How to Write Fanfiction Oneshots - Tips and Tricks for Great Oneshots

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  • Опубліковано 25 лис 2024

КОМЕНТАРІ • 78

  • @CoraMaria
    @CoraMaria  7 місяців тому +13

    Hey everyone! Sorry about including an expired invite link. It should be working now. Check the description again or the link right here: discord.gg/6mbpmT8BVj

    • @Kaza0kun
      @Kaza0kun 4 місяці тому

      Still expired or something. It keeps telling me "Unable to accept invite." :(

  • @hourofberries
    @hourofberries 7 місяців тому +104

    HEAVY ON THE COMPILING MULTIPLE ONESHOTS IN ONE FIC. I hate trying to find one shots and then realizing there are multiple other ships, fandoms, and scenarios I have to sort through first. It's a huge turnoff.

    • @CoraMaria
      @CoraMaria  7 місяців тому +17

      Yeeeep! Like I know fanfic is a hobby but I think when it comes to posting, it helps to put on the marketing hat and think about who your audience is, what they're after, and how they're using the platform.

    • @rasberrylemonad_
      @rasberrylemonad_ 4 місяці тому +3

      SAME! thats what the idk what its called..grouping feature? is for. id rather just put related oneshots in a group🤷

  • @ScottRawlings1138
    @ScottRawlings1138 7 місяців тому +55

    You love Legend of Zelda so much you put Link in the description.

    • @CoraMaria
      @CoraMaria  7 місяців тому +20

      I put him in situations and I put him in descriptions!

  • @Notfallkaramell
    @Notfallkaramell 7 місяців тому +48

    One Shot turned Longfic happened to me! 60.000 words for the final project. I couldn't reach the scene that started this until 45.000 to 50.000.
    Now editing...

    • @CoraMaria
      @CoraMaria  7 місяців тому +5

      Goooood luck editing! To shamelessly self-promo myself, have you watched my video on editing fanfiction yet? I'm sure you'll find it helpful: ua-cam.com/video/F6GpAHnClkw/v-deo.html

    • @Notfallkaramell
      @Notfallkaramell 7 місяців тому +5

      @@CoraMaria Yes, but a rewatch never hurts.

    • @CoraMaria
      @CoraMaria  7 місяців тому +4

      @@Notfallkaramell Hehe typical UA-camr grinding for watch time and engagement 😂 Thanks for humouring me!

    • @FeeBee3001
      @FeeBee3001 6 місяців тому +1

      This has happened to me so many times that I had to stop writing oneshots 😅

  • @appletart7262
    @appletart7262 7 місяців тому +49

    I mainly write one shots so this was a nice video to see! I appreciate the little community of fic writers you’ve made

    • @CoraMaria
      @CoraMaria  7 місяців тому +7

      Thank-you! I know my content tends to have a bias towards longfics, but I've gotten multiple comments or asks from people who think that they should be writing longer stories when oneshots are still great in their own right!

  • @tsifirakiehl4250
    @tsifirakiehl4250 4 місяці тому +7

    Literally all of my fics are one-shots. I love one-shots so much.

  • @renfielddeservedbetter
    @renfielddeservedbetter 7 місяців тому +26

    I always come up with a concept/premise but can’t get past the first few 100 words 😭 thanks for posting this

    • @CoraMaria
      @CoraMaria  7 місяців тому +12

      Have you tried doing a thought dump whenever you think of an idea? It sounds like you need to expand on your ideas (and maybe outline) before you write to prevent yourself from getting stuck.

    • @IrregularityRowan
      @IrregularityRowan 5 місяців тому +4

      Yeah, my fic ideas always start with a middle scene

  • @pple_butter_teeth
    @pple_butter_teeth 5 місяців тому +8

    I really appreciate you mentioning making fics screen reader accessible, I’m not blind but I am dyslexic and it’s the only way I can read longer fics

    • @CoraMaria
      @CoraMaria  5 місяців тому +3

      Of course! I want as many people as possible to enjoy as many fics as possible regardless of their ability 💖

  • @Bubbletea_asmr
    @Bubbletea_asmr 7 місяців тому +22

    I'm writing a oneshot right now, thanks for the tips

    • @CoraMaria
      @CoraMaria  7 місяців тому +2

      You're welcome ☺ Thanks for watching!

  • @lavndvrrart
    @lavndvrrart 7 місяців тому +16

    this video had perfect timing because im currently doing the 100 drabble challenge for my rare pair ^^

    • @CoraMaria
      @CoraMaria  7 місяців тому +3

      Hell yeah! Feed the shippers in rare pair hell! Someone out there is going to be sooooo happy you've written those fics 💖

  • @icedgarlic
    @icedgarlic 7 місяців тому +9

    ive been wanting to write fics so badly lately lol but longer fics are so intimidating rn!! And i wasnt sure how to start oneshots ergehe this is great advice thankss

    • @CoraMaria
      @CoraMaria  7 місяців тому +2

      I'm so glad! Good luck with your oneshots 💖

  • @ScottRawlings1138
    @ScottRawlings1138 7 місяців тому +9

    One shots are great for rare pairs I have found

  • @mash9415
    @mash9415 5 місяців тому +4

    9:47 😭i definitely agree in theory (especially for different fandoms in one fic omg) but for some reason i can't bring myself to do it for my own drabbles! i compile my (true) drabbles as chapters of the same fic if they're all the same ship. they don't share continuity but i figure they have similar vibes?? so... idk. also i love writing true drabbles but they're just so fricking short, like 3 paragraphs, and i can't shake the feeling that something that short doesn't "deserve" to be posted as a standalone work - it's only 100 words! ik it's a silly thought but i feel so bad.

    • @CoraMaria
      @CoraMaria  5 місяців тому +4

      They 100% deserve to be their own work! So many fanfic writers have this silly idea in our heads that longer fics are "more valuable" but that is so far from the truth. A story that does so much with so little can stick with you forever. It's tattooed in your memory and you can quote it word-for-word 💖

  • @werelemur1138
    @werelemur1138 7 місяців тому +7

    I definitely have an issue with one-shots spawning sequels.

    • @CoraMaria
      @CoraMaria  7 місяців тому +2

      Do you think my attempt at advice for your situation was useful?

  • @gzsofi5
    @gzsofi5 7 місяців тому +13

    I love writing and reading oneshots~ I don’t need too much planning for a good story and I can more focusing on a specific theme or message of the fic.
    I think for new ideas it’s a good thing if you check the fan arts of the fandom or ship you want to writing about. There are a lots of them that telling about a scene, feeling or vibes. Fanfics and fan arts are both arts so they are somehow connected.
    Now with that method I have an idea for my next oneshot and wrote two shorter ones on Twitter by re-posting the art. Like that I can promote the art that was great enough to inspire me and have new ideas too. It’s a win-win situation both for the author and the artist. 😊

    • @CoraMaria
      @CoraMaria  7 місяців тому +1

      So you got the artist's permission to repost? That's pretty neat. And you're so right about fanart being an inspiration! It hasn't inspired a oneshot for me before, but it has inspired at least two elements in my epic-length

    • @gzsofi5
      @gzsofi5 7 місяців тому

      @@CoraMaria I don’t needed permission. I don’t know how much you familiar with Twitter but there is a feature that you can re-post one post (quote tweet before its name changed to X) and write something you think about the post. Sorry, I don’t know its proper name right now, use the site in my native language.

    • @CoraMaria
      @CoraMaria  7 місяців тому +1

      @@gzsofi5 Oh, you meant retweet?

    • @gzsofi5
      @gzsofi5 7 місяців тому +2

      @@CoraMariayeah. Both of the artist was so happy to see that their art inspired me. It was a really good feeling, I think I will write more of these short fics. 😊

    • @CoraMaria
      @CoraMaria  7 місяців тому +2

      @@gzsofi5 Heck yes! Fanartists love fics inspired their work as much as fic writers love fanart inspired by THEIR work

  • @renatal.129
    @renatal.129 5 місяців тому +2

    i love 10k oneshots, yes i can only read them when i have a lot of free time but i just love to lose myself in a work for a few hours

  • @jeditalez
    @jeditalez 7 місяців тому +14

    Can't wait to watch this video! Have been considering writing one shot because there much shorter with a easy to see arc for the story and I can explore more ideas with my favorite characters! I think it can help me ease myself into prose writing more for my ADHD brain lol

    • @CoraMaria
      @CoraMaria  7 місяців тому +2

      Do whatever you can for the ADHD brain! I wish I had a better track record for completing my oneshots, because sometimes I need that satisfaction of completing a shorter story rather than chipping away at a longer fic

  • @searece
    @searece 7 місяців тому +6

    If people could stop posting chapters longer than about 7k words, my anxiety would appreciate it. 😅 The problem isn't the length but my own mind.

  • @alextheartsyastronaut
    @alextheartsyastronaut 7 місяців тому +6

    i love me a good oneshot! one of my favorite sources of inspiration for stories like these are songs or character inspired playlists especially if i can incorporate the song or a reference to it in the fic

    • @CoraMaria
      @CoraMaria  7 місяців тому +2

      Ooh I hadn't thought of that one!

    • @alextheartsyastronaut
      @alextheartsyastronaut 7 місяців тому +3

      @@CoraMaria it also works well with how common using song lyrics for chapter or fic titles!

  • @yutqoi
    @yutqoi 6 місяців тому +3

    I've *finally* started writing again after a couple of years, and I still consider myself a beginner writer cuz I rlly don't have as much experience as a self-proclaimed professional writer would. I've read sm fanfic at this point and thought of so many scenarios that I feel I got a solid grip in how I like to do things. But despite that, I love watching your vids sm! Your advice, vibes, outfits, and voice are all so sweet, it's so nice 😭😭😭 I still have a ways to go, but listening to your vids as I write has been such a joy 🥹🥹 I just wanted to thank you for your vids and fangirl-rant about it for a bit LMAOO
    Also, that random oneshot prompt that you made up had me dying because my fave ship ever has a guy with a signature hat and when you said that, I immediately thought of them and I cried 💀💀

    • @CoraMaria
      @CoraMaria  6 місяців тому +2

      LMAO this isn't even the first comment saying that some random prompt I made fits an actual ship 😂 but tbh I write a lot about Link who often has a signature hat so maybe he influenced me there. Alas the lore behind the hat is usually already covered by canon so I can't slip in my shippy headcanons.
      I'm glad you love my videos! Also idk if you were trying to imply that I'm either a professional fanfic writer or simply proclaiming myself as a professional copywriter? Just looking for clarity there since your word choice seems to pull from my bio in the description. I'm not a professional fanfic writer (that's pretty rare/legally impossible) but I am a professional copywriter with paying clients and an ABN, so I wouldn't call that "self-proclaimed". Sorry if I'm making something that isn't about me all about me!
      And also in the fanfic space, you don't need to determine how much of a "beginner" you are based on how you compare to professional writers. Fanfiction is its own medium with its own standards of quality. I haven't read your writing, but based on what you've told me, I wouldn't consider you a beginner (but I also don't really make a habit of categorising writers into "beginner", "intermediate", or "advanced" either, if that makes sense)

    • @yutqoi
      @yutqoi 6 місяців тому +1

      @@CoraMaria I'm not surprised I'm the first! I'm sure there are a number of characters with hats that have very notable ships. But anything to bring a mention to someone's favorite ship will always be a joy ❤️
      And you're good! Usually, the writers I tend to recognize the most/follow have a lot of experience and time behind their backs when it comes to their writing. And, out of habit, I tend to categorized that into "professional" or "self-proclaimed". And I did look at your description, so naturally, I think I said you were "self-proclaimed professional". And with me just having a few works compared to others, I think that's why I called you that (I hoped that made sense 😭😭)
      But ya! I just have a habit of comparing myself to others sometimes, so that's why I say I'm a "beginner". But I do agree with your whole thing on there being no labels in the fanfiction world! Just gotta break old habits sometime cuz I know at the end of the day, we're all just here to have fun as fans ❤️✨

  • @corinneeaglebridge
    @corinneeaglebridge 7 місяців тому +3

    5:32 as someone who wrote a pre-canon oneshot about a secret Santa where a character got their signature hat (beanie) from their mentor figure (who ends up dying in canon) and it was handmade and all that made me do a doubletake.
    Also, can second prompt lists. I really got into writing again when I decided to write for the fandom’s annual promptober. Ended up writing 26 oneshots (I combined some prompts) and it was so much fun! Honestly did not expect to be able to finish the promptober - it was actually my first time I’d ever fully completed it! My oneshots are very short (always

    • @CoraMaria
      @CoraMaria  7 місяців тому +1

      Omg which fandom? I swear I hade this up

    • @corinneeaglebridge
      @corinneeaglebridge 7 місяців тому +1

      @@CoraMaria Star Stable Online!

    • @CoraMaria
      @CoraMaria  7 місяців тому +1

      @@corinneeaglebridge Ah I haven't played it but I have a mutual who's quite the fan!

  • @AshBreeX
    @AshBreeX 7 місяців тому +6

    I don't write a lot of one-shots, so this should be useful if any oneshot ideas come to me.
    I think the questions about continuing a oneshot into a longer fic or not are useful, because they're also questions one should ask when planning a longfic - is there enough tension here to last?
    Loved the video!

  • @iteite9488
    @iteite9488 7 місяців тому +6

    i'm currently working on a one shot but when you said it shouldn't be longer than 10k then i guess it's no longer a oneshot haha will have to decide once i'm editing how i want to divide it, if i do!
    i didn't know there was a discord server!! wanted to join but the invite is expired :( thank you for the video as always!!

    • @CoraMaria
      @CoraMaria  7 місяців тому +1

      I will admit that one of my favourite oneshots ever was 11k and while I still stand by my reasons for avoiding that length whenever possible, the flow was so perfect that I think the breaks might have been disruptive rather than moments to breath.
      Oh no I'll fix the invite! I thought I used a permanent link, sorry.

  • @onegaimatte1845
    @onegaimatte1845 6 місяців тому +1

    not really a huge writer. been avoiding it like the plague actually. but I've been wanting to read this type of story in this one fandom. after trying to find one for so long, I've decided to write it haha. maybe I could quench my own thirst lol.

  • @KaiThunder67
    @KaiThunder67 4 місяці тому +1

    Hah, funny enough, I've written more one shots than longfics... and most of my one shots have far more traffic and kudos that I thought I'd only ever dream of getting lol
    I haven't forgotten about your discord server either, I feel very tempted to join 🤪

  • @IrregularityRowan
    @IrregularityRowan 5 місяців тому +1

    About posting one shots in a collective, if you're going to, at least have the pairing/fandom in the title. I cannot tell you how many times I've looked through the chapters and had no idea who they were about.
    It's also a good idea if you have angst, fluff, or other premises in the collective to put them in chapter titles.

  • @a.c.1839
    @a.c.1839 7 місяців тому +4

    Commenting for the boost 🙌🙌🙌
    Side note, hopefully it's ok to ask: do you have any plans to make a video on how to integrate original characters effectively?

    • @CoraMaria
      @CoraMaria  7 місяців тому +4

      That's a great video idea, and thanks for the boost!

    • @jujuoof174
      @jujuoof174 6 місяців тому +2

      @@CoraMariaYIPPEE!
      Thank to you as well, commenter!

    • @mash9415
      @mash9415 5 місяців тому +2

      oh wait this is such a good video idea!

  • @haloooworlddddd
    @haloooworlddddd 6 місяців тому +2

    i have a LOT of prompts on my mind. but usually idk how to end it, or how to write the details 😅

    • @CoraMaria
      @CoraMaria  6 місяців тому

      Have you tried doing a thought-dump? This video goes into it a bit: ua-cam.com/video/9Uoe5FAZjIw/v-deo.html

  • @hourofberries
    @hourofberries 7 місяців тому +4

    Is there a specific skin you use for your ao3? it looks super cool!!

    • @CoraMaria
      @CoraMaria  7 місяців тому +4

      I use the rainbow pride skin by Electric Alice combined with Reversi. Here's the link to the code and tutorial: archiveofourown.org/works/31689215/chapters/78427895

  • @Suzanne_sf
    @Suzanne_sf 7 місяців тому +2

    I think it'd be difficult for me to just write a oneshot, although it'd be a lot easier. I don't have the discipline that I should have.

    • @CoraMaria
      @CoraMaria  7 місяців тому +2

      What do you mean by it would be difficult, but a lot easier?

    • @Suzanne_sf
      @Suzanne_sf 7 місяців тому +1

      @@CoraMaria Since a one shot is shorter, than I don't have to sit myself down to write as much as I have to when it's a longfic. I just have a lot to say right now, so I can't see myself just writing a one shot. If I was writing a one shot, I'd be done writing it by now. I'm only halfway finished with my longfic.

  • @lord_m0th
    @lord_m0th 7 місяців тому +5

    The discord link in the description is expired :( would love to join

    • @lavndvrrart
      @lavndvrrart 7 місяців тому +2

      me too :(

    • @CoraMaria
      @CoraMaria  7 місяців тому +1

      Sorry! Will fix in a sec

    • @lord_m0th
      @lord_m0th 7 місяців тому +1

      @@CoraMariait works now, thank you!

  • @jujuoof174
    @jujuoof174 6 місяців тому

    Great tips, thanks!

  • @sweetyeojinnie1435
    @sweetyeojinnie1435 5 місяців тому +1

    Finding a One Shot story is so annoying, but I once came across the exact opposite. Found a series of one shots (posted as one shots, and just put in a series together) only to find out that each one shot was essentially just a chapter in a longfic?? and i still dont understand why they just didn't post them all together??

    • @CoraMaria
      @CoraMaria  5 місяців тому +1

      Oh god that's awful! Unfortunately this kind of thing tends to happen when people don't tend to understand how AO3 works or they don't consider things from the reader's perspective. Like what would make for the best/most convenient reading experience for them?