Real-Person Fiction is a broadening genre of fanfiction in which real-life stars, athletes and even historical figures, are written into fictional situations much the same way many of us write about our favorite characters. Overwhelmingly, the main stars are often celebrities and athletes. One Direction is a popular topic in this genre among their fans, for example. In order to get a bit more of a handle on this genre I even went in and explored Archive of Our Own’s expansive selection, coming across all kinds of stories.

The first time I fell head over heels for an antagonist was when I read Interview with the Vampire at the wise old age of thirteen. I instantly became enthralled with Lestat in all his robust glory and his snarky, large personality despite him being portrayed as a selfish monster. I’ve always been fascinated by antagonists that don’t quite seem to understand they are the villain in someone else’s story.

Fanfiction recently hit mainstream media thanks in part to E. L. James and her erotica series, 50 Shades of Grey, which began as a BDSM Twilight spinoff... The Wall Street Journal even did an article in 2012 about best-selling authors who began their career with the help of fanfiction...But beyond the USA, fanfiction can also be found in other parts of the world. The cultural implications are fascinating, and in this article, I’d like to take a global look at fanfiction and highlight some of the similarities and differences of fanfic culture from four different countries: USA, Japan, UK, and Russia.

South Park is a show built on satire and current events. For 19 seasons, the show has featured popular news and media as well as whatever creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone feel like cooking up. Always topical and regularly offering candid opinions, the show is a sensational hit. On October 28th, the sixth episode of the 19th season released. Titled “Tweek x Craig,” the theme was yaoi fanart and shipping real-life people.

Season Six of Adventure Time has been a roller coaster of character development so far. We’ve seen Princess Bubblegum loosen up her control over the Candy Kingdom. Finn has gone up and down about his dad and dealing with having a deadbeat for a biological father. Jake and his brother Jermaine had a heart to heart about taking responsibility for their father’s legacy. Yet, so far, the episode that has struck a chord with me is Episode 31, Walnuts & Rain.

Here some six years later I realize that fanfiction has meant so much to me. It helped me to get through a rough period of my life. I was able to be a part of a likeminded community when I had no one, I could exercise creative control, I was able to seek help from peers and find an outlet for otherwise pent up negative emotions. This form of fiction writing yields several benefits that I feel sometimes go underrated, but now I shout them from the rooftops to anyone who will listen because I feel they are incredibly valid and important and I want them recognized.