by Mayv 'SpearBourne' Amaia

Created on: April 13, 2010

How often have you heard a song and thought it would make a good basis for a story?

This is the world of songfic, or a sort of cross between fanfiction and a written music video. This a much maligned and stigmatised genre of writing. While songfics are often classed as being cheesy or melodramatic, there are a few good songfics out there.

If you want to write songfic, there are a few things to remember.

Credit the song's writers.

If you don't know who wrote it, at least state who sings the song. If there have been multiple versions recorded, but there was one in particular that inspired your story's plot, mention that.

Choose where you will place the lyrics wisely.

With some songfics, interspersing lines or verses within the composition makes sense. They can serve as segues or scene changers. They can also be used as chapter headers of sorts.

With other songfics, it's easier to place the lyrics at either the beginning or end of the story.

This allows the song to serve as an introduction and helps set the tone of the story or can summarise and explain the feelings and inspiration behind the words. You can also include author's notes before the lyrics.

Wherever you decide to place the lyrics, if at all, make sure it fits the overall tone and flow of your story.

If you're writing with a particular word count in mind, try to make your own words the bulk of the story. Use the lyrics as a way to enhance the story line or flow of the plot.

Many readers don't like songfic because of a perceived laziness on the part of the writer. While this is not always the case, don't use the chosen lyrics as a way to artificially pad your word count or as a replacement for more original works.

Due to copyright concerns, even if you were to give full credit to the song's writers and performers, some fanfiction archives not only discourage but actively ban songfics from being posted to their sites.

If you are posting to an archive or someone else's site, check to make sure that songfic is allowed there.

Although songfic is often the subject of derision and ridicule, a thoughtfully written songfic can be an exercise in creativity.

Remember to use the lyrics to add to your story and not the other way around. Be as original as you can instead of relying on the lyrics to tell your story for you. Give credit where credit is due.

When properly and carefully done, songfic can be an entertaining and creative writing experience. Just keep in mind that readers prefer more original compositions that show a writer cares enough to compose his or her own works without overusing someone else's words.

And, as with all fanfiction, have fun with it.

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