u/CartographerStill230

I don't understand how, or why, fan fiction writing is so wildly different from plain, non-fandom related, amateur writing. There's something about fan fiction that is inherently “trashy”; even if you change the names and publish it, it will always read like fan fiction. Even the most amateur, sophomoric literature will often feel higher quality than, let's say, an above average quality fanfic. I'd love to know why this is.

If anyone can link some paper or article on the most obvious markers of fan fiction writing, I'd appreciate that, too.