Fanfiction is the act of writing new fictional works utilizing the setting, characters, and/or plot elements of published fiction created by others, such as movies, television shows, and book series. Common reasons for reading and writing fanfiction include (but are by no means limited to): engaging with stories and characters you enjoy, beyond the scope of existing content; expanding or creating community representation not present in canon works; reading and writing stories about character pairings that you ship, which may or may not be canon; exploring narrative elements that went underdeveloped in original content; and “fixing” story elements (didn’t like an ending? write the one you wished you saw!). One of the most popular reasons for writing fanfiction is that it can be a fun way to practice the art of writing. Have trouble with dialogue? Write a conversation between your favorite TV show characters! Need practice using imagery? Set your story in your favorite location from a book you like, and practice describing it in detail! Think two characters would be perfect together, but the movie went another direction? Find a blank page and write what could have been. If writing is architecture, fanfiction is building a castle with the scaffolding and framework already provided for you. Like what you hear? Give fanfiction a try, and check out the presentation slides that accompanied our club’s meeting on the topic!