Podcast Summary: Post Reports – “How fan fiction went mainstream”

Date: September 18, 2025
Host: Colby Ikowitz
Guest: Rachel Curzias (Lifestyle reporter, The Washington Post)

Overview

This episode explores how fan fiction—a once-niche medium where fans write new stories with existing characters or celebrities—has exploded into mainstream culture, influenced the professional publishing industry, and developed a reputation for fostering both creativity and community. Colby Ikowitz and Rachel Curzias unpack fan fiction’s evolution, why its “gift economy” matters, and how it’s reshaping what we consider “serious writing.”

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Surprising Depth and Breadth of Fan Fiction

• Absurd, Moving Premises:
  • Rachel recounts an interviewee’s favorite fanfic: One Direction members as fruit in a fruit bowl—an “absurd and outrageous idea” that unexpectedly became “incredibly moving” (00:02).
  • Fan fiction covers everything: from Harry Potter and Parks and Rec to Sesame Street and even the interviewer’s Dirty Dancing fantasy.
• No Gatekeepers:
  • “There are no gatekeepers in fanfiction. … Literally anything you can find fanfic about Sesame Street.” – Rachel Curzias (01:20)
  • Quality varies, but incredible writing stands out, aided by low initial expectations (01:20).

Definitions and History

• What is Fan Fiction?

  • “Fanfiction is basically any story that is based on pre existing characters or shows or books or worlds … or it could be real world fan fiction based on athletes, celebrities, politicians, really anything you could think of.” – Rachel Curzias (02:40)

• Origins:

  • 1960s/70s: Shared in zines within single fandoms—Star Trek as a classic example.
  • Modern era: Large platforms like AO3 (Archive of Our Own), Wattpad, and Tumblr centralize and preserve communities and stories (03:46).

• Scale:

  • AO3 sees tens of millions of unique monthly visitors (04:45).
  • Fan fiction parallels ancient storytelling traditions—like troubadour tales featuring familiar archetypes (05:22).

Is Everything Fan Fiction?

• “If the definition…is something that’s kind of based on or inspired by something else, then almost everything we consume is kind of fan fiction, right?” – Colby Ikowitz (06:06)
• Rachel acknowledges:
  • Shakespeare as fanfic (Romeo and Juliet ≈ Pyramus and Thisbe).
  • Pulitzer-winning novels like James (Percival Everett) are retellings of classics.
  • The “gift economy” is a distinguishing feature: most fanfic is written for fun, not for sale, and operates outside the traditional marketplace (06:21, 07:46).

The Creativity and Community of Fanfic

• Gift Economy = More Creativity:
  • “People have the ability to be way more creative… you’re doing it to connect with other people and with the stories.” (08:02)
• Beta Readers and Peer Feedback:
  • Community acts as a writing seminar. Beta readers give feedback before wider sharing (09:13).
  • Particularly popular among teenagers—a counterpoint to stereotypes about young people and writing.
• Author Success Stories:
  • Christina Lauren (pen name for Lauren Billings and Christina Hobbs) met through Twilight fanfiction and are now bestselling authors (09:54).
  • “It’s the same feeling you get when you’re in a concert where you’re just surrounded by people… that, like, share joy.” – Rachel, quoting Christina Lauren (10:24)

Fanfiction’s Influence on Mainstream Publishing

• Used to be a “black mark” for an author; now, agents actively seek popular fic writers for traditional deals (11:43).
• The marketing of genre books borrows fanfic’s trope-focused approach (“only one bed,” “she fell first, he fell harder,” etc.) and uses searchable tags—a practice popularized by AO3 (11:57).
• Writing style: First-person, present-tense narration, now common in published novels, has roots in fanfic communities.
• Major mainstream impact: rise in queer pairings and queer romance stories, which traditional publishing is adopting (12:53).

Romance, Erotica, and Content Ratings

• While romance is common, not all fanfiction is explicit. AO3 and other platforms offer rating systems (“explicit,” “mature,” “teens and up,” etc.) (13:30).
• “A lot of fan fiction has a reputation of only being smut… But I think that doesn’t entirely encompass what fan fiction is.” – Rachel Curzias (13:30)

Mainstream Acceptance and Change

• Why Now?

  • Publishers see the potential of built-in audiences and viral stories (14:25).
  • Younger editors and agents who grew up with fanfiction now hold industry power.
  • Viral success stories (like TikTok authors) are opening doors for other unconventional origins (14:25).

• “Fifty Shades of Grey” as Example:

  • Originally Twilight fanfiction.
  • “I have not read Twilight. I have not read Fifty Shades of Grey. But my understanding is that it was always what’s called, like, an AU, an alternate universe.” – Rachel Curzias (15:37)
  • Alternate universes are a common fanfic device—changing context and relationships.

Why Write Fanfiction? For Some, Not a Career Stepping Stone

• Motivation varies:
  • Some see fanfic as a path to publishing contracts.
  • Others write for pure enjoyment or community (16:26).
  • “For some people, fanfiction is a stepping stone to traditional publishing. For others, it’s an end in itself…” – Rachel Curzias (16:26)

Toxicity, Purity, and the Future of Fanfic

• Fanfiction communities are generally supportive:
  • “There is this understanding that this is somebody who gave you a gift. … If you don’t enjoy it, basically keep your mouth shut and move on.” – Rachel Curzias (17:05)
• Fandoms can be toxic, but fanfic spaces tend to be less so.
• Popular genres and pairings in fanfic constantly shift, leading to ongoing surprises for readers (17:46).

AI and the “Purity” of Fanfic

• Rising concern over AI-written fanfic:
  • “In a lot of ways that flies in the face of everything fanfic is, which is you’re doing the effort because the doing is pleasurable.” – Rachel Curzias (18:29)
• Some writers put stories into private mode to avoid AI scraping.
• The “pure” motivation—writing for love of the craft and community—is celebrated:
  • “It was really delightful for me to get into fanfiction and remember, like, a lot of people write just cause it’s fun as hell. … Just doing it for the love of the game is so beautiful to me.” – Rachel Curzias (19:36)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “There are no gatekeepers in fanfiction.” - Rachel Curzias [01:20]
• “If you ascribe to this kind of big tent philosophy, then you’re right. Basically, everything is fanfic, right? Like, most of Shakespeare’s stuff, for sure.” - Rachel Curzias [06:21]
• “So much of fanfic is based on copywritten work. You can’t sell it… you’re doing it… to connect with other people and with the stories.” - Rachel Curzias [07:46]
• “It’s the same feeling you get when you’re in a concert where you’re just surrounded by people who… share joy.” - Rachel Curzias, quoting Christina Lauren [10:24]
• “Archive of Our Own didn’t invent the one bed trope, but it certainly popularized being able to search for it.” - Rachel Curzias [11:57]
• “A lot of fan fiction has a reputation of only being smut. … But that doesn’t entirely encompass what fan fiction is.” - Rachel Curzias [13:30]
• “In a lot of ways [AI] flies in the face of everything fanfic is, which is you’re doing the effort because the doing is pleasurable.” - Rachel Curzias [18:29]
• “Just doing it for the love of the game is so beautiful to me.” - Rachel Curzias [19:36]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Absurd fanfic ideas & emotional depth: 00:02 – 01:20
• What is fanfic & its history: 02:40 – 04:40
• Scale and ancient roots: 04:45 – 05:22
• The big-tent view vs. ‘gift economy’: 06:06 – 08:02
• Community & developmental aspects: 09:13 – 10:31
• Fanfic influencing traditional publishing: 11:43 – 12:53
• Tropes, romance, explicit content: 13:15 – 13:30
• Publishing’s shift to accept fanfic writers: 14:25 – 15:09
• “Fifty Shades” as an AU example: 15:14 – 15:37
• Diverse motivations among writers: 16:10 – 16:58
• Fanfic community dynamics (toxicity, generosity): 17:05 – 17:46
• AI’s role and writer reactions: 18:13 – 19:36

Tone and Final Thoughts

The conversation is enthusiastic, curious, and laced with humor—approaching fanfiction with both delight in its surprises and critical appreciation for its complexity and cultural impact. Rachel celebrates the hobby as a creative catalyst and a “beautiful” act of generosity, wrapping the episode on the hopeful note that, at its best, fanfiction is about community, creativity, and joy.

For more in-depth coverage and interviews, listen to the full episode on Post Reports.