books that started as fanfiction
Fanfiction has long been a beloved pastime for avid readers and writers alike. The act of taking characters and worlds created by others and putting one’s own spin on them has been a staple of online communities for decades. However, in recent years, fanfiction has taken a new turn – it has become a source of inspiration for published works. This trend has given rise to a new genre of literature – books that started as fanfiction.
What exactly is fanfiction? In simple terms, it is fiction written by fans of a particular book, movie, TV show, or other media. These fan-created stories often explore alternative plotlines, romantic relationships between characters, and other imaginative scenarios that may not have been explored in the original work. The popularity of fanfiction has been steadily growing with the rise of online communities and platforms such as FanFiction.net, Archive of Our Own, and Wattpad.
While fanfiction has long been considered a niche interest, it has recently gained mainstream recognition thanks to the success of books that started as fanfiction. These books have not only captured the hearts of readers, but they have also become bestsellers and even been adapted into blockbuster movies. Let’s take a closer look at some of these popular books and their origins in the world of fanfiction.
1. Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James
Perhaps the most well-known example of a book that started as fanfiction is Fifty Shades of Grey. Originally titled Master of the Universe, this Twilight fanfiction was written by E.L. James and published on FanFiction.net in 2009. The story revolved around the relationship between Bella Swan and Edward Cullen, but with a twist – the characters were reimagined as a dominant/submissive couple.
The story gained a huge following and was eventually taken down from FanFiction.net and published as a trilogy of books – Fifty Shades of Grey, Fifty Shades Darker, and Fifty Shades Freed. The books went on to become international bestsellers, with over 150 million copies sold worldwide. In 2015, the first book was adapted into a movie, further cementing its success.
2. The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare
The Mortal Instruments series is another example of a book that started as fanfiction. Author Cassandra Clare wrote a popular Harry Potter fanfiction titled The Draco Trilogy, which gained a large following online. She then went on to write a fanfiction based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, titled The Very Secret Diaries.
Inspired by the success of her fanfiction, Clare decided to create her own original story, which eventually became The Mortal Instruments series. The first book, City of Bones, was published in 2007 and was a hit with readers. It was followed by five more books, with the series selling over 36 million copies worldwide. In 2013, it was adapted into a movie, and later into a TV series.
3. After series by Anna Todd
The After series by Anna Todd started as a One Direction fanfiction on Wattpad. Titled After, the story follows Tessa Young, a college student who falls in love with the brooding and mysterious Hardin Scott. Originally published in 2013, the fanfiction gained a massive following on Wattpad, with over 1 billion reads.
After was eventually published as a book in 2014, with the title changed to After: A Harry Styles Fanfiction. It became an instant success, topping bestseller lists and even being translated into multiple languages. The book series has sold over 15 million copies worldwide, and the first book was adapted into a movie in 2019.
4. The Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer
The Lunar Chronicles series by Marissa Meyer is a retelling of classic fairy tales set in a futuristic world. However, what many readers may not know is that the series started as a Sailor Moon fanfiction. Meyer’s fanfiction, titled The Princess and the Guardian, was set in the Sailor Moon universe and featured the characters Usagi and Mamoru.
After gaining a following online, Meyer decided to rewrite the story with original characters and setting, which eventually became Cinder, the first book in The Lunar Chronicles series. The series has been a huge success, with over 3 million copies sold worldwide. It has also been translated into multiple languages and has received numerous awards and accolades.
5. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is a unique take on the classic novel by Jane Austen. Written by Seth Grahame-Smith, the book combines Austen’s original text with elements of a zombie apocalypse. While this may seem like an odd pairing, the book was a huge hit with readers and spent weeks on the New York Times bestseller list.
What many readers may not know is that Pride and Prejudice and Zombies started as a fanfiction titled Night of the Living Dead by Jane Austen, written by Grahame-Smith and Jane Austen herself. The fanfiction was a hit on the online platform Quirk Books, which eventually led to the publication of the book in 2009. It was later adapted into a movie in 2016.
6. The Hating Game by Sally Thorne
The Hating Game by Sally Thorne is a popular workplace romance novel that became an instant hit with readers. However, the book actually started as a Twilight fanfiction titled The Office, written by Thorne on FanFiction.net. The story revolved around two co-workers who start off as enemies but eventually fall in love.
After the success of her fanfiction, Thorne decided to rewrite the story with original characters and setting, which became The Hating Game. The book has been a hit with readers and has been translated into multiple languages. It was also optioned for a movie adaptation, which is currently in development.
7. Carry On by Rainbow Rowell
Carry On by Rainbow Rowell is a fantasy novel that follows the story of Simon Snow, a wizard chosen to save the magical world from the evil Humdrum. While the book may seem like an original work, it is actually based on a fanfiction written by Rowell in her previous book, Fangirl.
Fangirl follows the story of a college student who writes fanfiction about a popular book series, which is heavily inspired by Harry Potter. The fanfiction within the book, titled Carry On, gained a huge following online, leading Rowell to write a full-length novel based on it. Carry On was published in 2015 and has become a beloved book among fantasy readers.
8. Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella
Confessions of a Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella is a popular chick-lit novel that follows the story of Becky Bloomwood, a shopaholic who gets herself into hilarious and disastrous situations. However, what many readers may not know is that the book started as a fanfiction titled The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic.
The fanfiction, written by Kinsella under the pen name Madeleine Wickham, was a hit on the online platform YouWriteOn.com. It eventually caught the attention of publishers, who convinced Kinsella to publish it as a book. Since its publication in 2000, Confessions of a Shopaholic has spawned multiple sequels and has been adapted into a movie.
9. The Cursed Child by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany
The Cursed Child is a play written by Jack Thorne, based on an original story by J.K. Rowling, Jack Thorne, and John Tiffany. The play is set nineteen years after the events of the Harry Potter series and follows the story of Harry Potter’s son, Albus Severus Potter.
What many readers may not know is that the play is based on a fanfiction written by Thorne in 2014. Titled Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the fanfiction was an entry in a competition held by Rowling’s website, Pottermore. While the play was met with mixed reviews, it has been a commercial success, with productions in London, New York, and Australia.
10. The Vampire Diaries series by L.J. Smith
The Vampire Diaries series by L.J. Smith is a popular young adult vampire romance series that was adapted into a hit TV show. However, what many readers may not know is that the books started as fanfiction. In the early 1990s, Smith wrote fanfiction based on the TV show Dark Shadows, which featured a love triangle between a vampire, a human, and a witch.
The fanfiction eventually evolved into The Vampire Diaries series, which was published in 1991. The series has sold over 100 million copies worldwide and has been translated into multiple languages. In 2009, it was adapted into a TV show, which ran for eight seasons and gained a huge fan following.
In conclusion, books that started as fanfiction have had a significant impact on the literary world. These books have not only brought fanfiction into the mainstream but have also given a platform for talented writers to showcase their creativity and storytelling skills. With the rise of online communities and self-publishing platforms, we can expect to see more books that started as fanfiction in the future. Who knows, the next bestseller may be waiting to be discovered on an online fanfiction platform.
how do i turn safesearch off
SafeSearch is a feature offered by most search engines, including Google, Bing, and Yahoo, that allows users to filter out explicit content, such as violence, nudity, and offensive language, from their search results. It is often used by parents to protect their children from accessing inappropriate content online. However, for some users, SafeSearch can be a hindrance, as it may block relevant and harmless results. Therefore, many people wonder how to turn off SafeSearch and access unrestricted search results. In this article, we will discuss the steps to turn off SafeSearch and the potential risks and benefits of doing so.
Before we dive into the process of turning off SafeSearch, let’s first understand what it is and how it works. SafeSearch is a filter that uses algorithms to analyze web pages and flag them as either safe or explicit. When a user turns on SafeSearch, the search engine will exclude explicit results from their search results page. This filter is especially useful for parents who want to protect their children from accessing inappropriate content. It is also used by schools and workplaces to restrict access to explicit material.
Now, let’s look at the steps to turn off SafeSearch on different search engines.
1. Google:
To turn off SafeSearch on Google, follow these steps:
– Go to Google’s homepage and click on the “Settings” option at the bottom right of the screen.
– Click on “Search Settings” from the drop-down menu.
– Scroll down to the “SafeSearch filters” section and select “Do not filter my search results.”
– Click on “Save” at the bottom of the page to apply the changes.
2. Bing:
To turn off SafeSearch on Bing, follow these steps:
– Go to Bing’s homepage and click on the “Settings” option at the top right of the screen.
– Click on “More” from the drop-down menu and then click on “Settings.”
– Scroll down to the “SafeSearch” section and select “Off.”
– Click on “Save” at the bottom of the page to apply the changes.
3. Yahoo:
To turn off SafeSearch on Yahoo, follow these steps:
– Go to Yahoo’s homepage and click on the “Settings” option at the top right of the screen.
– Select “More Settings” from the drop-down menu.
– Scroll down to the “SafeSearch” section and select “Off.”
– Click on “Save” at the bottom of the page to apply the changes.
Now that we know how to turn off SafeSearch, let’s discuss the potential risks and benefits of doing so.
Risks of Turning Off SafeSearch:
1. Exposure to explicit content: The most significant risk of turning off SafeSearch is being exposed to explicit content. Without the filter, search engines will display all types of results, including violent, sexual, and offensive material. This can be especially harmful for children and teenagers who may stumble upon such content unintentionally.
2. Privacy concerns: When SafeSearch is turned on, search engines will not display explicit results. However, when it is turned off, search engines may track the user’s search history and use it for targeted advertising. This can be a privacy concern for some users who do not want their search history to be tracked.
3. Malware and viruses: Turning off SafeSearch can also increase the risk of malware and viruses. This is because explicit websites are more likely to contain malicious links and downloads that can harm the user’s device.
Benefits of Turning Off SafeSearch:
1. Access to more relevant results: With SafeSearch turned off, users can access a broader range of search results. This can be beneficial for researchers and students who may need to access all types of information, including explicit content, for their studies.
2. Freedom of expression: Some users may feel restricted by SafeSearch, as it blocks explicit content even if they are searching for it intentionally. By turning off SafeSearch, users have the freedom to access the content they want without any restrictions.
3. Avoiding false positives: SafeSearch is not always accurate, and it may block harmless and relevant content as well. By turning off SafeSearch, users can avoid false positives and access all the results they need.
In conclusion, SafeSearch is a useful feature for parents and organizations to protect children and employees from accessing inappropriate content. However, for some users, it can be a hindrance, as it may block relevant and harmless results. Turning off SafeSearch comes with its risks, such as exposure to explicit content and privacy concerns, but it also offers benefits, such as access to more relevant results and freedom of expression. It is essential for users to carefully consider these factors before deciding to turn off SafeSearch.