Writing AUs: Fairy Tail Style!
by TheFairyHunter

The art of writing fanfiction is a complicated process, but this does not stop the relentless fanfic writers of the Fairy Tail fandom. Although there are many ways a story can go wrong, there are just as many ways to craft the perfect book. Varied approaches to writing fanfiction lead to a plethora of subcategories- among them is one called "alternate universe."

What is an AU?

The acronym AU is short for "alternate universe" and is used to describe fanfiction in which the writer changes one or more elements of the source work's canon. (The word "canon" refers to something that is officially part of the story.)

There are two overarching types of AU: contextual reassignment and "what-if."

1. Contextual Reassignment

a. Familiar Contextual Reassignment;

• When characters are taken out of their world and placed in a setting that is fairly familiar to the author and readers. A popular example you have most likely seen in Fairy Tail fanfiction is the "high school AU." The majority of readers on Wattpad have experienced high school (unfortunately), and the few that have not are still aware of the environment.

• Stories in this category are often based on real-life experiences, making them more realistic and relatable.

b. Unfamiliar Contextual Reassignment;

• When characters are taken out of their world and placed in a setting that is typically foreign or unfamiliar to readers. Examples of this would be a "prison AU" or "space AU." They would be classified as such because it is highly likely neither the reader nor the author has experienced traveling to such a place. Although this trope is less common than the Familiar Contextual Reassignment, it is still prevalent in fanfiction.

• Stories in this category are often written based on research done beforehand. This is a crucial part of the planning process which will be further explained later on. Without proper research, fanfic in this category can go horribly wrong.

2. What If?

a. Alternate History

• When the timeline of a certain character or a single event of the canon story is changed. Writing a fic in which Fairy Tail lost the Grand Magic Games could be considered Alternate History. However, as a writer, it is important not to abuse the "alternate history" aspect of AU. If too much is changed, the reader may become confused.

b. Character Facets

• Similar to Alternate History, Character Facets deals with changing a single event of the canon story. However, it focuses on an individual character and alters their environment, childhood, or personality. What if Erza never left the Tower Heaven? What if Jellal was never possessed as a child? These "what-if" scenarios can be classified as different "Character Facet AUs."

As a writer, deciding what sort of AU you want to write is important. Nonetheless, do not become too hung up on a single subcategory of AU. Ultimately, you are the writer- there is never a reason to strictly follow one of the categories listed above. The best stories are those that remain fluid, open-minded, and unique.

Why is AU Popular?

Many Fairy Tail fanfic writers, including myself, commonly jump on the chance to write AUs. Why? The answer is simple: because it allows us to explore different "what-if" scenarios. What if Lucy never joined Fairy Tail? What if Mystogan never left Edolas? These questions frequently pop up in the Fairy Tail fandom, and it is up to you, the writer, to address it. Writing alternate universe fanfic is a chance to express your opinions and share your theories; this makes the AU trope all the more important.

How to Write a Fairy Tail AU

Step One: Planning

Outlining your story can be tedious, but in the long-term, you'll be thankful. Jumping in and writing a story right away is never a good idea because as a writer on Wattpad, once you publish a chapter with a certain plot twist or event, you can't take it back. It's useful to decide beforehand what you want to include in your story- this is a rule of thumb you should follow, no matter the genre.

As you plan to write your AU, decide on what aspect of the canon story you want to change: the setting, a certain character, etc. Although you're free to change what you please, be sure not to change too many aspects.

Some of the most popular AUs used by Fairy Tail writers are:

- High School AU (All characters are high schoolers. Fun!)
- Lucy Leaves Fairy Tail AU (I guarantee you've read something like this before.)
- Cat AU (Person A gets turned into a cat, Person B has to care for them. Just roll with it.)
- Medieval Royalty AU (Person A is royalty, Person B is a knight/servant/dragon.)

I am guilty of using all of these plots (except the second one!) Yes, they might be cliché, but as an AU writer, that doesn't mean you can't use them! If you're really stuck, these plots can serve as a source of inspiration. Additionally, each of these AUs, though overused, is unique; there are so many ways to go about writing them. I've read countless high school AUs, and none are the same. So go for it!

TIPS

If you want to alter the plot...

- Sort characters into new "roles." Let's take the royalty AU. Who will be best suited for royalty? Lucy, because of her wealthy upbringing? Erza with her fierce personality? Jellal with his refined manner? It's up to you!

- Try to find roles that will best compliment the cast of characters. Erza might make a good knight because of her requip magic.

- Research the era if necessary. In our example, we need to keep in mind cell phones will not be used in a medieval royalty AU. The clothes worn, and the environment they live in will also be less modern.

If you want to alter a character's backstory...

- Take note of the major events that have shaped the character. Decide how you want to alter it. Do you want to add or remove an event? Drastic changes are not ideal; instead, focus on minor changes.

- Decide how the character's new backstory changes the character during the present day. For instance, if you alter Erza's childhood so she never went to the Tower of Heaven and instead went straight to Fairy Tail, she would have never met Jellal. She also may not have necessarily developed the stern and fierce personality she has at the moment. Keep these changes in mind as you write.

Step Two: Outline

One of the biggest flaws in Fairy Tail fanfiction is the lack of consistency. Plot holes, among other inconsistencies, can be discouraging to readers who may grow irritated. One easy way to avoid this mistake is to write out a running list of chronological events that you will include in your story. The outline does not need to be detailed- it just needs to remind you of the order you intend to write your story, and can also help you pick out plot holes and other flaws.

Step Three: Writing

You've finished the hard part! From here on out, it's just writing. Stick to your outline and begin writing. As you write, you may realize certain events in your outline are better left unused. You may also realize that you want to take the story in another direction. This is completely normal. As you change up the flow of your writing, always keep in mind that you should not be too obvious in your alterations. For AU writing, minimal changes have the most profound effect.

Step Four: Reflection

After finishing your story (or as you write) you may realize one of two things:

1. The AU is going smoothly (yay!)
2. The AU is not suitable, you have writer's block, you're completely lost, and you screwed up. (It's okay. We've all been there.)

If the first one is you- congratulations! You wrote an excellent Fairy Tail AU which I will be extremely eager to read. If you're the second one, I can only say this: unpublish or rewrite. It's up to you. AU is one of the most fun fanfiction categories to write, but it is also one of the hardest. Not all alternate universes work with Fairy Tail, no matter how hard you try. However, with minor changes to your ideas, I promise you that all is not lost. This is why it's best to plan ahead and decide whether the plot you have in mind is appropriate.

Fanfiction is a truly amazing form of writing. It allows us, the fans, to express ourselves and showcase our love for the fandom. I've been a part of the Fairy Tail fandom since I was little, and I've seen it grow together, and change for the better. I've had my fair share of arguments, and fanfic failures, but in the end, I treasure each of these experiences. It is these experiences that have made me a better writer.

The Fairy Tail manga has officially come to close, and the anime will soon follow. As we cherish these last moments, it is important to never forget: we, the Fairy Tail fanfic writers, will never stop writing.

What AU plots have you seen in Fairy Tail fanfiction? Which are your favourite?