what is fan fiction

Fan fiction, also known as fanfic, is fictional writing created by fans in an amateur capacity, based on an existing work of fiction. The author uses copyrighted characters, settings, or other intellectual properties from the original creator(s) as a basis for their writing. Fan fiction can range from a couple of sentences to an entire novel, and fans can retain the creators characters and settings and/or add their own. Fan fiction is defined by being related to its subjects canonical fictional universe, either staying within those boundaries but not being of the canon itself, or else branching outside of it into an alternative universe. Fan fiction is often written and published within circles of fans, and therefore would usually not cater to readers who have no knowledge of the original fiction.