Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 6: How to Write a Fanifesto"

[ysabetwordsmith]

This is a new meta entry for marchmetamatterschallenge 2025. See my tracking post here.

Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 1: The Importance of Fanifestos
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 2a: What Is a Fanifesto? intro & canon guide
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 2b: What Is a Fanifesto? cast list & character study
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 2c: What Is a Fanifesto? ship manifesto & milieu study
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 2d: What Is a Fanifesto? plot analysis & crossovers
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 2e: What Is a Fanifesto? trope manifesto & format guide
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 2f: What Is a Fanifesto? personal manifesto & others
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 3: Benefits of Fanifestos
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 4: Drawbacks of Fanifestos
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 5a: Contents of a Fanifesto statement to tropes
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 5b: fanon to other aspects
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 6: How to Write a Fanifesto
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 7a: Where to Find Fanifestos location types & communities
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 7b: fanifestos A-E
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 7c: fanifestos F-I
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 7d: fanifestos J-R
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 7e: fanifestos S-Z
Meta: "Why We Need Fanifestos" Part 8: My Fanifestos


Part 6: How to Write a Fanifesto

If you want to support fandom as a whole, or your favorite fandoms in particular, then create newbie pages of some sort. Many kinds of fanifesto will help, but the canon guide is probably most useful here. Include the name of the canon and where to find it, the nickname of its fandom, major characters, popular ships and points of fanon, examples of major fanworks, Transformative Works Policy link list, links to fan activity online such as blogs or communities, and tips on how to join the fun.

One of the most useful things you can do, if you like to watch movies or shows on opening night, or buy books as soon as they come out, is to write canon guides immediately afterwards. Just think how many hits you'll get if your fanifesto is the first one! You can also write guides to more specific things like vocabulary (preferably with a pronunciation guide and/or soundclips), character studies, major tropes in your fandom, and so on. So let's look at the process of writing a fanifesto.

First, choose your canon. Most folks have a bunch of fandoms they love, but some only have one. It's all fine. Just pick something worthy of pointing people to it. That might be a big established fandom with lots to do, but it could also be a new canon that you hope to help build a fandom for over time. Think about what you want to share regarding it and why.
Next, explain why you love this canon so much. Maybe it has great action, a beautiful setting, a diverse cast of characters, or a cool motif that excites your sense of wonder. Here is where you try to convince other people that they should try it on for size. That puts it in the category of a persuasive essay. This part fits in most fanifestos because they typically aim to attract new fans and help people get involved with a fandom.

Decide what kind of fanifesto you want to create. There are many options. The most popular tend to be canon guides and ship manifestos, but you can make whatever you find appealing. This will give you an idea what to include, because different types of manifesto have some different features.

Figure out what elements you want to create. The most popular ones include a cast list of characters, common ships, a guide to installments, and key fanworks. For a big, complex fandom a "start here" page can be very helpful. Other options are things like a glossary of terms, a batch of quotes, or a prompt list for bingo fests. Take the time to do some research so that you can offer a good batch of links for further reading, from canon to fansites.

If you are making a fan resource beyond just the fanifesto, then consider how to organize it. You might need a rules page for a challenge or exchange event, forms to fill out, instructions on how to use a community, or directions for how to interact with certain features of your personal blog. If you run a Dreamwidth community, or your personal blog has an event, then make sure your readers know what to expect and what to do. You can use sticky posts or a Links box to keep this information readily available. Some folks prefer to put it in the profile instead of or in addition to posts.

Finally, think about how to share and promote your fanifesto. You can start by posting it to your blog or other website. Crosspost to relevant communities on Dreamwidth. Start with meta communities, but also look up those dedicated to your chosen fandom or its genre to see which of them also welcome meta. Some have a calendar or hub community that lists resources. You can participate in online events like marchmetamatterschallenge and month_of_meta (May).