Why do I love fanfiction?

There are many arguments established authors make against fanfiction, and I'll be the first to say I haven't done a lot of research on the subject. One argument these established authors make is that there is no point in writing fanfiction when you could be creating a work of your own. Another is that writing fiction which has little character or scene development degrades or debases the original work, reducing it to pure angst, lust, violence, or whatever the main theme is you are going for in that fanfiction.

I disagree with both of these statements. I've enjoyed reading fanfiction since around 2009-2010 and found a huge range of works, from pure one-shot smut to 101 long chapters of love, angst, and character development in new worlds and places. The reason people are not just creating works of their own, and instead writing fanfiction, is because they love the original work. (Please ignore Fifty Shades of Grey for this particular argument, as it is not truly representative of fanfiction nor of established work, but more a mix between the two.) They love the characters, the storyline, or the world which they were enthralled in when first reading or watching the original work. For me, it is not just that I love the original work, and I don't want to leave it, that I want to glorify in it, but that I need to. Whenever I watch an amazing movie or read an amazing book I feel utterly spaced out and upset when it is finished. I hungrily, wantonly, longingly and hurting reach for more. This could be more of the same series, more books by the same author/co-authors, recommendations on goodreads, or fanfiction. And I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who gets so caught up like this.

In terms of writing fanfiction without character or scene development, like pure smut for example, there are many reasons for this. One, we (the fanfiction writers) could absolutely love the characters/scenes of the original story, and want to base our fanfiction on these characters/scenes without development or change of the original "foundations". Or two, we again want to glorify in the original work as our feelings of loss flow through us - this can be with canon or non/canon characters.

In terms of writing and reading non-canon fanfiction, this (for me) could be for two main reasons. One, is that you might want a story to go a particular way, with a particular plot twist, which you can't achieve without changing the character/scene in a particular way. Secondly, it could be that you want to explore something, maybe a fantasy or a feeling which is easier to explore using fanfiction than in real life. The love and feeling of safeness which the original work brings is there to keep you sane as you try something new, different and scary in your fanfiction work. I'd be interested to know whether others agree or disagree with this.

All in all, fanfiction is not something bad or good, wrong or right, but can be used to achieve ends which everyone has different opinions about. I would love to know your opinion, so feel free to contact me without judgement.

Lots of love,

runnerhp589