Where to Get Started on Fanfiction

I've never written fanfiction before so I was thinking I could use some tips. Anything I should know about publishing on Fimfiction? What is some of the main fanfiction of MLP: I'm talking about things like Nyx or the Lunar Republic. What groups I should join on Fimfiction? Is this even the best spot for advice on this topic? So that's it.

@Rarity-Loves-Nightwish
I do wonder…

My first tip to you is have a concrete idea and outline of what you want to do in your fic. Brainstorm ideas for it. Write outlines for the chapters to keep yourself organized and on track.

@Penguinbrony24
As they say, plans are useless but the value of planning cannot be underestimated. That said, some genres really do require you to have the entire story planned before you start filling in the prose.

@OP:
What kind of story do you want to write?

I would like to start simple with slice of life. I'm interested in exploring different characters and their relationships. Like maybe why Rarity just doesn't tell Spike that he has no chance with her. Or how Rarity and AJ used to be friends turned rivals in school. Or maybe Rarity being genuinly fascinated in Spike's comics and urges him on to be a comic artist.

These aren't always going to be completely in character, but I want to explore different situations of these characters according to my own headcanons, although I would still want them in character for the most part only deviating when necessary. But if I need to I might even try do AU retellings of certain characters.

I have other plans for the future. Like a TV-PG retelling of the MLP series with a more dramatic and emotional tone to it.

@Rarity-Loves-Nightwish
So basically I want to do Slice of Life stories right now.

@PUBLIQclopAccountant
That's what I would like to write.

@Rarity-Loves-Nightwish
You could do a story-within-a-story with the Rarity+comic writer Spike idea.

Are you thinking of writing short stories or a novel-length work (or episodic short stories and flash fiction that end up as novel-length by the time the series ends)?

@PUBLIQclopAccountant
I think for now now short stories. After all I want each story to not be forgotten in stream of like 100 chapters where one chapter might be forgotten by several readers.