This post is based on notes from a book club hosted by VP Milwaukee, Katie Marks.
Fanfiction in general, and Jane Austen Fan Fiction (JAFF) in particular, is a prolific industry full of published and unpublished works, from drabbles to novels, of seemingly infinite types, storylines, and creativity. At its most basic, a fanfiction is a new work written by fans that uses characters and settings of an original work.
TYPES
The fundamental distinction in fanfiction is between the canonical fictional universe aka “canon” and an alternate universe or “AU”. There is a vague in-between label called “fanon,” which is something that is commonly accepted in the fanfiction universe to be true (for example, the Bennet parents’ first names are most commonly Thomas and Fanny).
The ways I see stories most commonly categorized in JAFF are as follows:
Retellings, be they modern, manga, or zombie (generally canon)
Pride and Prejudice and Zombies by Seth Grahame-Smith (also a movie)
Heartstone by Elle Katharine White (Regency Pride and Prejudice with dragons)
Unmarriageable by Soniah Kamal (modern Pride and Prejudice)
Emma: A Modern Retelling by Alexander McCall Smith
For Darkness Shows the Stars by Diana Peterfreund (futuristic Persuasion)
Jane of Austin: A Novel of Sweet Tea and Sensibility by Hillary Manton Lodge
Northanger Abbey by Val McDermid
Manga Classics: Pride and Prejudice; Emma; Sense and Sensibility (Po Tse, artist)
The Lizzie Bennet Diaries; Emma Approved (video blogs)
Clueless (movie)
Prequels and Sequels, featuring ODC or secondary characters (generally canon)
Death Comes to Pemberley by P.D. James (also a TV series)
Georgiana Darcy's Diary by Anna Elliott
Perspectives (generally canon)
Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman by Pamela Aidan
Henry Tilney's Diary by Amanda Grange
Longbourn by Jo Baker
Variations / What Ifs / Alternate Universe (AU)
One Thread Pulled by Diana J. Oaks
Mr. Darcy to the Rescue: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Victoria Kincaid
Four Days in April: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Maria Grace
Rumours & Recklessness: A Pride and Prejudice Variation by Nicole Clarkston
Original Characters (OC) / Self Inserts (SI)
Lost in Austen (movie)
Me and Mr. Darcy by Alexandra Potter
Confessions of a Jane Austen Addict by Laurie Viera Rigler
Crossovers
Pride and Prometheus by John Kessel
Lost in Austen: Create Your Own Jane Austen Adventure by Emma Campbell Webster
Adjacent / Inspired
Jane Austen Mystery series by Stephanie Barron
Austenland by Shannon Hale (also a movie)
Jane Austen Book Club by Karen Joy Fowler (also a movie)
All Roads Lead to Austen: A Year-long Journey with Jane by Amy Smith
Ever, Jane: http://everjane.com/ (online game)
STATISTICS
These data were taken from fanfiction.net as of 2019-10-13. For reference, the book with the most stories is Harry Potter with ~811,000.
Pride and Prejudice: ~4,200 (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: 47)
Emma: 372
Sense and Sensibility: 232
Persuasion: 139
Mansfield Park: 77
Northanger Abbey: 51
VOCABULARY
Here are just a few words and acronyms you will find in fan fiction communities!
A/N = Author’s Note
AU = Alternate Universe, deviation from canon
Canon = Facts, events, characterizations as occurred in the original work
Fanon = Commonly accepted conventions in the fandom, but not explicitly canon
Fluff = A story designed to be light and happy, with low/no angst or conflict
HEA = Happily Ever After (also: HFN for Happy for Now)
JAFF = Jane Austen Fan Fiction
LBD = The Lizzie Bennet Diaries
ODC = Our Dear Couple, meaning Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy
Oneshot = Single-chapter story
OC = Original character, i.e., a new character not in canon
OOC = Out of character
R&R = Read & Review
Ship = A non-canon relationship between two or more characters
Slash = Gay male ship (also: femslash for gay females)
Smut = Includes or is primarily one or more explicit sexual encounter/s
Sweet = No sexual content (also: clean)
TW = Trigger Warning (also: CW for Content Warning)
FURTHER READING
Fanfiction sites / communities:
All six of Austen’s novels have their own sections on fanction.net: https://www.fanfiction.net/book/
Derbyshire Writers’ Guild: https://www.dwiggie.com/
The Meryton Assembly: http://www.meryton.com/
Archive of Our Own (AO3): https://archiveofourown.org/
The Ultimate Guide To Fanfiction and Fanfiction Sites: https://medium.com/@joannasmith008/fanfiction-428029544a12
Blogs:
https://austenblog.com/
https://austenprose.com/
https://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/
Pemberley Digital: https://www.pemberleydigital.com/
The Lizzie Bennet Diaries: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXfbQAimgtbk4RAUHtIAUww
Emma Approved: http://www.pemberleydigital.com/emma-approved/
In Favor of Fanfiction:
https://runestonejournal.com/case-fanfiction-kaitlin-hatman/
https://www.bustle.com/p/why-fanfiction-is-a-good-thing-for-writers-readers-39359
https://www.newyorker.com/books/page-turner/the-promise-and-potential-of-fan-fiction
https://www.dailydot.com/parsec/complete-guide-to-fanfiction/
Books
The Fanfiction Reader: Folk Tales for the Digital Age by Francesca Coppa
Fic: Why Fanfiction Is Taking Over the World by Anne Jamison
I have certainly missed much, so Google (or the search engine of your choice) is your friend for additional information on fanfiction in general, JAFF, and for finding more fics.
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A/N: I have not read, explored, owned, or seen every piece or community listed in this guide.
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