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Joined: 16 Apr 2005
Posts: 14
Location: Nebraska, United States
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This is an essay that I wrote on 10 June 2005 for a rhetorical analysis class. I hope it's a good starting point for anyone starting to write fanfic, especially for those whose first language isn't English. Some of it is obvious to those who have been around here a while, but for my professor and all those who are new, it explains some basics of the HP fan world.
English Isn’t Only Taught In the Classroom Anymore: Online Fanfiction Communities as Teachers
Fanfiction is a unique literary genre composed of stories written by fans based on a book, movie, or television series, and has become immensely popular in the last few years. This is a result of the ease in posting to websites such as Fanfiction.net and the growing fascination with the Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling. Fanfiction.net, the largest multi-fandom site on the Internet, boasted 23,000 stories in the ‘books’ category in July 2001 (http://www.alternateuniverses.com/ffntables.html); there are currently 190,000 stories in the Harry Potter sub-category alone, more than eight times the number of stories in just four years. There are many more readers than writers in fandom, and these numbers are constantly growing. For example, HarryPotterFanfiction.com has had 800 new members join in the past week, adding to its previous 17,000 members.
Why Fanfiction?
Fanfiction, and in particular, the Harry Potter fandom, is particularly appealing to those trying to learn English as a Second Language (ESL) for a number of reasons. Even though fanfiction is not as respected as traditionally published material, it is popular, largely attributable to ESL learners. First of all, it is safe, since it is very easy to hide one’s identity online; there is less chance of personalized criticism. Harry Potter books are widely available in many countries and translated into numerous languages, and so are accessible to an unusually large number of readers, including those ESL learners. Since they are written for children, they are easier to understand than a typical adult fiction work. Writing tips, online forums, and beta readers are available in the Harry Potter community to encourage and assist ESL writers. These are features that can only be found in the fanfiction community, hence its attractiveness.
Common Fanfiction Irritations That ESL Writers Should Avoid
One way to learn the language is to try to write with it. By choosing to write fanfiction rather than an original piece, much of the work is already done; the background, the “world” it is set in, is already established. This allows writers, particularly those who are just starting out, to concentrate on sentence structure and plot, or character construction and development, since original characters (OCs) are sometimes introduced. It is very easy for an OC to become a Mary Sue, or as the male counterpart is dubbed, Gary Stu. A Mary Sue is an OC that is based on the author’s own life and personality, and becomes the hero of the story. “[A]ll the character[s] fall in love with … her, [and] she is outrageously fabulous and beautiful and powerful. Mary Sue stories are basically elaborate fantasies wherein the author gets to pretend that s/he is magical and is in the book” (http://www.lumosdissendium.org/dictionary.html).
Other common problems include development of characters that are not consistent with the way they were originally written, abbreviated in fandom as OOC (out of character) or the concept of the alternate universe (AU), in which characters and plots are so out of line with the original work that they don’t quite belong with the series at all. An example of an AU would be if the author said Severus Snape was Harry’s father, even though Rowling has made it clear that James Potter was Harry’s father. In order to prevent things like this from being perpetuated, which many readers of fanfiction dislike, and to help writers learn the language, consulting sections of archives with writing tips, participation in online forums, and using the services of a beta reader are recommended.
Writing Tips as a Resource
Most fanfiction archives have a section which offers writing tips. FictionAlley.org operates an entire website dedicated to “tips and tricks on writing and other fandom activity” (http://www.lumosdissendium.org) separate from its archives. Veteran writers should take a look at these periodically, but they are meant for beginning writers and those who have little knowledge of the structure of English. Instructions for submitting work on the archive are usually found here. Essays by the site’s administrators are invaluable resources, and include topics such as conventions of grammar, comma usage, and dialogue rules. Guidelines for developing characters and keeping them in character according to canon, which is the official world that Rowling, as the original author, has created, are also covered. Readers appreciate when an ESL writer has taken the time to learn the mechanics of the language; stories are often passed over if the author has not taken the time to do this.
Forums as a Resource
Sometimes, a portion of the site is set aside as an open forum where writers can ask questions, which serves as a support community. One example is the forums section of SycophantHex.com, whose user-friendly format groups discussion topics by names relating to the Wizarding world, so that ‘The Great Hall’ and ‘The Enchanted Quill’, discussions focusing on writing tips, are easy to find and utilize. The discussion entitled ‘First Years’ is for those new to the site, explaining how the forums are run and how to use them to best advantage. These are particularly helpful for those who are not native English speakers, as they can build a foundation of what is and is not acceptable for writing in general and for the Harry Potter fandom in particular.
Beta Readers as Resources
A beta reader is essentially an editor for fanfiction. Betas work for free, and are a great resource to have no matter what the author’s writing skill is, but are especially useful for those who are learning English. A beta will typically look for spelling, grammar, and punctuation errors, but may specialize in a number of areas. Those who have memorized the Harry Potter books are said to be experts in canon. Betas for canon often consult the Harry Potter Lexicon, which lists and describes all the characters and creatures ever mentioned, all the places, spells and potions, and how to spell almost anything that a writer would need for a story. This helps differentiate from ‘fanon’, which describes any construction invented and continued by fans, such as the notion that Ginny Weasley’s given name was Virginia, until Rowling revealed it to be Ginevra; not all fanon inventions are discredited by the author, however. Other specializations include plot, characterization, and Briticisms, so writers who have trouble in a specific area can look for someone who will be able to give the best advice. Briticisms belongs almost solely to the Harry Potter fandom; in order to make the stories more “authentic”, writers who are unfamiliar with British conventions, especially ESL learners, will ask those of British background to assist with slang or idioms to tie their story in with the style of the original work.
It is very easy to find a beta reader. One service which allows an author to easily look for a beta is PerfectImagination.co.uk, where betas are tested to make sure they are qualified, not just looking for a source for more fanfiction. The site’s beta reader database is searched according to rating, areas of assistance needed, genre, length, and “ships”, or character pairings, which are usually romantic in nature. Those who require additional help can tick the box next to “English Not First Language” to show only those betas who are willing to work with ESL writers. A list of the beta readers that meet the author’s needs is displayed, along with links to each beta’s CV for specifics in order to determine compatibility.
Forum topics also allow those who are looking for a beta or those who are offering beta services to find someone to work with. At the Sycophant Hex forum, these threads are entitled ‘Seekers’ and ‘Keepers’, respectively, a play on words of the game of Quidditch featured in the novels. Usually, a Seeker will post contact information and a description of the story, along with the type of story, such as romance or drama, ships, and ratings and warnings, which denote the level of language, violence, and sexual themes, as well as the type, including rape, slash (a homosexual pairing), or bondage and dominance, if present in the story, as there are those who do not wish to read stories containing these themes. It also enables a writer to say if she is learning English and needs extra help, which many betas are more than happy to give. In a separate thread, Keepers can post contact information, beta and writing experience, preferred ratings, ships, and genres, as well as strengths and weaknesses as a beta reader. This is where specializations in grammar, plot, or characterization are listed. Additional notes are added if a beta is willing to work with ESL writers.
Once an author finds a beta reader and they agree to work together, the author sends a copy of her story or chapter, and the beta will make corrections and comments as she sees fit in order to comply with submission guidelines for the archive it will be submitted to. She can also give ideas for pacing and point of view to make sure the story reads smoothly. A beta is a great way to gauge readers’ reactions and to make sure the story conveys the main points the author wants to make. Authors can have more than one beta for help in different areas: one for general grammar, one for plot and canon, and one for Briticisms, for example. Often, friendships form between authors and betas, and they converse through email and instant messaging, sharing the joys and frustrations of writing and life.
Continuing Education
Communication with beta readers and through online forums and examining writing tips offered by established writers contributes to a sense of community and allows authors who are learning English to feel more comfortable within the Harry Potter fandom, with their writing skills, and with criticism. Continuing to utilize these resources allows an author to develop her own style of writing while learning to use English more effectively. The intimidation of the classroom atmosphere is bypassed, allowing for ESL learners to work at their own pace; since the pressure is reduced, progress is made more rapidly than by traditional instruction. ESL students are also able to quickly learn idioms that have extended the meanings of individual words or phrases and slang terms that they are likely to encounter in fanfiction. |
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