FanFiction

When I recently learned of fanfiction, I didn’t really pay much attention. That is, I didn’t pay attention until I realized that fanfiction was really just a synonym for retellings. It was like fireworks went off inside my head as I connected how fanfiction describes a bunch of authors (or in this case, fans) retelling their favorite stories through their own written word. Most of the time they use the same characters, the same settings, and even much of the same plot. They just change it up in ways that they believe makes the story better. 

Is that not the essence of retelling?

It could in turn be argued that all retellings qualify as fanfiction! They occur when an author likes a story so much that they decide to keep most of its concept and characters. Whether it be fairy tales and myths written centuries ago, or shows and movies written within the last decade, any story inspired by another story counts as fanfiction in a sense (just as fanfiction counts as retelling). 

Most people tend to think of fanfiction as simply amateur writing. However, in the age of self-publishing, could it not be argued that even a published book might count as amateur writing? I’ve read many really well-written self-published books and just as many that could have very much benefitted from an editor. Couldn’t fanfiction be the same way? Therefore, I think that fanfiction should be viewed in a positive light rather than with the literary contempt often heaped upon it. When a person goes so far as to retell a story they love in an effort to make it even better, such an action should be commended.

Any thoughts?

Fairy truly yours,

Grace W. Wong