Lately I've been perusing the Romance section of fictionpress.com. Mandy always calls it, "Reading my fanfiction." and I have to politely explain once again that no, just because people upload their stories to websites on the internet doesn't mean they can't be good authors and good original stories.
Most people I've found, however, do focus on the fact that authors write stories about their favourite celebrities or fictional characters of other fandoms and completely overlook that there are some very well written novels out there. (Not including the actual fanfiction area...there are some amazing ones in there, too!) Some people think that because these authors are uploading their literary achievements online that they just aren't good enough. Well, think again. I have seen on countless occasions these authors become published.
Sometimes, it isn't even necessary to become published to have your work read over the world, either. For instance, not many of you will have heard of Cassandra Claire, but she was a huge influence on the Harry Potter fandom a few years back. Of course, I'm drawing this example from fanfiction but the fact still stands. Cassandra Claire's writings became so famous that the people she wrote them about (Notably, Sean Astin.) had read them. If you pick up a contemporary book in say, the Teen section of your local bookstore you will find references to her works to this very day.
Hopefully I made you all learn something today, otherwise...you are missing some wonderful books and authors.
