Have you ever finished a book, a series, a movie that you didn’t want to end? You may have found yourself looking for fanfiction to bring back to life the love you had for certain characters.
I used to read so much fanfiction as a teen and although I haven’t read much lately, it’s still something I’ll turn to should the feeling rise. However, with the upcoming release of Alchemised by SenLinYu a.k.a Manacled – a hugely popular Harry Potter fanfiction. It sparked my thoughts on the purpose of fanfiction and the fine line of copyrights when fanfiction gets published.
What is fanfiction?
Fanfiction refers to stories written by fans of existing works of fiction, such as books, movies, TV shows, or video games. These stories are focused around elements of the original source material and often feature the same set of characters.
Fanfiction has become increasingly popular for many reasons but it does raise a lot of thoughts and questions over ownership.
Why is fanfiction so loved?
Fanfiction is loved as it offers readers more of the stories and characters they love. Fans can explore those “what if” scenarios, reimagine pieces of the story, or even rewrite entirely new endings. For writers, fanfiction provides a creative outlet, another way to hone their skills, and a platform to connect with a passionate audience.
While fanfiction has traditionally been seen as a hobby, this perception is changing. I remember writing a Twilight fanfiction on Wattpad that got 10 thousand reads (12 year old me was very pleased!) however the love of writing fanfiction is not limited to the younger generation. Several successful authors have emerged from the fanfiction community, their works initially gaining popularity online before being reworked and published as original novels.
Famous works that were once fanfiction
One of the most notable examples is E.L. James, whose Fifty Shades of Grey trilogy began as a Twilight fanfiction. Other authors, such as Cassandra Clare’s The Mortal Instruments and Rainbow Rowell’s Carry On, have also acknowledged their roots in fanfiction. Stephen King himself has 3 works of fanfiction from his earlier career inspired by Sherlock Holmes and H.P. Lovecraft.
Why does fanfiction get published?
In my non-professional opinion as a reader with no ties to the publishing world (just to set your expectations), there are a few reasons I think we have seen a rise of fanfiction in traditional publishing.
- Popularity has increased. The internet has made it easier for fanfiction writers to share their work and build a following. Websites like Wattpad and AO3 are two of the most popular sites for publishing fanfiction. It’s free to download and easily accessible.
- Publishers have also recognized the potential of fanfiction to tap into existing fanbases. Many works of fanfiction already have established communities that are actively reading and promoting the story, that’s a lot of potential customers.
- There are also dedicated book binding communities that typeset fanfiction and hand bind them into physical copies for their personal collection. The love, creativity and commitment of this community is on another planet and they are sharing these creations via Instagram and Tiktok garnering thousands if not millions of likes and views.
All the Young Dudes a Harry Potter fanfiction held on AO3 has over 16.9 million views. That’s just one example of the scale that many fanfiction works can reach.
Are there issues when publishing fanfiction?
However, the transition from fanfiction to a published novel is not a straight path. Legal issues, such as copyright infringement, can arise if the fanfiction too closely resembles the original work. There is also an argument that some fans feel that the author has betrayed the spirit of fanfiction by profiting from it. I’m keen to hear your thoughts in the comment section below!
“[In] general I’m pro-fanstuff so long as it’s created in the spirit of sharing and not profit..” N.K. Jemisin, author of The Fifth Season.
Copyright concerns
Fanfiction often exists in a grey area regarding copyright. While many authors tolerate it, others might feel their intellectual property is being infringed upon which could potentially lead to legal action.
The Tolkein estate won their court case against writer Demetrious Polychron who wrote a fanfiction named The Fellowship of the King. He was ordered to destroy all digital and physical copies and prevented from distributing any further fanfiction in this series.
How do authors feel about fanfiction?
This question is a huge topic and the more I dig the more I find a divide of opinion. There are many that find fanfiction flattering such as Stephanie Meyer who actively links to a fanfiction site on her website. Others are okay with it as long as it’s not for profit and is not labelled as ‘official’, so long as they never have to read it. Which I can understand and perhaps opens a compromise to fanfiction writers.
However there are others who feel passionately against fanfiction. Many of which are led by legal reasons and the need to protect their copyright. Others find the thought upsetting and hold the belief that it is immoral.
Fanfiction controversies
Robin Hobb the author of the Farseer trilogy and countless other books in that world, wrote an essay titled The Fan Fiction Rant. She feels passionately that fanfiction is a form of identity theft and states “when I write, I want to tell my story directly to you. I want you to read it exactly as I wrote it.”
Raymond E. Feist is another fantasy writer that has spoken about his dislike of fanfiction, referencing the Marion Zimmer Bradley Fanfiction Controversy as his rationale. A very interesting read regarding Bradley, an author, who was unable to publish a novel due to the similarities to a fanfiction that a fan of hers had written. It’s a complex case and I encourage you to take a deeper look however, it really highlights the complexities of copyright infringement and who really owns what.
Organization of Transformative Works (OTW)
The OTW is a non-profit organisation established by fans to serve the interests of fans by providing access to and preserving the history of fanworks. They run the AO3 website which as of 2018, hosts more than 4.2 million works in more than 30,000 fandoms. I wonder what that looks like as of 2025!
“We envision a future in which all fannish works are recognized as legal and transformative and are accepted as a legitimate creative activity. We are proactive and innovative in protecting and defending our work from commercial exploitation and legal challenge..” OTW website.
I’m not sure what this means for the future but what I can see is that fanfiction is not slowing down. There is a large divide of opinion but it does feel like the tide is shifting and more are starting to grow accustomed to fanfiction rather than speaking out against it.
The impact on readers and authors
New opportunities for authors
There are so many online platforms that provide spaces for fanfiction writers to build a following and gain recognition. This could be a path to traditional publishing by establishing a fanbase and getting their writing out there in front of readers and to the attention of publishers.
Community recognition
For some authors it must feel brilliant to know their fans are so invested in their work that they create their own stories. It really demonstrates the impact of their work, which can be a powerful motivator.
“I’m flattered by fan fiction. I’m delighted that anyone would feel invested enough in my characters or the world I created to want to write stories based around them—even if it’s because they don’t like where I took the narrative..” Leigh Bardugo, author of Six of Crows.
Creative restrictions
Some authors might feel pressured by their fan’s expectations and potentially avoid certain storylines. Alternatively, when characters become so popular authors may feel pressured to keep writing despite wanting to try something new. This is not limited to fanfiction but another aspect I wanted to consider. Like when a TV show gets one too many seasons when they should have ended on a high.. I’m digressing.
I wonder if any author reading this could provide their insight as to how it would make them feel. Do you think this would stifle your creative freedom?
Hergé, the author of The Adventures of Tintin spoke about how the popularity of Tintin made him feel like a prisoner, chained to his drawing table.
Misinterpretation
For some authors it might feel upsetting to encounter fanfiction that misinterprets their books.
“I don’t ever want to read about my characters in someone else’s writing. It’s too upsetting for me, because they are mine and from my mind..” Anne Rice, author of Interview with the Vampire.
The flip side is that they may see other sides of their characters that they didn’t think of and it offers a new perspective. I’m not sure if there is a scenario where authors read fanfiction of their work, but you never know!
I want to know your thoughts!
I ramble a lot but I really wanted to touch on this topic and get others perspectives from readers and authors alike;
– What do you think about fanfiction?
– How do you feel about fanfiction being published?
– Are you an author of fanfiction or have had others write fanfiction of your work?
– Anything I’ve missed regarding this discussion?