This content has been automatically translated from Ukrainian.
Fan fiction (from English fan fiction) — are artistic works created by fans based on existing universes, characters, or plots from books, movies, series, video games, or even real people. It is a form of creativity where fans expand or reinterpret original stories, adding their own ideas, alternative plotlines, or new characters. Another name for such works is fanfic.
The History of Fan Fiction: From Classics to the Digital Age
Although the term "fan fiction" has appeared relatively recently, the practice of creating works based on others' stories has deep historical roots. For example, in the 17th century, Spanish writer Alonso Fernández de Avellaneda wrote an unofficial continuation of "Don Quixote" even before Cervantes completed his second part. In the 19th century, numerous unauthorized stories about Sherlock Holmes emerged, as well as adaptations of Jane Austen's works.
The modern phenomenon of fan fiction gained popularity in the 1960s thanks to fans of the series "Star Trek." They created and distributed their own stories through fanzines — self-published magazines dedicated to beloved characters like Spock and Kirk. These fanzines became a platform for sharing creativity and discussing alternative plots.
With the advent of the Internet, fan fiction received a new boost. In 1998, the website FanFiction.Net was created, becoming one of the first major online archives for fan works. In 2009, Archive of Our Own (AO3) was launched, a non-profit project that provides a platform for publishing and discussing fan fiction. As of 2025, AO3 contains over 15 million works in more than 70 thousand fandoms.
Fandom (from English fandom, short for fan domain — "fan sphere") — is a community of people united by a common interest in a particular work, genre, character, celebrity, or cultural phenomenon. Fandom includes fans who actively consume, discuss, and often create content based on their favorite source: fanfics, fan art, videos, memes, theories, etc.
Fandom often has its own internal terminology, jokes, ships (favorite pairings), creative projects, and active online life. Modern fandoms primarily operate on social media (Tumblr, Twitter/X, Reddit, TikTok) or on platforms for publishing fan content. Within fandoms, fans not only express their love for the work but also actively interact with each other, forming a whole subculture.
Types of Fan Fiction
Fan fiction encompasses a wide range of genres and styles. Among the most common types:
- Alternate Universe (AU): characters are placed in a setting different from the original, for example, fantasy heroes end up in the modern world.
- Crossovers: a combination of characters or plots from different works in one story.
- Romantic Pairings (ships): focus on romantic or sexual relationships between characters, often not represented in the original.
- Slash: depiction of romantic or sexual relationships between same-sex characters.
- Real Person Fan Fiction (RPF): stories where the main characters are real celebrities, such as musicians or actors.
Platforms for Fan Fiction
There are several popular online platforms where fans can publish and read fan fiction:
- Archive of Our Own (AO3): a non-profit archive that provides space for publishing and discussing fan works.
- FanFiction.Net: one of the oldest platforms for fan fiction, covering a wide range of fandoms.
- Wattpad: a platform for publishing both fan fiction and original works, popular among youth.
- Tumblr: a social network where fans share short stories, illustrations, and discussions related to their favorite fandoms.
Notable Examples of Fan Fiction
Some fanfics have gained widespread popularity and even been adapted for the mass market:
- "Fifty Shades of Grey": originally a fanfic of "Twilight," but later became a standalone novel, changing the characters' names.
- "After" by Anna Todd: originally a fanfic about the band One Direction, later adapted into a series of novels and films.
These examples demonstrate how fan creativity can transition into commercial success.
Legal and Ethical Aspects
It is important to emphasize that fanfics generally cannot be used for commercial purposes, as they are created based on intellectual property, the rights to which belong to the authors, publishers, or studios. Publishing or selling fan works without the rights holder's permission may be considered a violation of copyright. That is why most platforms where fan fiction is distributed prohibit its monetization. Even in cases where a fanfic becomes extremely popular, significant reworking is usually required to turn it into a commercial product — in particular, changing character names, settings, and unique elements of the original work, as was the case with "Fifty Shades of Grey." This approach allows avoiding legal consequences and releasing an adapted work within the law.
Fan fiction exists in a gray area of copyright. Some creators of original works support fan creativity, while others oppose it. The organization "Organization for Transformative Works" (OTW) defends fans' rights, arguing that fan fiction is transformative use and falls under the principles of fair use.
The Significance of Fan Fiction
Fan fiction is not only entertainment but also a means of self-expression, exploring alternative plots, and deeper immersion in beloved universes. It fosters the development of writing skills, creativity, and forms communities of like-minded individuals.
In the modern world, fan fiction has become an important part of pop culture, demonstrating the power of fan creativity and its impact on literature and media.
This post doesn't have any additions from the author yet.
