Q&A: What is the psychology behind fanfic writing?
Question by Katie M: What is the psychology behind fanfic writing?
That subject line was the best way I can think of to describe what I do, 18-22 hours a day. And I’m curious to know if there are any kind of clinical diagnoses associated with this widespread phenomenon.
My entire life, I’ve made up stories centered around fiction that I have read, or seen on TV, or seen in movies. Just about my only memories from early childhood are of sitting in the sandbox making up stories about Spider-man. A little later, it was Star Wars. Then it was Star Trek, for almost a decade. Then X-Men, Buffy, Angel, HP, Stargate, Daredevil, and back to Spider-man.
This consumes my life. I read the stories obsessively, then get my own stories in my head (increasingly-dramatic stories as I get older, I’ve found), and fiddle with them for hours on end. I don’t want to do anything else. I participate in discussion forums about the characters, and get upset if I see anything out of character, because I need to believe they are real. I cry when bad things happen to them.
Thanks for the response, Bonnie 🙂
“If you are an addict, this is very serious. Take it just as one would take a drug or alcohal addiction. Get some help.”
— Oh, I am. Weekly. For all sorts of things, including this. Don’t worry. 🙂
I actually wasn’t looking for personal help, so much as an answer to whether this phenomenon (which really is very widespread) has ever been studied and analyzed. 🙂
“Try this. Try not to watch or write about it for one whole day. (Thinking about it for now is fine) Write down all the withdrawal symptoms you go through while not being able to watch or write. Try to do this at least once a week, and then make it more as time goes by.”
— but… I don’t *want* to. 🙂 I mean, what am I supposed to think about instead? This is *interesting*!
Thank you to all three of you who answered. You were all very helpful.
I’m putting this to vote because I’m curious about what voters might think of the responses, since they’re all so different.
Again, thanks, all 🙂
Best answer:
Answer by Bonnie
Im worried about you because it sounds as if these stories are controlling you. You are giving up your life for these fictitious stories. You know you are addicted if you get irritable when you cant watch them, or write about them, and then you feel better when you get a chance to watch or write.
If you are an addict, this is very serious. Take it just as one would take a drug or alcohal addiction. Get some help.
Try this. Try not to watch or write about it for one whole day. (Thinking about it for now is fine) Write down all the withdrawal symptoms you go through while not being able to watch or write. Try to do this at least once a week, and then make it more as time goes by.
Once you free yourself from the hold this has on you, you will experience true living, true goal setting and have your own life. Remember, there are people out there that care about you, and you are not alone in this.
Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!
