Breaking 4th wall in fanfiction

[mel]

I'm sure you all are familiar with the term "Breaking the 4th wall". I would like to use it in my light-hearted fanfiction. One of my freinds says it's okay to do that,and another freind says doing that would kill the fic. I'd like your opinions on this subject.

[Ellethwen]

...I am actually not familiar with this term.

[mel]

The fourth wall is the imaginary "wall" at the front of the stage in a proscenium theatre, through which the audience sees the action in the world of the play. The term also applies to the boundary between any fictional setting and its audience. When this boundary is "broken" (for example by an actor speaking to the audience directly through the camera in a television program or film), it is called "breaking the fourth wall."

[Ellethwen]

Oh. I don't see why not, then. How is fanfiction any different than other written works? It's just based off of an already existing universe. I think if done correctly, it could add to the fiction. There's a lot of potential with the idea, it just needs to be executed well.

[thewhiterabbit]

I think it could make your fic more interesting and funny, so yeah, give it a go! =)

[Freya]

I have been known to shatter the wall, but that's something you have to be careful with. If you don't know what you're doing, it can be really distracting.

[blueknight]

I think it depends. If you are skilled enough it can bring the reader right into the story. Charles Dickens does this pretty well in some of his books. Of course, as Freya had said, it can be distracting if its done improperly. I'd use caution with it.

[Sailor Cybertron]

I agree with everyone else. Breaking the fourth wall can be humorous and can add to the story when done well, but more often than not it tends to be distracting and a bit annoying. I've seen too many fanfics where the author decides to break the fourth wall and everything just goes out of character.

I'd go for it, but don't overuse it.