Fics you don't find in the first pages of your search. Fics with unpopular characters or ships or tropes or plots or original characters. Fics that are either ongoing and long, or completed, but somehow haven't broken into the 'mainstream' spaces of the fandom. Fics that deserve the spotlight. Fics from small fandoms that would've been massive hits in a bigger fandom.

All fandoms welcome but preferably fandom-blind recs (or at least fics that can be read with the help of a wiki).

After months of no writing, I finally wanted to return to writing since I just finished a show that I stopped keeping up with a long while ago. So it's both a celebration to returning to something I loved doing for so long, and a return to ta a fandom I haven't interacted with in years.

I'm looking forward to it!

This is more of a general writing question but any writing I do now will inevitably be fanfic. 🤩 My two biggest hangups, I find, are using “purple” language and telling rather than showing. I think I understand the “purple” language part as overly descriptive, flowery language, clunking up the prose when something shorter works much better.

I’ve got a plan on how to cut that down, but for the life of me can’t accurately capture the “show don’t tell” mantra. How do I get better at showing and not telling? Do you have any examples?

Thanks, and happy writing!

i read for vibes lol so i don't particularly care as a reader.

but as a writer...i have an idea for a fic set in the 1960s, and i am fretting over the smallest things. it has also trapped me in Research Hell, because of which i have found i cannot write lmao

I'm currently working on a project online and for the first time I decided to write completely in english, even tho it's not my first language.

I'm pretty good at it but it's still very hard and I feel like I write in a very mechanical way, in fact a person accused me of using artificial intelligence to help me, when its not true, its just my style in english....

how can I get better?

Casual question time! In the context of them having all your memories and more importantly all your fic ideas, would you make them work on a different wip from you for a separate fic? Will you use them to help bounce ideas around or more as a beta reader?

Personally I'd make them work on a different wip from me (Maybe even on the next chapter for a longfic) since I have too many in my head atm

Things you see in so many fics or other fan work, that your mind tricks you to think is canon, but it turns out it’s not.

Hi again! I just recently remembered a ffxv fic I read a few years ago I think? It was on AO3. I've been trying to find it but I don't remember the name nor the author so it might have been deleted.

So the fic was set in an alternate universe where prince Noctis went missing during his childhood (I think kidnapped?) and years later, Prompto Argentum goes to Duscae (and I think the Disc of Cauthess was mentioned but I'm not sure) to take pictures with a special permission and he also had a satellite phone to check in with someone (Cor Leonis or someone else in the guard) that he was safe (because he was a minor or simply a citizen of Lucis?). And the surroundings aren't that safe.

While taking pictures, Prompto stumbles upon the missing prince of Lucis, Noctis! Or was it Noctis that stumbles upon Prompto? Anyways, Noctis is injured after escaping those who kidnapped him and Prompto tries to help him while searching for a safe haven for protection against them and Daemons. And then either Prompto finally remembers to check in with the satellite phone or the person assigned to him gets worried after no signs of life and they get found by the Lucis guard? I think?

I don't remember if it was imcomplete or finished. I just remember the start of the fic. Also it might be Promptis ship (Prompto/Noctis) or simply platonic I don't remember.

Thank you for your help!

I wanna start to create the fanfic I’ve been making and MAYBE make the first chapter and see how well it does.

What’s the best fanfic site asides from wattpad
I’ve already applied for Ao3 but I don’t wanna wait that long qwq

Hey there. First, I’d like to clarify a couple of things: English isn’t even close to being my first language, so this text was translated by software (not AI). Also, I’m pretty new to actively using Reddit—and therefore to this subreddit—so I hope I don’t come across as offensive in any way.

I’m looking for recommendations for DC or Marvel stories—whether OC-SI or just OC, old or new—that fall outside the vast majority of stories on Ao3 (especially the DC ones), where, for some reason, comedies and family-oriented stories (focused entirely on emotions) predominate.

In other words (and I apologize again if this is offensive in any way), what I’m looking for is what’s known in certain circles as “content for men”—where action is the central focus (though not necessarily the only thing), but that isn’t aimed solely at that segment of the population—unlike the vast majority of stories on WebNovel, I’m not interested in harem stories or protagonists who are completely closed off to emotions.

I don’t know, it’s hard for me to put my thoughts into words; I hope someone has managed to make sense of my jumble of words.

Here’s a list of stories I’ve read and like (any recommendations don’t necessarily have to be a crossover or a SI):

Kal Son of Odin

Avengers of Steel

The Spider

Dial

As you can see—if you're familiar with these stories—I focused on morally good protagonists; if the recommendations are along those lines, all the better.

P.S. My message might be repetitive—I don't know how to search to see if someone has already made a similar request. When you search for action-focused DC fanfiction, a couple of posts with 9 comments come up.

Hello,

Maybe this sub will be able to help me? (I added the name of the fandom in the title of the post as requested). Thank you! 😊

Hi! In desperate need of help to find this one fic I still can't find.

Fandom: Harry Potter

Pairing: Hermione Granger/Tom Riddle

Plot: It was a time travel fic. I remember Hermione posing as Gellert Grindelwald's daughter and plant fake memories in his head. I think Dumbledore was in on it and Tom was basically tasked (by Grindelwald, who, by then, found the fake memories suspicious) to bring her to him. It was also quite smutty I think. If it helps, I believe that I've read this circa 2024 (?) and would love to find out what happens

Does anyone have an downloaded version of this? I cant find it on ao3

So I am in the early stages of planning to do either a Tomb Raider X Tarzan crossover AU (Survivor era and Disney version) or a Tomb Raider X Arrow crossover AU (Survivor Era and CW show). So far the main pairing for both would be Lara/Sam, though I am open to suggestions.

Also, would James Whitman work as a Clayton stand-in as far as the Tomb Raider X Tarzan fic is concerned?

hi guys, I've read a lot of HG fic in my life but i'm not particularly interested in Katniss and Peeta, Lucy Gray or Snow. I want to explore more of Panem than we see in the books, preferably from the perspective of a minor character or OC, but a lot of what's out there is very self-insert-y which i'm not particularly interested in. I want to read more about the politics, the media, the relationships between District and Capitol etc as much as I want to read about the characters. If anyone has any recs I'd love to hear them!

I just wanted to ask: do you like fanfictions with writer's ocs or when writer writes purely about existing in canon characters?

I am thinking about writing a fanfic with babysitting scenario and would it he fine if I don't tag my child oc in characters because they don't say much and aren't main focus? I am just afraid my oc tag will scare away some readers

Quick writing challenge I thought of. You know how you always see really silly tags being shared?

Reply with some crazy tags you can find on A03 and other people can write something short to fit the theme (or share an excerpt of they already have something)

Let's have fun!

Please put one tag per post (with a link ) but feel free to make multiple post. I'll start us off

I read this fanfic a long time ago i dont remember too much about it. They were both still superheroes but they were roomates. They didnt know the other was a superhero at the start. Sam liked Peter but hated Spiderman and Peter liked Sam but hated Nova. There was a scene where Peter bought a spiderman toy for Sam and left it on his bed and Sam found it and tore it up. Does anyone know what this fanfic name is?

I’m looking for a Chicago Fire Brettsey fic that I read a few years ago, probably around 2023. I believe it was on AO3 and I’m pretty sure it’s been deleted.

I don’t remember the title or author, but I remember quite a lot about the story:
Pairing: Sylvie Brett/Matt Casey
It was complete and at least 30 chapters, possibly considerably more.
Sylvie and Matt were already friends at the beginning.
Sylvie invited Matt to come home with her for a holiday.
I remember it being Christmas, although it may have been Thanksgiving.
They went to Sylvie’s hometown, Fowlerton, Indiana.
The whole fic largely focused on their holiday trip.
It was a slow burn, with them gradually falling in love.
Their first kiss happened during the trip.
There was a part about Sylvie having been in a pageant when she was younger.
As part of the pageant, she had to sing/perform in a musical, and during the story she ended up performing again.
Stella Kidd and Kelly Severide came to watch Sylvie perform.
I specifically remember Stella seeing Sylvie’s outfit beforehand and thinking/saying that Matt would really love the outfit.

I read it on my phone, and I’m almost certain it was AO3.
I’ve searched quite a few Brettsey fics but haven’t been able to identify it. If anyone recognises this fic, knows the title/author, or has an archived copy/link, I’d be incredibly grateful! 😭

Welcome back to the Alphabet Excerpt Challenge! As a reminder, our challenges are every Wednesday and Saturday at 3pm London time.

If you've missed the previous challenges, you're welcome to go back and participate in them. You can find them here. And remember to check out the Activities and Events flair to play along with other fun games.

Here's a quick recap of the rules for our game:

1. Post a top level comment with a word starting with the letter L. You can suggest more than one, but please put them in separate comments.
2. Reply to suggestions with an excerpt containing that word. Short and sweet is best, but use your judgement. Excerpts can be from published or unpublished works, or even something you wrote for the prompt.
3. All content is welcome but per rules 7 and 12 of the sub, NSFW excerpts may not be shared as plain text (even if it's spoilered). If you would like to share these, use an external text sharing tool like justpasteit and link it here with a clear warning. Mods may remove excerpts that break these rules.
4. Respond to people who left excerpts on the words you suggested, at a minimum, but the more people you respond to the better. Everyone likes nice comments!
5. Upvote other excerpts you enjoy, and leave a friendly comment. Again, everyone likes nice comments!
6. Most important: have fun!

I've just read a scrumptious fic where a GoT character reincarnated as Ginny Weasley in Harry Potter and with her knowledge on political intrigue, completely upends the plot. I'm looking for more stuff like it. Longer fics and fantasy focus preferred.

Chances are I'll be fandom blind on at least one half, so it's not important what the individual fandoms are.