Clive T column in Wired 20-05, talks about the creative benefit of writing fanfic.
Interesting points on the value of working within constraints, having to mold your story to the rules and themes of the "canon" you are working with. But it is unclear why this would be better or preferable to "pure" creation, be it written or other forms of art.
When you play in someone else's sandbox, you just go with the rules - sure, you can hear things in a vacum - rather than exploring the boundaries and rules you find suitable.
So, fanfic as a testing grounds, a "gateway drug" into creating - and most importantly into taking feedback on the work you make?
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...and the sun was here, then it hid away again, playing with us for the weekend once again...
