The Fanfic Writers' Craft

In this bonus episode of The Fanfic Writer’s Craft, Jo (@pebblysand) and Blayne (@btelling) take a deep dive into Jo’s long fic castles.

Recorded back in September 2024, just weeks after castles wrapped, this is an extended, sprawling, and wonderfully self-indulgent conversation about the fic’s origins, inspirations, and the process of writing 400k words of postwar Harry/Ginny angst, politics, and family drama. From “Sad Harry power hour” to Eminem’s Castle, from the themes of war and survival to building unforgettable OCs, we cover the lore, the choices, the struggles, and the surprises along the way. If you’ve read castles and ever wanted to peek behind the curtain - or if you just love hearing writers unpack how a massive project came to be - this episode is for you.

This week, we mention:

• Books: Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, Atonement by Ian McEwan
• Fandoms: Harry Potter
• Fics: ce ne sont que des cailloux by pebblysand
• Films & TV: Deathly Hallows Part 1, Andor
• Music: Eminem (Castle, Arose), Passenger (Two Tales)
• Podcast: S2E8. Research (Or, Shifting into Draco Malfoy's Girlfriend)
• Castles Podfic

You can find us online at:

• The Fanfic Writer’s Craft: tumblr ; spotify ; ko-fi
• Blayne (@btelling): tumblr ; AO3
• Jo (@pebblysand): tumblr ; AO3

In this episode, Jo (@pebblysand) and Blayne (@btelling) are joined by their very first guest of 2025—TikTok creator and fandom commentator Tiana (@tinawithana)! 

If you’ve spent any time in fan spaces on TikTok, chances are you’ve come across Tiana’s funny, sharp, and often brilliantly blunt takes on all things fandom and fanfiction. From tagging etiquette to reader engagement, she has published countless videos aimed at readers and writers alike, commenting on best practices while acknowledging the shifting culture of online communities. We were thrilled to sit down with her for a wide-ranging, deeply energising conversation. If you’ve ever found yourself scrolling through TikTok fandom discourse and shouting “YES, exactly!” - this episode is for you.

This week, we mention:

• Books: The Hurricane Wars by Thea Guanzon
• Fics: castles by pebblysand
• Fandoms: Shadow and Bone, The Mandalorian, The Acolyte, Rivals, Teen Wolf, The West Wing, The Good Wife, Avatar: The Last Airbender, All Time Low (Band - RPF) 
• Films & TV: Severance

Your recommendations for this week are:

• Tiana: Salt and Scale by mzladybird (fic), Immortal Dark by Tigest Girma

You can find us online at:

• The Fanfic Writer’s Craft: tumblr ; spotify ; ko-fi
• Blayne (@btelling): tumblr ; AO3
• Jo (@pebblysand): tumblr ; AO3
• Tiana: TikTok ; Youtube ; BlueSky

In this episode, Jo (@pebblysand) and Blayne (@btelling) settle in for a more casual, catch-up style episode where we ramble about a few different fanfiction-related topics. We answer two great Tumblr questions from listeners - first up, from an anon who asked us for advice about writing crossover fics. We share our takes on why crossovers are so tricky to write, how to make them work, and whether we’d ever read (or write) them ourselves. Then, we dive into the world of canon divergence fics with a question from @anartiscticandautisticstararcher. We explain why they require careful thought to succeed and unpack some examples we love, sharing advice for writers looking to explore those "what if" scenarios in their own work. If you want to hear us go on for twenty minutes about how much we love @annerbhp's The Changeling, then tune in! 

Finally, we wrap up with a meaty discussion about AI and writing. We debate the ethical and practical uses of AI in the writing process, from research assistance to editing, and what its increasing presence might mean for writers and the creative industries at large. Spoiler alert: we don’t always agree, but we hope to give you more food for thought!

This week, we mention:

• Books: Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling, The Woman in the Purple Skirt by Natsuko Imamura
• Fics: the fault in faulty manufacturing by pebblysand, castles by pebblysand, The Changeling and The Armistice Series by Annerb, Intangible by odainath, love by pebblysand, two floors to a story by pebblysand, is that such a stretch of the imagination?by aceofdiamonds
• Films & TV: The Good Wife; Emilia Pérez; Small Things Like These; Gossip Girl; Spooks; The Suite Life of Zack & Cody; Hannah Montana; That's So Raven; Lord of the Rings; The Hobbit; Peaky Blinders; Silk; Dune
• Other: AI Tiktok Video that inspired our AI discussion

Your recommendations for this week are:

• Blayne: Dilly-dallying! Spend time with friends, get out of the house, in these troubled times. 

You can find us online at:

• The Fanfic Writer’s Craft: tumblr ; spotify ; ko-fi
• Blayne (@btelling): tumblr ; AO3
• Jo (@pebblysand): tumblr ; AO3
  
  

This February, Jo (@pebblysand) and Blayne (@btelling) celebrate Valentine's Day/Month with a dive deep into writing arguments and fight scenes! Because what’s more romantic than a well-crafted battle of words (or wands)?

In this episode, we discuss the purpose of fights in fiction, the importance of tension leading up to them, and how to make them feel organic in our narratives. We explore different types of fights, from small spats to full-blown confrontations, and how they impact character development. We break down the writing of physical fights—including why they’re so difficult to get right and how to make them effective without getting lost in unnecessary detail. Lastly, we discuss the tricky balance between letting things go unsaid and wanting our characters to engage in screaming matches — because sometimes silence is the most powerful argument of all.

In other fandom news, we cover the recent controversy surrounding the sexual abuse  allegations made against Neil Gaiman, fandom reactions to problematic creators, and the delicate relationship between fans and the works they love. On a lighter note, we talk about the latest Hunger Games book excerpt, the continued existence of TikTok in the US (for now), and the phenomenon that is Sexy Death Eater TikTok. (Yes, it’s real.)

This week, we mention:

• Books: The Hunger Games series by Suzanne Collins, Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney, Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling
• Fics: the fault in faulty manufacturing by pebblysand, castles by pebblysand, The Squib by Nargles15
• Films & TV: Severance; Revolutionary Road; The Good Wife; A Star Is Born; Borgen
• Other: Robert & Michelle King’s letter (TGW 5x15); There is No Safe Word (Neil Gaiman Vulture article) by Lila Shapiro

Your recommendations for this week are:

• Blayne: Friends (Season 3, Episode 16 - “The One With the Morning After”); Blackbird (play) by David Harrower
• Jo: Si On Sombre, Ce Sera Beau (album) by Solann
• Both: Prime Target

You can find us online at:

• The Fanfic Writer’s Craft: tumblr ; spotify ; ko-fi
• Blayne (@btelling): tumblr ; AO3
• Jo (@pebblysand): tumblr ; AO3
  
  

In this episode, we kick off 2025 with an exciting new chapter for The Fanfic Writer’s Craft! This marks our first episode with my new co-host, Blayne (@btelling, aka Nargles15 on AO3), who you may remember from her fantastic guest episode in Season 2 on writing dystopian hellscapes. We chat about what’s ahead for the podcast, our evolving format, and introduce a brand-new segment: fanfiction news!

In this discussion, we dive into a hot topic in the fanfiction community: the removal of Manacled by SenLinYu from AO3 and its transformation into Alchemised, an original novel published by Penguin Random House. We explore the broader implications of fanfiction-to-original transitions, the publishing industry’s growing interest in fanfic authors, and the tension between creative opportunity and commercial trends. 

We late dive into our main discussion on canon-compliance, discussing what it means to different fandom spaces, and how we each navigate staying true to canon while crafting original, compelling narratives. This episode is packed with insights on publishing, fandom culture, and our personal approaches to writing so we hope you enjoy! Please let us know your thoughts, and feel free to send us topic suggestions—we love hearing from you.

This week, we mention:

• Books: Alchemised by SenLinYu; After by Anna Todd; Divergent by Veronica Roth; Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins; Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James
• Fandoms: Harry Potter; Star Wars; The Good Wife; Peaky Blinders; One Direction 
• Fics: we only make tsunamis by disOrderly; castles by pebblysand; Knowing Where to Look by Ala_baguette; Manacled by SenLinYu; The Squib by Nargles15
• Films & TV: The Vampire Diaries
• Podcasts: [The Fanfic Writer’s Craft] S2E4. Writing Dystopian Hellscapes with @Nargles15; [The Fanfic Writer’s Craft] S3E8. 2024 Wrap-Up (Or, Stop Treating Fanfic Like Social Media)
• Other: Victoria Aveyard’s TikTok on fanfiction & publishing ; Vampire Diaries video by Jenny Nicholson; West Side Story

Our recommendations this week are:

• Blayne: Severance (Apple TV+)
• Jo: Silo (Apple TV+)

You can find us online at:

• The Fanfic Writer’s Craft: tumblr ; spotify ; ko-fi
• Blayne (@btelling): tumblr ; AO3
• Jo (@pebblysand): tumblr ; AO3

In this episode, Jo (@pebblysand) & Lani (@copper-dust) reflect on their 2024 fanfiction journeys and podcast highlights. They discuss notable shifts in fandom dynamics, including the growing conversation around engagement and the impact of binge-reading culture on commenting. They share their favourite reads and writers of the year, personal writing milestones, and thoughts on scenes or lines they especially enjoyed creating. They also highlight some fun podcast statistics and celebrate milestones, like their interview on @mindthetagspod.

As you will see, this episode comes with a bittersweet announcement: Lani (@copper_dust) will be stepping back as a regular co-host in 2025. While this was a tough decision for her mostly due to IRL circumstances, I (@pebblysand) want to express my deepest gratitude for Lani’s incredible contributions to the podcast. Lani, thank you for your hard work, your insights, and the amazing conversations we've shared—on and off the mic. I will miss you so dearly! 💛

But for me, this isn’t goodbye! I (@pebblysand) am thrilled to share that the podcast will continue with a new co-host: @btelling, aka Nargles15 on AO3! 🎙️ You may know her for her brilliant dystopian fanfiction The Squib or her guest episode from season one (check it out here!). We’re already hard at work brainstorming fresh ideas for the new season, which will launch in late January 2025. Have suggestions? Let us know—we’d love your input!

Thank you all for an amazing 2024. Your support, comments, and enthusiasm mean the world to us. Here’s to more creativity, connection, and fandom fun in 2025. Wishing you a joyful end to the holiday season! 🎄✨

This week, we mention: 

• Books: Small Things Like These by Claire Keegan ; Normal People by Sally Rooney ; Angela's Ashes by Frank McCourt ; The Things They Carried by Tim O'Brien
• Fandoms: Harry Potter ; The Good Wife ; Spooks ; Peaky Blinders ; The Song of Achilles
• Fics: castles by pebblysand ; Merry Men by copper_dust ; Check the Spindle by copper_dust
• Films: Small Things Like These (2024 adaptation)
• Podcasts: [Mind The Tags] Interview with Lani and Jo ; [The Fanfic Writers' Craft] S3E5. Motifs & Symbolism ; [The Fanfic Writers' Craft] S3E6. Money, Business & Economics ; [The Fanfic Writers' Craft] S3E1. Audience ; [The Fanfic Writers' Craft] S3E4. Use of Time in Narrative ; [The Fanfic Writers' Craft] S2E4. Writing Dystopian Hellscapes with @Nargles15
• TV: The Good Wife ; 
• Other: Sally Rooney Is Irish (essay)

Our inspirations this year were: 

• Lani: Baejax and Johaerys (writers in the Song of Achilles fandom)
• Jo: Sundew (fic) and the podfic version of castles by josnail

Your recommendations for this month are:

• Intermezzo by Sally Rooney
• Wicked (2024 film)
• And the Band Played On by Randy Shilts 
• The Boys in the Band (original 1970 film)

You can find us online at:

• The Fanfic Writer’s Craft: tumblr ; spotify ; ko-fi
• Lani (@copper-dust): tumblr ; AO3
• Jo (@pebblysand): tumblr ; AO3

In this episode, Jo (@pebblysand) and Lani (@copper-dust) discuss the art of evoking emotion in fanfiction, focusing on how to craft narratives that resonate deeply with readers. They explore the importance of allowing readers to connect with characters through their positive traits, rather than relying solely on trauma, with Lani emphasizing the "show, don’t tell" approach to avoid emotional manipulation. 

Jo shares how she draws inspiration from observing others, while Lani incorporates her own emotional experiences, particularly when handling intense themes like grief and trauma. They also discuss the challenge of pacing emotional scenes in longer works, and Jo stresses the value of outlining to maintain balance. 

This week, we mention: 

• Books: Intermezzo by Sally Rooney ; Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery ; Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone by JK Rowling
• Fics: castles by pebblysand ; The Seam Between by copper_dust ; the fault in faulty manufacturing by pebblysand ; Check the Spindle by copper_dust
• Films: Love Actually 
• TV: Friends ; Anne with an E ; The Good Wife
• Other: Jo’s Tumblr post about writing emotional scenes

Your recommendations for this week are:

• And the Band Played On by Randy Shilts
• Capital (TV series)
• American Horror Story & American Horror Stories

You can find us online at:

• The Fanfic Writer’s Craft: tumblr ; spotify ; ko-fi
• Lani (@copper-dust): tumblr ; AO3
• Jo (@pebblysand): tumblr ; AO3

In this episode, Jo (@pebblysand) and Lani (@copper-dust) discuss the significance of writing about money, business, and economics in fanfiction. They explore how these themes can add depth and realism to stories by reflecting the financial decisions and social class differences between characters. Lani touches on how class dynamics and poverty are central to her stories, while Jo discusses how economic power imbalances are intentionally woven into castles. They also share challenges in portraying historical economic realities and prices, and in making business plotlines engaging. They finally show how using these themes can enhance character development and world-building, making fanfiction both entertaining and thought-provoking.

This week, we mention: 

• Books: Room by Emma Donoghue ; Slammerkin by Emma Donoghue ; The Wonder by Emma Donoghue
• Fandoms: Harry Potter
• Fics: castles by pebblysand ; Merry Men by copper_dust ; Check The Spindle by copper_dust
• Films: It Ends With Us ;
• TV: The Bear ; Abbott Elementary ; 
• Other: Coffee Shop Post

Your recommendations for this week are:

• Sundew by elen (elennaen)

You can find us online at:

• The Fanfic Writer’s Craft: tumblr ; spotify ; ko-fi
• Lani (@copper-dust): tumblr ; AO3
• Jo (@pebblysand): tumblr ; AO3

In this episode, Jo (@pebblysand) and Lani (@copper-dust) discuss motifs and symbolism in writing. Lani goes through the different motifs she either intentionally or unintentionally uses in her own work, and they both caution against the use of clichéd symbols, like relying on weather to reflect a character’s emotions. They also address misconceptions about symbolism and Lani insists that not every detail in a story is symbolic. They encourage writers to develop their own personal motifs and use of symbols in their own works.

This week, we mention: 

• Books: The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald ; The Eye in the Door by Pat Barker ; Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by JK Rowling ; none of this is serious by Catherine Prasifka
• Fandoms: Harry Potter  
• Fics: the wolf’s just a puppy (and the door’s double locked) by pebblysand ; castles by pebblysand ; merry men by copper_dust ; Check the Spindle by copper_dust ; The Atoners by copper_dust ; March Hare by copper_dust ;
• Films: Pride and Prejudice ; 
• Music: Ren ; Taylor Swift
• Musicals: Rent
• Podcast episodes: S1E12. Writing War (Or, All of Us Are Going to Geneva)
• TV: The OA ; Peaky Blinders ;
• Visual Art: Susan Rotherberg ; Grayson Perry ; 

Your recommendations for this week are:

• Baby Reindeer (TV)
• this is how you remember it by Catherine Prasifka

You can find us online at:

• The Fanfic Writer’s Craft: tumblr ; spotify ; ko-fi
• Lani (@copper-dust): tumblr ; AO3
• Jo (@pebblysand): tumblr ; AO3

In this episode, Jo (@pebblysand) and Lani (@copper-dust) delve into the use of time in narrative, focusing on techniques such as flashbacks, foreshadowing, and non-linear storytelling. Lani discusses her approach to incorporating time in her fanfiction, emphasizing the importance of moments of emotional intensity. They explore the use of non-linear narrative structures, discussing how they can enhance character development and mirror immersive thinking. They also share our strategies for handling transitions and overcoming challenges when incorporating time-related elements into fanfiction.

This week, we mention: 

• Books: He Said/She Said by Erin Kelly
• Fandoms: Harry Potter, Silk (BBC)
• Fics: Maps to the Stars’ Homes by Lizbee, The Atoners by copper_dust, The Seam Between by copper_dust, Check the Spindle by copper_dust, castles by pebblysand, Children by pebblysand, Merry Men by copper_dust, Seven Simple Machines by fluorescentgrey, the fault in faulty manufacturing by pebblysand, ce ne sont que des cailloux by pebblysand
• Film: Memento, Inception 
• Previous episodes: [BONUS] Wattpad & Platforms with @MyLittleDuckies (Or, Please, Save Your Works!)

Your recommendations for this week are:

• The Tortured Poets Department by Taylor Swift
• Bad Blood by John Carreyrou (and the Bad Blood: The Final Chapter podcast)

You can find us online at:

• The Fanfic Writer’s Craft: tumblr ; spotify ; ko-fi
• Lani (@copper-dust): tumblr ; AO3
• Jo (@pebblysand): tumblr ; AO3