Star Trek fanfiction is nothing new. Since the original series began airing, aspiring and often talented writers of all ages began contributing their works to fanzines, which were originally printed independently and mailed out to fans across the country.
When the internet came along, fanfiction sites like Fanfiction.net and An Archive of Our Own grew quickly and became havens for writers and readers alike, and much like with fanzines of the past, Star Trek writers began publishing their original fanfiction. If you’d like to join their ranks, check out these tips for beginners that will have you posting in no time!
1. Age is not a barrier
Did you know that some of the first Star Trek fanfiction writers were women in their 30s and 40s? They started writing their own adventures (some of them erotic) while the original series was in its third season.
Today, fanfiction is often seen as a teenager’s pastime, but age is not a barrier to writing original Star Trek stories. Many adults produce content in their spare time (Yours Truly included) and find it an enjoyable escape from the demands of everyday life. Writers come in all shapes, sizes, backgrounds, and ages, so if you’ve got that writing fire in you, let it out!
2. To write well, you must read often
Before you can put pen to paper or fingers to the keyboard, reading other people’s Star Trek fiction is a positive first step. Reading other people’s works can fire your imagination and help you understand formatting. One of the most common mistakes new writers make is to post their work in one large block paragraph with little or no formatting. This makes the content almost impossible to read and causes most users to click away.
Reading fanfiction before you start your own stories can also help you understand how to generate original ideas. Read a variety of genres to get a feel for how point of view affects the story, and what type of POV you find most exciting.
3. Answer your Ws with a writing journal
Generating and building on ideas in a writing journal can help you answer your who, when, why, and where. No matter if you’re interested in writing adventures set in the original series universe or in more recent shows like Discovery, write outlines if you find them helpful, or doodle the characters you plan to write about to unleash your imagination. My writing journal is filled with planning and goal sheets that help keep me focused on my characters’ needs, wants, and goals, which prevents rambling in the actual content.
It is my sincere hope that these tips help get you started with writing Star Trek fanfiction. Now, take the plunge into the final frontier and bring life to the characters you love!