When someone tells you that reading fanfiction “doesn’t count” as real reading, I can’t help but laugh. Fanfiction is absolutely reading. It’s reading in the same way as eBooks, graphic novels, serialized web fiction, and even the character-centered spinoff novels that official creators put out themselves. Reading is reading – whether it’s a glossy hardcover, an eBook on your Kindle, or a 200,000-word slow-burn AU on AO3.

Fanfiction = Real Reading. Always.

Fanfiction takes dedication. It can be long-from epic sagas, short character studies, or experimental one-shots. It exercises your imagination exactly like any other prose. People sometimes dismiss it because it’s free, informal, or amateur, but that’s gatekeeping at its silliest. Engaging with language and story is the point. It’s not less valid because it’s free, or because it’s not on a bookstore shelf. You know what else is “just a file on your device”? Every eBook you’ve ever read. But no one says that doesn’t count.

Official “Fanfiction” – When Creators Do It

The best thing is when original IP holders do their own fanfiction. Take Critical Role, for example. The show’s creators have released novels centered on single characters – Like Vox Machina – Kith & Kin, which is a deep-dive backstory for Vex and Vax (two characters from the first DnD campaign Critical Role aired). 

That book is effectively cannon fanfiction: an exploration of existing characters and worldbuilding in a different format. It’s written with care for the established lore, but it’s also playing with gaps, backstory, and characterization – exactly what fanfic does.

Tie-in novels for Star Wars, Star Trek, and Doctor Who have been doing this for decades. They’re licensed, sure – but the impulse is the same: “What if we explored this character further? What if we filled in these missing years? What if we imagined this adventure?”

Fanfiction as Comfort Reading

Another thing I love about fanfiction? It’s pure comfort. Sometimes you just want to live in a world you love for a little longer. Maybe you’re not ready to say goodbye when the series ends, or you need something familiar to enjoy after a long day. Fanfic gives you that. It’s like visiting old friends. You know the characters, you know the setting, you can just sink into it without needing to learn a whole new world from scratch. It’s such a gift for people who want that cozy, immersive escape whenever they need it.

Why Fanfic is So Great

Honestly? Fanfiction is one of the best things to happen to reading culture.

  • It expands universes beyond what’s on the screen or page.
  • It lets people practice writing in a low-stakes environment.
  • It builds these amazing, supportive communities.
  • It gives you exactly what you want—more time with the characters and worlds you love.
  • It can be unbelievably well-written.
  • The only downside is you can’t add it to your Goodreads account.

Even better, it’s accessible. Not everyone can drop $30 on every new hardback. Not everyone lives near a library or, in my case, works in one. Fanfiction archives are free, searchable, and welcoming to niche interests.

And when the original creators themselves are writing books that fill in side stories, it’s proof that this urge is universal. We all want to see the characters we love in new lights. We all want to answer that burning question, “what if.”

Don’t Let Anyone Gatekeep Your Reading

If you’re reading, you’re reading. Don’t let anyone tell you that fanfiction is “less than” because it’s unedited or online or free. Plenty of traditionally published books started as fanfic (Fifty Shades of Grey from Twilight, The Mortal Instruments from Harry Potter fandom). It’s not a lesser form of writing – it’s just a different distribution channel.

So, keep reading. Keep imagining. Whether it’s a $2.99 eBook, a fanfic epic on AO3, or the official tie-in novel for your favorite show – enjoy it.

Life's too short to worry about what “counts.”