On Friday, March 19, the Stockton University Literature Club will be hosting its first-ever virtual fan-fiction Reading for Charity. The event will be held from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. via Zoom, and will feature excerpts from many notable fan-fictions, such as My Immortal and Eren Jaeger/Princess Peach: The Queen of My Walls. Though attendance is free of charge, donations are strongly encouraged. Proceeds from the event will be donated to the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, which provides free books to young children in need.

When it comes to this fundraising event, cringe is the name of the game; about five or so members of the Literature Club will present what they deem to be the most cringe-worthy pieces of fan-fiction on the internet, with subjects ranging from obscure slash fiction to political satire. Gabrielle Bibus, the current president of Stockton Literature Club, has prior experience with public fan-fiction reading, saying, “When I was in high school, I read My Immortal for the Comedic Prose category of a theater competition and ended up placing at States. Ever since then, I’ve been eagerly awaiting the opportunity to read fan-fiction in public again.”

The Fan Fiction Reading for Charity event is inspired by Stockton Literature Club’s Marathon Reading for Charity, where members of the club would spend a majority of the day– in some cases, over eight hours– reading a long novel from cover to cover. At the 2019 Marathon Reading, one member jokingly suggested that they read fan-fiction the following year and thus the Fan Fiction Reading for Charity was born.

However, COVID-19 halted planning for the event before it could be set into motion. In spite of the obstacles posed by the pandemic, Bibus remains optimistic. “I’ve never hosted an online event before, so I’m a little nervous,” said Bibus. “I’m hoping we get a good turnout and raise at least $100!”