As the popularity of television continues to grow, fan-fiction has stemmed from its roots and has become a hobby for many. Cult television fandoms, such as Supernatural and Star Trek Enterprise, provide likeminded people with a sense of belonging. From these communities, many devotees indulge in taking creative liberties with what is canonical and produce a vast range of fictional literary works, including those of both canon divergence and alternate realities, as if simply watching is not enough. Through the academic lenses of Tracey Kell, author of “Using Fan Fiction to Teach Critical Reading and Writing Skills”, and Lynn Zubernis and Katherine Larsen’s Fandom at the Crossroads: Celebration, Shame, and Fan/Producer Relationships, this paper focuses on the reason behind the cultural sensation of fan-fiction and the benefits it offers to its creators. Fan-fiction is a constructive tool for writers, for it allows them to explore the infinite possibilities of their beloved characters while remaining rooted in the familiar territories of said characters’ psyches. This paper strives to discover why so many fans feel the need to create and the authorial benefits of doing so.
About the presenterSarah Lynch
Hello! My name is Sarah, and I am an undergrad, class of 2017, of Wesley College in Dover, Delaware. I am majoring in English with a concentration in literary studies and minoring in political science. At Wesley, I am also a member of the marching and symphonic bands. Outside of school, my hobbies include fan-fiction reading, writing, and participating in philanthropic organizations and events such as Random Acts and GISHWHES.