Original is fanfiction that does not belong to any fandom. New fictional characters

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Among some fans of fanfiction, there is one delusion that significantly distorts the picture of the world. Almost everything that network authors write is called fanfiction, especially if they managed to light up in some kind of fandom. Nevertheless, the original is a completely independent work that is not directly related to fanfiction, although if you wish, you can find some common features. How to understand the subtleties and not become an object of ridicule? Everything is actually very simple, you just have to understand the terms and get rid of the misconceptions.

Is the original literature or fanfiction?

The arrogant contempt for online creativity actually has a very shaky foundation. Indeed, publishing houses sometimes publish frankly weak works, the presence of a paper book does not at all guarantee artistic value. It's just that the Internet provides an opportunity to lay out anything and at any time for the readers to judge. With such availability, a flow is inevitablefrankly graphomaniac stories, deeply secondary and primitive. It is believed that these shortcomings have all, without exception, fanfiction in a fandom that is experiencing the peak of popularity, which is completely untrue.

The term "original" itself implies that this is an original work that has nothing to do with existing ones. At the same time, it is possible that some novel, film or anime inspired the author and inspired him to create something new. If you think like that, then any story, novel or novel is original. Publication is not an indicator, because a manuscript lying in a drawer does not become fanfiction just because it did not get to the publisher.

Main signs of fanfiction

Why do authors write fanfiction at all? First of all, because they are fascinated by the world of some work, and the Internet is not at all to blame here. An excellent example can be considered such an author as Christopher Priest. This is a popular British science fiction writer who at one time was so imbued with the works of HG Wells that he wrote his own version - an alternative novel "Space Machine", in which he successfully combined Wells' books "Time Machine" and "War of the Worlds". If we consider his novel from the point of view of fanfiction, it is an alternative history, retelling. You can criticize this approach, but it hardly makes sense to ban it.

The fanfiction uses other people's characters, another world, but there may be completely different circumstances and relationships. In this andthe main difference is: the original is an independent work, and any coincidences are random. For example, common names may well be used, references to other books or films may be mentioned. If an orage character reads Pushkin's poems aloud, this does not translate the text into the category of fanfiction.

Why are origis called fanfiction?

On what grounds are these two concepts suddenly linked into a single whole? As mentioned above, this is a misconception, which in most cases is supported only by beginners who have not yet figured out the network literature. This error can be explained by the versatility of authors who can write Harry Potter or Bleach fanfiction and create their own from time to time. The original is a kind of literature that assumes only one's own fantasy, without drawing on someone else's world.

If a character appears in a fanfiction that was not in the original source, this does not bother anyone, just the OMP (original male character) or OCHP (original female character) mark may appear in the header. But it's worth noting that the new fictional characters included in the fanfiction do not make it original.

Genres and categories

Since the originals are most often written by the same authors who own the fanfiction, and the readership persists, there is nothing surprising in the common features. Perhaps that is why such a persistent misconception has appeared relating thistype of network literature to fandom. For example, popular categories and genres are saved, which are necessarily indicated in the header - a special table above the text, in which all the necessary warnings are entered, including sizes and a disclaimer. If a certain audience prefers slash fanfiction, in which the main sensual emphasis falls on same-sex relationships, then with a high degree of probability the original of the same direction will be successful, especially if it is written by a well-written author.

Stories, novellas and novels: a matter of text sizes

The original can be arbitrarily large or small. The so-called “one-liners” have a minimum size, in which a single scene is briefly and succinctly described. A one-liner can actually take up just one line, or literally one paragraph. Next in size is a drabble - a sketch of up to about one thousand words, then in ascending order - mini, midi and maxi. The biggest maxi's take years to write, it's like a multi-volume novel with a sequel, and readers have the opportunity to regularly receive new chapters or passages if the author does not break down and bring the story to the end.

It cannot be said about the original that this is exactly a fanfic that does not belong to any fandom, because the very structure of the word "fanfic" implies the secondary nature and lack of originality of the world and characters. But these are similar literary forms that can be written by the same authors and according to the same rules, respecting the design and ranking of sizes.

Way to fight for the reader

If an author is capable of completely independent original work, then why does he write slash fanfiction and other nonsense? This question is often asked by literary snobs who consider themselves to be the pillars of morality and the keepers of traditions. The explanation here is very simple. Firstly, any fandom is an inspiring environment, sofandom members support each other, exchange impressions, festivals and competitions of fiwriters and arters are regularly held. You can create in the fandom in a relaxed and fun way, there are many readers and a grateful public that can inspire with their comments. And secondly, the authors just want to write for the fandom, why not?

But a fakewriter with regular readers can expect that his originals will also be a success with them, because the audience is no longer following the notorious Harry Potter, but precisely this author. And if all the fanfics have already been read, the new originals will be no less, if not more, successful.

Inspiration as a reason to write

The last argument in defense of online literature is inspiration, which sometimes just needs to be embodied in the form of text, drawing or any other creativity. Be that as it may, the readership of fanfiction is many times larger than that of what is commonly called "high literature" performed by the same online authors who contemptuously turn their backs on fandoms.

Many creative people recognize the importance of such a phenomenon as feedback - reviews oncreativity is stimulated, they allow you to grow above yourself. And it doesn’t have to be just laudatory comments: good sofandomists can rightfully smash fanfiction across fandom, even their favorite, if they are really badly written. This gives writers the opportunity to hone their craft and eventually write a captivating original maxi that is worth publishing.