And, wow, you wrote one. =0 Now I really, really, really want to read it. Pretty please? With puppy eyes? And hugs, of course.

But is it helpful? The clear answer is yes and no.

As my above statement yields, writing fan fiction obviously does not automatically bar someone from becoming published. For some, I believe it presents a fun way of refining story-telling skills and honing in on one's personal writing style. In the case of longer fan fiction stories, it can even test one's willpower and help develop organizational skills.

But there are drawbacks. Writing fan fiction, with some few exceptions, does not teach one how to create his or her own universe; this is the penalty anyone has to pay for using another author's ideas. I think this is what George R.R. Martin had in mind when he advised against writing fan fiction if you plan on trying to get published in the future. It is too easy to fall into another author's universe and remain there.

Every writer goes about his writing differently. I think we could all also agree, then, that all authors go about developing their skills differently. For some, fan fiction can be a vital tool, while for others it may be a deadly trap.

P.S. Cowboy Bebop usually ended its episodes with "See you, Space Cowboy." It would make a perfect parallel if Pat also ended his segment with those words, but indeed a cigar could just be a cigar. I loved Cowboy Bebop, so I just had to throw that in.

Oh, and yes, I have both read and written a lot of fan fiction.

Yeah. I'm in a category not there either: Published RPG Author/Design Consultant.

http://dreamcafe.com/firefly.html