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.
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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.
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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!
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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.)
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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.
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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! 🎄✨
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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In this episode, Jo (@pebblysand) and Lani (@copper-dust) come back to the topic of outlining, which they briefly touched upon in our first season. Outlining is defined as the process of creating a structured plan before drafting a story, and is seen as crucial for both original fiction and fan fiction writers. They discuss their individual approaches to outlining, including the various tools they use, from quick notes they leave in notes apps to full visual boards. They delve into benefits they feel they gain from outlining in terms of maintaining coherence, aiding in pacing, and ensuring consistency in the narrative. Finally, they also note how outlining can serve as a tool for overcoming writer’s block and facilitating brainstorming sessions.
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In this episode, Jo (@pebblysand) and Lani (@copper-dust) discuss their fanfiction hot takes and nit picks. Jo talks about engaging with comments, improving AO3, caring about statistics, and the misinformation that exists online about the monetisation of fanfiction. Lani expresses her desire for more creative additions to fanfiction, such as multimedia elements, and urges accuracy in portraying certain settings. Their nitpicks include issues like organizing one-shots within fics, clunky exposition, lack of extended worldbuilding in fantasy and sci-fi, redundant comparisons, and unnecessary material descriptions.
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In this episode, Jo (@pebblysand) and Lani (@copper-dust) embark on an exploration of the intricate relationship between fanfic writers and their audience. They talk about navigating strategies for audience growth, emphasizing niche awareness, participation in fests, and the leveraging of social media. They delve into the importance of engagement, sharing tips on responding to comments and maintaining authenticity. They discuss their perspectives on the "write for yourself" advice, acknowledging the motivational impact of audience feedback and touch on the evolving culture of fandom over the past decade. Lastly, they explore the delicate topic of responding adequately to criticism and hate.
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In this episode, Jo (@pebblysand) and Lani (@copper-dust) engage in a year-end roundup exercise, reflecting on their fanfiction writing, favourite reads, and their podcasting wins of 2023. They discuss their word counts for the year and talk about the lines or scenes they enjoyed writing. They highlight some great comments and reviews they’ve received, and answer a listener’s question about what surprised them in 2023. Lastly, they also chat about their podcast statistics and discuss plans for the upcoming year.
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In this episode, Jo (@pebblysand) catches up with Baby Doll (a.k.a @maycandrawtingz) who has written a number of reader-insert fanfics in multiple anime fandoms. In this interview we talk about Baby Doll’s work, but also particularly about her use of Wattpad as the primary platform on which she used to post her work. Unfortunately, last summer, Baby Doll saw one of her very popular fics be deleted by Wattpad due to a breach of their terms and services, the ramifications of which we discuss in the episode.
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In this episode, Jo (@pebblysand) and Lani (@copper-dust) delve into the intricacies of worldbuilding in fanfiction. They begin by discussing their individual perspectives on worldbuilding, and how their definitions of the word have changed overtime. They talk about the importance of detail in the worlds that they create, and touch on the common mistakes they often see writers make in that realm. They also explore the inspiration behind worldbuilding and share examples of well-executed fics. They conclude with reflections on the dynamics of "fix it" worldbuilding, a trend that is getting traction in fanfiction these days.
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In this episode, Jo (@pebblysand) and Lani (@copper-dust) discuss the importance and process of choosing titles for fanfiction works. They talk about how titles often precede the fanfiction itself and debate the challenge of ensuring readers understand the full meaning of a title. They express our appreciation for certain title "trends" like using song lyrics and unconventional formatting and address the significance of compelling titles for attracting readers.
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In this episode, Jo (@pebblysand) and Lani (@copper-dust) return from their summer break to discuss the world of long fics. They define what a "long fic" is to them, and explore the advantages of writing longer stories, including building a dedicated fanbase. They also offer insights on chapter length, update frequency, and the possibility of revising past chapters. Lastly, they tackle challenges like writer's block and address @annaistryingAO3’s questions about character development and maintaining a balance in slow-burn romances within fanfiction.
In terms of admin, we also wanted to let you know that until the end of the year, the podcast will be released on a monthly basis, instead of fortnightly. This is to ensure that it remains sustainable for us on top of our other “real life” responsibilities.
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In this episode, Jo (@pebblysand) and Lani (@copper-dust) discuss the topic of building a writing style. They explore the question of whether fanfictions writers should strive to imitate established styles - like that of the author of the source work - or embrace their own unique style. They also touch on the relationship between their writing styles and their natural speaking voices, and Jo explains why she personally prefers a casual storytelling approach. They reflect on what they would like to change about their own styles and share their influences, including original fic writers and specific fanfiction authors. They also answer two listener questions: one about creating different styles for individual stories, and another about the balance between appreciating other people’s styles and finding one's own voice.
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In this episode, Jo (@pebblysand) and Lani (@copper-dust) discuss the connection between music and fanfiction. They explore how music and writing are linked as means of artistic expression that can evoke emotions, tell stories, and inspire individuals. Lani shares that music plays a significant role in her life and influences her writing, with different stories having different relationships to music depending on the theme. Jo talks about how she uses music as inspiration, incorporating it into fic titles, and sometimes having a specific theme song for a fic. They also discuss creating playlists for their fics and incorporating musicality into their writing. Lastly, @turanga4 asks about the playlist that Jo made for her longfic castles and she gives a little backstory around her song choices.
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