#fanfic writing problems

[spacedace]

Does anyone else have the thing where they just end up trying to pack The Most ™️ into a fic? Like, I have an initial, simple premise, then my brain is like, hey remember all these other things? Let's squash em in there, they fit.

And like, I can make them fit, but at what point is it too much? At what point is there no more room for things to make sense?

Take for example my Gotham's Favorite Psychiatrist Jazz AU, it started simple with the idea "hey what if Jazz said fuck Arkham and tried to work directly with the rogues and gave the Batfam a crisis in the process?" Then it expanded to include some fun BatPham chaos and shenanigans (see the disaster dinner snippets lol) and now I'm working on trying to fit in such bangers as:

- Dan adopts feral gremlin Billy after the kid tries to steal his wallet and is a supportive dad to his magic vigilante son

- Danny decides to Be Gay and Do Crimes by tracking down Catwoman and asking her to teach him how to be a cat burglar (without using his powers, because he's trying to challenge himself) to pull off some Robin Hood shit

- Elle and Talia's adventures of trying to save Damian from Ras without alerting him to the fact that Ras is up to shit because they both just want him to not have to deal with that shit

And like, half a dozen other smaller things on top of that that I want to incorporate, but like at what point is it too much? At what point do I atop trying to shove it all in one bag and instead break it down into smaller stuff? Like all of the above could be their own stories (and literally everything I post is up for being used as writing prompts, yall are fantastic and I'd love to read everything yall wrote using those ideas) so should I just make them their own or just keep trying to fold it all in to one thing?

#fanfic #fanfic writing prompts #fanfic writing problems #or questions really #dp x dc #dc x dp #gotham's favorite psychiatrist jazz au #danielle fenton #dani fenton #danny fenton #dan fenton #jazz fenton #catwoman #batman #billy batson #dan adopts billy batson #talia al ghul #danny phantom #damian wayne #batfam #advice and thoughts on the matter are welcomed #i think i'm getti g myself overwhelmed with all i want to write lol

[indigovigilance]

How do I write a character that's an expert in astrophysical instrumentation?

Oh.

I guess I have to become an expert in astrophysical instrumentation.

Update: a mutual reached out and was like "here let me explain cosmic microwave background to you" and guys, we have the best fandom. Just, the best. I am crying.

#fanfiction writer #fanfic writing problems #fanfic writing woes #fanfic writing #fanfic writer #ao3 writer #ao3 author #fanfiction #fanfic #but at least I found someone who actually is an expert and can read all 22 of their papers on Google Scholar in chronological order #this may not have been the best plotpoint decision I ever made #it is certainly not the least labor intensive

[television-overload]

Me writing a fanfic: "This is so good. Wow that line was really clever. Am I a poet? Dang the people reading this are gonna love it."

Me after finishing writing said fanfic: "It's awful. I should never write again. I can't post that can I? Does it sound like a person with a soul even wrote this? Was the description good enough? Do I have the vocabulary of a first grader?"

#fanfic writing problems #fic writing #fanfiction #ao3 #writing problems

[math-is-math]

Is anyone else scared they’re gonna run out of fanfic ideas to write about ???

I’m scared I’m eventually gonna run out of things to write and it’ll either become an extremely long hiatus or just straight up over 😭😭

#adri vs the world #fanfic writing #fanfic writing problems #plz say it’s not just me sjdndnsnd #fanfic writing is such a vital part of me I don’t want it to be over one day :((

[terriblepersongreatseamonster]

Does anyone else just have what feels like a zillion fics posted on their AO3 that are unfinished, and you totally plan to finish them at some point, but you are currently stuck so you start other fics hoping to get unstuck but then the new fic actually works so you finish that and the old fics are still sitting there going "WTF?"? No, just me? Ok.

#fantiction #fanfic writing #ao3 #ao3 writer #yes I realize how poorly written this entire post was but I dont care because I am currently hiding from a very stressful family gathering #I should've brought my laptop with me #fanfic writing problems #adhd writing problems

[angelanimedesaray]

Dying inside because there's this scene for WITD that's been rotting my brain on constant repeat but I can't tell ANYONE cause only an aot person would get it but ALL MY ONLINE MOOTS AND IRL FRIENDS THAT ARE AOT FANS READ WITD and its a huge endgame scene so I can't say NOTHIN without SPOILING so I'm just DYING OVER HERE--

#writer life #fanfic writer #aot fanfic writer #fanfic writing problems #aot fanfic writing #fanfic writing #WITD #wings in the dark

[crymeariveronceagain]

Do you have any tips on how to write a fanfic? I have some ideas but I have no idea where to start.

Mmmm.... okay.

This is tricky, because it all depends on your strengths as a writer, what you like to do, etc.

For me, though.

Fanfic is a lot like acting. You have to get into the head of a character you didn't write and behave like they would, but write it down.

So, I suppose, here are my tips. Very River-Specific. One size does not fit all!!!

Pick a plot you like. Who cares if it's fake dating. Who cares if it's enemies to lovers. Who cares if it's soulmates. Who the actual f cares if it's something that's popular, cheesy, or overused. Who cares if it's been done. Fanfic is all about overused plots and overdone tropes. Just write it. There will be an audience. I swear to you. Do you want to know how many "Tony Stark Adopts Hyrda Peter Parker" fics with super similar plots there are out there? A ton. And I'd read them all again for completely different reasons. No one can right your story like you can, my friend. You're amazing, and don't worry about that. Pick something you like, pick something self indulgent that flows, maybe start off small in a nice clean one shot of punching a character who needs to be punched(that's what I did). If you've got funky, unique, untried ideas, use them, but don't feel like everything you write has to be brand new and untried. That's not why we write fanfic, Love <3

Write about characters how you view them. If you hate a character, describe why you hate them in detail. If you love a character, show why you love them. If you relate to a character, show us why. I relate to Sophie like I relate to Marina and The Diamonds, okay? Like, sweet stars above, she and I vibe so well. I know what she's thinking because it's basically what I'm thinking, just a little more scattered. Keefe is broken, in my head, and there's usually an underlying pain to his existence. Etc, etc. I find pieces in each character I can attach to, and then I run with those. You'll see this in a lot of my fics, I pick out characteristics, and I especially stick to those when it comes to side characters. For instance, Tam is usually super annoying or super loving. Marella always behaves like she's the physical embodiment of a chili pepper. Biana is always smart on her feet and well dressed. Like, I just hold onto those things and vibe with it. If they're main characters, I'll psychoanalyze the heck out of the characters, but usually, until then, they serve the purpose they serve.

Don't just focus on characters' good attributes. Be sure to let your characters fuck up. I mean it. They're just people. Let them mess up, screw up, ruin it. Make everything go down the toilet. Make it all horrible and awful. And then fix it. Show them in all their ruined glory. Show the one character's complete distrust of others, and don't solve it too quickly. Show the one character's anger issues, and don't change them, just shift them around, expose why. This is what makes fics interesting to read!

Don't just focus on character's bad choices. If there is one thing that is not fun(usually), it's watching everything go constantly bad always. Give!!! The characters!!! Something fluffy!!! Like, if it's a little self-indulgent scene of cookie-baking, or hair cuts, or shopping, or a date, or a dinner, or something fun and cute that is just a filler for the huge dangerous plot, or if that is the plot, then good for you. Have the characters be flawed, but don't only make bad things happen to them. Love your characters, they deserve a break, too. Except for the characters you want people to hate. Give THEM no mercy.

Be sure to have fun. Fanfic is about having fun. If you're not having fun, why do it. Abandon the project that isn't fun anymore, do something new! Who cares if you posted it already, you're not under any requirements to keep going. You put in effort for free, baby! They get what they get, and as long as you ahve fun, keep going with it! If it's not fun, stop! No one really minds all that much. They'll probably be sad and disappointed for a small moment, but, hey, "life is pain, princess. Anyone who says differently is selling something." They'll live, and this is your project! Have fun with it, and don't worry about what other people think!

hope these help! feel free to send me another ask if you want more tips!! :D

#fanfic #fanfic writing #thanks for the ask! #fanfiction #fanfiction writer #ao3 #ao3 writing #writing tips #writeblr #writers community #fanfic writing problems #writing problems #writing inspo #writing inspiration #writing stuff #writing advice #writer struggles #writer #writer things #writing #creative writing #character studies and acting vibes

[mneiai]

Sometimes I look on AO3 for some of the rare ships I'm into and far more often than is really reasonable I'll find something by someone talking about how there weren't enough X type fics so they were forced to write their own and since I don't recognize their name I'll double check and, yeah, they've never commented on a single fic I've written, let alone any of those fics did X thing, despite my fics taking up a decent chunk of that tag.

#fanfic writing problems

[jeysbvck]

hate using google docs to write, but when i try & do it on tumblr, it either doesn't save my draft OR the draft saves but then actually POSTS THE GOD DAMN THING

#shan shouts into the void #fanfic writing problems

[wakkoroni]

HOW AM I SUPPOSED TO WRITE A CHARACTER THAT CANONLY FLIRTS AND HAS RIZZ WHEN THE AUTHOR DOESNT HAVE ANY OF THAT?????

#please someone give me pointers for flirting #roy mustang #yes this is about me writing him he’s so fun but getting his character right is hard #the vibe speaks #fanfic writing #fanfic writing problems

[flameohotwife]

Feeling some kinda way about changing my privacy settings on ao3 so that big companies can't use it to train their writing AIs (but then guests/people not logged in can't see it, either). Something something technology something something benefits and downsides something something...

As someone who lurked in fandom for almost a year before creating accounts on any sites (tumblr, ao3, ffn, etc), and read a TON of fic as a guest, this probably would have really affected whether or not I came to join in the first place. But also big companies are stealing enough info from me, they don't get my writing, too. idk, it just sucks all around

#text post #writing thoughts #fanfic writing problems

[lifeofmarvvel]

If you ever wondered how far back using orbs for eyes goes

William Blake describes eyes as orbs in The Book of Urizen. In 1794.

#b talks #fanfic writing problems #fanfic reader problems #william blake #anyway im back with more english lit fun facts

[hazelmaines]

Ok so real talk it's kind of difficult writing about four people in a sexual situation, there's a lot to keep track of 😆👀☠️ shout out to those who boldly went there already.

#wtf am i even doing #my fic #haladriel #aronwyn #fanfic writing problems

[television-overload]

What's a word you just *can't* make work in your writing no matter how many times you try to fit it in?

For me, it's "chortle" 😂

I feel like I use "laugh" or "giggle" too many times and it gets repetitive and I'm like "okay, what else can I use??" and chortle always comes up but it sounds so stupid no matter what way you spin it, I don't think I'll ever manage to make it work 😂😂

#fanfiction #fanfic writing #fic writing #ao3 #fanfic writers #fanfic writing problems #writing problems #fanfic authors

[simmerandcry]

pick two!!!!!!

(alternatively titled: pls god no I cannot afford a new computer)

#fanfic writing #fanfic writing problems #writing problems #simmer in real life

[samnotsammy12]

Gotta love writing a character holding his hand out to his partner then promptly forgetting that I wrote that and having him do something that makes no sense based on him holding his hand out

Dw i fixed it but thank god I proofread my stuff

(Also if you want to follow me on AO3 once it’s back up I might be posting a bunch of chapters for my USS Emissary fic tomorrow, also might not bc of work but I probably will)

#star trek #USS emissary #my fics #ao3 #fanfic writing problems