How to Write a Parody Fanfiction

Last Updated: April 14, 2022 References

Many people have a favorite author, character, or story. Not content with simply reading the books or watching the show, some fans prefer to create their own stories set in the original material's universe. While fanfiction can be serious or humorous, parody intends to comment on or make fun of an original work. In either case, your work should be true to the original material. Read on to find out how to write parodies of your favorite works.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Creating Fanfiction and Parody

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Pick your source material. You can write fanfiction on any type of work or medium. Choose from Shakespeare's plays, popular music, movies, books, or anything that captures your interest. Then select elements of the work to spoof to make your fanfiction into parody.
- Become familiar with the original work. Before you can begin to spoof any work, you need to understand the original. Read the books, watch movies, or listen to the original music, as appropriate.
- Decide how much you want to emulate the original material. You may want to stay true to the original work as much as possible or let your imagination run wild so that your work may have little resemblance to the original. This is how E. L. Jame's fanfiction of Twilight evolved into the series Fifty Shades of Grey.^{[1]
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Decide what parts of the original you want to use. You can base your fanfiction on the characters, basic plotline, or the universe where the original is set. Then you can exaggerate those parts for a humorous effect.
- Write pastiche. One of the simplest forms of fanfiction is a pastiche, a creative work that imitates another author or genre.^{[2]
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  Research source} While pastiche differs from parody in that its intent is not to comment or make fun of original work; it is often humorous in tone.
- Write crossover fanfiction. Many different universes lend themselves to fanfiction. Setting two universes together in the same story can make for great parody. Imagine Marvel Comic's Thor fighting villains in the My Little Pony universe.
- Spoof the work's characters. You can exaggerate a character's traits to an absurd degree, or introduce new characters. In science fanfiction, there is a type of character known as "Mary Sue," (or "Gary Stu" for male characters), an absurdly perfect character, who saves the day when the main characters are unable to do so. While frowned on in straight fanfiction, Mary Sue can be an effective component of parody.
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Start writing your parody. Even if you're not sure what direction you want to take, it is always good to have something in writing. You can always go back and change it later.
- Plan your story. Start by considering: Who are my characters? What do I want them to do? What problems will they have to overcome? How do I make this funny?
- Make an outline. Once you have figured out how you want to proceed, organize your thoughts by putting them down on paper (or on computer). Review your outline and make revisions as needed.
- Create the actual story. Get the action started, give your characters life, and tell your story. Continue to revise and edit.
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Share your parody with others. Friends can provide input and offer suggestions on how to improve your work. Be open to criticism, and remember not to take anything personally.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Writing Original Parody

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Pick a genre to spoof. If you are interested in a genre like science fiction, you can create your own universe and characters.
- Learn all you can about the genre you selected. All literature has its clichés and stereotypes. Create an original parody by exaggerating these characteristics to an absurd degree.
- Make use of stereotypes. One example is science fiction's "Mary Sue" or "Gary Stu" character. This is a person, usually on their first mission, who is ridiculously perfect, and saves the day when all others have failed. While Mary Sue is frowned on in straight fanfiction, the character can be used to great effect in parody.
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Pick a medium to spoof. Your parody doesn't have to be based on a novel or short story. You can write music, a movie script, or anything that pokes fun at a genre.

Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Publishing Your Parody Fanfiction

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Understand the legalities involved in publishing your work. According to U.S. Copyright laws, fanfiction falls under the classification of derivative works, defined as a work based on one or more pre-existing works.^{[3]
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Research source} Writing derivative works may or may not be protected under the Fair Use Doctrine.^{[4]
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Understand Fair Use. The Fair Use Doctrine permits authors to comment upon, criticize, or parody a copyrighted work.^{[5]
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Research source} Fair use usually falls into two categories:
- Commentary and criticism. This category includes works that comment on or critique a copyrighted work. Examples include book reviews and citations in a research paper.
- Parody. A parody ridicules a copyrighted work, usually in a comical way. While parody fanfiction may be covered under fair use, it is best to consult a copyright attorney regarding the legalities, especially if you receive money for your writing.
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Seek permission from the author of the original work. Some writers encourage fanfiction, while others don't. If you have any doubts, don't publish your fanfiction.