Fan fiction
Amateur fiction by fans, based on existing works.
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Fan fiction, also known as fanfic, is amateur fiction written by fans based on existing works of fiction, using copyrighted characters, settings, or intellectual properties without authorization. It ranges from a few sentences to novel-length and can be based on various media, including novels, movies, comics, television shows, and video games. The term came into use in the 20th century as copyright laws began distinguishing authorized from unauthorized stories. The practice of writing unauthorized stories based on existing works predates modern copyright.
Before copyright law, authors commonly borrowed characters and plots from others; for example, Shakespeare based several plays on recent works by other writers. In 1614, Alonso Fernández de Avellaneda published a sequel to Cervantes’s Don Quixote before Cervantes had finished his own second volume. The 19th century saw numerous unauthorized adaptations, including works based on Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Jane Austen’s novels, and Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes stories, such as J. M. Barrie’s The Adventure of the Two Collaborators.
Star Trek fandom
Other notable examples include A New Alice in the Old Wonderland, based on Lewis Carroll’s work, and Wide Sargasso Sea, based on Jane Eyre. The modern phenomenon of fan fiction was popularized and defined by the Star Trek fandom in the 1960s. The first Star Trek fanzine, Spockanalia (1967), contained fan fiction, and many fanzines followed. These were produced via offset printing and mimeography and distributed at conventions or by mail.
Women were the primary authors; by 1970, 83% of Star Trek fan fiction writers were female, rising to 90% by 1973. One scholar noted that this filled a need for a mostly female audience seeking narratives that expanded beyond official source material. With the advent of the Internet, fan fiction became far more widespread.
Internet
Online archives, initially hand-tended and fandom-specific, were followed by automated databases. In 1998, the non-profit site FanFiction.Net launched, allowing anyone to upload content in any fandom, with direct reader reviews. Fan fiction is rarely commissioned or professionally published, and it may infringe on copyright depending on jurisdiction and fair use considerations. Author attitudes range from encouragement to indifference or legal action.
Quick Facts
- Field
- Amateur fiction, fandom
- Known for
- Unauthorized fiction based on existing works
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Fan fiction is amateur fiction written by fans, based on existing works without the original creator’s authorization. It can use copyrighted characters, settings, or intellectual property, and may retain, alter, or expand upon the original material—for example, by adding or removing characters, themes, or plot points. Lengths range from a few sentences to novel-length works. The medium draws from both fictional and non-fictional sources, including novels, movies, comics, television, musical groups, theater, cartoons, web series, anime, manga, and video games.
Fan fiction is rarely commissioned or professionally published, and its legal status depends on jurisdiction and whether it qualifies as fair use. Author attitudes vary from encouragement to indifference or disapproval, sometimes leading to legal action. The term itself appeared in print as early as 1938, originally referring to amateur science fiction; a 1944 fandom encyclopedia defined it as fiction about fans or professionals, occasionally featuring famous characters. Historically, before modern copyright, authors commonly copied characters or plots—Shakespeare based several plays on recent works, and a 1614 sequel to Don Quixote was written before Cervantes finished his own second volume.
The modern phenomenon was popularized by Star Trek fandom in the 1960s, with fanzines like Spockanalia (1967) containing early examples. These were produced via offset printing or mimeography and distributed at conventions. Most authors were female—83% by 1970, rising to 90% by 1973—reflecting a demand for narratives expanding official source material. The internet further expanded reach, with online archives and sites like FanFiction.Net (1998) allowing easy self-publishing and direct reader reviews.
Reader's Guide
Fan fiction represents a significant form of fan labor and creative expression, often filling narrative gaps or expanding universes for mostly female audiences. It has become a major part of internet culture, with estimates suggesting it comprises one-third of all book-related content online.
The practice raises legal questions about copyright and fair use, with author attitudes ranging from encouragement to legal action. The global reach is evident, with users from North America, Europe, Oceania, and other regions. Fan fiction's legacy includes influencing publishing, as seen in the 'pulling-to-publish' practice, and fostering communities that challenge traditional notions of authorship and intellectual property.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is fan fiction?
Fan fiction is amateur storytelling written by enthusiasts that reimagines characters, settings, or plots drawn from existing media such as novels, TV shows, films, comics, or video games. It is produced without the original creators' permission and can span anywhere from a single paragraph to a full-length novel.
Who typically writes fan fiction?
Historically, the overwhelming majority of fan fiction authors have been women, with surveys from the early 1970s recording figures as high as 90 percent for franchises like Star Trek. While the community is more gender-balanced today, that early female-dominated authorship remains a defining part of the genre's history.
How does fan fiction differ from an official sequel or spin-off?
The core difference is authorization: fan fiction is created without the rights-holder's permission, while sequels and spin-offs carry the original studio's or publisher's blessing. Fan fiction also frequently explores 'what-if' scenarios, fills narrative gaps, or recenter underrepresented characters in ways the source property never addressed.
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Sources
Compiled from Wikipedia and the sources listed below. Text from Wikipedia is available under CC BY-SA 4.0; this entry is adapted from it.
- Wikipedia: Fan fiction (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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