Timeline of Fanfiction Meta
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This page lists meta, news media commentary, and other written discussion about fanfiction, arranged in chronological order.
There is a great deal of discussion of fanfiction in Category:Perspectives on Fans, and its subcategories, Category:Academic Commentaries, Category:Industry, and Category:News Media. For fannish meta on fanfiction, see Category:Slash Meta, Category:Concrit & Feedback Meta, Category:Fanfiction Meta, Category:Mary Sue Meta.
Undated/General
- Metafandom's fanfic tag on Delicious. (2007-2011) (Delicious is offline and long-gone)
- Tips for writing a good fanfic (undated, around 1997 or 1998)
1983
1985
1996
- Fan Fiction -- Why?, Archived version (discussion at alt.startrek.creative) (1996)
1998
- The Advantages of Erotic Fan Fiction as an Art Form and The Advantages of Fan Fiction as an Art Form by Jane Mortimer (1998)
- Fanfic Advice by angel_roswell (1998)
- Survival Guide to Electronic Fanfic by Margaret A Martin (1998)
- What If? How Fan Fiction Creates An Interactive Media by J.P. McLaughlin (1998)
1999
- The Misery Trap by Emily Brunson (1999)
- Fan Fiction and Story Structure: Working within an established milieu to hone story-telling skills by Anne Haynes (likely 1999)
- Slash Fiction is Like a Banquet by Arduinna (March 1999)
- What Makes Fan.Fic Tick? by Laughlin B. Cunned (1999)
2000
- I read a story then I forgot it right away by Alison V. Taylor (2000)
- I'm Not Crazy--and I write Hansonfiction by Misty (2000)
- Why do people write fanfic?, Archived version by The Brat Queen (probably 2000)
- When Guys Write Fanfiction by Jean Marie Ward (2000)
- The Feminine Tendencies of Fandom by Fialka (2000)
- Fanfiction: A New Form Of Internet Literature by Erwin Anciano (2000)
- Amateur to Amateur: A Non-expert's Guide to Expert Writing (Adapted for Writing Fan Fiction) by Wayne Schmidt (June 24, 2000)
2001
- Religion in fan fiction -- essential or sacrilege? by Cairnsy (March 8)
- Lame TV season? Write your own episodes online (August 22 2001)
- In defense Of Hansonerotica: Sin Or Pleasure by Nanaja (2001)
- Why Write Fanfiction? by Naomi Prince (2001)
- Anatomy of a Fanfic by Helena Handbasket (2001)
- The I Hate Fanfic Rant O' Doom by Mie Tsukikoushi (2001)
- How to Write Bad Fanfic in 10 Easy Steps
- Researching Fiction by CLS
- Blurred Vision: Writers Tips and Essays: General fanfiction advice (2001?)
- Philosophy of Fan Fiction by Deva
2002
- Crimes of the Heart: Why Fan Fiction Sucks by Steve Darlington (January 2002)
- On Swinging Both Ways: Fannish and Pro by Kass (2002)
- Quality vs. Quantity or How I learned to stop editing and love the bomb by Helena Handbasket (2002)
- It's Only Fan Fiction by Mary Jean Holmes (2002)
- Mythology and Fandom by Jenavira (July 2002)
- Language: The Foundation on Which Fic Was Built (July 30 2002)
- Fanfic Writers. Gah. I Hate You All. (Aug 2002)
- Fan Fiction: Bane or Boone?
- >>fanfiction tips by Jessica A. Walker
- The Scenic Route by Merlin Missy (2002)
2003
- Older Authors vs. Younger Authors (March 2003)
- Fan Fiction and the Internet (March 2003)
- 28 things I hate in fanfiction by allaire mikháil (March 2003)
- Ficcer pride by kattahj (April 2003)
- Fan Fiction Comes Home to Roost (April 2003)
2004
- Fanfic: is it right to write?
- Why we write by The Brat Queen
- Natasha Walter: Fan fiction on the internet is revitalising classic stories and bringing back an oral tradition to society; The Guardian, Archived version (2004)
- Writing fanfiction is a HOBBY. I do it because it is FUN. by Shieldmaiden of Encinitas (mirabellawotr) (May 2004)
- Fanfic is Good for Two Things - Greasing Engines and Killing Brain Cells (May 2004)
- In Defense of Fanfiction by Melusina, Archived version (2004)
- Why I Write Fanfiction, Archived version by Melusina (2004)
- Fanfiction - Cultural Phenomenon, Archived version by Silent Bystander (2004)
- The Hidden Authors: A Study and Survey of Fan Fiction Writers by William Lewis Bolt (May 2004)
- Actually, I think debates about fanfiction are boring. And pointless. And such a waste of perfectly good time when people could be telling stories. by matociquala (July 2004)
2005
- Phrases I'm Getting Mighty Tired Of, Archived version by C.M. Decarnin (January 4, 2005)
- Fanfic is Hard to Write, Archived version by Catherine Rain (2005)
- Steal, schmeal by carenejeans (February 2005)
- Fandom Meta : Forumula vs Quality: A reader's view on fanfic writing, Archived version by Nikki (May 2005)
- Fanfic: Electrifying the Oral Tradition, essay by Red Hen on their website (May 2005)
- Of Fanfics and Roleplaying Games as two sides of the Geekdom coin (August 7 2005)
- To Save or Not To Save (Fanfic); archive link page 1; archive link page 2; archive link page 3 by bethbethbeth (August 2005)
- Ephemeria and fandom, Archived version by aelfgifu (2005)
- Who's fic is it anyway? by profshallowness (2005)
- The Society for the Rescue of Fictional Characters, Archived version by janni (2005)
- The Fan Fiction Rant by Robin Hobb, including all the response posts and comments (May 2005)
- In Defense of Fanfiction: Guestblogger Justin Goes Robin Hobbnobbing, Archived version, November 09, 2005
- You Don't Know Jack, is a post that is likely related to Fan-Fiction and Moral Conundrums, by Lee Goldberg, June 30, 2005
- Insert obligatory "Jack" joke here, Archived version by caras_galadhon (comments on "You Don't Know Jack") (July 2005)
- on fanfic by Salieri (July 2005)
- Warning: Opinions of the Story are Not Necessarily the Opinons of the Author. by astrogirl2
2006
- A History of Male Involvement in the Fan Fiction Community by Laura Hale (January 15, 2006)
- Getting What You Need Out of Writing Fanfic aka Why Do People Write?, discussion at Fanthropology (February 2006)
- Fan fiction. Good or evil? You decide! by Meg Cabot (March 2006)
- the fanfic factory, Archived version by idlerat (March 2006)
- you have got to be kidding me, Archived version by seperis (August 1, 2006)
- Happy birthday to *you*, Mr. President., Archived version by liviapenn (August 10, 2006)
- Slashers who write hetsex.; archive link page 1; archive link page 2; archive link page 3, discussion at Fanficrants (October 2006)
2007
- The difference between fanfic and profic (2007 post), kradical (April 6, 2007), one set of response posts: "It's an exhibition not a competition, please no wagering." Part One; archive link page one; archive link page two -- "It's an exhibition not a competition, please no wagering." Part Two, Archived version, telesilla (April 9, 2007)
- The Love of Reading, Archived version by yourlibrarian
- How Fanfiction Makes Us Poor by cupidsbow
- Warning: Opinions of the Story are Not Necessarily the Opinons of the Author., Archived version by AstroGirl (January 2007)
- Further thoughts on fan fiction...; archive link page 1; archive link page 2 ; archive link page 3 ; archive link page 4 by ursulav (January 2007)
- In Defense of Crud by Henry Jenkins (February 11, 2007)
- Fanfic and Authorship, Archived version by ellen fremedon (April 26, 2007)
- The Philosophy of Poverty, Archived version by executrix (April 27, 2007)
- Rantidy rant rant rant..., Archived version by agilebrit (April 27, 2007)
- Putting Yourself in Your Fic on Slashcast (May 19)
- This is not about “intellectual property” by Teresa Nielsen Hayden (May 2007)
- In Praise of Fanfic by Cory Doctorow (May 2007)
- "You Mean Everyone Brought Potato Salad?" by Merlin Missy (December 28th, 2007)
2008
- Invaluable Lessons, Archived version by eurydice72 (2008)
- Fanfiction: A Cautionary Tale by Sylvia Bond (2008)
- Why I'm Not Going to Read Your Fanfic by Shana Mlawski (September 22, 2008)
2009
- The Heretic Loremaster » On the Term “Fan Fiction” …, Archived version (January 2009)
- So you want to write fanfictions on the internets by CC (traveller) (December 11, 2009}
2010
- Friction over Fan Fiction: Is this burgeoning art form legal? -- Literary Review of Canada, Archived version by Grace Westcott (2010)
- Professional Writers vs. The People Who Love Their Work, Round Umpty-Snout by thefourthvine (2010)
- Inside the World of Fan Fiction by Linda Rodriguez McRobbie (February 9, 2010)
- Author Pokes Fanfic Hive! Film at 11!, Archived version (2010)
- The Heretic Loremaster » Fan Fiction Is Fiction, Archived version (May 2010)
- Fan-Fiction and Moral Conundrums by Diana Gabaldon, including the many comments and response posts (May 2010)
- Let's Talk Fanfic Again..., Archived version, posted by seawasp (May 13, 2010)
- I'm done explaining why fanfic is okay., page 1, Archived version, page 2, Archived version, page 3, Archived version, page 4, Archived version, page 5, Archived version, page 6, Archived version, page 7, Archived version, page 8, Archived version, page 9, Archived version, page 10, Archived version, page 11, Archived version, page 12, Archived version, page 13, Archived version, page 14, Archived version, posted by Aja Romano (May 3, 2010)
- Author Pokes Fanfic Hive! Film at 11! by John Scalzi (May 5, 2010)
- Someone Is Angry On the Internet by George R.R. Martin (May 2010)
- The Pitfalls of Romance as a Genre, by yourlibrarian (June 2010)
- Why I almost never read fanfic written by men, Archived version by Jane Elliot (July 2010)
2011
- Silence in the Library: Archives and the preservation of fannish history (2011)
- Fanfiction - an homage or plagurism?, Archived version, WebCite page 2, WebCite page 3, WebCite page 4, WebCite page 5, WebCite page 6 (February 2011)
- Some uses for fanfiction by Patricia C. Wrede (May 2011)
- In Defense of Fanfiction by “Contributor” at Spark Life (May 6, 2011)
- Berlynn Wohl's Awesome Slash Tutorial For Cool People, by Berlynn Wohl (December 2011)
2012
- How a Professionals slash writer disrupts readers' expectations by S. W. (2012)
- Fan fiction is more than smut, post at Club Jade (2012)
- A literary genre that may be a lawyer’s fantasy – Biederman Blog, Archived version (2012)
- How I Came to Appreciate Fan Fiction by Sunita (March 14, 2012)
- An Academic's Defense of Fanfic by Emily for Tosche Station (April 18, 2012)
- As a professor, may I ask you what you think about fanfiction? (August 9, 2012)
- In the beginning, there was fan fiction: from the four gospels to Fifty Shades by Ewan Morrison for "The Guardian" (August 13, 2012)
- Sex, Desire and Fan Fiction by Foz Meadows for HuffPost (August 15, 2012)
2013
- Reader Request Week 2005: Creative Commons and FanFic/reference link, posted April 11, 2005, accessed May 34, 2013
- Re: 'Eras' of fic; or: nonnie is a curious young whippersnapper, Archived version, posted February 2013, accessed June 5, 2013
- Like Real Writing!, posted by Charlotte Frost, March 15, 2013; WebCite
- Mako's Tank: Daily Ravings of a Slash Hysteric -- Rant Ahead/reference link, posted December 1, 2001, accessed June 5, 2013
- only a little lion - "As a professor, may I ask you what you think about fanfiction?", posted August 9, 2012, accessed July 23, 2013
- In Defense of Fan Fiction by Alex Willging (July 2, 2013)
- In Defense of Fanfiction: getting beyond a weird bias by Brent Newhall for I.M.H.O. for (November 11, 2013)
- In Defense of Fanfiction by Rebecca Coffindaffer (December 16, 2013)
- Fan Fiction; Fifty Shades of Green by unknown author (December 31, 2013)
2014
- 365/365 Day 112: Defending Fanfiction by Will Watson at gameinformer (April 22, 2014)
- In Defense of Fanfiction by Kat Giordano for Geek Insider (May 27, 2014)
- fanfiction writers are not exempt of the responsibility of creating diverse media representation (June 6, 2014)
- A guide to fanfiction for people who can't stop getting it wrong, by Gavia Baker-Whitelaw and Aja Romano, "The Daily Dot" (June 17, 2014)
- In Defense of So-Called “Bad” Fanfiction by Emmy Ellis for The Mary Sue (August 7, 2014)
- An Open Letter About Fic Writers to Fic Readers, Archived version by wordstrings (August 25, 2014)
- Nenia Campbell's Blog - Fifty Shades of Deja Vu: Repackaging Fanfiction - October 12, 2014 00:08, Archived version (October 12, 2014)
- None Of This Is New: An Oral History Of Fanfiction by Jordan West for the Mary Sue (November 2, 2014)
- Should You Stop Your Fans Writing Fan Fiction? by Robert Wood (November 5, 2014)
2015
- In Defense of Fanfiction by Jane Smith for the Morningside Review (2015)
- In Defense of Fanfiction by Mckelle George (January 15, 2015)
- How I Started Writing Fan Fiction by lazypadawan (January 2015)
- In Defense of Fanfiction by Matthew Bowman at Novel Ninja (March 10, 2015)
- "It's a Fanmade World". Archived from the original on 2015-03-18., comments that begin about the article It's a Fanmade World: From One Direction to Soderbergh, but diverge later into a big discussion about fanfiction (March 2015)
- In Defense of Fanfiction by Brianna H. for Electronic Literature (March 15, 2015)
- In Defense of Fanfiction, Archived version by Jenna Burne at Geek Mom (April 10, 2015)
- Fanspeak: The Brief Origins Of Fanfiction (July 23, 2015)
- Is Fan-Fiction Wrong?, WebCite by sockii (2015)
- Fanfiction and self-publishing » Ludi Price, Archived version (2015)
- 13 Things Fan Fiction Writers Are Very Tired Of Explaining, Archived version (Mar 23 2015)
- An Open Letter to Fanfic Readers by bettydays (July 17, 2015)
- Imitation is Flattery: In Defense of Fanfiction, Archived version by Vanessa Willoughy at Book Riot by (November 18, 2015)
2016
- lierdumoa, roachpatrol: mercurialmalcontent: mistytang:..., Archived version, a Tumblr discussion (January 2016)
- Sleeps With Monsters: In Defence of Fanfiction, or, How I Learned To Stop Worrying and Trust Myself by Liz Bourke for Tor (January 5, 2016)
- In Defense of Fanfiction by Kaitlyn Booth at WatchPlayRead (January 18, 2016)
- In Defense of Fanfiction: Part 1 + In Defense of Fanfiction: Part 2 by Carlyn Greenwald at Neon Tommy (February 2016)
- More musings on writing advice: Honestly, I think..., Archived version and a response: imaginedmelody: shinelikethunder: More musings..., Archived version (March 2016)
- Fanfiction, women and sexuality, Archived version by Sam Fleming for "The Learned Fangirl" (March 2016)
- Fanfic (2016 essay by Ru) (2016)
- Why we're terrified of fanfiction; archive link by Constance Grady for Vox (June 2, 2016)
- Fanfiction isn't about muting the original stories. It's about heightening them. by Constance Grady for Vox (June 6, 2016)
- Authorizing Authorship: Fan Writers and Resistance to Public Reading, Cait Coker, Candace Benefiel (2016)
- Killing Literary Snobbery: In Defense Of Fanfiction -- Why I chose to celebrate the "black sheep" of the literature family., Archived version by Andy Krouse (August 1, 2016)
- Star Trek is at its best when it’s fan fiction of itself: Or, why holodeck episodes are great, shut up, Archived version, Susan Polo (September 2016)
- In Defense of Fanfiction – A Convert’s Tale by Ryan (November 22, 2016)
- In Defense of Fanfic by Sophia Simon-Bashall for Spark Movement (November 28, 2016)
2017
- You don't own your fics: Against the idea of ownership in fandom, by probablyintraffic (2017)
2018
- In defense of fanfiction by LightningStreak (February 2018)
- How do I defend the fact that I write slash fanfiction?, Archived version (March 2018)
- ON BENEFITS OF FANFICTION; OR, VETERAN OF THE FLAME WARS by Mason Chennells (April 2018)
- When I say “Fanfiction is free”... by kedreeva (December 1, 2018)
2019
- Why are people ashamed of writing fanfic? (February 10, 2019)
- It Used to be Perilous to Write Fanfiction; archive link by Gita Jackson (May 16, 2019)
- Fanfiction: The Infinite Free Buffet by Alexandra Rowland, (August 2019)
2020
2021
- Did you write stories based on stuff when you were young, but you didn't know it was called Fanfiction? (March 2021)
- What's in a Word? by yourlibrarian (August 22, 2021)
2022
- The Plight of the Former Fanfiction Author, Archived version by Casey Fiesler (August 27, 2022)