Time to read: 16 minutes
Now that the background on aro/ace fanfic has been filled in, how does aromanticism and asexuality operate within a work of fanfiction itself? The forms aromanticism and asexuality can take within any fanfic depends on several factors.
Length
The length of the fic impacts how significant aromanticism and asexuality can be to the plot. Participants revealed that shorter fics (shortness being relative to individual participants’ understanding) can have more front-facing aro/ace themes. The fics (headcanons, drabbles, oneshots, etc.) may be about characters discovering they’re aro/ace or coming out to their significant others; their aromanticism/asexuality is the plot. Conversely, aromanticism/asexuality can be insignificant in shorter fics when the character’s sexuality is insignificant. In genfic or times when the aro/ace character is not the main character, that character “just so happens to be aro/ace.” Their sexuality does not contribute to the plot and therefore goes unmentioned.
For longer fics both circumstances still apply. However, there tends to be even more exploration of character relationships and dynamics in those where aromanticism/asexuality are visible. Participants describe this as a character’s aromanticism/asexuality spurring the plot rather than being the plot.
I have one WIP where one character’s resistance to family pressure to marry sets some plot in motion.
(Participant 370)
The a-spec aspect isn’t moving the plot forwards as such, but often it informs characters’ relationships enough that if you got rid of it the story would feel very different.
(Participant 924)
While both short and long fics can have significant aro/ace moments or plots, it is with longer fics that aromanticism and asexuality act more often as catalysts for further plot. Even if it’s not explicitly written, the story is affected by the inclusion of aromanticism and asexuality.
In another RPF fic by Rachel, they write about K-Pop group K.A.R.D. in an original sci-fi AU. When both fics in the series are combined, the word count is over 180,000! Here is an excerpt where two characters, Taehyung and Matthew, discuss Taehyung and Jiwoo’s unusual relationship.
Pushing the thought out of his mind, Taehyung said, “What you were saying just now – um – Jiwoo and I aren’t -” he broke off, not really sure how to explain himself and Jiwoo.
“Married?” Matthew supplied. “I’ve heard that’s how some Nehan get new ships – starting new family lines. There was something in one of my classes about that-”
…
“We’re – close… but Jiwoo isn’t romantic like most people are,” [Taehyung] explained. “She just isn’t built that way. She has a good half-dozen other lovers, scattered throughout various ports. Any time any one of them want more of her than she wants to give she shuts them down, locks them out and throws away the key. So, yeah, we have sex. I love her, she loves me, but those feelings aren’t -” he shrugged, “romantic, I guess.
(Excerpt from Rachel’s fic)
One of the main characters, Jiwoo, is bisexual and aromantic. These are not tagged in the fic’s AO3 posting, one would have to read the fic in order to know her sexuality.
Because I had made an asexual character [in my BigBang x Sense 8 fic], I wanted to try an aromantic character. It’s a lot less understandable for most people: navigating that feeling of otherness, what sex looks like for them, and how they can still feel a deep sense of connection without that love necessarily being romantic. This fic gave me a chance to explore that by making her a character in a larger story. The story isn’t about her aromanticness. She just is [aromantic]. It’s just a part of her character, but she’s not defined by it.
(Rachel)
Though Jiwoo’s aromanticism is discussed at points throughout the fic, it is small in comparison to the rest of the story. Fic length can change the strength of presence aromanticism and asexuality can have within a fic. The longer the fic the more likely a character’s sexuality is to be a driver of the plot rather than the plot itself.
Genres/Tropes
As mentioned, Goldie (Agent Carter Soulmate AU) and Rachel (Big Bang x Sense 8 crossover) make use of Alternative Universes. In both cases, their AUs allow for an in-depth exploration of character relationships and dynamics. They also modify their AUs to be more aro/ace inclusive. Goldie takes the concept of the soulmark and gives it to everyone but the aroace main character. Rachel takes the heightened sexuality of the sensates and questions how a mildly sex-averse asexual fits within their cluster. This willingness to defy the conventions of their chosen AUs shows ingenuity and a commitment to making space for aro/ace characters.
The angst trope, though widely popular, is of special significance for aro/ace fanfic. While not all aro/ace fanfic falls into this notion, there are some writers that intentionally use angst (and hurt/comfort) facilitated by a character’s aromanticism/asexuality. Putting characters through physical and emotional pain, with or without the comfort of a happy ending, is a means to express a character’s vulnerability (Busse, 2017, p. 132); and aro/ace people are vulnerable in specific ways. I will discuss nonconsensual romantic/sexual activities that characters experience because of their aromanticism/asexuality (click here to skip this section).
I define nonconsensual romantic/sexual activities broadly to include any and all activities (kissing, cuddling, dating, groping, sex, etc.) in which a person does not explicitly ask for, desire, or give consent (or only gives dubious consent) to experience. Forcing someone to go on a date, kissing them unexpectedly, and performing sexual acts outside of their comfort zone would all be examples of nonconsensual romantic/sexual activities.
| Do the characters you’ve written experience nonconsensual romantic/sexual activities because of their aromanticism/asexuality? | Count |
|---|---|
| Never | 56 |
| Rarely | 26 |
| Sometimes | 17 |
| Often | 1 |
Writing noncon is not necessarily wrong or with mal intent. Participants who write it have two reasons: to be angsty and as a form of realism. A few participants like to explore dark and mature themes and having an aro/ace character experience nonconsensual romantic/sexual activities is one way they fulfill that. Similarly, the rape fantasy, as related to women and feminist contexts, is not at all rare. The vulnerability of the characters and the voyeurism of the writers and readers gazing upon the scene is a complex and intimate relationship (Busse, 2017, p. 200). “The point of the story isn’t the rape; it’s how the characters deal with the rape.” (Green et al., 1998, p. 33). Such stories allow for an examination of emotion, bonds between characters, and healing that vulnerable communities crave.
Writers use noncon as realism to explore trauma. Aro/ace people experience nonconsensual romantic/sexual activities in ways similar to other sexual minorities. Corrective rape, rape used to correct or punish a person’s transgressive gender or sexuality, is an elevated risk for asexual people (Brown, 2022; Brunning & McKeever, 2021; Decker, 2015).
The above graph illustrates experiences of sexual violence against aces, those who are unsure if they’re ace, and non-aces. However, data on those who are unsure and non-aces may be skewed due to their smaller numbers and sampling bias. Also, they tend to be members of populations (LGBTQ+) that experience sexual violence at a higher rate than the general population. Nonetheless, this survey reveals that around 20% of its ace participants have experienced rape.
Because of the high likelihood of experiencing nonconsensual romantic/sexual activities, or even the fear of experiencing them, writing fanfic in which characters are in these situations can be cathartic. It can allow writers to explore trauma.
I have a fear of others’ attractions being aimed at me. I’ve had friends turn out to be romantically/sexually attracted to me and had to distance myself from them because knowing they thought of me that way and were incapable of changing their attraction was too uncomfortable. Sometimes I’ll channel that into my characters’ experiences as a way of reexamining my own.
(Participant 543)
My favorite fandom arena to play in when it comes to aro/ace portrayals is omegaverse. Omegaverse is so highly sexual in nature that, to me, it seems like the perfect way to express the way people who are ace or aro may feel like something is wrong with them or like they’re broken, because the highly sexual nature of omegaverse provides much more contrast. What does an asexual omega do if they have terrible heats? Is it possible for an alpha or omega to be sex-repulsed? These are the questions I like to think about.
(Participant 490)
The threat of unwanted sexual attention and contact are the impetus behind writing noncon. In doing so, it becomes less scary or perhaps more bearable in that the characters that experience noncon also often experience a healing or recovery from their trauma. Rarely are they left to suffer, instead they are comforted and reassured that everything will be okay.
Additionally, not all noncon happens because of other people, aro/ace characters might be the instigators of the situation. They might be exploring their boundaries and then realize they actually did not actually want that experience. They also might not know they’re aro/ace, in which case do not know they dislike or are uncomfortable with something until it happens. The concept of dubious consent comes into play here. For example, two characters, one ace and one allo, are kissing and the ace character decides to pursue with physical touching only to realize they don’t actually want to have sex. This may be due to something like internalized aphobia and the pressure to “put out.” They might do so in an effort to please their partner without actually desiring sex themselves. This experience might be necessary to their discovery of aromanticism/asexuality. Sometimes, their partner realizes the ace character is uncomfortable and even tells them not having sex is an option thus giving them the words to describe their identity.
Those who do not write noncon may not have the ability to do so; if their fics do not contain romance or sex at all, like in genfic, then there is no opportunity for noncon to take place. A few participants do not write it because they’ve never experienced it and would feel out of place. Others deliberately do not write noncon because of its realism.
I want my writing to be an escape for a-spec readers from wider fiction. I feel like reminding them of what could happen to them in reality with any disclosure to their identity is just a needless slap in the face.
(Participant 870)
As an aro/ace person myself it’s very important to me that the characters in my writing are comfortable with what they do and also let their partners know what they’re comfortable with. I always write the non-aro/ace partner as fully supportive and understanding.
(Participant 669)
Fanfic is a happy place, an escape from reality for many. And writing about the dangers that they or their readers could face is not how these participants want fanfiction to look like. As such, their character rarely or never experience nonconsensual romantic/sexual activities. There is variety in the genres and tropes used in aro/ace fanfic. And though some may have specific stakes for aro/ace characters, this diversity and adaptability makes aro/ace fanfic not just a space for those wanting aro/ace characters. A reader can come for the Soulmate AU, the sci-fi, or the angst and happen upon aro/ace characters.
Differences in Source material
The type of canon on which the fanfic is based changes what types of characters are present. Film, television, video games, books, and all other types of media each with varying capacities for what constitutes a character and how long a viewer/reader is exposed to them. As mentioned, RPF uses real people and celebrity personas that already have a “canon” sexuality. And because most people can be assumed to be allo, any fanfic that writes them as aro/ace is engaging in some level of opposition. Although, it can also be argued that since some celebrities do not make statements about their sexuality, their sexuality does not exist. While K-pop may capitalize on the erotic power of its performers, the actual people behind the personas are often held to secrecy to uphold a facade of availability and approachability for their fans. Their sexualities and relationship statuses are kept behind closed doors partly so they remain parasocially available for their fans. Dating bans (Chong, 2020) are also commonplace along with other stringent requirements that minimize risks of controversy and losing money. Where celebrities, athletes, musicians, and other public personas offer complexities for shipping, fanfic writers are not the least bit limited. Fandoms like BTS, Video Blogging RPF, or even Men’s Hockey RPF have thousands of fanfics posted to AO3 comparable to any other fandom.
There are also media properties and worlds in which there are no characters or at least fanfic can be made entirely with original characters. Fans might be supplied with locations, magic systems, and a few base characters, but after this they are allowed free reign. Therefore, this is no canon sexuality to follow. The characters they write about may be their own creations, either original characters or self-inserts, so they have the final say on the characters’ sexuality. For example, the fantasy roleplaying game Dungeons & Dragons has its top character tags on AO3 as variations of original characters. Without the limits of canon, writers have the freedom to write aro/ace characters as they wish.
“Yeah, they’re ace but they’re also right-handed.”: Saying the Word Revisited
While writers can use tags to identify their aro/ace characters, they might also just do so within the fanfic itself. A character can say “I’m aromantic” or “I don’t feel attracted to other people” or anything else that is immediately recognizable as a lack of romantic or sexual attraction. However, such confessions can be much more indirect. Participants described three scenarios in which a character may not explicitly state their aromanticism/asexuality. The first occurs in which a character knows they are aro/ace but it is never mentioned nor is it relevant to the story. In a self-insert Taylor Swift fanfic, the main character is aroace and asks Taylor out on a date believing she would be say no. When she says yes, their date turns into a friendship that he cherished wholeheartedly.
They met when Paul sent her an email in jest asking her out on a date. To his amazement she accepted and they built up a friendship. Since then they’ve spent a day at Disney World together, had dinner together when she was in the area, he was her special guest at one of her concerts, and talked on the phone regularly. He stopped seeing her as Taylor Swift, major recording star and started seeing her as Taylor Swift, awesome person to hang out with.
(Excerpt from Paul’s fic)
The character’s sexuality is not explicitly mentioned nor is it relevant to his friendship with Taylor Swift. When asked how purposeful the choice was to not define the character’s sexuality, Paul said this:
Mostly I and by extension my self-insert main character just want the companionship aspects of a relationship without the pressures of making it physical and doing something one or even both parties involved are uncomfortable with. Showing that just having someone do activities with is important not adding the pressure of a romantic relationship. Just enjoying each other’s company and having good clean fun.
(Paul)
A second scenario in which a character’s sexuality may not be revealed is when they lack the words to do so. The character has experiences that we as readers could label as aro/ace but these terms and understandings do not exist in their universe.
I’ve written a period piece with the ace lead and while he’s perfectly aware he’s ace and acknowledges it – bc of the times, I didn’t use the same exact terminology. I did go wild with my history degree to think how someone from that era would word the distinctive experience though!
(Participant 229)
Usually I write the characters as having enough information about themselves already that if they got teleported into the modern world they could probably ID themselves as aspec, but how they conceive of it in the fics can vary widely.
(Participant 875)
This lack of language does not stop them from articulating their experiences or feeling comfort in what they do know about themselves. Therefore, saying “I’m aro/ace” is not a requirement for being aro/ace.
Finally, when a character has yet to define their feelings and experiences, writers use the fanfic to explain their discovery and/or coming out process. This type of fanfic was less common than those in which characters are already aware of their aromanticism/asexuality. However, some participants expressed that discovery and coming out fics were more likely to be written when they were also in that self-discovery phase. As they got older, their fanfics aged with them and became more about simply existing as aro/ace.
I’ve written stories where the character has no idea about their own aromanticism and it is their romantic partner who draws the connection first.
(Participant 76)
I don’t often have characters actively talk about a label. they may undergo self discovery and decide they don’t want to be in relationships but the actions are what make them aroace when they are.
(Participant 215)
Interestingly, participants have not written fic in which the character is aro/ace and fails to realize it by the end. If the fanfic is about their sexuality, then it will always be resolved. The character will in some way or another realize why they feel different, even if they lack the language or ability to communicate their feelings to other characters.
Saying the word or otherwise declaring one’s identity is not a necessary element for aro/ace fanfic. A character’s ability to call themselves aro/ace is influenced by the writer’s intentional and unintentional desire to leave all discussions of sexuality from their fic. Or the words might not even be available for the characters to say; the setting of the fanfic dictates whether or current conceptions of sexuality are applicable. And finally, a character may be unable to label themselves because they do not yet know they are aro/ace. In this way, they lack the language, and they gain it through the events of the fic.
Aromanticism & Asexuality in Fanfiction Writing 