As I spent the day today with my granddaughter, Alexis J., she started telling me a little bit about how fan fiction works, and so I decided to interview her about it and share it with everyone at Novel Spaces. Enjoy! (signed: Marissa Monteilh)
Q: I understand that you write fan fiction. Can you tell us what that is, and
what type of stories you've written?
A: Fan fiction is where you, the fan, take a group of characters, one or more,
from a particular band, play, movie, book or TV show, and you put them in your
own story and create your own little world for them to live in by your means. I
wrote Poison Love, a Vampire Diaries fan fiction title. Vampire Diaries
is a TV show that airs on The CW. And I'm also writing about the band called One
Direction. I take the members, Harry Styles, Zayn Malik, Louis Tomlinson, Niall
Horan, and Liam Payne, on a journey in a story called Adopted by One
Direction. I'm writing it in 2nd person, so you, the reader, are actually
featured in the story, and you get adopted by One Direction; it tells about what
happens when you get separated from your brother, Adrian, and how you cope with
being without him, but with a group of five men instead. In the story, the guys
are not famous, they're just regular guys. So far I have over 240 pages written.
Q: Why is it that we don't hear a lot about fan fiction?
A: Fan fiction isn't as popular because you can't really publish it; you post
on your blog pages or other sites, but I think someone should find a way to get
approval from the authors/writers to publish fan fiction so that followers can
enjoy it in print, and other formats.
Q: Why do you write fan fiction?
A: One reason, but not the only reason I write fan fiction, is because
it's actually easier. You already have popular, established characters that
readers and viewers have bonded to. Plus it's a lot more fun for that reason
because people can already relate to the characters. Like in my story Poison
Love, I can take them through situations that the creator of the series hasn't
done yet. I can throw in some awesome cliffhangers and my followers seem to beg
for more. Like when Damon compels the main character, Echo, to remember all that
she'd been compelled to forget. The readers were like, "Oh my gosh? Now
she remembers everything!"
Q: Where can someone read stories, or post their own fan fiction stories? And what age group?
A: The main sites are Fan Fiction, Watt Pad, Movellas, and Quotev. The age group for
what I write is usually teenagers. I write under a pen name.
Q: Do you see yourself starting more fan fiction stories, and if so, based on
which already established shows/characters?
A: Yes I do. I love Beverly Hills 90210, so that would be cool, and maybe
stories about some of my favorite singers, like Lorde, Ed Sheeran, and Hozier,
who's from Ireland. He's so amazing! He sings Take Me to Church. That would be
fun.
Q. Can we expect any follow up titles to Bailey and the Bully?
A: I'm still writing so many titles, but I'm not sure which ones will be
published yet. I mainly write for fun. Bottom line is that I write every day, and that is what I enjoy.
Bio: Alexis J. is a young storyteller who's always had a way with words. Writing is her favorite subject in school. She enjoys creating characters who go against what people in their lives would expect, and who even surprise her. Alexis' hobbies are singing and playing soccer. Bailey and the Bully is her first book.
