sjdsjkdlskdas-deactivated202012:

okay long reply.

when i said “real books,” i was referring to original fiction (without considering that the post would reach tens of thousands of people with tens of thousands of inflammatory interpretations of two sentences.)

never in that post did i say fanfiction was inherently a lesser medium. as someone who has written both fanfiction and original fiction, i understand the effort both take, but do lend more artistic merit to the latter. writing original characters takes skill, and being able to effectively do so along with world building and exposition should be praised. this doesn’t just refer to the classics. this doesn’t just refer to books by “old white men,” as some people have said. this is my opinion as a writer and someone who consumes fiction like it’s a sport.

in general, that post was a shout into the void, but it is also advice for writers from a fellow writer.

i think it’s generally good practice for writers to consume (and analyze) original fiction regularly. i do actually think writing (and even reading) things that would be considered “fanfiction” is also good practice- being able to consider alternate scenarios based on character choice, alternate relationship dynamics, and alternate worlds is an extremely important skill when it comes to editing and making big decisions for a piece. it’s also fun as all hell.

…..but why is it important to consume new, original stories? encountering new characters and stories regularly helps avoid creative stagnation. new ideas give YOU new ideas. there’s value in that. the same predictable tropes with the endings spelled out in the tags is comforting, fun, and often titillating…but not a sustainable diet of narrative. it’s helpful to try and figure out why some books get published and why some don’t if you’d like to write professionally as well. leaving your narrative comfort zone is good for you not only as a writer, but as a responsible consumer of fiction.

also new stories are FUN. and EXCITING. and FULFILLING. and FREE! (with a library card.)

i hope this made sense.