Fan fiction: Do you write it?

luxury watch Tue, Apr 21, 2009 at 09:43 PM EST

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luxury watch?

Donna Thu, Apr 16, 2009 at 05:00 AM EST

I write Law & Order fan fiction and do a little reading as well, only not when I'm writing a story. Too many voices in my head at the same time confuse me! :)

I agree with all those who point out that writing fan fiction is a good way to hone your writing skills. Feedback can give you a fair idea of your talent, strengths, weaknesses, etc. It's wonderful for practicing writing conversation because your readers already know what the characters' voices sound like. (And they're quick to point it out when you write dialogue that doesn't ring true for a particular character.) Comments can also give you a nice ego boost. What writer doesn't need that?!!!

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sharpasamarble Sat, Mar 28, 2009 at 11:15 AM EST

I write Chuck fanfic; in fact, I found this page when I was randomly Googling to see if anyone was reading my stuff. (Thanks for the shout-out, Liddy!)

I post my fanfic in "the Pit" because, well, it's one of the most convenient places to post a story. Like anywhere else, there's good stuff and some bad stuff. Hopefully my stories fall into the "good" category.

For me, fanfic is a tremendous way to practice writing and to get feedback. I try to stay true to the show's characters and explore things in a way that the TV medium cannot. It's a great way to practice writing and share your hobby / craft with others.

mjones Sat, Mar 21, 2009 at 01:39 PM EST

I write fanfiction. I have for years. It's great way to go beyond what the show gives you, and it is a lot of fun *and* a great way to exercising some writing skills. I have also been published for original works, so no, I'm not pigeonholed into the fanfiction genre. It's just incredibly liberating to see the direction a favourite tv show is going and make your participation in it more pro-active through writing.

As for the slash thing--Well. I guess the rule that if it exists, there's porn of it rings true. I wrote it in the beginning (strictly of fictional characters) only to quickly get bored by it--there's some truly hyper-obssessed people re: slash that really need to get some help.

I also agree with many here who say the Pit of Voles is not the place to look for good fanfiction. Search at individual websites and make Google your friend. You'll find what you're looking for.

Kim Thu, Mar 12, 2009 at 12:04 PM EST

Yup, I write it, more than I read it. This is the first time I've seen FF.net referred to as "The Pit"...I guess that's true of most of what's on there, but there's nowhere else for me to post my material, because I write for "Fantasy Island". No, not the awful remake, the original. Apparently the people who have posted here think only current and very recent stuff is worth looking at, but I actually have a small core of devotees to my stories, and I love doing it. Eva, near the beginning, expressed my sentiments beautifully. As for FF.net being a pit...there IS some good stuff on there. It's just being drowned by the junk. But c'mon, I'm a "Fantasy Island" fan in a world where everyone scoffs at it. Where the heck else am I gonna post my stuff?? (I don't want to blow my own horn, but if you're old enough to remember enjoying the show, give me a chance. I all but own the category, which tells you how few fans there are left.)

charlie nelson Wed, Jan 14, 2009 at 05:53 PM EST

I found out about fan fiction on the Internet back in 1996. I especially loved the crossovers, but I had read about all that was out there which left me wanting for more to be written. So I began to think about what kind of story I'd like to read. I was still waiting for some writers to post more stories so I thought I'd try one of my story ideas just to see how many pages I'd go before giving up. Then after about a dozen pages, I reread my work and found myself wanting to write more. Then I posted my work and was blessed with many well received responses. I'm still working on my Tangled Web series which is over 10 years old now. It has included characters from 174 TV show, 69 movies, 25 books and 30 cartoons. And I can honesty tell you that it is the reviews from the readers that fuel the writers out there. If any one is interested in my story, you can find it on fanfiction.net under ordinaryguy2. Good day everyone.

Ruby Mon, Jan 12, 2009 at 07:50 PM EST

I read, and I write it. I've been doing both for about 8 years now. It's just a fun thing to do in my spare time where I can let my imagination run away with me. And for someone like myself, who does enjoy writing, but will probably never publish a book, it's nice to still be able to post my stories and get feedback from people who love the same characters.

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marie Tue, Dec 23, 2008 at 11:27 PM EST

i read a lot of xfiles, bones, @ twilight. there is some really good fanfic out there can anybody tell me where a good twilight site's at that really works? thanks if u can!

mairi Mon, Dec 8, 2008 at 04:07 PM EST

I read, oh lord! do I read! I've been a fanfic reader for a while now (over a decade) and while a started out in Star Trek semi-canon relationshipp-y fic I am now a dedicated slasher with a shiny tinhat about my OTP's, I avoid fanfic.net like a plague and play on LJ most of the time. I only write occasionally, and I must admit not very well but I beta-read happily when RL allows and devour as much decently written McShep as I can get my hands on...

Smokin Sun, Nov 23, 2008 at 05:06 AM EST

Yep. Read it and write it. Torchwood.

Dirty little secret: fangirldom + fiction writing/readin is equivalent to men surfing the net for photos of nude celebrities.

Ellen Sun, Nov 16, 2008 at 10:52 AM EST

I write for DC Comics fandom, mostly Batman and Nightwing. Have been for about 5 years, now. I'm what they call a 'genficcer'. I don't write romantic pairings. Usually my stories don't go above PG-13.

Jen Sat, Nov 15, 2008 at 09:28 AM EST

I've read it for probably the last 12 years--since I was 10. Hard to say. I've really skipped around from genre to genre according to what I like at the time. I mostly like fanfic for the AU stories. I read Star Wars, X-files, and Harry Potter most often, but I've gone through little phases with just about every genre imaginable. I've never written fanfic, and I never thought I would, but now I live in a foreign country and have hours sitting at my desk at work with nothing to do. And I have to look busy, so writing a few things out on scratch paper has become my newest hobby. It's almost as addictive as reading fanfic itself.

I'd never heard of fanfiction.net being called "the pit," but it certainly fits. I go there for a select few shows/movies like Star Wars and Twilight, but it is a pit of crap...

Kitana Thu, Nov 13, 2008 at 05:19 PM EST

Oh and Dana -- the kink meme is awesome beyond belief. You shouldn't check it if you're prudish, though. ;)

Kitana Thu, Nov 13, 2008 at 05:16 PM EST

Yep. I read it and write it. I'm 21 now and have been writing fanfic since I was 13. I used to post at fanfiction.net before the NC-17 ban. Some of you probably don't even remember it! :D

amy Thu, Nov 6, 2008 at 11:01 AM EST

I mostly read and write Eminem fanfiction. While a lot of fanfiction on real persons are considered next to written pornography, that side just isn't for me. I tried it, and I wasn't comfortable with it. Though, I will admit I read it. Lol.

I just stick with the light romance aspect of it with a little bit of crude humor and language. Other than that, I just sort of use it to write. Only difference is working out a personality for one or a few of the characters isn't all that hard when they pretty much have a public persona. I've been writing for years, but fanfiction just makes it easier to be inspired, plus it's fun.

rrr Wed, Nov 5, 2008 at 11:14 PM EST

"I only read fanfiction; I will never ever write it"

Hahahaha. Dana? Never say never.

Gestalt Mon, Nov 3, 2008 at 03:25 PM EST

I write fanfic in the Iron Man fandom, and read in Iron Man, James Bond, Hetalia(manga), BBC's Merlin, Batman, Watchmen, Cable&Deadpool (Marvel), Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, and occasionally Law and Order and Oz. The movie fandom for Iron Man has some of the best fanfic writers I've ever seen, especially www.http://quigonejinn.livejournal.com

Stay away from the Pit though. LJ is the best.

angelholme Thu, Oct 30, 2008 at 04:27 PM EST

I write FanFic because it's fun. A single story has one plot (take HP for example). But people ask - what if Harry went left? What if Hermione was killed by the troll? Since the seven books won't answer that, people write their own answers. And you can see how someone else takes the same event and finds a completely different angle.

It lets you express your creative side. You can change things you don't like - make Carey and Warren live happily ever after, or ensure that Steve and Sue don't. You can make Gandalf a woman (yeah - that was me), or make Sam betray and abandon Frodo (but surely that would be too dumb for words).

But mostly - it's fun. Fun to read, fun to write. And it costs nothing - which is something you can't say about much these days.

Dana Sat, Oct 25, 2008 at 05:54 PM EST

I wonder what kind of sample of the general public this is, lol!

In the past I have enjoyed fanfiction for Harry Potter, Buffy The Vampire Slayer and Roswell...Right now I read and write fanfiction for Nabari No Ou and D.Gray Man.

I find this interesting....this isn't for kids but on livejournal I noticed the phenomena known as the "Kink meme" has anyone heard of it?

http://blogsearch.google.com/blogsearch?hl=en&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=kink+meme&btnG=Search+Blogs

Interesting to note the current most popular memes are D. Gray Man and Torchwood (laughs into sleeve.) Maybe one of you will fulfill my Allen Walker/Jack Harness crossover request someday.

(I wouldn't post there if you are underage; one girl got her parents called on her)

Laquandus Wed, Oct 22, 2008 at 08:42 PM EST

Reading fan fiction over seven years and writing about five. I mostly write anime and video game fanfic with F/F pairings (That femslash, yuri, girl love) I been on FF.Net over three months now after couple of years not being on the site. There some good stories if searching through landmine of crap.

TS Tue, Oct 21, 2008 at 10:36 AM EST

Yes - I admit to writing fanfic. It all started way back in like 1998 or 99, with a dabble in sci-fi, not sure that those sites or stories exist anymore other than on some old floppies.
Anyhow, I found that that creating aliens and dangerous plots with a lot of science technobabble wasn't quite my fancy.
Rather, I wanted to experiment with drama and romance and emotions for my characters. Henceforth, I am one of the writers of Scarecrow & Mrs. King fiction over at what y'all call the Pit. Not all of my work has been posted there, some it has found a home at several other archives depending on the rating ( I like to dabble within all of the ratings.)
I'll admit that not all of the SMK fiction is great, including my own, but the fair majority of the over 1,000 or so that are posted there are pretty darn good. It gives people something to do with their brains other than being a couchietator :)

IA Mon, Oct 20, 2008 at 11:27 PM EST

Oh yes, I write it: Harry Potter, Stargate Atlantis, Supernatural, Lord of the Rings. A friend is trying to get me to write Dr. Who, while I'm eying the new Merlin.

Addictive stuff.

Someone panned a "slash" fanfiction story to me, so of course I had to read it for myself. I thought it was great. But soon I discovered there were many, many, many terrible fanfics in the universe.

After reading one too many stories where a male character bursts into tears like a teenage girl, I rolled up my sleeves and wrote my own.

Several novels and over a hundred short stories later, I'm not sure I could stop if I tried.

CindyC Mon, Oct 20, 2008 at 01:50 PM EST

I don't write it, because I don't write stories. But I read it. No 'Shh' about it. I read alot of it. I've betaed (the editing process for a fanfic writer) and helped many writer friends over the years plot out stories. Fanfic is a glorious thing when done right. I have read stories that move well and beyond any of the source material. To put it bluntly - it is awesome.

CWW Mon, Oct 20, 2008 at 08:00 AM EST

I've been writing and reading Man from UNCLE fanfic since the mid 80s, but UNCLE fan stories were around even before then.

Reading at Fanfiction.net is like eating at a fast food chain restaurant. If you're looking for the good stuff, go to the archives maintained by the individual fandoms. Also, a second for crack_van on Live Journal as a rec source.

dreamflower Mon, Oct 20, 2008 at 07:58 AM EST

I write only in Lord of the Rings, but I read in several fandoms, Star Trek, Dr. Who, Harry Potter, etc. If I am familiar with the source fandom and I like it, I will probably read the fic, depending on the ratings.

ff.net, AKA the "Pit of Voles" is not the best place to find good fic. I only read fic there if someone recs a fic and posts a link.

If you want to find hundreds of fics in hundreds of obscure fandoms, check out Yuletide: http://www.yuletidetreasure.org/archive/quicksearch.html
That's an annual fic exchange specifically aimed at the "less popular" fandoms.

Solo Mon, Oct 20, 2008 at 03:49 AM EST

I read it and write it and have done for almost three decades. Past and present fandoms include Starsky & Hutch, Highlander, DueSouth, X/1999 and currently Jpop fandom. Any rating from G to Mature, but I stay away from The Pit.

x-tricks Sun, Oct 19, 2008 at 08:59 PM EST

Sorry, posted too soon. You'll find better quality work almost anywhere besides fanfiction.net - also know as 'The Pit'.

x-tricks Sun, Oct 19, 2008 at 08:58 PM EST

I write queer focused fanfic in the Torchwood fandom, and have written in the due South (a 1990s TV show) and the X-men fandom as well. I'm part of the 'slash' community.

Slaymesoftly Sat, Oct 18, 2008 at 04:13 PM EST

Yes, I write it, I read it. Pretty much only in the Buffy the Vampire Slayer/Angel the Souled Vampire fandoms; with side trips to Torchwood and Firefly -mostly for reading. I love the characters, don't always love what happened to them in canon, and am always curious about what may have happened to them after the cameras were turned off.

alianora Sat, Oct 18, 2008 at 04:07 PM EST

I read it, I write it, I love it! I dont bother posting at The Pit anymore, because it's really hard to find the good stuff there. Instead, I stick to lj and my own personal archive. Ive written in too many fandoms to easily count, but the list includes Firefly, The Inside, Lost, Gilmore Girls, Roswell, and many others - including, to my embarrassment, fic based on various Japanese dramas. It's great fun. And I read all kinds of things. I'll read any fandom I know, really, with just about any collection of characters - although I have my favorites. I'm always on the lookout for new fic, so if you've got any links, send them my way!

Lore Sat, Oct 18, 2008 at 02:12 PM EST

I both read and write fanfic. I started out writing Highlander fic, moved on to Buffy and Angel and am currently mostly involved in Spider-Man fic.

I have to say, fanfiction.net, though nice as a gateway, is hardly a source of quality fanfic. It's usually better to find online archives.

Katy Sat, Oct 18, 2008 at 11:39 AM EST

Yes! I started out with Buffy, then Angel the Series. I've now expanded to Firefly, Stargate (both SG-1 and SGA), Heroes, The X-Files, and one Torchwood crossover.

I'm going to reiterate the comment made by many that Live Journal will have a much better selection. The quality is certainly higher and we have a great community of fans over there that stand up not just for our shows, but for all other kinds of causes as well.

Flake Sat, Oct 18, 2008 at 08:58 AM EST

Read and wrote Buffy fanfiction. There is of course a lot of terrible stuff out there but there really are some very well plotted exciting stories too.

And of course it's good way to beat time,until the porn industry finally realizes how much money they could make with gay porn targeting a female audience.

Anne Sat, Oct 18, 2008 at 06:12 AM EST

I've been reading fanfiction for five years now, and writing for two. At first I was only active in the Pirates of the Caribbean and Lord of the Rings fandoms, then I took a look at some others and have now for over a year only been interested in Harry Potter fanfiction. I only read and write slash (M/M relationships) ;)

Dana Sat, Oct 18, 2008 at 05:21 AM EST

I only read fanfiction; I will never ever write it. I have read LOTS. My fist fandom was Dragonball Z (oh, the shame...but hey, it feels good to admit it), the second was X-Men and the third and current is the Buffy and Angelverse, which is by far my favorite and in which I have discovered some downright fantastic fanfiction. I consider myself as a fickle reader, oftentimes extremely so, and my demands are pretty high - I don't do fluff, schmoop, pwp and spelling errors - I like long, well-plotted stories with believable characters or short stories which explore certain characters in a meaninful way. And despite these and other demands of mine, I stille have a very long list of fics bookmarked that apply to my crtiteria and that I would love to read again.

Kathleen Pfeiffer Sat, Oct 18, 2008 at 01:33 AM EST

For almost any fandom the best place to find high quality fic is LJ, check the interests for your favorite show and you will find plenty. As many writers also blog personal things as well as fiction some are best found in the writers "memories" section if you check for it on LJ.

For my fandom (Buffy, especially Buffy/Spike and gen..which is no pairing just all characters no emphasis on romance) there are many high quality sites and many writers have links on their LJ.

I am constructing my own website to house the stories but it is far from ready to go at this point so I use my journal and many archives like the one I linked below and the standards like Bloodshedverse, dark_solace/Elysian Fields and others that accept edited (referred to as Beta'd)stories.

Kathleen Pfeiffer Sat, Oct 18, 2008 at 01:17 AM EST

If anyone cares to read my stories are archived many places but this one has all of the to current (35 thus far).

http://www.athenewolfe.com/justrewards/viewuser.php?action=storiesby&uid=57&offset=0

Kathleen

Kathleen Pfeiffer Sat, Oct 18, 2008 at 01:12 AM EST

I both read and write fanfic for Buffy the Vampire Slayer. There is good and bad out there and it ranges from porn to well plotted sagas. My stories are usually ensemble as was the series. By the way I am 54 years old, married and fully employed. I am working on an original novel that one day I hope to shop around (and no it is not about vampires or romance or the supernatural). My stories I am proud to say have been well read and given "awards" from fan run sites. I believe my skills have improved with the doing and with the feedback received.

By the way fanfiction.net is lovingly referred to as the pit of voles for a variety of reasons, some you will no doubt discover on your own.

Kathleen

Guchi Sat, Oct 18, 2008 at 12:25 AM EST

OF COURSE! I read it, write it, obsess over it. I've written Harry Potter, The Labyrinth (old 80's movie) and Ouran High School Host Club (an anime that's not translated in English yet). I've read Harry Potter, The Labyrinth, House MD, Ouran High School Host Club, Full Metal Alchemist, Yu-gi-oh, West Wing, and loads of other fandoms.

I like writing it because it's an easy step up from writing nothing, but not as hard as writing original stories. You can use the characters and worlds another author has created to strengthen your writing skills before you try and write an original story.

Anastashia Fri, Oct 17, 2008 at 11:58 PM EST

I've written for Andromeda in the past and I'm currently writing for Battlestar Galactica.

julia Fri, Oct 17, 2008 at 11:40 PM EST

I write fanfiction for Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Battlestar Galactica (the new series). I have also written it for Firefly and Angel, and I have written crossovers involving The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Donnie Darko, Dead Like Me, Sandman (Neil Gaiman), and Discworld.

I write a lot of original fiction as well. I just love writing, and fanfiction grants me an audience that I wouldn't have otherwise. It's also easier.

Helen Fri, Oct 17, 2008 at 04:51 PM EST

I write a lot of fanfiction, mostly Remington Steele, Blake's 7, Drake's Venture and By the Sword Divided.
Anyone interested in reading or writing Remington Steele fanfic should come to http://community.livejournal.com/steelewriting/

SBabe Thu, Oct 16, 2008 at 02:01 PM EST

Yes, I write fanfic. I even post at The Pit (ff.net). Mostly I write Battlestar Galactica and Farscape, but I've also written a fair amount of Heroes and Terminator: the Sarah Connor Chronicles as well as some Burn Notice, The Unit, Supernatural, Stargate: Atlantis, Stargate SG-1...

Someone upstream mentioned Live Journal's Crack Van - that is a good place to find some good stories. Fanfiction.net has everything, but it may take a while to find the good buried by all of the bad.

Happy reading!

KS Thu, Oct 16, 2008 at 09:39 AM EST

Yep, I write fanfic--I've written a little Lord of the Rings and Star Wars, but mostly it's Harry Potter and Doctor Who (or a combination of those two, a couple times--no, really, it works better than you'd think, and crossovers are great fun) with a really long list of other stuff in numerous fandoms that I plan to write. If you're at all interested, I keep most of it at fanfiction.net/~ladymoriel.

abc Thu, Oct 16, 2008 at 07:58 AM EST

You can never get enough of Remington Steele.

me Thu, Oct 16, 2008 at 03:50 AM EST

I do read it and writing. I don't tell anyone because it's so embarrassing and strictly a guilty pleasure. I've written about 42 stories for CSI, Friends, Wicked and High School Musical.

ThamasD Wed, Oct 15, 2008 at 11:12 PM EST

I love fanfic! I write X-Files, with a bend toward the Scully/Krycek pairing or even a slash pairing of Mulder/Krycek. I read a lot of XF fic, but also Harry Potter and Twilight. You can find a great XF archive at http://www.gossamer.org and you can find some of mine here: http://www.thamasd.com/FictionofThamasD.html

Liza Wed, Oct 15, 2008 at 09:22 PM EST

Welcome to the world of fanfic, Mandi! I write Bones fanfic under the name DaLiza. I used to feel a little reluctant to admit I wrote fanfic, but I love writing it, and apparently some people enjoy reading it, so that's all that matters. :)

Richard S Wed, Oct 15, 2008 at 01:50 PM EST

Doctor Who fan fiction pre-dates the Internet by a significant margin and has been around for decades. I used to edit a series of unofficial Doctor Who fan fiction collections and used them as "audition pieces" to help score a commission to edit an officially licensed Doctor Who short story collection.

Some of the current crop of new series Doctor Who writers started off with fan fiction too. It's great practice if you dream of launching a professional writing career.

cRAIG Wed, Oct 15, 2008 at 11:12 AM EST

ALF RULES!

Carli Wed, Oct 15, 2008 at 11:05 AM EST

I've written a couple of different things, but I mostly read it. With shows having such huge breaks nowadays, it's nice to see someone continue the story...or start over. BSG and LOST are fun ones.

Melinda65 Wed, Oct 15, 2008 at 10:43 AM EST

I've never written it, although I've got the first paragraph of a Moonlight fanfic started in my head.

I used to read it at FF.net, but got burned out by the bad ones, and now only read those recommended by a podcast that I listen to. Maybe I'll venture into the pool again sometime.

Tipper Wed, Oct 15, 2008 at 10:39 AM EST

Sure. I don't read that much, but I write. As someone else said, it's harmless fun and, at least for me, it's a great way to practice and improve your writing. It's a great way to improve your skills at writing dialogue, developing plot, playing with styles, improving grammar, etc. I've been writing my own fiction for years, but, when I get blocked, fanfiction is a great stress reliever. Now, goodness yes, not all of it is good. If you want a laugh, check out the god awful fanfiction site (www.godawful.net). It's glorious! But every "fandom" has a collection of really fabulous writers, usually about 10-15% of what is published. It's worth finding them.

Owen Wed, Oct 15, 2008 at 10:10 AM EST

Okay, I quit reading fan fic when I came across some Supernatural slash that had Sam and Dean having hot homo incest sex. What disturbed me is how sexually excited it got me so I quit reading...ew....

Liddy Wed, Oct 15, 2008 at 09:36 AM EST

Never written it, but I'm an unabashed reader. FF.net is pretty terrible, I read sharpasamarble for Chuck stories, it's fantastic stuff. There's some Voltron stories that's not too bad either, but the majority of it is unfinished.

Psst, LJ has a way better collection of fanfiction, especially for ship fans. Fanfiction as a whole keeps you connected to your favorite fandoms and explores stuff you might never see in canon. That being said, some of the stories I've read makes me want to scrub my brain with bleach.

Lindsey Wed, Oct 15, 2008 at 09:20 AM EST

I definately write fanfic! Only Bones fanfic, to be precise. I always find it interesting to write because you are confined by the characters. And that is the one thing that seperates the good from the bad!

ceecee Wed, Oct 15, 2008 at 09:07 AM EST

A few years back, in it's heyday, i went on a big Alias bender of fanfic - reading & writing. Since then, nada. The only way I could make it end was to go cold turkey. Otherwise, I'm sure it would still be consuming my life!

DP Wed, Oct 15, 2008 at 09:05 AM EST

I've written fanfic in at least thirty television shows to date (never mind movies/books). It's fun to dabble and play around, and it offers me the chance to tell the kind of story I'd like to see on my show, but likely never will. Not to mention that as a writer, it gives me the opportunity to explore different styles and try to recreate the tone of the source material. I write original work, too, but sometimes it's nice to step back and work with already established characters and plots and just play around and have fun in someone else's universe. The audience for fanfic is a lot harsher than it is for original fiction, I think, because the fandom knows their show and knows when you've screwed up, and they don't shy away from telling you. Total pressure situation.

Christina Wed, Oct 15, 2008 at 08:23 AM EST

Mandi, you need to read all of Labsquint's Booth and Brennan pieces at FF.net. I'm not Labsquint, and I don't know Labsquint, but whoever she is, she can write.

I have officially revealed myself to be a total nerd.

Cinderella Wed, Oct 15, 2008 at 08:13 AM EST

When I was in high school, I used to watch "Lexx" on the SciFi channel, and I stumbled across an online community that was really into fanfic. I wrote a few stories myself, but since then I've never written for anything else.

Miranda Wed, Oct 15, 2008 at 07:43 AM EST

I read some Buffy, Doctor Who. I will definitely catch up on the VM stuff. I have written a few, Joan of Arcadia fics. It's mostly as a way to continue the story and hone my writing skills, especially my plotting.

tesgirl123 Wed, Oct 15, 2008 at 07:38 AM EST

I've written and read Harry Potter fan fic. it fills a void when you're waiting years for new canon or envisioning what happened in those 19 years later. I've also read West Wing fan fic mainly because I miss the show so much!

Snarf Wed, Oct 15, 2008 at 05:56 AM EST

Never been a fan of the fanfic, usually becuase it's so awfully written. The worst though has got to be the Xena/Gabrielle love stories written back in the mid to late 90's. P.U.

Sarah Wed, Oct 15, 2008 at 05:09 AM EST

Wow...it's always shocking to me when someone mentions that they don't know what fanfic is or they've only recently discovered it. It's been such a huge part of my life for so long!

I've got too many fandoms to list, but the one I've been the most active in lately is Supernatural. The fans of that show are made of awesome.

Fanworks are like any other kind of media when it comes to quality - most of it is mediocre, some of it completely sucks, and some of it is amazing. When you know where to look (I certainly don't recommend ff.net!), you can end up with a steady diet of great fic to complement the books, movies, tv shows, and games that you enjoy already. Fanworks just make everything more satisfying and more enjoyable.

Lauren Wed, Oct 15, 2008 at 04:16 AM EST

Written it? Yes. Only a few times and they were short character pieces.

What's with the 'Shhh'? Most of fanfiction is crap. But most movies and TV are crap. Doesn't mean there's nothing good out there. Some fandoms and some sub-sections of fandoms (characters and pairings) have better writers than others. And the quality can change over time. Adama and Roslin from BSG have surprisingly good writers. It's almost all readable. Although searching for good C.J./Danny stuff will give you a headache.

Nads Wed, Oct 15, 2008 at 01:45 AM EST

I write and read. Mostly anime, jrock and more recently Torchwood. All are slash and NC-17. No shame :)

And don't read FF.net. I was a member when the stuff was actually good! Then they banned NC-17 and it all went downhill from there.

How can you have a tagline about releasing your creative soul when you cap it?

Ragna Wed, Oct 15, 2008 at 01:39 AM EST

Oh! If anyone's interested in my stuff (which also includes NCSI, House, Heroes and Firefly/Serenity, among others), I post at http://community.livejournal.com/ragnarok_fic/

Ragna Wed, Oct 15, 2008 at 01:35 AM EST

I've been writing fanfic for over ten years now, and I'm fairly well known in both the Buffyverse (BtVS/A:tS) and CSIverse (the CSI franchise) fandoms. I've won a lot of awards for my writing from otehr readers,a nd that actually makes me very proud. I write fanfic because I like to take the characters and set them up in situations we'd never see in the shows, or expand on brief moments that stood out for me. Also? I'm a total romance writer. I love the schmoop, I really do.

Malana Wed, Oct 15, 2008 at 01:34 AM EST

Love fan fiction. Both reading and writing it. I'm especially fond of crossovers. My favorite spot? Twisting the Hellmouth, which does Buffy x-overs. http://www.tthfanfic.org/

JC Wed, Oct 15, 2008 at 12:12 AM EST

I have been a long time reader and writer of fan fiction... I am a writer and a lot of big authors wrote some form of fan fiction... luckily mine has all been Vampire Academy and Harry Potter and not, uhhh, N Sync like my sister did many years ago. Fan fiction is a normal part of the writing game. Sometimes you want to know Dimitri(VA)'s point of view... or in some cases Draco and Ginny (which always makes for a good read if its M) action. As long as there is entertainment someone will be writing and/or reading fan fiction.

Kat Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 11:47 PM EST

My favorite Roswell fanfiction site to read stories is...

http://roswellfanatics.net

Love that site. Some amazing stories.

Carrie Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 11:23 PM EST

Ooh forgot to give some reasons for fanfic.
1) Sometimes a moment in the show sparks an idea. What is meant as a throwaway line by the writers can hatch a fic. Or two characters can exchange a look that leads to something else, etc. Or the writers dropped a thread the fans wanted to explore further. It's all plot bunny food.
2) To fix things we think the writers screwed up! In Primeval fandom, there is a community called Primeval Denial where fans deny that the bad stuff (character disappearances or deaths, etc.) ever happened. They've pretty much created a whole life for a certain character that was killed off in episode six and he's now one of the most popular characters in the fandom.

Rasha Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 11:09 PM EST

I have, and I'm not ashamed. When I started I was 16, and found an audience for my work. It helped my actual writing so much that now, eight years after I started, I have won a writing scholarship in school and written wrote my first novel before I was 25. It can be obsessive or creepy, but also a lot of fun.

Shorty Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 11:09 PM EST

Guilty of reading and writing. The fandoms I haunt are Indiana Jones, The Outsiders, and Young Guns. My ff.net penname is Sk8er Chica, btw, if anyone wants to read some of my stuff.

Erin Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 11:04 PM EST

I've never written fan fiction, but I've done my fair share of reading. Fan fiction is just a way for the reader to get what they want out of a beloved series, be it books, tv, or movies. If I want, oh I don't know, Draco to end up with Hermione in Harry Potter, there are a million stories on fan fiction sites that will allow me to believe for a short amount of time that it did happen in some universe. And that makes me happy. Which is why I read fan fiction.

RabidJuniorFan Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 10:55 PM EST

You've not seen scary fanfic until you've seen NASCAR slash.

Meredith44 Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 10:54 PM EST

Oh, and as for why, there are a few reasons...
1. I like that the writers can explore the characters further than what we see on the screen. This is especially true for procedurals in which the plot is more important than the characters.
2. The stories can delve more into the relationships. As you mentioned, in stories we can see the Booth/Bones relationship play out. (Or the Mulder/Scully, Apollo/Starbuck, Luke/Lorelai, etc. relationships.)
3. I like the exploration of "what if?" that the fanfic writers can play with. What if an event happened differently on the show? How would that affect the other characters? This is especially true of Lost. There are so many possibilities with the mythology that I love to see how writers envision them evolving.
4. Just to be in the world more. I get to visit with the characters for just over 20 hours a year (usually), but I'm greedy and want more. I love these characters and enjoy spending time with them. Reading stories allows me to do that.

Michelle Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 10:53 PM EST

I read and write actually. I've written for Moonlight, Bones and Smallville. I read a bunch of different fandoms though. I enjoy it.

Meredith44 Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 10:47 PM EST

Dear God, do not judge fanfic based on what is available at "The Pit" (aka fanfic.net). There are a few decent writers/stories there, but you would be much more likely to find decent fanfiction elsewhere.
---
I'm partial to LiveJournal, if only because I belong to a number of show specific communities there and know of high quality stuff. (I have read a couple of Supernatural stories which are at least as good as the show, if not better than some of the episodes. Plus I've read good Bones Burn Notice, Grey's Anatomy, NCIS, Gilmore Girls, Law & Order SVU, Battlestar Galactica, and Lost stories. There are some really amazing writers and stories out there.)
---
If you are looking for great recommendations in a variety of fandoms, I would highly recommend the LJ community crack_van. I don't agree with all of the stories that were recommended there, but it is a wonderful place to start.
http://community.livejournal.com/crack_van/
http://www.livejournal.com/tools/memories.bml?user=crack_van

t3hdow Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 10:36 PM EST

I've visited this site a few times back in high school for anime based fan fiction, though it's never been my fancy when it comes to writing. I always think it's much more beneficial if I spin my own worlds and protagonists together, rather than use a pre-existing universe and set of characters. I can understand how beneficial it would be in terms of flexing your writing muscle in between dead end periods, considering how highly competitive the real literary world is (in fact, one recent short story for a contest got rejected).
After quickly taking a glance back at fanfiction.net, I might have to place it on my favorites list again.

Emily Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 10:30 PM EST

Oh heck, why not share? I write Deadpool (Marvel comics) sort-of fan fiction, but it's a bit different - i.e. half of it is the fan fic part (what's going on in the characters' lives, etc.), but the other half is other people writing in with questions that I answer as the character in the journal. It's way more fun than just usual fan fic, for me, because of the interactions.
(http://ask-deadpool.livejournal.com/)

Connie Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 10:11 PM EST

I've written for Harry Potter, Pirates of the Caribbean, Batman, and Psych.

I've read fanfiction from nearly everything I've ever watched (or read), including The Breakfast Club and Dracula. No lie.

I very rarely read anything on FF.net though, as it's difficult to ferret out good fics from all the crud that's on there. I prefer to find stories through recommendation lists.

Susan Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 09:55 PM EST

I write Lord of the Rings fanfiction (occasionally some crossover with Paolini's Inheritance cycle). My 'ships-
1)Frodo and Galadriel. It's somewhat based on canon. Of course,offspring are involved. You know it's the end of the Third Age when a High Elf shares her conjugal bed with a Hobbit.
2)Frodo and Arya (the elf princess in Paolini's Inheritance series) It turns out Faolin was Arya's beard,since she was secretly married to the halfling hero. Faolin,of course,was gay&Glenwing his boyfriend. Frodo&Arya have several angsty children. Their union explains why Arya gives Eragon the cold shoulder. (James McAvoy would be ideal as Frodo&Arya's angsty eldest son&firstborn) It also explains why Arya and her mother Islanzadi don't get along that well in "Eldest."
3)Merry and Eowyn. What if the White Maid of Rohan enjoyed her wedding night before the Battle of Pelennor Fields? There's exile,kids,opening a B&B in Bree.

Also explore the Frodo's Harem if you want to enjoy cheesy romance!

Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 09:44 PM EST

I kind of think it's hilarious how so many people treat fanfiction as this funky weird subculture.

Librasmile Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 09:43 PM EST

Yep. I'm in the middle of writing a Superman Returns fan fic called Love's Divine, posted on fanfiction.net. It's a great way to practice your writing methods while getting the courage to start the real project.

Elizabeth Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 09:25 PM EST

I've mainly written "Gilmore Girls" and "Office" fanfiction (and a lot of it), but I've read everything from Harry Potter to "Veronica Mars" to "Buffy" and "Firefly" and "Doctor Who" (new series).

Flora Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 09:21 PM EST

Okay, I admit it.
FanFiction.net is my chicken soup for the cancelled shows I love. After Gilmore Girls ended I think I read fan fiction every day for two months to cure my depression. I've checked out Studio 60, Bones, and House fan fiction too.
I've never written anything because I'd be pretty horrible at it, and I hate reading bad fan fiction where the characters don't feel like themselves at all. But when fan fiction is good, it's awesome, and I give my thanks to all the writers!

Crystal Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 09:17 PM EST

Mandi,
Welcome to the club. As several have mentioned, it's better to go to specialized groups that ff.net (usually). There is awful stuff out there but also breathtaking and well-written masterpieces as well, it's really amazing.

The West Wing
http://national-library.net/

Harry Potter (well Ron/Hermoine)
http://www.checkmated.com/

The Office (Jim/Pam)
http://mtt.just-once.net/fanfiction/toplists.php

annie Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 09:16 PM EST

I don't read it all that often, or really write fan fiction. I call it writing spec scripts...but since i'm in college it's not as if it goes anywhere.

Nicole Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 09:04 PM EST

I've written Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Newsies, Peter Pan, Blues Brothers, 10th Kingdom, Phantom of the Opera and I'm drawing a blank... even though I know for sure there's more.

jackjack Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 09:01 PM EST

not usually for shows - sometimes heroes, but that gets way to intense to read, to many things that could go on. sometimes gilmore girls. usually i read/write harry potter or tamora pierce. :) it's SOOO embarassing.

ames Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 08:41 PM EST

Mandi, I love that you've just discovered FF.net. Now you can get addicted to it like the rest of us.

I love the site cause it gives fans of shows canceled too soon a chance to finish up the story, and also to explore what-ifs. It's a great way to keep writing without being too serious about it.

Corinne Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 08:20 PM EST

To Stacey: If you ever finish your Max/Liz story I would love to read it! There is definitely a lack of good Roswell fanfic out there, and it is one of my favorite shows.

I've been reading fanfic for a couple years and only recently starting writing one. My fic is a Draco/Hermione story which is one of my favorite ships. My username is bookworm708 if you want to check it out, BTW. My absolute favorite is Buffy/Spike (check out bloodshedverse.com for some good stuff), but I can't write Spike properly yet, so I haven't tried.

Paula Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 08:19 PM EST

Guilty.I read Harry potter fanfiction. Sometimes a thought that a I read too much, but my excuse is that I was just waiting for the 7th book to be out. Now that I know what happend to the characters, I read less, but that really do not excuse me for reading Buffy and Angel fanfiction, specially when Faith is the main character.

Dudleys Mom Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 08:06 PM EST

There are some amazing writers who write in the Veronica Mars fandom. Check out http://community.livejournal.com/veronicamarsfic/, and http://community.livejournal.com/vm_fic/

These two communities have gotten me through a personally difficult time in my life.

[And yes, I write in that fandom as well now...but not under this name.]

'Firefly' fanfic is also amazing. See http://www.fireflyfans.net/bluesunroom.asp

Many of us are writers trying to improve our craft with characters we love. Some people consider so-called fanfiction an art form that has been around since "The Odyssey". Certainly published fanfiction, such as that for Star Trek, has been extremely popular. There is a satisfaction to reading about characters you have already grown to love, and of course some writers / readers use fanfic to address topics that TV cannot or will not address. And fanfic fans are incredibly generous with their feedback for aspiring writers.

Your mileage may vary, as they say.

Rhonda Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 07:50 PM EST

Stargate Atlantis, Stargate SG-1, and Harry Potter

Laura Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 07:47 PM EST

I read and write it. My two fandoms are The Outsiders and Four Brothers. I actually stumbled on ff.net a few years ago and then a plot bunny took hold and I couldn't shake it. For me, it's very relaxing and offers me a chance to practice my creative writing, something I hadn't done in years.

Meghan Tue, Oct 14, 2008 at 07:45 PM EST

I got super into American Idol this year, and discovered Idol fanfic. Some of it was NC-17 rated slash featuring Cook and Archuleta...ewww! But it was such a train wreck that I had to keep reading! I can understand people using established characters to work on improving their own writing, but elaborate sex fantasies about real people? Count me out.