Did Twilight start as fanfiction?
Fan fiction — fan-created works of fiction based on existing characters or stories — has long had a huge following online. Writers can rack up millions of views on work posted to social reading platforms like Archive of Our Own, Wattpad, and Fanfiction.net As such, these platforms have become frequent places for new talent to get noticed.
In recent years, some publishers have collaborated directly with authors to transition works they’ve posted on the platforms into physical books. Fanfics have to be fairly heavily revised when updated for publication to make the book its own unique work — this process often includes changing character names, settings, and more to avoid copyright issues with the existing work on which the fan fiction was based. However, many books still contain details that nod to the original version with clever cover designs or character name choices.
Writing books inspired by existing content isn’t exactly a new prospect. New spins on tropes, retellings of classics, and other reimaginings are just a few of the practically endless places authors can find inspiration. By using existing character dynamics and adding them to a new setting, an author can tell a story that feels completely fresh and new. Below, we rounded up 10 popular books that began as fan fiction, whether inspired by “Twilight, “Harry Potter,” or “Star Wars.”
The author Cassandra Clare wrote and uploaded three fanfics from 2000 and 2006, known as the Draco Trilogy, based off of characters from the “Harry Potter” book series. The trilogy of fics — which have since been taken down — center on Draco Malfoy and follow him through various happenings at Hogwarts, including a romance with Ginny Weasely.
While the fantastical demon-hunting universe of “The Mortal Instruments” is vastly different from the source of its magical inspiration, some small character details carry over. Clary, the heroine of “City of Bones,” is a spirited redhead while Jace, her romantic interest, is a snarky blonde, mirroring the dynamic of Ginny and Draco.
E L James wasn’t author Erika Leonard’s only pen name. Under the username “Snowqueen’s Icedragon” in 2009, she uploaded the fanfic that would eventually transform into “Fifty Shades of Grey.” Entitled “Master of the Universe,” the now-removed story was based on Stephenie Meyer’s vampire romance saga, “Twilight.”
The explosive popularity of “Fifty Shades of Grey” when it was first released in 2011 was unparalleled for its genre, and it remains one of the most-reviewed books of all time on Amazon. The BDSM relationship between literature student Anastasia Steele and billionaire businessman Christian Gray is one that captured readers and viewers alike, as the trilogy of “Fifty Shades” books was adapted into films.
The cover artwork of Ali Hazelwood’s TikTok-viral romance novel hints at its fan-fiction roots to readers who may have encountered the story in its original form. The alternate universe (AU) fic entitled “Head Over Feet,” was first posted in 2018 to Archive of Our Own (which is no longer available on the platform). Hazelwood’s current literary agent read the story on AO3, and reached out to revise the story into what became “The Love Hypothesis.”
The look of the characters on the final cover closely mimics the characteristics of Kylo Ren and Rey from the “Star Wars” films Episode VII-IX. Adam Carlsen, the name of the central love interest, plays on the name of the actor who plays Kylo Ren in the film saga, Adam Driver. The last and most clear-cut hint to the story’s past life as fan fiction is found in the book’s summary: “Convincing Anh that Olive is dating and well on her way to a happily ever after was always going to take more than hand-wavy Jedi mind tricks.”
