Fanfiction can be found everywhere in today’s media.
Movies and shows such as “Fifty Shades of Grey,” “The Idea of You,” “After,” “Red, White & Royal Blue,” “The Kissing Booth” and “My Life with the Walter Boys” all began as fanfictions before being adapted into novel or screen form.
Fanfiction is typically defined as works written by fans about an established, copywritten work, such as a show, movie or book. Fan-created works often feature many chapters and in-depth world-building, often reaching word counts longer than a standard novel.
The most popular website where users can read and publish fanfiction, Archive of Our Own or AO3, hosts over 8 million registered users, along with many more guest users. Some of the top works on the site have millions of views.
The most popular work on the website, “All the Young Dudes,” a Harry Potter fanfiction, has captured the attention of fans, containing over 520,000 words and 19 million views. For context, "The Lord of the Rings" by J.R.R. Tolkien is a mere 470,000 words.
Mierae Taylor, a junior studying interdisciplinary arts, as well as a fanfiction reader and AO3 user, has enjoyed "All The Young Dudes” for years.
“It’s a 500,000-word fic, and that’s the type of stuff I love reading,” Taylor said.
Fanfiction often contains similar components to novels, with many of them sharing similar tropes, plotlines, character development and plot progression. Oftentimes, fanfiction reads similarly to romance books or rom-com movies.
“I really don't think there's that big of a difference between books and fanfiction, because both have tropes, beloved characters and concrete stories,” Taylor said.
For many fans, fanfiction is a way to engage with a piece of media they enjoy and get more content about the characters or the world. When a series ends, fanfiction provides an avenue to continue enjoying it.
Websites dedicated to fanfiction form close-knit communities, giving people a space to discuss their common interests together. Comment sections on fanfictions offer spaces for people to rave about the content and discover more works.
Currently, the most popular website for fanfiction is AO3, although websites like Wattpad, Quora and Fanfiction.net also have content and dedicated users. Taylor, like many readers, started reading fanfiction in middle school on Wattpad, then transitioned.
AO3 has risen to the top as a favorite because of its user's quality work, simple layout and specific navigation system.
“The way it's formatted, especially with the tags as a search system, is probably my favorite thing about it,” Taylor said.
AO3 has been the platform where the largest works of fanfiction have been published. Recently, following the release of “Stranger Things” season five, the website has gained another iconic work.
“You took my heart (i was sleeping)” is a work by AO3 user lameparties, following a romantic pairing between the characters Mike Wheeler and Will Byers from Stranger Things.
The fanfic, originally published between Oct. 10 and Nov. 30, rapidly rose in the charts, eventually becoming the third most liked work on the website. The fanfic became so popular that artists have created artwork specifically about the story.
“I will forever adore how you write these two," user in_a_cherry_coloured_funk wrote in the comment section. "Your style is beautiful, captivating, the balance of dialogue, description and experience is entirely artful, and you wonderfully articulate the smallest and most meaningful things. This is truly one of the most perfect fics I’ve ever read."
Taylor enjoys publishing to AO3, as well, creating works of her own for others to enjoy. One such work published has over 10,000 reads.
For many, writing fanfiction is a hobby and a way to sharpen their writing skills while focusing on a topic they’re passionate about. Taylor enjoys the creative freedom of the process.
“I really like how unrestricted it feels because it’s just something to make you happy, and it's not an assignment,” Taylor said. “There's no due date. You're not getting paid. There aren't all of these items on a never-ending list."
Fanfiction has often received a bad reputation as a result of extreme fans, but the popularity of AO3 has been shifting the attitude slightly.
“I think there's a lot of stereotypical thought surrounding fanfiction that kind of needs to be abolished,” Taylor said. “If you're not hurting yourself or anyone else, have the time of your life.”
