Fanfiction as a Legitimate Form of Literature

       Other than the mechanics, though, fanfiction is talking about something very fundamental: the desire to interact with stories, not just to consume them. We have a culture now where media is everywhere, and fanfiction gives readers a medium to respond to that media creatively. Have you been disappointed with your favorite show in the series finale? Write a one-shot with your own cannon. Was your favourite character pushed at the background? Provide them with the arc that they deserved. Fanfiction gives us the tools to say, "This mattered to me, but it could have gone deeper, or differently, or better." It is not merely the reaction, it is interpretation, criticism, and creation in one. It is literary rhetoric at work.

       And let's not forget: a lot of professional writers started out writing fanfiction. Others have even published bestselling books. And plenty of people still write fanfics under alternate names on the internet. Writing fanfiction teaches structure, pacing, dialogue, and character work—just like any creative writing program would. The difference is that fanfiction comes with instant feedback and a built-in readership. Not just as a hobby, but as a writer practicing their trade on the fly.

       And still, there are some who say fanfiction isn't "real literature" because it is not published through official channels, or with the stamp of an institution. But if literature is supposed to be storytelling, emotional truth, and human connection, then fanfiction fits the bill on every level. It tells stories that people care about, in the languages and formats that are real and accessible. It creates community. It gives rise to innovativeness. It enables people to feel visible. Not only is that valid, it is crucial.

       So maybe it's time we stop asking whether fanfiction is literature and start asking why we ever thought it wasn't. Because if we measure writing not just by who publishes it, but by what it means to the people who read and write it, then fanfiction stands tall. It might not be printed in hardcovers nor sold in the airport bookstore, but it is a thing that is evolving and it is here to stay. And perhaps that is what literature actually is.

An alignment chart of various fanfiction sites (Source: Reddit)

References

Fesenmeier, D. J. (2015). Legitimacy of fan fiction. Line by Line: A Journal of Beginning Student Writing, 1(2), Article 6. http://ecommons.udayton.edu/lxl/vol1/iss2/6

Arsenault, R. (2021, December 3). Is fanfiction a valid form of writing? Medium. https://medium.com/theuglymonster/is-fanfiction-a-valid-form-of-writing-a9204cfb52b4

Moyer, B. (2016, October 24). In defense of fanfiction. The Odyssey Online. https://www.theodysseyonline.com/fanfiction-defense