Fan fiction, otherwise known as fanfic is the creative output of fans on any popular books, movies, television series, even popular celebrities. It is a great way to get kids interested in reading and writing. They can follow a fanfiction of their favorite movie, show, etc, and start their reading and writing journey.
Fanfiction works this way – Suppose you are an ardent fan of Harry Potter. But you want Harry to end up with Hermione. If you have the imagination you can write a story about it and share it with other fans with similar viewpoint on fanfic websites.
Fanfiction is about amateur writing based on other original works. Many budding writers have let their imaginations run wild and come up with new twists, plots, and even characters and very original works. It also provides an avenue for budding writers to receive feedback on their work, occasionally leading to a successful writing career, lucrative book deals and fame.
Here are the best sites to get started- they have been tried and tested by millions of readers and writers.
TOP FANFICTION WEBSITES
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Archive of our own (AO3)
Website : https://archiveofourown.org/
AO3 is probably the most popular fan fiction site on the internet. It is preferred by readers and writers alike mainly due to its easy-to-use, intuitive interface. It has a tag system that allows you to pinpoint exactly what you’re searching for, and avoid tropes that you dislike. Furthermore, AO3 has hardly any censorship laws, letting writers post violent or sexual content. The tag provision is a god-send here, for those who want to avoid these. AO3 is also highly active, with users actively providing feedback and commentary to authors. They have a very large user base, leading to an even larger library. The content is usually long-format stories, with higher quality than available elsewhere on the internet.
On the other side of the coin, AO3 is not easy to sign up for. They have a waiting list to control the growth of the site. Once you request an invite, you will eventually receive an email confirming your acceptance. There is also no messaging service on the site.
Wattpad
Website : www.wattpad.com
Wattpad boasts a huge international audience. It is also highly popular among teenagers, having a lot of teen fics and high school drama/romance novels. Wattpad has both original works as well as fan fiction. Many a time, authors start off as fanfiction writers and eventually mold their work into an original novel. It is also the kick-off point for many young and inexperienced writers. It also has a simple messaging system that allows writers to form a community and a more interactive relation with their readers.
However, Wattpad has a comparatively lower writing quality, perhaps due to the inexperienced young writers. You would have to sift through many works to find something that suits you on Wattpad if you’re particular about quality writing and authentic and original stories. Further, Wattpad does have a reputation for having the same repetitive cliche storylines, especially in their romance section.
Fanfiction.net
Website : Fanfiction.net
Fanfiction.net is generally believed to be the oldest archive of fanfiction websites, having been founded in 1998. The site usually has a rating feature to indicate the target audiences’ maturity. It has many sections, and most fandoms are active on the site. The layout of the site is rather basic, but simple to use. It also has a primitive messaging system that allows for interaction. Along with AO3, this is where you are most likely to find quality fanfiction for your fandom.
The site has banned mature/explicit ratings, removing stories involving violent or mature themes. Depending on what you’re looking for, this could be a point against this site.
Tumblr
Website : www.tumblr.com
Tumblr is not precisely a fanfiction site. It is more accurately a microblogging site used for various purposes. However, you could post fanfiction on it, or more commonly, excerpts from your fanfiction to promote it. The tags in Tumblr could help you reach out to more fans who would be interested in your work. It is also fun for readers to taste what the author offers and then read their complete work on another site. It has a broad audience and allows you to post pictures, gifs, music, etc. It has an excellent chatting and feedback feature that makes it even easier to form a community
However, it is to be noted that Tumblr is not meant purely for fanfiction. Your stories would die out quickly from the feed as it gets older. Use it more as a tool to promote if you’re an author, or select if you’re a reader.
Quotev
Website : www.quotev.com
This used to be a highly popular fanfiction site. However it has declined in popularity recently and now contains more original work. It also has more quizzes and role-plays currently. It has nice messaging and forum features. Though not receiving its earlier share of activity, the site still has a fanfiction side if you’re interested in checking it out.
DevianArt
Website : www.deviantart.com
DevianArt is primarily known for its beautiful and highly creative fan art. Perhaps unknown to many people, there are a lot of fanfiction and fan comics being posted there too, for certain fandoms. The site is dominated by creative illustrators, and so many works are quite visual. There are many features to make your posts more aesthetically pleasing. However, do keep in mind that the intended purpose of the site was not fanfiction.
Commaful
Website: Commaful.com
Commaful has a rather innovative approach to fanfiction. It is rising in popularity due to its reading format. It is very useful for one-shots and short pieces. It has great chat features and helps authors reach more audiences. However, it does take some time for new creators to get used to the interface. It also has a smaller selection of content. Nonetheless, it is a fun site and suitable for people who do not have too much time on their hands to devote to fanfiction.