Let's Talk Fanfic Again...

As promised, given the resurgence of Fanfic Outrage Angst O NOES FANFICCRS R EVIL DESTROYERS, with however a few bright lights of Fanfic isn't so bad, I'm once more writing my little essay on Fanfic. This will be, I think, my third major discussion of Fanfic, and as such will have something in common with those, but may have more new and exciting (or maybe boring, who knows) elements.

First of all, while most of you know all you want to about me already, a little summary for those who may end up coming here from somewhere else: I am a published SF/F author with Baen, with five books to my name. I am also a long-term fanfic writer who has written some rather highly regarded fics in their respective fandoms. I'm a (minor) Geek God who's been online since 1976, running RPGs since 1977, and into SF/F since about the time Star Trek first aired. So I come into this area with knowledge and experience on all sides.

( And now to the long-winded rambling... )