If you're a fan of fanfiction, you've likely experienced the frustration of seeing favorite works disappear seemingly overnight. While it's not uncommon for authors to remove their works for a variety of reasons, you as a reader don't need to be resigned to an eternal void. This guide aims to dive into various ways and methods (proven and speculative) to get hold of deleted fanfiction content. The domains discussed here will be respectful of authors' wishes, copyrights, and take into account legal perspectives as well.
1. The Wayback Machine: Accessing Archived Pages
The first method to access deleted fanfiction is through the Wayback Machine, an internet archive that stores snapshots of millions of websites. It might not carry an archive of all pages, but it's worth a shot. Just copy the URL of the fanfiction, paste it into the Wayback Machine's search bar, and it may pull up an archived version of the work.
However, this approach is not flawless. The archive might not have the specific page you're looking for, or the snapshots might be incomplete. Be aware that the success rate might not be high, yet it could be your first step on the journey to recovering lost works.
2. Google Cache: The Search Engine's Storage
Another method to recover deleted fanfiction is using Google's cache. This is a snapshot that Google takes of each webpage as a backup. To access this, type 'cache:' in front of the URL and Google might show you the most recent snapshot it took before the site was updated or deleted.
One should keep in mind that Google only keeps the cached version for a short time, and updates it whenever the page is updated. So this method might not always be useful, especially if the fanfiction was removed some time ago. Nonetheless, for recently deleted content, this can be an effective tool.
3. Fanfiction Backup Apps
Avoid the heartbreak of lost work by using fanfiction backup apps such as FanFictionDownloader (FFDL), an app designed to download fanfiction from around 20 different fanfiction hosting sites. You can store the downloaded files on your device and revisit them at your leisure, which means you still have the stories even if they are deleted from their original source.
FanFicFare is another great app that allows users to download fanfiction from over 50 hosted sites, so you are unlikely to miss out on your favorite stories. These apps offer a variety of formats to choose from and can be a reliable source for securing your fanfiction content.
4. Forum and Discussion Boards
One may overlook forum threads and discussion boards, but they hold treasures. If a popular piece is deleted, chances are, enthusiastic fans could have discussed, reviewed, or even posted excerpts of it on forums. Reddit, Quora, or specific fanfiction forums could hold keys to your search for deleted content.
One may have to sift through many threads and conversations, but patience could be greatly rewarded. Such forums can also lead you to other fans who may have backups of the deleted fanfiction and could share them with you.
FAQs
Question: Is it legal to read deleted fanfiction?
Answer: Yes, it's perfectly legal to read deleted fanfiction, as long as you're not using it for commercial gain or plagiarizing it.
Question: How can I archive fanfiction for reading later?
Answer:You can archive fanfiction for reading later by using fanfiction download apps or by saving the webpage directly.
Question: What if the author doesn't want their work to be read?
Answer: Usually, if an author deletes their fanfiction, it's because they no longer want it to be public. It's respectful to consider the author's wishes, although technically, the content that was once public has already been captured in various ways as shown in this guide.
Conclusion
Finding deleted fanfiction could be a swell of various emotions—elation at successes, heartburn at lost treasures. While you chase for lost content, remember to respect the authors' wishes and avoid illegal uses. Use the methods above wisely, and happy reading!
References: "Guide to fanfiction". Fandom Wiki. Retrieved from https://fandom.wikia.org/
"A deep dive into fanfiction". Medium. Retrieved from https://medium.com/