I like fanfiction, at least the good ones. Fanfiction has always been a part of every fandom, and sometimes it is the reason a piece of media becomes popular. It's not just because of the fandom, but also the various fan content surrounding it. Of course, some fandoms get a bad rap for having a particular kind of fanfiction. Fanfiction allows fans to share ideas about specific media, even creating alternative universes or fanon stories to express interpretations and love.
Furthermore, there are a ton of fanfiction tropes for new writers to touch upon and for new readers to explore their fictional preferences. So I am here to share my personal opinions on fanfiction tropes that I love reading so much about. Now, before I start, these are my opinions; feel free to share your favorite fanfiction tropes, too. At some point, I'm going to be sharing my least favorite tropes.
5. Horror Fics
Look, I know this is unexpected since most of my favorites are full of Fluff, feel-good vibes, and sweet love, but this is one of my favorite fanfiction tropes, and here's why!
As much as I hate gore, body horror, and violence, I like a good fanfic that is spooky and has dark themes (meaning dystopia, obsession, supernatural, character death, m*rd*r, dark fantasy, and paranormal). However, I prefer lighter and tamer than heavy, intense, and severe when it comes to horror. It's how I like watching the Conjuring series over the Saw series. One is supernatural horror, while the other is brutal and violent traps.
Plus, whenever I'm in the spooky mood, I always go for fanfic genres or tropes like haunted mansions/houses, murder mysteries, Halloween AU, ghost AU's, paranormal investigations, Yandere AU, ghost stories AU, mythical creature/supernatural AU (like vampires, werewolves, etc.), horror media AU (which is putting characters into a well-known horror media or a reimagined plot of the horror movie), witch AU, serial k!ll*r AU, and possession AU (like either an insane asylum AU or a cursed doll fanfic, that's cool!).
One thing about me is that back in the day, when I was young, I was into Creepypastas like Slenderman and Jeff the Killer. I became desensitized to the gore in Five Nights at Freddy's and other indie horror video games, and I used to listen to a few spooky songs (example: Come, Little Children). Plus, I used to like Yanderes because of Future Diary and Yandere Simulator (A Yandere is a Japanese character archetype, particularly a girl, who is initially sweet and gentle but is violent and lovesick towards their crush).
However, as I grew older, I gradually became quite interested in mythology, cryptids, and the paranormal. Oh, and of course, I'm an Addams Family and Tim Burton fan!
4. Angst
I love making myself suffer while reading and writing Angst. Why?
Because if the story is well-written, it's worth the tears. It's like with movies; sometimes you've got to let out a good cry. Whenever I read Angst, it's either simply sad, and I cry fewer tears, or it's so painful to read because the story breaks me into pieces.
When I write, I share my life experiences in Angst fiction or place characters in various situations and genres to convey lessons. For instance, a major character death or the number of days the character will live due to an incurable disease. (I wrote that on my Instagram, which features ENHYPEN members)
Oh, and sometimes I'd listen to sad songs to get myself to cry or imagine scenarios while writing. It may sound like I'm hurting myself with these songs, but it's still worth it. I love Angst, simple as that. If you want something to fill your sorrows further or if you want to pleasure yourself with pain and misery, Angst might be a good place to start!
Sometimes, you have to let it rain.
3. Soulmates AU
If you're familiar with Kimi No Na Wa or Your Name, you've probably heard of the red string of fate. If you haven't heard of that movie, I recommend watching it, as it's a beautiful film.
In Chinese and Japanese folklore, the red string of fate connects two unsuspecting people, making them destined to be together. The string may tangle or stretch, but regardless of time, space, or circumstances, the string can never break; it will still bring the two people together.
The movie Your Name is an example of a Soulmate AU. There are many unique soulmate AUs, centering around different myths about soulmates and destined lovers. Like, for example: matching tattoos, hearing your soulmate's thoughts, your soulmate's name on your wrist, sudden telepathy, time freezes when you've found your soulmate, finding your soulmate through an app (There is a K-drama for that called Love Alarm), finding a soulmate through dreams, soulmates having the same dream of a meeting place, or a timer on when the two soulmates meet.
There are a lot of prompts for Soulmate AU, and that is why I like this trope so much, because as a writer, I get to either play around with these prompts or make up my own Soulmate myths. You can also turn these ideas into Angst, comedy, or platonic stories.
For example, instead of a timer when soulmates meet, in an Angst fanfic, it's a timer on when a soulmate dies. Instead of a red string of fate connecting you to your destined lover, imagine a black string of fate that connects you to your destined enemy, which can be either angsty, comedic, thriller, or another prompt for the enemies-to-lovers trope.
2. Hurt/Comfort
Hurt/Comfort has always been, of course, a comfort to me. It is a fanfiction trope that tells a story from a sad beginning to a positive, heartwarming ending. It also tells the story of a character experiencing distress, trauma, or pain—whether physical, emotional, or mental. Throughout the narrative, the character confronts their fears and shame, ultimately healing themselves.
I love this trope for several reasons: it’s comforting and often explores the emotional journeys of the characters. In the fanfictions I’ve read and written, it’s heartwarming to see characters offering comfort and support. This can come from a friend, romantic partner, parent, a group of friends, or even a stranger!
I always lean towards the character who is the main lead's partner or friend; I find that kind of love really sweet and caring. Imagine you're reading a fanfic with Jeon Jungkook from BTS or Kuroo from Haikyuu being your boyfriend or best friend who has a crush on you, and you're going through a breakup. During your breakdown, they comforted you with hugs and assured you that everything was okay and that they were there for you.
And THAT, I love! I love stories that have emotional arcs. That's just how it goes; it's that kind of story where even you, as the reader, get to find inner peace. It would either make me cry tears of joy or feel butterflies in my stomach.
1. Fluff
I know this is simple, but I love reading Fluff. Give me anything sugary sweet and wholesome, and I'll eat it up!
For those unfamiliar, Fluff is a fanfiction trope primarily heartwarming, positive, light-hearted, and sweet. It features ships from popular fictional characters, including both canon ships and fanon ships. It also features groups of characters, perhaps a story about found family or them just being best friends in a different universe.
When it comes to Fluff, it doesn't have a significant plot, conflict, or drama. Fluff stories are always about comfort, happiness, and love (both platonic and romantic). Although there is a storyline, it doesn't delve into deep, mature themes; instead, it focuses on the positive, feel-good moments between characters and their interactions.
Examples of Fluff fanfiction include domestic romance (where characters live their cozy life as a married couple), best friends to lovers, neighbors to lovers, roommates to lovers, stay-at-home dates, Character A and B at a movie date, marriage proposals, Valentine's Day AU, and many more. It can be as simple as a fanfiction that's about Character A and B living their domestic, cozy life as a married couple. There are several prompts and genres for this trope, and you can play around with them.
I love this trope so much because it's like candy and everything sweet; it's addicting, and though it might make you sugar-high, you can't get enough of it. I always love making myself blush, smile, and kicking my feet in bed whenever my favorite ships are doing something cute together! It is simply adorable, and it's free serotonin!
That is all my Top 5 favorite fanfiction tropes! But before I end this, here are some honorary mentions:
Honorary Mentions
- Friends to Lovers - Classic! I'd much prefer this over enemies-to-lovers because the relationship feels so natural. To me, true love starts with friendship, and it's cute!
- Coffee Shop AU/Cafe AU - It's simple and minimalistic. But personally, Cafe AUs can be sweet and wholesome, like a love story between two bookworms in a cafe or a tale about a charming barista and a customer. And of course, I like coffee.
- Fairytale/Fantasy AU - As someone who likes fairytales, fantasy, mythology, and Harry Potter, a Fairytale AU can evoke whimsy, magic, and wonder.
- Royalty AU - Royalty AU fanfics with tropes like arranged marriage AU, forbidden love (Romeo and Juliet style!), friends to lovers, peasant x royal, or enemies to lovers AU, I'd gladly read about it. I also love it when the male leads in royalty AUs are either gentlemanly and devoted or powerful and perhaps power-hungry, but still loyal to their lover. Sure, that might sound crazy, but I can be delusional if I want to!
And that is all! If you have any favorite tropes, you can share them below.
