
Fanfiction: Queer Narratives and Queer Communities
We will reflect on the different styles or writing, the shows that have meant the most to queer communities and how the act of reclaiming narratives in queer formats offered representation before there was any on TV.
Who is this course for?
Anyone interested in fanfiction or queer writing- this might be people who used to write and no longer do, or people who have heard about the idea of fanfiction but never really understood it. Or, people active in fandom/fanfiction interested in the broader implications and conversations around it.
What can I expect?
The first half of the workshop will be a history of fanfiction- an overview of the terminology, how early fanfiction was written/shared etc. We will then do some deep dives into examples around specific fandoms before moving into a broader discussion of where fanfiction sits in queer culture and literature. Finally, we will discuss fic, its impact on lives, reading and writing, and what it might mean individually and collectively.
Joining via Zoom
This course or event will be held via Zoom. You need a computer/laptop or mobile phone to access the Zoom website, and a reliable internet connection. For further information on how to join a Zoom meeting, you can watch the joining video here.
You will need a computer or other device to connect with Zoom and a notebook/paper and pen/pencil, or digital equivalent.
Need to Know
Metadata
- Time
- 19:00 - 21:00
- Price
- £20/ £15 concession
- Day
- Thursday
- Duration
- 120
- Venue
- Online
- Tutor
- Emily Garside
- Max Students
- 12
- Course Code
- HS23238
You will learn
- What is fic and why write it?
- Using fanfiction to ‘fix’ queer narratives- from keeping queer characters alive to solving queerbaiting
- Fan-creator relationships and fanfiction (the good and bad)
- Fetishisation of queer characters in fic and other problematic tropes
- Queer communities and fanfiction
Meet the Tutor

Dr Emily Garside
Emily Garside is writer, thinker, and theatremaker, and a passionate communicator about the value of LGBTQ+ stories in popular culture. She spent many years as an academic and lecturer, beginning with her PhD on theatrical responses to the AIDS crisis and the evolution of LGBTQ theatre. She published her first non-fiction book Love That Journey For Me: The Queer Revolution of Schitt's Creek in 2021 with 404ink and is currently under contract with Applause Books, McFarland and Calon books for non-fiction books. As a journalist, she is a regular contributor for The Queer Review and has written for American Theatre, Slate, BBC and The Stage. She is also a playwright and novelist specialising in telling queer stories.
Dates and Times
Fanfiction: Queer Narratives and Queer Communities
This course will take place online.