Doing your research will help you avoid making mistakes or contradictions that could confuse or annoy your readers. It will also help you create a fanfic that is faithful and respectful to the original work, and that adds to it rather than detracts from it. Of course, you can also make changes or additions to the canon, as long as they are justified and explained by your plot and logic. For example, you could:
- Invent new spells, potions, or magical items, as long as they are consistent with the existing magic system and lore.
- Create new characters, locations, or events, as long as they fit into the existing timeline and worldbuilding.
- Alter the outcomes or consequences of certain events, as long as they are plausible and have a clear cause and effect.
Tip 3: Develop Your Characters and Plot
The next step to writing a Harry Potter fanfic is to develop your characters and plot. This means that you should give your characters depth, personality, and growth, and make them realistic and relatable. You should also give your plot structure, direction, and suspense, and make it coherent and captivating.
Developing your characters and plot will help you create a fanfic that is not only entertaining, but also meaningful and memorable. It will also help you avoid common pitfalls, such as:
- Mary Sues or Gary Stus, which are characters that are too perfect, powerful, or special, and that overshadow the canon characters or the story.
- Out of character (OOC) behavior, which is when characters act in ways that are inconsistent with their canon personalities or motivations, and that are not justified by the plot or the character development.
- Plot holes or inconsistencies, which are gaps or errors in the logic or continuity of the story, and that are not explained or resolved by the plot or the author’s notes.
- Deus ex machina, which is when a problem is solved by a sudden or improbable intervention, and that is not foreshadowed or set up by the plot or the characters.
Tip 4: Use Good Grammar and Style
The final step to writing a Harry Potter fanfic is to use good grammar and style. This means that you should proofread and edit your fanfic, and check for spelling, punctuation, syntax, and vocabulary errors. You should also use clear and concise language, and vary your sentence structure, word choice, and tone. You should also use dialogue, description, and narration effectively, and balance them according to the needs of your fanfic.
