How “After” author Anna Todd built an erotica empire from One Direction fanfiction

[stewie_e]

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Like “Fifty Shades of Grey” author E.L. James, Anna Todd, 30, is part of a growing movement of authors who self-published online first. Now Todd has book and movie deals with “After” and “After We Collided.”

Todd’s writing of the novel was inspired by the music and fandom of One Direction and started her writing on Wattpad.

Comments

[kerosene_pill]

I write a lot of ideas/plot bunnies, and half finished stuff, things that are amalgamations of different scenes of an overall larger fic.

But have I ever finished and posted one? LMAO nope because I suck.

One day I'll finish one dammit! One day!

[koushiba]

You could do one of those angsty, artsy fics that are all just little vignettes.

[kerosene_pill]

LOL NGL that's kinda what I try to go for! Those are some of my favorite types of fics, I find them so beautiful (cheesy af I know.) I got soooo close to finishing one a while back but it still didn't flow right to me, and I couldn't figure out how to finish it :/

Plus I don't feel like I have the skill level to evoke the type of emotions I'd like.

[koushiba]

Find a beta reader! I recently signed up for a fic fest (because I was running away from finishing my original work lol) and I got a beta reader who has really changed my life. I wish I could have her be my beta reader for life lmao. She’s super tough but wow. The difference it made to my writing.

Alternatively, finding a fic fest for your pairing/fandom and connecting with other fanfic writers could also help :) the discord I joined for it really helped me finish lmao. But I’m a v competitive person.

[arashigaoka]

I need to do this. I never thought of using Discord for fanfiction! I also have been cobbling a fanfic together to avoid my original work, but I'm hoping participating in NaNo sets me straight.

[arashigaoka]

I hope you are able to finish it! I relate very much to not feeling like I have the skill level to evoke the emotions I want and also to not finishing my works both fanfiction and original. :( I find that I've developed a fairly good editorial instinct when it comes to what I'm reading (and now writing), but I can't fix my own work as well as I can help someone else with theirs and that frustrates me.

(OT but I think a few months ago you mentioned the anime Given in a Roundup post(?) and I never responded because I lost the tab in a browser crash, but I ended up watching because of your comment and I really loved the show! So I wanted to say thanks!)

[kerosene_pill]

This comment is WEEKS late but omg I'm so glad you liked it!! It made me cry so much lol I really need to catch up with the manga, I got spoiled for something and I was crying like a baby and now I need more!

I'm loving this progression of anime actually GOING for the gay! I never thought I'd see it. It's wild!

[arashigaoka]

Sorry, late reply as well! I've been swamped these last few weeks. I'm really hoping for a second season, but I'll probably give in and read the manga. I wish the series got more traction. Most of the crowd I know who would be into it didn't even know it existed until I told them about it.

I like this trend as well and I only wish it had happened sooner!

[lovepollution]

Because this is a fan fiction post, naturally I read "amalgamations" as "analgames", smh.