All I Really Need to Know

I Learned From Fanfiction

They say you learn something new about writing from every piece of writing you do, no matter how good or bad it is. I was in a reflective mood around New Year’s and decided to put this theory to the test, so I thought about each piece of fanfic I’ve written and published on this site, and I came up with this list. The following are fifty-one lessons I’ve learned from the stories I’ve written.

Lesson #1, from Heartache:

I am capable of finishing a fanfic.

Lesson #2, from Where You Are:

Most stories are not meant to be trilogies.

Lesson #3, from Don’t Wanna Lose You Now:

An epilogue should not read like the cheesy blurb before the credits of a Lifetime Original Movie.

Lesson #4, from End of the Road:

Never borrow the plot of a story you admire and try to write it yourself. You will fail.

Lesson #5, from One Last Wish:

When you take your title from a Lurlene McDaniel series, you know your story’s gonna be cheesy.

Lesson #6, from Silent Desperation:

Don’t write a story just because someone wants you to. Also, opium hasn’t been used since early-twentieth century China.

Lesson #7, from The One:

Mary Sues happen.

Lesson #8, from Miracle Child:

People put those disclaimers that say “I am not a Backstreet Boy, blah blah blah” for a reason: If you write from the point of view of a Backstreet Boy or someone in his family, some people will actually think you are that Backstreet Boy or member of his family.

Lesson #9, from Fight for Survival:

Collaborating is fun!

Lesson #10, from One Night:

AJ stories never do as well as Nick or Brian stories.

Lesson #11, from Visions of the Past:

I always did love Scotland.

Lesson #12, from The Gift:

TV shows can be viable source of inspiration, even for Kevin fics!

Lesson #13, from Believe in Miracles:

There’s no point in writing the same story twice, unless you’re rewriting.

Lesson #14, from The Terror Chronicles:

The phrase “You’ll always be my baby” does not apply to fiction. A story that starts out your baby may turn into the red-headed stepchild you’re embarrassed to take out in public. Also, suspense-comedy really is a genre.

Lesson #15, from Three Words:

I guess she really did have depression.

Lesson #16, from Through Thick and Thin:

Writing blatantly teeny fics can be as much of a guilty pleasure as watching soaps. Especially if you pack more drama into them than the soaps themselves!

Lesson #17, from Cry of Despair:

It’s all fine and good until you bring in Justin Timberlake.

Lesson #18, from Everyone:

Suicide is not the answer. Neither is writing lots of short stories about suicide.

Lesson #19, from Fight for Survival II:

Collaborating sucks!

Lesson #20, from Home for Christmas:

It’s not a holiday tradition if it only happens once.

Lesson #21, from Star Cross’d:

Some sequels should never have been written.

Lesson #22, from When Tomorrow Never Comes:

When you title a story, make sure your title makes sense.

Lesson #23, from Time:

Nursing homes are more appealing when the Backstreet Boys are there.

Lesson #24, from Shattered Lives:

The “it was all a dream” cliché is like smoking pot or shoving small objects up your nose. Everyone tries it once.

Lesson #25, from The Other Child:

Never start a story from an idea emailed to you by a reader. You will hate it.

Lesson #26, from Thank You:

Is it really a Bsb fic if the Backstreet Boys are only in it in poster form?

Lesson #27, from In Dreams:

When you hate the name you co-writer gives to the main character of your story, you should know your collaboration is destined to fail.

Lesson #28, from Beside the Ocean:

Sometimes the simplest ideas are the best ones.

Lesson #29, from Blood Red Moon:

Even if you find really good Bible quotes to put with them, some ideas are just bad.

Lesson #30, from Seduction of Evil:

Who knew how inspiring R.L. Stine could be?

Lesson #31, from Just Hold Me:

Music videos, like TV shows, can also be viable source of inspiration.

Lesson #32, from Years of Grace:

If at first you don’t succeed (or if your first, unfinished attempt at fanfic dies in a computer crash), try again. The second try will probably be better anyway.

Lesson #33, from Backstreet Boys in The Shining:

Everyone loves a good humor story written in script form.

Lesson #34, from Identical:

It’s not copying if you got the idea from the TV guide synopsis and never actually watched the movie.

Lesson #35, from Sweet Vengeance:

Some lessons need to be re-taught before they can really be learned. Lesson #21, for instance.

Lesson #36, from Code Blue:

It is possible to collaborate with large groups of people, as long as you’re okay with waiting several years between chapters.

Lesson #37, from You’ll Never Walk Alone:

Go figure, my teachers were right all along: outlines really can help you organize your ideas before you go to write them.

Lesson #38, from The Little Velvet Box:

I tell ya, those Chicken Soup books… they’re inspiring!

Lesson #39, from The Backstreet Boys Read “A Dark Secret”:

The whole MST thing? Better left to the Mystery Science Theater people.

Lesson #40, from Not Another Teenybopper Fanfic:

As long as you think you’re funny, who cares what anyone else thinks?

Lesson #41, from Now or Never:

Remember Lesson #37? A little planning goes a long way.

Lesson #42, from Broken:

“Write what you know” doesn’t apply if you’re willing to research what you don’t know and want to write.

Lesson #43, from By My Side:

… but then, some sequels were meant to be written after all!

Lesson #44, from Are You There, God? It’s Me, Brian:

“The parody is the last refuge of a frustrated writer.” ~ Ernest Hemingway

Lesson #45, from 00Carter:

Seven heads are better than one! Unless, of course, you’re referring to Satan.

Lesson #46, from Footprints:

Never let go.

Lesson #47, from Genesis 2014:

Writing challenges are a safe way to step outside your comfort zone. Way, way outside that comfort zone.

Lesson #48, from The World Will Know Your Name:

A great song can make a great songfic.

Lesson #49, from Watch Me As I Bleed:

The gorier, the better.

Lesson #50, from Secrets of the Heart:

If you have an unrealistic premise, better inject the rest of the story with as much realism as possible.

Lesson #51, from Song for the Undead:

Song lyrics in stories can be cheesy… unless they’re from Thriller. Thriller: always epic, never cheesy.

Ó 2008 by Julie