How to Go from Fanfiction Writer to Published Author
What do authors Tomi Adeyemi, Marissa Meyer, and E. L. James have in common?
by Sylvie Soulet
Tomi Adeyemi, author of Children of Blood and Bone, is currently one of the most popular authors in the YA fiction, and has recently released her follow-up novel, Children of Virtue and Vengeance. Marissa Meyer has made a name for herself with Cinder and the rest of The Lunar Chronicles trilogy. E.L James became an overnight success with the Fifty Shades of Grey series.
All three came from humble beginnings within the vast and oft-maligned world of fanfiction.
Adeyemi got her start writing Naruto fanfiction, Meyer began by penning fanworks of Sailor Moon, and James’ steamy best-seller actually began as Twilight fanfiction.
Take into account Wattpad as a legitimate distributor of movie properties (think by Anna Todd, a One Direction fanfiction turned mega-hit), and it’s apparent that fanfiction is fast on its way to becoming a legitimate stepping stone along the path to published authordom.
So where does that leave aspiring fanfiction writers? How can, say, someone who has written a 50,000-word Harry Potter fanfic and amassed thousands of likes and fans leverage their writing talent into the professional realm, the ultimate end goal for any writer? Read on to find out.
Proofreading
One of the beautiful things about fanfiction is its accessibility. From Fanfiction.net to Archive of Our Own, Wattpad and even Tumblr, all one needs to post their work online is an Internet connection and their imagination.
Newcomers to the world of fanfiction may be so zealous in their creations that they’re wont to post what literally spills from their brain onto the keyboard, to the detriment of hapless readers.
Most fanfiction is a first draft; the raw makings of a compelling story, riddled with spelling mistakes, grammar errors, pacing issues, and structural plot inconsistencies.
Writers that are more conscientious will at least plan out their stories in an outline before sharing them with the world. Some may use proofreading tools such as the Hemingway app or Grammarly. Others may take that extra step to ensure they’re presenting a polished product by enlisting the help of volunteer beta-readers or a critique group to proofread what they’ve written.
Sharing one’s fanfiction with impartial readers ensures honest feedback that can be vital to help novice writers improve.
This is a wise habit for those who wish to publish a novel in the future. The first step in getting traditionally published is to secure a literary agent, most of whom are bogged down with hundreds of submissions on a weekly basis. If a writer wishes to gain representation, the last thing they want to do is blow their chances by presenting an inferior product which lands their writing a one-way ticket from the slush pile to the trash.
Learn to Love “No”
Comments and likes can become an addictive source of validation for the fanfiction writer. Most readers won’t bother to comment unless they truly love a story. Usually said comments don’t amount to much more than “Great story!” or “Please write more!”
But for writers wishing to elevate their craft to a state that can be published, they must learn to accept a healthy dose of rejection.
Stephen King would nail rejection letters to his wall. J.K. Rowling was rejected a dozen times before she finally got a yes for Harry Potter. Writers shouldn’t be afraid of criticism and rejection; in fact, they should embrace it as a means to develop and improve their skills.
Practice Consistency
When it comes to fanfiction, the writer only has to be accountable for themselves in terms of output. In one instance, the writer can get on a fanfiction tear, churning out chapter after chapter at a weekly, sometimes daily, pace. On the flip side, said writer could eventually hit a wall, and updates could slow down to once a month, every six months, once a year, or the dreaded hiatus.
The driving force behind a fanfiction writer’s productivity is their motivation. But established authors don’t have the luxury of waiting for inspiration to strike, or their muse to whisper sweet nothings into their ear. Even if the well is dry, professional writers must discipline themselves to maintain a habit of consistency.
Malcolm Gladwell said it takes 10,000 hours to gain mastery in anything; therefore, the best way for writers to improve is to write consistently.
By no means are these the only steps to becoming a published author. The road to publication is long and arduous. A litany of editors-copy editors, developmental editors, line editors-are necessary to get written work into tip-top shape for literary agents, where the real fun begins.
Some writers may eschew the above wisdom and go the self-publishing route, which is a different matter entirely. But proofreading, rejection and consistency all set the foundation for cultivating the right mindset in order to succeed.
There’s no rule saying you have to abandon your love of Harry Potter, Steven Universe, or Riverdale. But to truly excel, there has to be a marriage of passion and discipline in order to take yourself, and your writing, to the next level.
Sylvie Soulet is a dual American/Canadian citizen living in Toronto, Ontario. She has written for numerous sites, including Screen Rant, The Spool, and Digital Journal. In 2019, Sylvie published her short story “Waiting Room” on midnightandindigo.com, an online literary magazine for and by women of color. Sylvie is currently writing her first YA novel; follow her writing journey at https://sylviesoul.com.
Originally published at https://thegeekwriter.com on June 9, 2020.
