Archive · 31 Jan 2026
Fan Fiction Turned Mainstream Success Stories
Some of the books and series you love started as fan fiction.
For example, 'Fifty Shades of Grey' began as 'Twilight' fan fiction.
Other books like 'City of Bones,' 'Throne of Glass,' 'After,' 'The Love Hypothesis,' and 'Alchemised' also started as fan fiction and became very popular.
These authors took their stories from fan fiction websites and turned them into books that many people enjoy reading today.
Some of these stories have even been made into movies or TV shows.
It's amazing how fan fiction can become something big and loved by many!
Fifty Shades of Grey started as Twilight fan fiction and became a blockbuster series.
City of Bones by Cassandra Clare originated from Harry Potter fan fiction.
Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas began as Sailor Moon fan fiction.
After by Anna Todd was inspired by One Direction fan fiction and adapted into films.
The Love Hypothesis by Ali Hazelwood is based on Star Wars fan fiction and became a bestseller.
- Who
- Various authors who started with fan fiction and transitioned to mainstream success
- What
- Fan fiction stories that became popular books and series
- When
- From 2007 to 2025
- Where
- Originally on fan fiction websites, later published traditionally
- Why
- To reach a wider audience and gain mainstream success
- Fifty Shades of Grey
- Started as Twilight fan fiction, became a blockbuster series
- City of Bones
- Inspired by Harry Potter fan fiction, part of The Mortal Instruments series
- Throne of Glass
- Originally Sailor Moon fan fiction, now a popular fantasy series
- After
- Based on One Direction fan fiction, adapted into four films
- The Love Hypothesis
- Inspired by Star Wars fan fiction, became a New York Times bestseller
- Alchemised
- Dramione-coded dark romance, over a thousand pages long