Fanfiction has been creeping its way into the spotlight over the past couple of years, thanks to some popular franchises having originally started out as fanfiction (I'm looking at you, "Fifty Shades of Grey")
Fanfiction is a relatively controversial thing, or at least has been in the past. While public opinion seems to have generally swayed in favor of fanfiction, it was often met with disdain from authors and there are claims of "Interview with the Vampire" author, Anne Rice, sending cease and desist letters. E. L James, thankfully, was writing Twilight fanfiction at a different time, and Stephanie Meyer is one of the authors who has stood in support of fanfiction, along with J. K Rowling.
The other large criticism I've seen against fan fiction is generally directed at those who write it. They must either be adults living in their parent's basement or horny teenage girls. Simplifying it robs fanfiction of its benefits and joys to a whole generation of people.
While there has been disdain for fanfiction from authors, as mentioned before, fanfiction is an important part of internet fan communities. Often times fanfiction becomes a safe place for people of all ages (although it is much more popular in the Millennial and Generation Z ages) to discuss their favorite characters, to theorize what's going to happen next in their particular fandom, and to write.
For the LGBTQ+ community and racial minorities/non-white people, it can be an important place to find representation.
That is why, so often, fanfiction writers are "changing" popular characters to be queer.
And, "Fifty Shades" is not the only series that has stemmed from fanfiction. Cassandra Clare's "The Mortal Instruments" also began as fan fiction, "Harry Potter" to be exact. It is becoming more and more common that authors find their writing feet, so to speak, in the world of fanfiction.
I speak from personal experience when I tell you that fanfiction was an incredibly important part of my life. I originally tried to stray away from personal anecdotes in this. But when it comes down to it, that is an important part of the story. Fanfiction gave me a long lasting community that high school never was capable of giving me. I met people that I could have never met otherwise, but they are friendships that were stronger than some of the relationships I had at school.
Friendships that are, six years later, still beautiful and continuing to flourish. Fanfiction allowed me to continue to stretch my creative writing muscles, encouraging me to write a little bit of something every single day.
In the long run, Fanfiction is simply more than writing written by horny teenage girls. It is a community, an excellent writing exercise, and a beautiful way to make friends.