The Pros and Cons of Fan Fiction

Admit it. At one time or another you have probably found the time to read some fan made article regarding your favorite anime, game, or television show.

Whether it’s Doctor Who, Sailor Moon, or Kingdom Hearts, there is most likely some fan made fiction based on it somewhere in the great abyss of the internet.

I must confess that fan fiction has been my guilty pleasure for many a year. Between reading and writing it, I have had my fair share of both good and extremely horrifying experiences.

I believe fanfiction to be one of the greatest tributes a fan can offer. That being said, the final product has no guarantee of being a promising piece of art.

The idea that we as watchers/readers/gamers can immerse ourselves so much in the art that we love is a wonderful one. Being able to expand on the stories we are offered can be a great way to truly lose ourselves in these fictions. For example, after the completion of the Mass Effect series, one of the many ways fans coped was by writing new endings which better suited their Commander Shepard. By sharing those, other fans were able to find a certain amount of solace.

Yet fanfiction can also open up a nasty can of worms. Many fans are not what you might call great writers. From poor grammer and syntax to conclusions that don’t remotely fall in line with the original work to the weirdest crossovers known to man, there is plenty people have found to complain about. And the fanbase is not always a kind community.

My final opinion is this: fanfiction is one of several outlets we can use to express fondness for our favorite stories. If you want to criticize, be constructive. If you can’t find written work that fills the need you’re hoping to satisfy, try writing it yourself! Most importantly, if you don’t like it, just don’t read it.