This is a topic I'm glad has arisen, as I have strong views regarding it, and the kittens that partake of it.

I have encountered Fan Fiction several times on another site and I've heard arguments both for and against it.

I stand firmly on the side of live and let live as I see no harm in it. As far as I am concerned, an interesting write is a good read whatever the topic, and if people wish to assume roles and write about imaginary worlds with whatever theme they see fit to adopt then that's fine with me.

I see little difference between people playing with toy soldiers and Fan Fiction, with the exception that the latter involves producing written work which is just as engaging to the participants as the former.

I've gone on record before in giving my support of Fan Fiction and I'll do the same here, I say leave those kittens free to play as they wish, they're not causing offence and more power to 'em.

There are far more serious matters open for debate in this chaotic world than this, and a good write is a good read for someone out there.

Now I have to go, Princess Zelda is playing up again so I must quest for the Sacred Tome Of Peace so we can all get some shut eye!

Vassal stands atop a cliff, looking out at the wasteland. A world shaped by tools and machinery -- sand pushed around in a box. He laments that this is his planet; the red earth has formed him more than ancestors or genealogies. Vassal is an anomaly, he feels as much human as the jackhammer he leans against. He is an animal echo against a cold steel infinity.

Thin tears dredge through the dust coating his skin.

---

To answer your question... fanfic is the best! I wish there was more on Prose... I also prefer the stories that deal with auxiliary characters, as the main ones often get played out IMO.

i.e. a Star Wars fanfic that deals with a Twi'Lek dancer rather than another drawn out Han Solo story.

Personally, I do not write Fanfiction; but at the same time I have nothing against it in itself. I'm a firm believer in write what you want and don't let anyone tell you what you can or cannot write.

Now, about Fanfiction, I don't write it and furthermore, I don't read it. Have I ever considered writing a Fanfiction story? Yes, I once thought of writing a Fanfiction of Stephen King's The Shining and Doctor Sleep, like a story that is set in between those two novels. What stopped me? I always felt that I was, in one way or another, ripping Stephen King. For instance, if I became majorly popular because of that story, I'd feel that I stripped some fans from King. I have a great respect for other writers and personally I don't think it's right to take their ideas and make them your own in one way or another. I know how hard it is to write a popular story and such, and I would rather let them receive all the fandom they can than potentially take some from them, whether it's intentional or not. But at the same time, if I wrote a novel or series that became popular enough for people to write Fanfiction stories about it, I can imagine how that would be a sense of pride for a writer.

Also, like I said earlier, I have nothing against Fanfiction, but I've seen people use it as a crutch. I've seen people write GREAT stories but still use this Fanfiction platform; the story is good enough to stand alone without the Fanfiction tie to a certain popular band or book(s). So I think that in some ways, Fanfiction can be a trap to writers. And also, on Wattpad, Fanfiction is essentially taking over the site. You can't get away from it there, even though there are rules to keep the Fanfiction stories in their own section, they're still everywhere. To the point that other writer's original stories are buried beneath the mass of Fanfiction.

So I guess, my opinion is moderation for Fanfiction.

- Michael Hall