How I Write Fan Fiction

 

    Hey Hearties! It's October 23rd, otherwise known as Friday! And it's time once again for another blog post!

    I've had the idea to write about this for awhile now, and that would be how my writing process works! Or more specifically how I write my fan fiction. Now before you ask, yes I plan on posting more fan fiction, and yes I plan on doing it before this year is over. I don't have an exact date for you, but please know that more chapters are coming! :)

    So for the writers reading this you may find this post very interesting, as being a writer myself, I'm always interested to hear how other writers do what they do. If you're not a writer, well, maybe you'll find this enjoyable anyway. Especially if you like my fan fiction! :)

 

    So I've had the idea for my current fan fiction story, Making Sure, since last year actually. I had even started to write some of it, but, since I had only seen Season 6, it was set after the dance in the finale. Well.... obviously I never posted anything that year, and the story sat untouched for awhile.

    Then I watched Season 7 and eventually decided that I would jump back into the world of fan fiction and give it another try. I took the same basic idea I'd already started on, and just re-vamped it to take place after "the hug" instead of the dance.

Warning! Some spoilers below!

    Now obviously the idea for this story is to have Lucas and Elizabeth end up together. (Shocker, right? Lol!) But if you know me, you'll know that I love me some drama, and so I decided to add the whole plot of the break-in, and all the craziness that comes with it. And also I decided to bring in sort of my own made up character, Jeanie Claremont. (Who's supposed to be Jeanette, Lucas' friend he tried to save from Amos.) I absolutely love the idea of Lucas not only having a sister, but a little sister at that. It would be just so adorable, and I really hope it happens in the show! (Please, please, please, WCTH writers!)

    Jeanie honestly tends to have a mind of her own when I'm writing. Lol! She'll just up and decided to do something I did not have planned. And obviously I decided not to go the route of putting Fiona with Nathan, as the idea of them as a couple just isn't my personal favorite. (But that's just me.) This is also the first story I have ever written that focuses on more than two characters, and I'm really glad as it's been a great learning experience as a writer.

    So, now we come to my "writing process." If we were to get all nitty-gritty into the "writing world" I would identify as a plantser. "What on earth is that!?!" you say? Basically it's a cross between being a plotter, and a pantser. (For any of you who are unfamiliar with those terms, let me explain.)

    Plotters plan everything, and outline their stories so they know a lot, if not everything that's going to happen.

    Pantsers don't like to outline and plan as much, and like to "wing it" so to speak. They write by the seat-of-their-pants (So comes the term "pantser.") sometimes believing that plotting spoils the surprise of discovering what happens next while they write.

    I'm nicely seated in the middle. I do start with an outline of sorts. I like to know what's basically going to happen in each chapter, and in what order. It provides a guideline for me, and helps me see from point A to B to C, etc.

    However, I only know so much of what is going to happen. More like the main bulletin points of the story. Anything after that is just my imagination, and sometimes things just happen that I hadn't planned would. (As I said, my character Jeanie likes to do this to me often. Lol!)

 

    I have an outline I created which looks something like this.... (Warning! Spoiler alert if you haven't read chapters 7, and 8 of my fan fiction!)

 

Friday

Lucas holds another movie night, and J plays matchmaker

L and E hold hands

N gets upset and doesn’t pay attention to J

N asks to walk E home

J tells L about the break in

N walks E home

N tells E that someone did break into her house

N asks E if she’s thought about his offer

E explains that she can’t go on a date with him

N says it doesn’t have to be a date

E gets locked out and finds L

L + E argue about “her story”

Nathan ponders the day’s events

    Now all my outlines don't always look like this, but this time I decided to go a little extra. I switch back and forth from blue to green to separate the different chapters out, and I even list what day everything takes place. (I could show you Saturday, but then I'd be spoiling my story. 😉)

    From there it's all writing, and brain work to make sure everything makes sense, all emotions have been explored, (Oh, there has been so many emotions to write!) and that the chapters aren't too long or too boring. But things don't always go how I'd originally planned them, and sometimes a new scene idea presents itself while I'm writing or I find that something doesn't work so I have to re-write, or even cut a scene to make the story flow better. (Like I had to for the current chapter I'm working on. 😢)

    When it comes to the actual writing....I can be a bit scattered. (Laughs nervously to self) I can start a chapter off right from the beginning, but pretty much every time I end up writing so much of it as just dialogue. Yes. I'll have an entire scene from beginning to end but it's mainly just dialogue. I don't even show who's saying what. (I'm not crazy, right?)

    But that's the real meat of the story for me personally, and I guess I just take more of an interest in writing that part. It also provides the frame work of the scene for me. Sort of the bones of it, if you know what I mean. Then all I'm left to do is fill in before and after the dialogue, and BOOM! The scene is done! (Yay!)

    After that I give it to my friend (Who loves WCTH, and reading) who acts as my editor/focus group. She reads it, leaves some notes saying what she thought about different things, and points out some spelling errors, or sentences I forgot to finish. (Yes, I do that...)

    I then go back over the whole chapter and edit it. (Yay....) I mark it up with a whole bunch of yellow highlights, (Ick!) and then I go back over it....again....to fix the highlighted parts. Or leave them be if I deem it fit. Lol!

    And then comes one of the best parts! Putting the chapter into a blog post, and sharing it with you guys! (Woohoo!) Honestly sharing my fan fiction with you guys (And my editing friend!) is one of my favorite parts about writing this story! I mean, of course I love envisioning and creating scenes, but its been so fun to let you guys read them, and hear what you thought! (And you guys have been so wonderful with your support and feedback!💗)

    And there we have it! Shoof! Hopefully I didn't bore you guys by bringing out the "writing nerd" in me. :) Writing is just something I've been passionate about for so much of my life. I love creating stories, sharing them with others, and then hoping and praying that they enjoy them. Lol!

    Thank you guys so much for reading! If you're a writer feel free to tell me your writing process below! (Or tell me how crazy you think mine is! Lol!) Have an amazing weekend, and God Bless!

P.S. Stuck for a Christmas gift, for that Heartie friend? Feel free to stop by my shop, and find a fun WCTH inspired t-shirt, mug, hoodie, poster, and more! Click here to check it out!