Guilty Pleasures

As a professional book editor, I have a confession to make: I read a lot of fanfiction.

Yes, you read that right. Despite its often questionable quality and occasionally cringe-worthy prose, I can't help but find myself drawn to it.

Fanfiction, for those of you who don't know, is "fictional writing written in an amateur capacity by fans, unauthorized by, but based on an existing work of fiction" (Wikipedia). Fanfiction writers often explore alternative story outcomes, delve deeper into characters' backstories, or create entirely new stories within the established universe.

It's important to note, though, that not all fanfiction is created equal. In fact, most of it is absolutely awful—riddled with grammatical errors, inconsistent characterization, plot holes, and ridiculous plotlines. And yet, despite its flaws, I often find myself scrolling through fanfic archives late into the night, eagerly devouring stories inspired by my favorite books, TV shows, and movies.

Here's the thing though: amidst the sea of mediocrity, there are gems to be found. Fanfiction has a remarkable ability to draw in all kinds of writers—from teenagers who have no business writing smut to published authors just looking for a writing exercise.

So why do I call fanfiction my guilty pleasure? Well, because I feel weirdly guilty for enjoying it. Perhaps it's because as a professional in the world of literature, I feel I'm supposed to hold myself to a higher standard. Fanfiction is often dismissed as amateurish—a guilty pleasure to be enjoyed by teenagers and no one else.

But why should we dismiss it so easily? After all, I know of many people who thoroughly enjoyed Fifty Shades of Grey and The Mortal Instruments series, which started as fanfictions.

Writers should write whatever is inspiring, regardless of whether it's deemed "respectable" by traditional standards. Fanfiction offers a unique opportunity to explore characters and worlds you already know and love, while honing your craft and experimenting with different storytelling techniques. It can serve as a fantastic and valuable writing exercise for authors looking to flex their creative muscles. By writing within the constraints of an existing universe, writers can challenge themselves to think critically about character development and narrative structure.

The moral of the story is this: don't be ashamed to indulge in fanfiction. Embrace it for what it is—a celebration of fandom, creativity, and the boundless possibilities of storytelling.

For my readers: I promise there are good fanfics out there if you're willing to sort through all the bad ones. Reading is reading, and I'm proud of you :)

For my writers: remember the most important thing is that you keep writing. Whether it's fanfiction or your original idea, the world needs your voice, your stories, and your unique perspective.

Also, find rest in the knowledge that if people are still out here reading and enjoying undeniably terrible fanfiction on a regular basis, there's definitely hope for your book ;)