Fanfiction exists in a bit of a complex legal space. Generally, reading or enjoying Once Upon a Time fanfiction in its normal forms (text or fan - made audio) is legal. But if there are elements that seem to be overly exploiting the original show's brand or are causing confusion in the market as if it were an official spin - off, there could be legal issues. But overall, for the most part, it's legal to engage with fanfiction.
One common theme is time -travel. Since both shows deal with different timelines in some way, fanfictions often explore more about time -travel and how it affects the characters. For example, a character might go back in time to change a crucial event.
You can try fanfiction websites like Archive of Our Own (AO3) or FanFiction.net. These platforms have a vast collection of fanfictions from various fandoms, including those related to 'Once upon a time' and 'Watch the future'. Just use their search functions to look for the specific fanfictions you're interested in.
Family relationships are a big theme. Some fanfics focus on the family dynamics between characters like the Charmings and their descendants. There are also fanfictions that revolve around the theme of identity. Characters in 'Once upon a time' often have complex identities, and fan writers like to dig deeper into how these identities are formed and how they can change over time.
A 'found family' trope is quite common. Characters who were alone or estranged in the show form a close - knit family in fanfiction. For instance, Henry might bring together different characters who then become his new family. Also, the 'hurt/comfort' trope, where a character is hurt (physically or emotionally) and another character comforts them, is frequently used in Once upon a Time fanfics.
Some independent blogs or personal websites dedicated to Once Upon a Time might also host fanfictions. You can find these by doing a simple Google search. For example, search for 'Once Upon a Time fanfiction blog' and explore the results. But be careful as the quality and legality of the content on some of these sites might vary.
Begin by choosing your favorite characters from 'Once upon a time'. Decide if you want to focus on one character's story or a group of them. After that, plan out the plot. You can make a simple outline of the beginning, middle and end. Consider the setting, whether it's the Enchanted Forest or Storybrooke. Also, think about the tone of your fanfic. Do you want it to be light - hearted, dark, or something in between? Once you have these elements in place, just start writing. Don't worry too much about making it perfect at first, you can always edit later.
A prevalent trope is the 'reincarnation' trope. Fans might write about how the characters are reincarnated in different time periods or worlds and how their relationships are rekindled. 'Power - swapping' is another interesting one, where characters exchange their powers and how that affects their relationships and the story. There are also 'secret relationship' tropes, especially for characters who had a lot of chemistry on the show but never got together officially, like Belle and Will Scarlet. Writers create scenarios where they have a secret relationship and all the drama that comes with it.
You can try websites like Fanfiction.net or Archive of Our Own (AO3). Fanfiction.net has a large collection of fanfics from various fandoms, including Once upon a Time. Just use their search function and type in 'Once upon a Time'. AO3 is also great as it has a well - organized tagging system, making it easier to find specific types of Once upon a Time fanfiction, like those focused on a particular character or relationship.
You can start by looking on websites like Archive of Our Own (AO3). It has a vast collection of fanfictions for various shows, including Once Upon a Time. There are different categories and filters you can use to narrow down your search, such as by pairing, genre, or rating. Another option is FanFiction.net. It's one of the older and more well - known fanfiction platforms, where you'll also find a good number of Once Upon a Time fanfictions. You can also try Wattpad, though it has a more diverse range of content, but still might have some interesting Once Upon a Time stories.