Book Group = Fandom Group
Have you noticed some of your teen patrons talking about the latest episode of Gossip Girl, Power Rangers, or the final Harry Potter movie? This would be a prime opportunity to hook students on some of the tie-in books that accompany these visual medias, but your teens complain that they don't have TIME to read multiple books for a book group.
Solution: Fan fiction Reading Group.
1. Prep by perusing the fan fiction for a particular fandom universe and select one, or a few, stories. Fanfiction.net and Archive of Our Own are two fanfiction archives that have a wide variety of fandom choices.
a. Print them for your book group members to take home and read, OR
b. Pull them up on computers to be read during the book group meetings. Some stories aren't that long; drabbles are only 100 words.
- If you do this, consider having each person become a member of the fan fiction archive. It's free and takes about two minutes, and it allows them to leave reviews/feedback.
c. A suggestion: pick at least one fic that is AU (alternate universe) or non-canon, as this will give you a better chance at compare/contrast during the discussion.
2. Create a list of questions to prompt discussion about what the teens read. Here are a few to get you started:
a. What did you like about the fic?
b. Who was your favorite character? Are they your favorite character when you watch the _________?
c. How did the fic differ from the show/movie? (Plotline, character choices, setting, etc...?)
d. How would YOU have changed things, if you were the author of this fic?
e. What would you tell the author, if you could talk to them about their story? (Compliments AND constructive criticism).
3. Using the discussion/brainstorming and give your teens the option to post feedback directly to the author's posting of the fic. Both archives listed here require either membership or the person's email and name.
4. Discuss where they can go from here:
a. How would you go about finding more fan fiction that you would enjoy?
b. Would you consider writing fan fiction of your own? (If there are any yeses, this could lead to a fan fiction writing group!)
Solution: Fan fiction Reading Group.
1. Prep by perusing the fan fiction for a particular fandom universe and select one, or a few, stories. Fanfiction.net and Archive of Our Own are two fanfiction archives that have a wide variety of fandom choices.
a. Print them for your book group members to take home and read, OR
b. Pull them up on computers to be read during the book group meetings. Some stories aren't that long; drabbles are only 100 words.
- If you do this, consider having each person become a member of the fan fiction archive. It's free and takes about two minutes, and it allows them to leave reviews/feedback.
c. A suggestion: pick at least one fic that is AU (alternate universe) or non-canon, as this will give you a better chance at compare/contrast during the discussion.
2. Create a list of questions to prompt discussion about what the teens read. Here are a few to get you started:
a. What did you like about the fic?
b. Who was your favorite character? Are they your favorite character when you watch the _________?
c. How did the fic differ from the show/movie? (Plotline, character choices, setting, etc...?)
d. How would YOU have changed things, if you were the author of this fic?
e. What would you tell the author, if you could talk to them about their story? (Compliments AND constructive criticism).
3. Using the discussion/brainstorming and give your teens the option to post feedback directly to the author's posting of the fic. Both archives listed here require either membership or the person's email and name.
4. Discuss where they can go from here:
a. How would you go about finding more fan fiction that you would enjoy?
b. Would you consider writing fan fiction of your own? (If there are any yeses, this could lead to a fan fiction writing group!)
Twitternovel (or short story) in the Library/Classroom
Before I suggest the steps of how I would use a Twitternovel in my library, take a look at this tutorial "How to Start a Twitter Novel," by Brandon J. Mendelson, a Twitternovel author.
Twovel (Twitter Story) Programming
Materials Needed
- Reserved computer lab with enough computers for each teen to have their own, OR
- Reserved room and a fully charged laptop cart.
- Optional: A dry erase board for brainstorming story ideas.
Before the Programming Begins:
- Take the time to familiarize yourself with how Twitter works, including
o Set up an account with the name of the story group
§ Example: @TwitterTales, @MooDellLibraryTwovel
o Know how to Follow and be Followed, and how to Post, Reply, and ReTweet.
- Make sure the computers you plan to use don’t have firewalls that block Twitter.
The Program:
- Have each student set up a Twitter account, if they do not already have one.
- Have them Follow your group account.
- Brainstorm (verbally or on a board) story ideas
o Characters, the conflict/problem, basic plot outline.
- Outline the rules of the story-telling
o Who will type the first line
o How many posts a person can type in a row, before letting someone else post.
o Time limits
o Awareness that there will be editing after the story is finished.
- Writing the story
o Let them post/create their story.
- Putting it all together
o Decide ahead of time if you are going to put it together/type it up, or if one of the teens will do it.
o Take the time to copy & paste the story into a word document that day.
After the Program:
- Clean up the Word document with the story, then get copies to the participants in one of the following ways:
o Email it to them.
o Print copies and have the teens pick them up.
o Post it to the library’s website/teen page.
Suggestions for Extension:
- To write a longer story, start the activity during the programming and have a second meeting planned, or plan to do the rest of the interaction online.
- Work with other libraries/branches by emailing them instructions and setting a longer period of work time.
Twovel (Twitter Story) Programming
Materials Needed
- Reserved computer lab with enough computers for each teen to have their own, OR
- Reserved room and a fully charged laptop cart.
- Optional: A dry erase board for brainstorming story ideas.
Before the Programming Begins:
- Take the time to familiarize yourself with how Twitter works, including
o Set up an account with the name of the story group
§ Example: @TwitterTales, @MooDellLibraryTwovel
o Know how to Follow and be Followed, and how to Post, Reply, and ReTweet.
- Make sure the computers you plan to use don’t have firewalls that block Twitter.
The Program:
- Have each student set up a Twitter account, if they do not already have one.
- Have them Follow your group account.
- Brainstorm (verbally or on a board) story ideas
o Characters, the conflict/problem, basic plot outline.
- Outline the rules of the story-telling
o Who will type the first line
o How many posts a person can type in a row, before letting someone else post.
o Time limits
o Awareness that there will be editing after the story is finished.
- Writing the story
o Let them post/create their story.
- Putting it all together
o Decide ahead of time if you are going to put it together/type it up, or if one of the teens will do it.
o Take the time to copy & paste the story into a word document that day.
After the Program:
- Clean up the Word document with the story, then get copies to the participants in one of the following ways:
o Email it to them.
o Print copies and have the teens pick them up.
o Post it to the library’s website/teen page.
Suggestions for Extension:
- To write a longer story, start the activity during the programming and have a second meeting planned, or plan to do the rest of the interaction online.
- Work with other libraries/branches by emailing them instructions and setting a longer period of work time.
Fan fiction Lesson Plan (not mine)
Two students from Michigan State University created this lesson plan on using fan fiction in the classroom, as a writer's workshop style activity.
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