Fanfiction Types, Pt. 2: The Impact of Post-Canon
Last post, we looked at AU (Alternate Universe) work and some of its advantages and disadvantages. This time, let’s look at Post-canon.
Post-canon (PC): (Def) - A work that begins after canon material ends.
Post-canon work, while sometimes not as large-scale as an AU, can be just as challenging. Readers who prefer PC content are likely to be even more familiar with canon than you, and one factual slip can result in disgruntled audience members. However, most readers understand that not everyone knows every detail of the IP they’re working with and are pretty forgiving, though there are fandoms who boast a rather rabid fanbase, and if you intend to post within those circles, it might be wise to get a beta reader to fact-check you. Additionally, some readers might drop a note or PM letting you know that something’s not quite in-sync with canon lore, and that affords opportunity to fix unintentional breeches.
Let’s look at some difficulties that might arise from creating PC content:
Limited timeline: Writing post-canon implies that most events within the piece occur after canon material has ended. Yes, there can be exceptions where things like time-travel, flashbacks, historical re-enactments, etc. are involved, but for the most part, PC content doesn’t revisit canon events in depth, and audience members who want to see more canon events may find PC content frustrating.
Restricted cast: During most stories, someone doesn’t make it through, whether that means they died at some point, or they left the cast. Either way, there are limited options for bringing an absent cast member back into a post-canon story while maintaining believability. It’s especially difficult if said cast member is deemed irrevocably dead in canon (though it can and has been done). Including audience favorites in the cast can be a great way to engage readers, but if the character you want to use is dead… well, you might need to pull quite a few strings to get them back.
Intensive research: As with AU work, PC stories require a lot of research. That means finding places you can read/watch all relevant canon material as well as uncovering reliable sources for fandom-specific information and learning to find what you’re looking for when you go digging for answers. Some fandoms make this process easier than others, and once you’ve found a good information source, be sure not to lose it.
Now for some rewarding aspects of post-canon creation:
Offering a viable continuation: I’ve come across various IPs that ended far too soon. With post-canon content, it doesn’t matter that the show/series/games ended before they reached a satisfying conclusion, because you can make that happen yourself, and, especially if it’s a well-loved IP, many readers will thank you for it.
Wider original character acceptance: In post-canon content, it’s often understood that new faces will come on the scene for various reasons. Some fandoms are more open to original characters than others, but especially if you introduce a secondary or minor original character, post-canon lovers aren’t likely to be upset with you. Some may even grow to love the OC(s) as an integral part of your post-canon work.
Reader appreciation of fandom knowledge: Many post-canon readers are so familiar with canon they can give you book, chapter, page/line numbers or season, episode for a canon event. If you’ve done your research, they’ll know, and they’ll appreciate you for it.
As a writer who has worked with a fellow fanfic creator on post-canon material, I can say it’s a wholly different experience from AU work, but it carries some similarities. Keeping consistent is still vitally important, as is not alienating readers. Write from the heart, check your SPaG and facts, and know your audience. You might still have readers who drop by and feel the need to be rude about your work, but if you know who you are as a writer and why you’ve embarked on your post-canon journey, those occasional voices of dissent will fade into the background.