How to Write Fanfiction Oneshots - Tips and Tricks for Great Oneshots

Oneshots: the snacks and entrees of the fanfiction world. A oneshot is any fic that is posted as a single chapter, typically with the intention of being read in a single sitting. Whether you want a quick bite of fluff, angst, smut, hurt/comfort, crack, or whatever flavour you crave, there’s a oneshot out there for you, and this video is going to cover how you can write and post one for yourself.

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A little about me: my name is Cora (she/they) and I'm a creative writing graduate, professional copywriter, and self-proclaimed fanfic writer extraordinaire with over 10 years of experience here to help you live your best fanfic writing life! Subscribe to my YouTube channel for your fortnightly dose of dreamy fanfiction tips. 💞✍️

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[hourofberries]

HEAVY ON THE COMPILING MULTIPLE ONESHOTS IN ONE FIC. I hate trying to find one shots and then realizing there are multiple other ships, fandoms, and scenarios I have to sort through first. It's a huge turnoff.

[ScottRawlings]

You love Legend of Zelda so much you put Link in the description.

[appletart]

I mainly write one shots so this was a nice video to see! I appreciate the little community of fic writers you’ve made

[Notfallkaramell]

One Shot turned Longfic happened to me! 60.000 words for the final project. I couldn't reach the scene that started this until 45.000 to 50.000.

Now editing...

[tsifirakiehl]

Literally all of my fics are one-shots. I love one-shots so much.

[pple_butter_teeth]

I really appreciate you mentioning making fics screen reader accessible, I’m not blind but I am dyslexic and it’s the only way I can read longer fics <3

[renfielddeservedbetter]

I always come up with a concept/premise but can’t get past the first few 100 words 😭 thanks for posting this

[SailorsprinkleAsmr]

I'm writing a oneshot right now, thanks for the tips

[icedgarlic]

ive been wanting to write fics so badly lately lol but longer fics are so intimidating rn!! And i wasnt sure how to start oneshots ergehe this is great advice thankss

[lavndvrrart]

this video had perfect timing because im currently doing the 100 drabble challenge for my rare pair ^^

[jeditalez]

Can't wait to watch this video! Have been considering writing one shot because there much shorter with a easy to see arc for the story and I can explore more ideas with my favorite characters! I think it can help me ease myself into prose writing more for my ADHD brain lol

[mash]

9:47 😭i definitely agree in theory (especially for different fandoms in one fic omg) but for some reason i can't bring myself to do it for my own drabbles! i compile my (true) drabbles as chapters of the same fic if they're all the same ship. they don't share continuity but i figure they have similar vibes?? so... idk. also i love writing true drabbles but they're just so fricking short, like 3 paragraphs, and i can't shake the feeling that something that short doesn't "deserve" to be posted as a standalone work - it's only 100 words! ik it's a silly thought but i feel so bad.

[gzsofi]

I love writing and reading oneshots~ I don’t need too much planning for a good story and I can more focusing on a specific theme or message of the fic.
I think for new ideas it’s a good thing if you check the fan arts of the fandom or ship you want to writing about. There are a lots of them that telling about a scene, feeling or vibes. Fanfics and fan arts are both arts so they are somehow connected.
Now with that method I have an idea for my next oneshot and wrote two shorter ones on Twitter by re-posting the art. Like that I can promote the art that was great enough to inspire me and have new ideas too. It’s a win-win situation both for the author and the artist. 😊

[ScottRawlings]

One shots are great for rare pairs I have found

[alextheartsyastronaut]

i love me a good oneshot! one of my favorite sources of inspiration for stories like these are songs or character inspired playlists especially if i can incorporate the song or a reference to it in the fic

[werelemur]

I definitely have an issue with one-shots spawning sequels.

[renatal.]

i love 10k oneshots, yes i can only read them when i have a lot of free time but i just love to lose myself in a work for a few hours

[yutqoi]

I've *finally* started writing again after a couple of years, and I still consider myself a beginner writer cuz I rlly don't have as much experience as a self-proclaimed professional writer would. I've read sm fanfic at this point and thought of so many scenarios that I feel I got a solid grip in how I like to do things. But despite that, I love watching your vids sm! Your advice, vibes, outfits, and voice are all so sweet, it's so nice 😭😭😭 I still have a ways to go, but listening to your vids as I write has been such a joy 🥹🥹 I just wanted to thank you for your vids and fangirl-rant about it for a bit LMAOO

Also, that random oneshot prompt that you made up had me dying because my fave ship ever has a guy with a signature hat and when you said that, I immediately thought of them and I cried 💀💀

[corinneeaglebridge]

5:32 as someone who wrote a pre-canon oneshot about a secret Santa where a character got their signature hat (beanie) from their mentor figure (who ends up dying in canon) and it was handmade and all that made me do a doubletake.
Also, can second prompt lists. I really got into writing again when I decided to write for the fandom’s annual promptober. Ended up writing 26 oneshots (I combined some prompts) and it was so much fun! Honestly did not expect to be able to finish the promptober - it was actually my first time I’d ever fully completed it! My oneshots are very short (always <1k) but honestly I write when I have something to say and if I can get that message across in a small amount of words, I find that a strength and not a weakness

[IrregularityRowan]

About posting one shots in a collective, if you're going to, at least have the pairing/fandom in the title. I cannot tell you how many times I've looked through the chapters and had no idea who they were about.
It's also a good idea if you have angst, fluff, or other premises in the collective to put them in chapter titles.