Metafic

Trope · Genre
Synonyms:	Metafiction
Related:
See Also:	Self-insertion, Fourth Wall, Meta, Fandom AU
Tropes · Slash Tropes · Tropes by Fandom
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Metafic is a genre label often used to describe fanfic in which characters interact with the story's author or are otherwise aware that they are fictional characters. It is a fanfic-specific variation on metafiction, a term in literary criticism for fiction that refers to the conventions of fictional writing.

Metafic is often written to poke fun at fanfic clichés or comment on developments in canon or fandom.

Another way for stories to be meta commentary on fandom is to be fic about fandom, i.e. taking place in the "real world" of fandom. Either characters can be transported into our world and meet with fans and see fandom, such as in the Blake's 7 Cheeeseboard series in which Avon ends up in the middle of a Blake's 7 convention, or the story can be just set in fandom, like Fandom is a Way of Death by Bill W. and Alan R.

Since RPF already takes place in some version of the real world, encounters with RPF characters and their fans might be metafic, or it might just be a self-insert. Or all RPF might be some form of metafic.

Metafic Examples

• fandom in general: Fandom is a Way of Death, a gen 1984 zine where the characters are well-known fans in Los Angeles; the story comments on fandom.
• fandom in general: Deep Fanfic Thoughts, by Jack Handey by Vali (2001)
• fandom in general: Several notable stories from the Yuletide fic exchange are well-known metafics.
• fandom in general: In the beginning, there was canon... by b-cavis. Crackmeta/metafic. (2005)
• multifandom: Support Group for Fan Fiction Characters: First Meeting, Slash Chapter[1] by Cousin Shelley - characters from various fandoms complain about the way authors treat them in bad slash stories.
• Forever Knight: Vice Versa[2] by Dianne T. DeSha, in which the characters post to the mailing list for a TV series called Real Life. The sequel, "Vice Versa II: Horrible Mutant Daughter of Vice Versa"[3], parodies actual posts to the Forever Knight mailing list, ForKNI-L.
• Homicide: Life on the Street: Permanently Offline by Wendi Jeff and Saundra Mitchell, in which the actual show's characters were the "real characters" working for the Baltimore PD, having to deal with the actors, and the fans, of a popular show based on their activities.
• Leverage: Life in the Twenty-First Century by aces, in which Alec Hardison is a life-long member of fandom. (2010)
• Merlin: Pairing: Pendragon/Merlin by anonymous, Fandom AU in which Arthur and Merlin are respectively a BNF fanwriter and shy betareader in the Starz' Camelot fandom, who meet first online (LiveJournal features heavily) and then in real life at a con. (2011)
• Popslash: As Lucid as Hell, by Sandy the Older, set in "The Popslash Works In Progress Dorm" where the characters talk about the stories they're characters in, and complain about how slow their authors are.
• Psych: Gus Goes For The Gold Star, by Livia, a slash Yuletide story about Gus writing a Yuletide story -- meta and recursive, both! (2008)
• Stargate SG-1: A Collection of E-mails from the SGC Archives (the Wanky Wormhole Remix) by Beatrice Otter, gen. Vala writes Wormhole X-treme slash, Jack flames her, Teal'c contemplates writing it up for Fandom Wank and the rest of the SGC is drawn in willy-nilly. (2010)
• Stargate Atlantis: See John Run and Hello, Rodney! by Eildon Rhymer, crackfic with accompanying fanart. Musings on common tropes in SGA fic and characterization (both fanon and canon) as seen through the eyes of a very special children's librarian during storytime. Includes "Ideas for extension activities for parents and teachers" sections that offer whumpable Sheppard puppet and dress-up doll patterns. (2007 & 2008)
• Stargate Atlantis/Stargate Atlantis RPF: And Be One Traveler by amireal and trinityofone, slash. One of the SGA actors finds himself temporarily stranded on an Atlantis that is real, while its residents are shocked to hear from him that in his reality their lives are the basis for a television show. (2006)
• Supernatural: Becky is Not Writing This Story by Grey Bard. Gently satirizes the angel Gabriel's trollish tendencies, Becky as a Mary Sue, love of BNFs, and Diana Gabaldon's RPS inclinations. (2010)
• Supernatural RPF: Common Knowledge by elucreh, a non-AU J2 metafic in which Jared discovers J2 filk and "elljay" and starts reading a lot of fanfic. (2007)
• Supernatural RPF/Twilight: Live Free or Twihard by poor choices. Especially cracktastic college AU - Romeo and Juliet through the lens of the Twilight fandom, in which Jensen Ackles's family are hardcore Team Edward Bella/Edward shippers while Jared Padalecki's are hardcore Team Jacob Bella/Jacob shippers. Complete with Fandom Wank, anonmeme, and Fandom Secrets references, fandom RPGs and extensive use of sockpuppets, relatives not understanding the difference between internet vs. real life and/or slash vs. homosexuality, and faked pseuicide. (2010)
• Supernatural/Supernatural RPF: Origin Story by nom. When he was younger, a family of hunters saved Eric's life. Then he made a show about them. (2011)

Metafiction in Canon

Supernatural

• The Fourth Wall breaking episodes in Supernatural where fandom is explored through the character of Becky.
• The Changing Channels episode of Supernatural that placed Sam Winchester and Dean Winchester in various television shows.
• The French Mistake episode of Supernatural where the characters of Sam Winchester and Dean Winchester literally fall through the fourth wall into an alternate reality in which they are presumed to be the lead actors working on a television show called Supernatural.

Not-Supernatural

• Galaxy Quest, a 1999 film that affectionately parodies Star Trek and its fanac and fan culture.
• Doctor Who episode Love & Monsters, in which a fan who has been tracking the mysterious man and his strange blue box (who is part of a group of such fans who engage in more-or-less typical fannish activities, including one new fan quickly becoming rather toxic) gets to actually encounter The Doctor and the TARDIS.
• Lost in Austen, a British 2008 miniseries in which the heroine, a fan of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, inadvertently swaps places with Elizabeth Bennett. It is a fanwork that includes metacommentary for both the novel and the [1995 miniseries] adaptation; the heroine asks Darcy to wade out of the ornamental lake for her, and at one point berates him for not being as good as in the book.
• Stargate SG-1 episode 200, which parodies many media properties and pop-culture phenomena, including SG-1 and its fandom. Among many other things, the episode alludes to the main fandom slash pairing, lampoons the show two of its characters used to be leads on, and mentions interest in a younger and edgier version of the show -- all wrapped up in the meta aspect of being about pitches for Wormhole X-treme, a previously featured in SG-1's canon (but rapidly canceled) TV show based on SG-1 itself.