Fandom School (4th period): Crossover Fanfiction

Hello and welcome again to Fandom School! We're back to fanfiction again, and now I'd like to talk about crossover fanfics.

First of all, what is a crossover? A crossover is a mash-up of two or more fandoms. You can combine just a few fandoms (Wholock, Superwholock, etc.), or you can go all out (for example, this fanfic). A crossover is not the same thing as an AU. For example, my fic The Once And Future Time Lord is a multi-fandom AU because while there are elements of Doctor Who, they are assumed to have always been there. A crossover takes the characters of one world and inserts them into another, while still retaining the memory of their original story (unless there's a memory loss trope or something). A multi-fandom AU takes one fandom and changes it so that it's part of another fandom. Fanfics where characters from one fandom are students at Hogwarts (like this fanfic) are a good example of this type of AU.

So now that you know what a crossover is, let's get to crossover fanfics. What should you keep in mind when writing them? Well besides the usual fanfiction tips, it's important to think about how your fandoms mesh. Wholock is a common crossover because the two fandoms are similar: eccentric genius outsmarts bad guys with the help of his friends. (They're also both set in the modern world.) However, if you wanted to combine the Avengers and My Little Pony, that would be a bit harder. (A quick google search reveals that fanfiction for this crossover does exist, and here's an example.)

There are a few other things to consider when writing crossover fanfics:

• How many fandoms are you including? Try to keep it to just a few fandoms, else you'll risk complicating your fanfic and seriously limiting your number of readers.
• How many characters are you including? Like fandoms, if you include too many your story will get cluttered.
• How do your characters meet? Are they old friends? Do they randomly happen to run into each other? Is there some sort of crisis that brings them together?
• How do the worlds connect? Have both universes co-exist, do the characters live in the same universe, or does something cause the universes to come together/the characters to be transported to each other?
• Are your characters interacting reasonably? Is any character monopolizing the story, or is any character just sort of... there (invisibility level: Mickey Smith)?
• How is canon affected? Is it canon divergence, or is canon altered to explain how the fandoms are connected?
• Make sure your characters stay in character. OOC characters are a common problem with crossovers. It is justifiable to change a character somewhat to make them fit in with the other fandom(s), but you need to make sure that the essence of his/her personality remains the same. You could intentionally make characters be OOC, but I wouldn't recommend it.

And now that I've given you advice, I'll share my own crossover fanfics:

Wholock (Doctor Who and Sherlock crossover)

• An Interesting Case
• This is my first Wholock story (and my first fanfiction). In this one, Sherlock is asked to interrogate a mysterious witness who proves to be just as interesting as the case itself, and they go on an adventure together.
• The Search For Father
• This is a story for all of you who were frustrated when we saw that Jenny (from "The Doctor's Daughter") was alive, only to never see her again. I mean seriously. She never even gets a spin-off show! So, I wrote a story in which she goes off looking for her dad and enlists the help of Sherlock Holmes.
• Call In The Expert
• "When the police are out of their depth, they consult me," Sherlock had said. But what about when Sherlock was out of his depth? What then? That's when it's time to ask an even greater genius for help. Sherlock must call in the expert.
• When Justice Is Treason
• The Master and Moriarty. A deadly duo. With the help of the Archangel network, they control all of England. So when the few people who know the truth try to stop them, it is treason. Will they succeed? Or will Prime Minister Harold Saxon and King Moriarty continue their reign of terror?
• You Matter
• Sometimes characters have things going pretty rough for them. And sometimes their friends and family can't console them. But what about if somebody totally different were to come in? This is how characters would take care of each other in a Wholock universe.
• On this blog: chapters 1 2 3

Other Crossovers

• Use The Force (or the Mind Palace)
• Remember the first time Luke used the Force? What did he actually see? What if he visited Sherlock's mind palace? Strange concept, I know, but the idea came into my head and wouldn't go away. (It's more of a series than a cohesive story.) Feel free to tell me what character you'd like to see next.
• On this blog: chapters 2 3
• You Are Not Alone: The Search For The Other Time Lords
• The Twelfth Doctor feels as though he is all alone, until his daughter Jenny comes to him, telling him that she has found a way to locate other Time Lords. She tells him that he is not the only one. Together, they go out to find the rest.
• Rating: G
• On this blog: chapters 1 2 3

And a few great crossover fanvids:

Fandom School (4th period): How To Find The Best Fanfiction

Hello, and welcome again to Fandom School! If you read fanfiction (check out the page with my fanfics or my post about different types of fanfiction), chances are, you don't read just anything that comes your way. You skip over the awful ones, and if you start a fanfic only to find an appalling lack of grammar and abundance of Mary Sues (see Emily Ecrievane's post about fanfiction if you don't know what a Mary Sue is), you're out of there in a heartbeat. You want to read the awesome fanfic, not the awful stuff. But how do you tell which is which? There are a few things you can do before you even click the link to read a fanfic. This will serve as a guide to readers, but fanfic writers can also use this to make sure their fanfic will catch people's attention and get read.

1. Use the filters. This shows you only the fanfics that have your criteria. What you can filter depends on what website you're reading fanfiction on. AO3 allows you to filter these terms: any [general search terms], title, author, complete/incomplete, single-chapter/multi-chapter, word count, language, fandoms, rating, categories, characters, relationships, additional tags, hits, kudos, comments, and bookmarks. Fanfiction.net allows you to filter these terms: any [general search terms], regular/crossover, fandom, time range [update date/publish date], genre, rating, language, word count, complete/incomplete, and characters.


2. Read the title. A good title is an indication of a good fanfic. The more interesting and original the title, the more likely the fanfic is to be interesting and original. That being said, a good fanfic could have a bad title and vice versa. 


3. Read the summary. The point of a summary is to give you an idea of what the fic is like. A good summary will give the reader an understanding of the fanfic's plot without giving any spoilers. A good summary will also convince the reader of the author's competency. If a summary says "I suck at summaries" or "I don't know, just read it" or "yeah, that's about it", or anything like that, the reader will wonder if the fic is actually any good and will likely abandon it for a more promising one. Also, if the summary has any spelling or grammatical errors, there is very little chance that people will read it.


4. Look at the tags. At least on AO3, you can give your fic additional tags, which will help the reader understand what the fic is about. Sometimes, tags just reiterate what's in the summary, but sometimes they involve things not mentioned in the summary. And in some cases, they enhance the meaning. For example, if you see a fic that has the warning "Major Character Death", you might not want to read it, but if you see that it is also tagged "Canonical Character Death", that might change your mind. Tags might include trigger warnings for various things. They could also just provide amusing commentary on the story.


5. Read the warnings. On AO3, a story can have any or all of these warnings: Major Character Death, Graphic Depictions of Violence, Rape/Non-Con, or Underage. An author can also say that no archive warnings apply or choose not to use archive warnings.


6. Read the ratings. There are a few rating systems, so here's a chart comparing the most common ones.
   

   MPAA	AO3	FF.net	Meaning
   G	G	K	Intended for general audience 5 years and older. Content should be free of any coarse language, violence, and adult themes.
   PG	n/a	K+	Suitable for more mature childen, 9 years and older, with minor action violence without serious injury. May contain mild coarse language. Should not contain any adult themes.
   PG-13	T	T	Suitable for teens, 13 years and older, with some violence, minor coarse language, and minor suggestive adult themes.
   R	M	M	Not suitable for children or teens below the age of 16 with non-explicit suggestive adult themes, references to some violence, or coarse language. Fiction M can contain adult language, themes and suggestions. Detailed descriptions of physical interaction of sexual or violent nature is considered Fiction MA.
   NC-17	E	MA	Content is only suitable for mature adults. May contain explicit language and adult themes.



7. Read the categories. AO3 has categories based on relationships: F/M, M/M, F/F, Multi (multiple types of relationships), Gen (no relationships, or they are not the main focus of the story), Other (e.g., threesomes). If you don't want to read slash, you can choose not to view M/M or F/F stories. If you don't want any relationships, you can choose Gen.


8. Read the pairings. Does it have a ship you like? One you hate? If you don't like the ships listed, you probably won't like the fanfic. However, if a fic lists your OTP, you will probably want to read that fic.


9. Look at the statistics. How many hits does the story have? Kudos/favorites? Comments/reviews? High numbers increase the likelihood that a fanfic is good. Low numbers may mean a fic is bad, but it could also just mean that it's undiscovered.


10. Read the comments/reviews. Warning: if you do this, you will probably get spoilers. However, you will get a good sense of if the people reading the fic like it or not. Positive reviews make a person more likely to read a fic; negative reviews may turn potential readers away. Also, does the the author respond to comments? If he/she does, that shows interest in the readers and indicates that the author cares about making a good product and ensuring that other like it, too.


11. Read the author's note(s). The notes an author has left may include useful information. For example, the author might warn that the fic will be updated sporadically. Or, they might say that the fic is abandoned. The notes might mention the author's stance on derivative works. They could include all sorts of information that the readers may want to know before reading the fic.


12. Pay attention to the author. Is it an author you know? If you see that a fic is by an author you know and love, you will be more likely to read it. Inversely, if you've read a terrible fic by a certain author, you won't want to read their other fics. Also, the author's name itself matters. Is it interesting? Relevant? If it is, you'll be more likely to read the fic. A boring or irrelevant pen name may turn readers off.


13. Read the first few sentences. Are you interested? Does it seem like a good fanfic? It doesn't have to start off spectacularly, but if you don't find yourself wanting to read more after the first few sentences, it probably isn't that great.

So, with that in mind, what should authors do to make sure their fanfiction gets read?

1. Come up with a good title. Before publishing your fanfic, think carefully about the title. If your work is incomplete, make sure you know enough of where it's going to pick an accurate title. Also, do a preliminary search to see if there are other fics with the same title. Try to pick a title that nobody else has used yet.


2. Write a good summary. Make sure it covers the main idea(s) of your fanfic, but doesn't give too much detail. Makes sure it's interesting enough to capture your readers' attention. It doesn't matter how good your fic is, if people are falling asleep reading your summary, they won't read your fic.


3. Be sure to add all applicable tags. It's all well and good if you write an amazing fic, but if people can't find it, they won't ever know. Also, see what tags come up when you start typing. Make sure to use the well-known tags instead of a variant name for the same thing.


4. Give your fanfic the appropriate warning(s). Fear of the unknown is strong. Don't choose not to use archive warnings; it will likely hurt more than it will help. Don't say no warnings apply if warnings do apply; people will get upset.


5. Give your fanfic the appropriate rating. Don't rate something lower than it really is; readers will be scandalized when they get more than they bargained for, and they won't want to read any more, nor will they read any of your other fanfics. Don't rate your fic too high, or people who would otherwise read it will shrink away in fear.


6. Choose the appropriate categories. Again, this is a way for someone to find your fic. It's also a way for someone to decide if the fic is for them.


7. Choose all relevant pairings. Right up front, let people know who's getting together with whom. This will help readers decide if your fic is for them.


8. Look at your statistics. What kind of stories get more hits, comments, and kudos? Write more of those. What kind of stories get fewer hits, fewer (or more negative) comments, and fewer kudos? Write fewer of those.


9. Write author's notes. If you have anything you feel like your readers should know that isn't included in the summary, warnings, or tags, then you should include it in an author's note.


10. Choose a good pen name. When I joined fanfiction.net, I made the mistake of signing in with my google account. Yes, it was convenient, but it gave me a pen name from an email address I made when I was 10 (or however old I was at the time) which is slightly embarrassing and completely irrelevant to the fandom world. When I joined AO3, I carefully considered my username, deciding on "vortexofdeduction" to match this blog, my tumblr, and my twitter (well technically, my twitter is @vortexdeduction because @vortexofdeduction is too long).


11. Maintain your integrity as an author. One bad fanfic listed under your name could stop others from reading anything else by you. On the other hand, if you become popular enough to gain a good reputation, more people will read your stories.


12. Write a good first few sentences. You have a short time to hook your readers in and make them want to continue. Don't waste it on pointless chatter or dull background. Start with something to shock or surprise your readers, something to fascinate them, something they will remember. Likewise, write a good last few sentences. You want to leave the reader with a good, lasting impression. Yes, the stuff in between matters, but the beginning and the end are the most important parts of your fanfic.

Fandom School (4th period): Types of Fanfiction

So, I kind of had a month long hiatus there. Sorry about that! I've been really busy. Anyway, now that I've got a little free time, I bring you the next installment of Fandom School. A while ago, I discussed fanfiction (to see my post, click here. To read my fanfiction, click here or here.) Now, I'm returning to that topic to talk about the different types of fanfiction you might encounter.

AU (Alternate Universe): a fanfic that is clearly not canon. AU fanfics change major plot points, imagining what it would be like if x hadn't happened, or if y had happened earlier, etc.
Example: Together Or Not At All

Crack Fic: a totally weird, crazy fanfiction. These can be so ridiculous they're good, or they can just be stupid. You get a lot of variety in this category, but if written well, a crack fic is very entertaining.
Example: Warning: Contains Crack (not my fanfic)

Crossover: a fanfic that combines two or more fandoms.
Example: When Justice Is Treason

Drabble: a really short fanfic, just a brief story or idea.
Example: The Right TARDIS

Ficlet: like a drabble, but a bit longer. May be multi-chapter.

Gen Fic: this is your typical story, nothing special about it except that it's fanfiction and not an original work. Unlike many fanfictions, gen fanfics don't focus on a specific pairing (there may still be one or more pairings in the story, they just aren't the main focus)
Example: Who Am I

Lemons and Limes: stories with no plot or purpose except for the main characters to have sex. Lemons are explicit, while limes are more subtle. (Don't ask me why they're called lemons and limes, I have no idea.)
Example: I'm not giving one. I don't read that kind of thing.

MST: commentary on another fanfic or episode. I don't know if this exactly counts as fanfic, but it's worth mentioning.
Example: I don't know of a good example, but you're welcome to comment and supply me with an example.

Next Gen Fic: a story that takes place one or more generations after the main story. May have canon characters, but may also include OCs (original characters).
Example: The Sorting Hat (not my fanfic)

OC Fic: a fanfic that is based mainly on an OC (original character), focusing more on them than on the original characters. It may include canonical characters, or it may just be set in the canonical universe. (Or it could be noncanon.)
Example: Bigger On The Inside (not my fanfic. I don't know if it's the best example, but it's what I found.)

Original Flavor: a fanfic that is not clearly noncanon and could reasonably have occurred in the universe of the fandom it is written for. Think of it as a behind-the-scenes story, talking about something that could have been an episode (or a book or movie, as the case may be).
Example: Shakespeare's Letter

Oneshot: a short, one chapter fanfic. Usually one scene. Also usually shorter than a drabble.

Reader Insert: a fanfic written in the second person, so the reader can put themselves into the story.
Example: Hello dear brother (not my fanfic)

Slash Fic: a fanfic based on an uncanonical homosexual pairing. Usually, it doesn't have much of a plot.
Example: I don't read that kind of thing, so I don't have an example.

Another thing worth noting is that fanfictions come in a few different formats:

Prose: normal writing. Most fanfictions are prose.
Example: A Detective Without His Deductions

Poetry: poetry instead of normal writing. It doesn't have to rhyme.
Example: If Daleks Were Poets

RPF (Real-person fic): story involving real people (or, to be accurate, fictional characters based on real people. See real-life shipping.)
Example: The Big Reveal (not my fanfic)

Script: written like an actual episode/movie.
Example: Mirror Mirror on the Wall (not my fanfic)

And that's all for now. Sorry for leaving you for so long. I'll try to write another post soon instead of not writing for a long time. That's all for now. Bye!

Fandom School (4th period): Fanfiction

Hello, dear readers! I hope you all like reading my blog. Today I'm going to talk about another kind of writing: fanfiction. So happy, Wednesday, and welcome to another class at Fandom School.

Fanfiction is my life!

What is fanfiction?

Simply put, fanfiction refers to a type of fiction that is based off of existing fiction. This includes books, TV shows, movies, comics, games, and much more. Most fanfiction stories include a disclaimer, although it's typically assumed that fanfiction writers do not have the rights to the fandom they are writing about. Topics of fanfiction include ships- for canon ships, this is a way to make "deleted scenes", and for non-canon ships, this is a way to imagine "what if?"- sequels to canon events, behind the scenes stuff, AU (short for "alternate universe", meaning "what would the story be like if this happened differently?"), crossovers (multiple fandoms), and many more.

Where can I read fanfiction?

There are many websites that allow you to read and write fanfiction. Examples include www.fanfiction.net, archiveofourown.org, www.wattpad.com and many more.
To see a list of all my fanfictions, go to the page labeled "My Fanfictions".

So I hope you enjoyed that. Also, take note that today is #Elever (Eleven/River) Day and Clara Pond's (owner of "The Star Cult" on Google+) birthday. I might post something about Elever Day later today, and I might not. We'll see. Anyway, have a great day!