Reasons why Fanfic/Netfic > "Real" Fiction

I love writing, and for my entire writing "career" as of today, I've been self-publishing on the internet. I started out by writing fan fiction ("Fanfic"), but while I no longer write Fanfic, I still post things online- it could be said that I write "Netfic" (Internet Fiction). I love writing and reading Netfic and I love reading some Fanfic, and there are some respects in which Fanfic/Netfic is better for both writers and readers:

1. It's free. This is good for writers because other than the cost of a computer, internet access, and a word processor (which, if you're reading this, I assume you have at least the first two), that means it costs you nothing as a writer to get your stories out to people. While I suppose you could spring for paid advertisements, there's also a huge audience if you just advertise yourself, for example via links in your blogs. As a reader, this is awesome because you don't have to pay to read anything! If you see a story that seems interesting, you can start reading it, and if you don't like it, it's okay. Or if you read one awesome story by a certain author and are DYING to read the sequel, then you can read it without having to shell out $14.95 for the hardcover book.

2. It's right there and can be read anywhere. As a reader, it's convenient not to have to physically go anywhere to find something new and interesting to read. It's also nice to be able to bookmark the link of the most recent chapter you read- you can then pick up exactly where you left off at another computer or on another day. As a writer, it's in your favor, too, because it makes it easier for people to read your stories.

3. You get to connect with your readers. All Fanfic/Netfic sites I've seen offer the opportunity for readers to review authors' stories. I've had readers email and IM me, and have become friends with some of them- one of them I've been friends with for four and a half years now, and it all started because she IM-ed me saying she liked one of my stories.

4. There's a huge sense of community among writers and readers. Fanfic/Netfic writers are very supportive of each other. I know that I like writing things my readers want to read; often if I'm at a loss for a name for a new character, I'll ask my readers for their suggestions- I know that as a reader, I get a kick out of having a character named after me, and as a writer, it's fun to do it too. Often, if a writer really likes something he or she reads by someone else, then they'll "plug" that person- tell others to read their stories.

5. Short updates in readable chunks make it easy to read. Most chapters are pretty short- I tend to keep my chapters under 2000 words, and the majority of chapters I've seen are shorter than 3500 words- making it easy to fit reading Fanfic/Netfic into your life, with obvious stopping points. Sure, you can pick up a book and read 10 or 15 pages, but that might not end you at a satisfying place to stop. Personally I try to keep my chapters in the range of 1200-1800 words; a lot of stories I've seen have most of the chapters around the same length- this way readers have a vague idea of how long each chapter will take to read. Plus, not having the whole story at once is kind of exciting- just like watching a TV show, you get a little bit at a time, which (at least in my opinion!) lets you savor it more.

6. Well-organized websites mean you can find exactly the type of story you want to read. I know that bookstores are organized by genre, but I'd have to say that most Fanfic/Netfic websites make it easier than most bookstores to find what you want. On many websites, you can select the fandom (if you're looking for Fanfic) that you want to read from, and what characters you want to see in the story; and then you can choose if you want a short story/one-shot, novella, or novel length; a genre, such as angst, drama, comedy, romance, or horror; a rating (which might be Everyone/Teen/Mature, or G/PG/PG-13/R/NC-17); and any "warnings" (i.e. contains foul language, death, drug use, etc.) that you do or don't want to see in the story. There's also usually a search function, enabling you to type in keywords you're looking for in the story, title, or summary. This makes it so easy to find something really catered to what you're looking for. If I'm in the mood for a fluffy, light-hearted romance with a guarantee of no death or cursing, then I can find that.