On Fanfiction...

Fangirl has been the topic-of-conversation on this blog for weeks now; and, at the moment, I have no plans for that to end. Throughout the book, snippets from Cath's fanfiction, called Carry On, Simon(based on the Simon Snow books by Gemma T. Leslie) are featured, which I really enjoyed reading. I couldn't help questioning why I had never read or even tried writing fanfiction. Thousands of teenagers use sites such as Wattpad to showcase their work, with an even larger number scrolling through reading what is posted.

However, I don't.

 

noun: fanfiction

fiction written by a fan of, and featuring characters from, a particular TV series, film, etc.

Before I begin trying to explain, I'd like to point out that, although I'm not involved in any form of the fanfiction world, I still love the idea. Those who adore a certain book or film are brought together and are able to communicate - it's really an extension of blogging - and it's almost certain to say amongst fans of franchises such as The Hunger Games and Divergent that I would fit in. However, fanfiction is not my 'cup of tea'.
 

 As writers of fanfiction create alternative endings for their favourite series, re-write scenes from a different perspective and change plot details, I know I'd be planning out new chapters too. The Reaping from Prim's perspective; the 74th Hunger Games from Peeta's point-of-view; Snow's thoughts as Katniss outsmarts the Capitol. Four's retelling of the fear landscape; how Christina felt during Dauntless initiation; Caleb's thoughts whilst in Erudite. Admit it: we're all curious. With fanficton, a story is not told once but multiple times. It never has to come to a close. I have so many ideas - yet, I can't bring myself to write them.
 

When I see 'THE END' appear, in block capitals, at the end of a book, I'm forced to accept that it's over. The characters, the storyline and the world are all done; nothing more will be heard about them for now. It's not easy  to come to terms with. Never is the ending tied-up perfectly like a present beneath a tree, though. Instead, there are countless questions, and despite not having a clear conclusion also being the bane of my existence, I like how it's up to me - as the reader - to decide on the answers. From turning the final page, what happens to the characters next is my choice. Fanfiction - and I do applaud it inviting more people to read and write - does take this away. Endings are rewritten; ideas revoked. Storylines taken apart and reassembled in a completely different way. Personally, I worry about my own ideas being tainted if I read something in fanfiction that is almost too plausible. That I can't see past. That is so believable that I can't help but wonder why the author didn't think to write it - and it lessens my love of the book. The ending I had imagined could be completely changed - when I'd rather cling to it.

As a book blogger, I read a lot. I don't read hundreds of books in a year, but enough that I find myself forgetting certain aspects. With fanfiction, I know I'd find it difficult to distinguish between what really happened in the book and what I read in an entry online. I'd be sitting there, waiting for the movie adaptation to start in the cinema(as the majority of fanfiction focuses on franchises), believing I was about to see certain scenes that never actually existed in the original series.  What I've noticed is that a large amount of fanfic focuses on what happened before we first meet a character in the book series but, I like to live out the mystery.  I don't read fanfiction because I'd soon find myself confused - and there's no time to reread.

When listening to the Superfans Unite! panel at YALC last weekend, I soon understood why fanfiction is so popular, though. You can continue with a story even though it has ended. You can hold on to that piece of your childhood and not let go until you're ready. Both Rainbow Rowell and Luxy Saxon talked about how they turned to fanfiction after the final Harry Potter film had been released. During the decade that the movies were being released and the books were becoming best-sellers, I was still reading my Jacqueline Wilson collection. I wasn't ready to read a huge fantasy series, and it took me until Year Seven to finally do so. I've never been a fan of a book/film series that has come to an end. Maybe, when I walk out of the cinema after Mockingjay Part 2 sobbing, I will need fanfiction. Desperately.

Do you read fanfiction?
If yes/no, why?
Should I try reading/writing it?

Tell me in the comments!