Fanfictions: Types of Fanfics Pt1 (Self-Insert Fanfics)
So before I start off with giving solid advice on how to write books and novels, I am going to start off with the different genres of stories. Since fanfiction was my introduction to writing, I am going to start off by mentioning the different types of fanfictions. Today, I will be talking about self-insert fanfiction, which was how I started off my writing journey.
What is Fanfiction?
It is highly unlikely that you readers donât know what fanfiction is, but if you somehow do not know what that is, then fanfiction is a story that is based off of or inspired by something. This something can be a videogame, a TV show, a book (series), etc. There can also be crossovers in some cases, where a story merges two or more TV shows, or a book and a TV show. You get the point!
Basically, fanfiction is a very well known genre of fiction across the world now, and it is widely loved. (Iâm going to ignore all of the haters because thatâs what they deserve.)
Self Insert Fanfiction
As the title suggests, self-insert fanfiction is a story where the author inserts an OC (Original Character) who is very similar to the author. When I say very similar, I mean that the author inserts themselves into the narrative which, until that moment, only contains characters from the TV show, movie, book or game the author is writing about. Itâs basically wishful thinking, and it WORKS.Â
Self-insert fanfics are mostly frowned upon or thought to be childish, because who inserts themselves into a story? Pssh! Personally, I feel like these types of fanfics are incredibly difficult and easy to write at the same time. First off, you have to make sure that your OC/self-inserted character fits in with the narrative. You have to be careful not to turn them into a complete Mary Sue. Secondly, these types of fanfics do not get a lot of readers or have huge readership across the fandoms.Â
Mostly, it depends on which fandom you are in and which online platform you upload your fanfiction on. Ao3 readers do not read self-insert fanfictions, wattpad readers adore them, and ffn.net is 50-50/undecided on them. Still, it isnât easy work. (Writing isnât easy, but thatâs a topic for an entirely different day.) You, as a writer, have to make sure that your self-inserted character is well-liked, that it resonates well with the readers, that the readers donât turn away from your story halfway through because they donât like your OC anymore.
Sometimes readers can get irritated when an OC is inserted into a fanfic, and they can stop reading it. Self-insert fanfics are those stories that we make up in our heads when we watch a show or a movie, or read a book or play a video game, and imagine that we are actually a part of it. We, as writers do have to be careful while writing self-inserts, because the results can be disastrous if done wrongly.
My very first fanfiction was a self-insert. I had discovered ffn.net a few months before that and had read tens and hundreds of fanfics before deciding to post my own. It was tough, and the fanfic just happened to be a crossover between two shows, but it worked. It slowly gained popularity as I uploaded it onto another platform where these fanfics were readily accepted.Â
After that, I wrote several fanfics where I added the same OC with the same name. She had different personalities and different characteristics in different fanfics, but I got the same comments on all of those stories.Â
âI love your self-inserted character,â âSheâs so great in every one of your ficsâ, âHow do you make her so likeable in every one of your storiesâ. The answer is simple. She is likeable because she is relatable. She has flaws. She is human. She is me. She isnât who I wish to be, she isnât this picture-perfect version of me. There is conflict within her, she has her flaws, and she isnât loved by everyone, but she does care, and she is loved by people close to her.
Make your self-inserted character human. If she/he is going to be you, make her an authentic you, with the conflicts and the insecurities and the likes and dislikes. Make your OC selfish but caring. She/he cares about other people but does not put their lives or their problems above her/his own. Make them friendly but blunt, let them be imperfect. That is how you know that they will be loved.
If you guys have any questions regarding self-insert fanfics or OC/self-inserted characters, then donât be afraid to ask me. I donât bite!
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hellor so i just finished reading Rotted Rowan by Darkpetal16 after months of not reading the updates and like . fuCk.
FUCKING FUCK IN MOTHERFUCKING FUCK.
the ending felt slightly rushed but it was actually pretty good. the mcd was already expected, but overall still managed to be a shock factor.
i guess i was just a little bit disappointed that edo tensei hashirama didn't make an appearance and talk with naasica, but it's not like there would've been a chance for confrontation. considering she and madara planned this for years already, they'd want to get it done as quickly as possible.
overall this is the best angst fic I've read in a while. try checking it out if you're into self-inserts ((:
Darkpetal16 on ff.net has some really good fics. they aren't always happy though, so there's that just in case.
âI write self-insert fanfics because it makes me feel closer to my favorite Disney characters. I know it's something that's often 'looked down' upon but it brings me so much joy to be able to spend time with my favorite characters even if it's just pretend.â
