The Internet World of Fan Fiction

Fan fiction, the most popular creative outlet for fans, allows the amateur writer an opportunity to be published and receive immediate feedback from peers. As educators, we can learn from the fan communities as they participate in online activities, especially fan fiction. Students are more likely t...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Herzing, Melissa Jean
Format: Others
Published: VCU Scholars Compass 2005
Subjects:
Online Access:http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/etd/1046
http://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=2045&context=etd
Description
Summary:Fan fiction, the most popular creative outlet for fans, allows the amateur writer an opportunity to be published and receive immediate feedback from peers. As educators, we can learn from the fan communities as they participate in online activities, especially fan fiction. Students are more likely to embrace entertaining and creative assignments. And since much of the world is linked to the Internet in one way or another, we can allow students an opportunity to not only improve their writing skills, but also enhance their knowledge of the Internet and its capabilities. My study included online interviews with fan fiction writers and readers as well as the examination of fan fiction texts and websites. By exploring this relatively unknown genre of writing and reading, I believe teachers of composition can use fan fiction to their advantage by encouraging students to write creatively using subject matter that interests them in some way.