#012 - is fanfic the new IP goldmine?
+ notebooks are my love language
A few nights ago I fell into a rabbit hole reading about how publishers are now actively mining fanfiction platforms for new literary talent — not in the secretive, guilty-pleasure way of years past, but in a very public, strategic, big-money way. This wasn’t a surprise to me — after all, Fifty Shades of Grey was originally posted online, for free, as a Twilight fan fiction (IYKYK). It’s probably been since around then that websites like Wattpad became a breeding ground for bestsellers and screenplays, and I’m not just talking teen vampire sagas or Harry Styles alt-universe romances. We’re talking Netflix deals. Publishing contracts. Six-figure advances.
And honestly? I’m obsessed. Fanfic isn’t just a teenage time-suck anymore. It’s IP gold. It’s also a stark reminder of something we already know but rarely say plainly: teenage girls have always been the cultural engine. For decades, their obsessions were dismissed as frivolous or hormonal or "just a phase", from boy bands, YA romances, fanfic forums, moodboards covered in magazine tear-outs. But now? Those same obsessions are being monetised by male-led media companies and leveraged as data points in boardrooms. What was once mocked as cringe is now a billion-dollar industry. And the people profiting off it? Often not the ones who made it cool in the first place.
Because while the literary world has spent decades side-eying fan-fiction as cringe, derivative, or indulgent, it's quietly been building the kind of reader loyalty most traditional publishers would sell their souls for. Community-driven, hyper-niche, often free — these stories don’t wait for industry approval. They don’t go through ten rounds of development meetings. They just resonate, fast. And they go viral because people are emotionally invested, not just algorithmically targeted.
When I was in my One Direction era (RIP to the years I fully believed Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson were secretly together), I devoured fanfiction. Entire novels, for free, often written by teenagers with better pacing instincts than some of the bestselling authors I’ve read. I remember staying up until 2am reading stories that felt more emotionally intelligent than anything I'd pulled off the “new in fiction” shelf. New chapters would drop, and I would RUN to by Facebook group filled with other 1D fans (some of whom have grown into my best friends in adulthood… because girlhood and fandom rocks) to share the news the new chapter had dropped and get ready to dissect every single sentence into the early hours of the morning. And now those writers — or ones like them — are getting agents, six-figure deals, and Netflix adaptations. It’s amazing. It’s deserved. There’s something powerful about democratising our love for something. But… it’s also kinda complicated.
Because this pipeline isn’t just about lifting up unheard voices — it’s about packaging obsession as a product. Editors aren’t just looking for good writing. They’re looking for data. They're reverse-engineering virality. As one former Wattpad exec put it: if readers are leaving long comments, reacting with emojis, and bingeing 200k words in a day, that’s what sells.
So yes, fanfiction is getting legitimised — but it’s also getting scrutinised. The messy, joyful, boundary-pushing thing it was is slowly being optimised for monetisation. And I do wonder what that means for authors. Will they still write for fun if it no longer feels free?
It also makes me wonder: are we moving toward a culture that values obsession over originality? Maybe what matters most now is emotional depth — how deeply someone cares about the characters, the tropes, the pacing, the specificity. Fanfic authors are world-builders and marketers. They don’t just write the story, they title it like a Tumblr post, tag it like a content strategist, and publish it in a format optimised for binge reading. No wonder they’re taking over. The whole thing makes me want to write again — but badly. With abandon. Not for the algorithm, but for the plot. (And maybe with a hot villain redemption arc thrown in.)
It’s a strange double-edged sword: the writers we once side-eyed are finally getting paid — but often, only if they play by new rules. And that tension between authenticity and opportunity feels really of-the-moment. Because isn’t that the push-pull every creator is feeling right now? Be real. Be good. But also: be monetisable.
Still, I love that this is happening. I love that the internet weirdos and niche girlies and feral Tumblr alumni are finally being seen as the cultural powerhouses they are. I love that storytelling is being reclaimed from the polished and professional and handed back to the deeply online.
And if this means someone turns my favourite 1D fan fiction from 2012 might be turned into a prestige Apple TV+ series one day… I will simply eat it up.
Kinda obsessed with listening to…
I’m back on my podcast grind. I went off podcasts for a while, simply just because I was dealing with some serious content overload / fatigue… but now, I can’t consume them quickly enough. I think they also soothe my 10 month old during the drives to and from daycare as she seems to be slightly less screamy in the car seat lately, so I will take the wins where I can! Recent fave episodes:
Good Hang with Amy Poehler ft Michelle Obama — this was joooooyous. I have nothing else to say, it was just so wholesome. Amy recently had Dakota Johnson on as well, so that’s currently queued, because Dakota is up there with one of my fave celebrities when it comes to interviews.
Hot Smart Rich — I’ve been devouring the whole catalogue of this series, so I’m just recommending it as a whole. Hosted by Maggie Sellers, stand out episodes have been the ones with Kosas Founder Sheena Zadeh, Crown Affair founder Dianna Cohen (I am now more than just kinda obsessed with Dianna), and Australia’s own Gab Waller.
Rozalia Russian on Seize the Yay — I’ve followed Rozalia Russian for ages on IG (the OG milennial influencer, and we love her for it), but I don’t think I have ever really heard her in an interview format… so I found this super interesting, particularly in the current era of influencer culture. I saw she went on another podcast recently too… so I am very curious to understand if this might be the start of a new announcement or a potential PR strategy for a new direction… I’ll be watching this space.
Kinda obsessed with using…
I pinch myself every time a brand reaches out with the offer of a gift… because as someone who is always on the PR side of the gifting equation, it feels BEYOND odd (but lovely) to be on the receiving side. That said, I know what an effort goes into PR gifting and how hard it is to quantify at times, so I wanted to share some standouts that I’ll likely buy with my own money once I run out. It’s very rare, but I will always let you know when something is a gift… and I would never feature anything that I don’t genuinely love!
Yours Only Shampoo & Conditioner — I’m officially in my gentle girl era. I’ve been using the Yours Only conditioner as a hair mask and also on my body… which sounds weird, but I promise it isn’t. My skin is extra sensitive post-baby, and this is the first thing that doesn’t make me itch or break out. 10/10 recommend for anyone whose body reacts to, well, everything. It’s also female founded, Australian owned and they donate a portion of proceeds to psoriasis research.
Kikki K Notebooks — I recently shared a TikTok about the rebrand of Kikki K (which now has Lisa Gorman at the helm… who is doing v cool things), and it went a little viral. Following the virality, the marketing team very kindly reached out and offered to send me some goodies, and within that package was three notebooks. I’m not sure if they intended for me to use all three in tandem, but that is what I have started doing, with all three on me at all times, broken down for the below requirements. It feels silly and old-school, but it’s also keeping me more creatively anchored than any productivity hack ever has:
One for general life scribbles (meeting notes, shopping lists, reminders for appointments, writing down something from an unexpected phone call).
One dedicated for my daily to-do list (nothing digital compares to the dopamine of crossing things off or writing down everything in my brain down on paper). Currently, I create several to-do lists for each day, broken down into Clients, BPR brand/team, Talent and BD.
Dossier Spicy Orchid perfume — this one is inspired by Tom Ford’s Black Orchid, and it is absolutely delicious, and perfect for winter. Given the price tag, I can be very generous with my spritzing throughout the day (which is good as the staying power is good, but not great). I will definitely be buying this again once I finish it. Also, I feel like all these perfumes make great gifts when you’re not sure what to buy someone!
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that’s it from me this week.
If you’ve ever stayed up way too late reading a 300k word enemies-to-lovers fic with unhinged pacing and zero paragraph breaks… I see you.
Also, please reply and tell me which fanfic you’ll defend with your life. And link me. Especially if it is to do with 1D… or Harry Styles. I’m ready to spiral.
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loooooved this