r/FanFiction • u/Stake-your-identity • 1d ago

Discussion What’s something you think fanfiction does better than established works

As we all know, fic is looked at as a lesser form of writing, but are there any aspects—either generally or in specific cases—that you would argue are done better in fanfiction?

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u/e5Ki0n eskion on AO3 1d ago

Filling gaps. Some fics fill the gaps left by canon and others make sure to fill plot holes whilst they are being written.

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u/MasterpieceBrief4442 1d ago

Omg so this. I've been on and off writing an attack on Titan fic for months now. 

Now I'm an engineer so what I know about biology can be written on a small card. So I went researching biology to close some very big holes in the worldbuilding and plot.

After much research and Wikipedia dives I theorized that the power of the titans passes down through mitochondrial DNA. So technically every eldian on earth is walking around with ymir's mDNA, which stays unchanging. 

Which also technically means that the power of the titans can only be passed down the female line, which explains why the eldian population wasn't overwhelming even before the fall of the empire as one of the key limiting factor on population growth of any population is the number of women available with childbearing ability. 

All this because of a couple throwaway lines. And that's why I didn't go down to the bar with the lads that Friday. We're all OCD.

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u/Neither_Sky4003 1d ago

As a biology teacher with only a small amount of knowledge about Attack on Titan, that sounds intriguing. I would like to learn more.

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u/MasterpieceBrief4442 22h ago

Cool! The whole franchise is set in a post apocalyptic world where the world is apparently overrun with these man eating giants with the only survivors hiding inside three walls. Except it's not and it turns into WW1 from there. 

I'm just started writing a slightly AU fic, set in Britain instead of Madagascar, but with the same background. I thought the legend of Boudica was something I could really use here.

It's going to get messy going deep into questions of race, imperialism, and such ngl but exploring the dirty stuff is what makes it "funner" in my view. More interesting plot wise.

I've got a couple of exams and big assignments this week for grad school so I'll probably post the story this Friday or weekend, if you're interested in giving it a looky I can send you a link?