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This topic has moved here: Subject: The Art of Writing Fan-Fiction (Part 1)
  • Subject: The Art of Writing Fan-Fiction (Part 1)
Subject: The Art of Writing Fan-Fiction (Part 1)

This topic will focus on the main elements required to write a convincing story set within the Halo universe. It will also feature helpful information on the various elements involved in writing fiction, especially science fiction, which will hopefully clear up a few common mistakes and ensure that anything else written will at least be interesting enough for the reader to continue reading.

Q. Why should you read anything that I write?
A. The truth is, you don't have to. But I've written a lot of Halo fan-fiction, and I'm having a bash at my own novel. I've done a lot of research on the many pitfalls of writing with publishing in mind, so if you want your work to be read you should probably keep reading.

I also wrote one particular fan-fiction about two years ago called the Halo 3 Epilogue (which was essentially Halo 4). By the time I'd finished all 25 parts, I had amassed over 1,500 replies and none of them were negative. I also spurred on Wolverfrog to write his own stuff and I'm pleased to see he's doing really well, but he also writes his own original material.

1. Fan-Fiction itself...
The one thing that every writer MUST realise when writing fan-fiction is that it is entirely that -- a fan-made creation based on the events or characters of the original material. It is not publishable and will NEVER be.

For those of you who write fan-fiction, do not think of Halo fan-fiction as a means of getting published or being employed as one of 343i's writers. It simply won't happen. But that doesn't mean it can't be a useful tool for someone who wants to be published.

2. Learning From Fan-Fiction
When I was writing the Halo 3 Epilogue, I always hoped that I would be plucked from the crowd and employed by Bungie as one of their writer's. But that was never going to happen.

For one thing, I wasn't published, which in business terms means I haven't had my work looked over and approved by a professional. I had no CV of achievements for previous works that had been published. In essence, I was nobody. And Bungie, A company that prides itself on producing some of the best titles in business, only go for those with a proven track record. But writing fan-fiction had another effect. It got me back into writing.

In truth, I've been writing fiction since I was seven or eight. But then I hit puberty, then joined the Army at eighteen and put my ambitions of writing in the future in a very deep and dark corner of my mind. Paying bills and getting on with life took over.

But after I left the Army, I began reading some of the material on the Bungie forums and I found one particular story, based on the events between Halo 2 and Halo 3. And I loved it. So much so that I began writing my own after Halo 3 came out. Frustrated with the Legendary ending of Halo 3, I wrote a convincing sequel.

Writing the Halo 3 Epilogue allowed me to practice my art. I gained almost instant feedback from a devoted but critical following. I was able to perfect characterisations, dialogue, settings, combat sequences, description and a whole bag of swag that I just can't think of right now. Fan-fiction became my Dojo, my sparring partner. And YOU should think of it in the same way. If you are writing fan-fiction with the hope that Frankie will suddenly sweep you off to Seattle for a job interview, then you really need to sit down and take note, because that's simply not going to happen.

First, you need to write your own ORIGINAL material, get published and make your mark on the literary world. Then, perhaps, someone might take note.

To be continued...

  • 01.09.2012 8:00 AM PDT

This was a very good read. I love writing fanfics myself. Shame I don't have much spare time to do it, with school and everything.

  • 01.09.2012 11:05 AM PDT

No u

Fan fictions are my forte really. Ha. I haven't released the material for my new fan fiction, not until I get to chapter five.

Anyways, you raise some good points. Writing fan fictions will not get you a job, you need to write your own material and become a well known writer to even start writing for another universe. Nevertheless, writing fan fictions can increase your writing skills greatly. You can become a better writer by sticking with it and writing an epic story.

by the way, I'd love to see your Halo 3 epilogue. I never got to see it like the others did.

  • 01.09.2012 12:51 PM PDT
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I never read your fan-fic. I'll try to read it when i have a lot of spare time. This was a good read and i'm trying to write a new fan-fic but I'm having one major problem.

1) I'm having trouble writing dialogue for how a group of marines/ODSTs would talk to each other

Help would be appreciated

  • 01.10.2012 7:51 PM PDT

No u


Posted by: krnlcheese
1) I'm having trouble writing dialogue for how a group of marines/ODSTs would talk to each other
What do you mean? What specifically are you having trouble with?

The thing about dialogue is that each character develops a special relationship with other characters in the form of dialogue.

  • 01.10.2012 10:13 PM PDT