ideas?

saracen77 · Post by **saracen77** » 26 Jun 2008, 06:10

This sounds like an original story. If it's going to be a fanfic, you need to decide which fandom you are playing with, and which characters from the fandom you are going to use, then put your idea around them.

If it's an original story, then just dive in. You have the story, you just need to start writing. Have you decided how and where they met?

Even if you haven't worked out the beginning, just dig in from where you have the story worked out, and then go back later and fill in the beginning.

Best thing is just to get something down. As soon as you break the empty page, it all feels less intimidating and it flows easier.

blue_diamond21 · Post by **blue_diamond21** » 26 Jun 2008, 10:34

this might seem a stupid question but what is fanfic/fandom?

saracen77 · Post by **saracen77** » 26 Jun 2008, 10:48

Not stupid at all!

Fanfic or fan fiction is where you take another authors ready created worlds and make the characters play out your story, instead of theirs.

So, if you were a Harry Potter fan, but didn't like the end, you would take those characters and rewrite it so that Luna Lovegood saved the day, married Harry and won the next Quiddich world cup... Or something!

Fandom is just whichever book or tv show or movie that you choose to be a fan of. So you could be part of the Twighlight fandom, or the Star Trek fandom if you like those books or shows and follow all the stuff that goes on around them.

Some authors like the fact that their fans write their own stories about the characters. JK Rowling encourages it. Other authors, like Anne Rice, will sue as soon as look at a piece of fanfic!

You also have to be careful to make sure you are in no way profiting from the writing of fanfic. Fanfic is purely for enjoyment and all the monetary gain must go to the original author.

blue_diamond21 · Post by **blue_diamond21** » 26 Jun 2008, 10:52

Sounds fun! I dont understand why al authors wouldn't like their fans doing this as it shows they take an interest in the characters they have created! And if they aren't doing it for profit then why complain!

saracen77 · Post by **saracen77** » 26 Jun 2008, 10:58

It is fun! And there are some really great authors out there, who can tell a wonderful tale.

It's a great way to get started, and has a special set of talents to go with it. If you are not confident with an original character, but you have a plot, then you can hone the skills with an established universe. It's also a skill in itself to make the characters sound right. Kind of like when all those students spent years copying Mattisse and Monet, trying to get the feel just right.

There are lots of archives out there, just google fanfic with the name of the series or book you are interested in and you will get loads of hits. Mind you, not all of it is good! You will have to wade through some rubbish before you find the gems!

Libellus · Post by **Libellus** » 26 Jun 2008, 11:35

saracen77 wrote: Mind you, not all of it is good! You will have to wade through some rubbish before you find the gems!

How true of *alot* of Books, Music, Art, (People?) .... just about anything.
But doesnt that make the gems sparkle more brightly?

saracen77 · Post by **saracen77** » 27 Jun 2008, 04:22

Libellus wrote:How true of *alot* of Books, Music, Art, (People?) .... just about anything.
But doesnt that make the gems sparkle more brightly?

It does indeed! The gems really do make up for some of the not quite so polished stuff that is out there, and you are right, this applies to all sorts of things, not just fanfic

kardel · Post by **kardel** » 20 Aug 2008, 07:43

Well since it is a fanfic you have a lot of material in the original setting itself . One hint don't try to start the story by thinking about the ending right away, introduce subplots, add a hint here and there and then slowly direct it towards your main plot .