Hidden from the Public Eye, Fans of Popular Media Create Alternate Worlds While Protecting Their Identities
Fanfiction writers in Singapore often lead double lives, blending into everyday society while secretly nurturing their passion for creating alternate realities. While many people enjoy fanfiction, fewer openly admit to writing it. These writers, who are immersed in various fandoms, spend countless hours bringing their favourite characters to life, but they often do so in secrecy, keeping their creative pursuits away from public attention.
Take the case of Hoshi, a typical university student by day, juggling academics and indulging in the occasional gaming session of Valorant. But as night falls, she transitions into a creator, writing fanfiction about the characters she adores. Hoshi’s experience is shared by many others who balance their careers or studies with their love for writing, keeping their literary creations hidden from the world.
Within the fanfiction community, anonymity is often the norm. Many writers go to great lengths to protect their online personas, keeping their family and friends unaware of their creative projects. Hoshi, for example, keeps her fanfiction writing a secret from her parents. While her father is aware that she writes, the subject of fanfiction remains a taboo topic.
This secrecy stems from the negative connotations often attached to fanfiction. Despite its popularity and the immense creativity it fosters, fanfiction is frequently ridiculed and dismissed as amateurish, with some stories even regarded as explicit or inappropriate. This stigma creates a sense of fear among writers, making them reluctant to share their work outside of the supportive fan communities they’ve found.
Fanfiction offers writers an opportunity to reshape existing narratives, allowing them to alter storylines and endings that may have left them unsatisfied. For Hoshi, writing fanfiction was a way to cope with the ending of Avengers: Endgame, giving her the chance to rewrite Tony Stark’s fate. However, fanfiction is not solely about fixing perceived flaws in the original material. It is also a platform for exploring new storylines, diving into character studies, or even creating entirely new worlds. The freedom fanfiction offers allows writers to engage with their passion in ways that the original media may not have permitted.
Despite the emotional investment fanfiction writers pour into their stories, the wider world often fails to recognise their efforts. The stigma surrounding fanfiction can be a barrier to acknowledgment, as many people see it as a niche hobby rather than a legitimate form of storytelling. But fanfiction writers continue to create, driven by their love for the craft and their desire to share their unique perspectives with others.
The journey of a fanfiction writer is fraught with challenges. They often face harsh criticism online, and sometimes the feedback can be unconstructive or hurtful. However, these writers also find a sense of community and support in the very fandoms they are a part of. Online spaces dedicated to fanfiction provide a safe haven where writers can share their work without fear of judgement from outsiders. Even within these welcoming environments, many writers continue to maintain their anonymity, keeping their creative identities separate from their personal lives.
Fanfiction writers are not just creators of alternate realities—they are individuals with distinct voices, experiences, and viewpoints. By keeping their identities hidden, they navigate a world that is often unkind to their passion. What they seek most is the freedom to create without the fear of rejection, whether within the confines of their own stories or the broader fandom universe.
