#is antithetical to the desire to have fanfic be a respected form of writing

[redandfranticfeelings]

i agree with this to some extent, in that people should be allowed to write whatever fiction they want, but also people are allowed to be uncomfortable with tropes and trends and voice that on their own blog. especially when some fandom trends and tropes are linked to problematic ideas that are worth criticizing as some authors might not even realize they're perpetuating a problem (such as the language they may use to describe a POC, or characterizing women in misogynistic ways that don't line up with their more nuanced canon selves). and even if they're not problematic, i still have the right to discuss on my own blog if i think there's an element of canon that fanfics neglect or misrepresent. if you disagree you also have the ability to just scroll past it.

if you don't want to engage in such discussions because you would rather treat fanfic as a way to indulge in whatever makes you happy, that's fine. but many people want to discuss and criticize fanfiction as they would any other form of fiction, and I think that's more productive than just being like "well people worked really hard on this for free so you're not allowed to complain unless you make your own."

(also a lot of us do make our own fics for what we want to see, but when one particular headcanon or author already dominates the fandom, it can be quite hard to get views on your own work if it doesn't fit that mold, especially when some people get so attached to a headcanon they legitimately mistake it for canon and will call out any deviation from it as if it's "wrong." and don't get me started on trying to get attention for any fic that isn't tagged with a popular ship lmao.)

"I'm sick of people portraying this character as-" "I'm tired of seeing-" "I'm tired of fics where-"

okay then WRITE YOUR OWN. if you don't like the way others write your favorite characters, if you don't like certain tropes or scenarios, if you don't like certain headcanons, you're not obligated to read any of it. you are free to write your own shit. nothing is stopping you. fanfic writers don't owe you anything, and neither do authors, showrunners, etc. we're not here to cater to your own special little headcanons. we're here to tell stories we'd like to see and share them with people who want to see them. that's all. so stop complaining, and go make your own.