On the topic of fanfics and amateur works in in relation to the NU community.

I believe that I speak on behalf of everyone on NU when I say that we have all, at one point, had the urge to write our own story. A small part of us follow that urge and, a smaller part still, are those that manage to create a memorable experience for others, good or otherwise.

When someone reads something, whatever that something may be, good or not, it will inevitably stay with them under some form. Even if that someone is unaware of it. The things we consume becomes a part of us. And it shows, from the may we handlе ourselves, to our likes and dislikes, our ideals and aspirations, to the way we speak, act and write. Let me show you two examples.

Let's say I've read one book of every genre there is, and after that I start writing a story. While not a certainty, chances are it won't be very good. Yeah, it'll have an incredible diversity in subject matter, but I wouldn't know the first thing about implementing it properly. I will have bitten more than i can chew. As is my choice in literature, my writing, or rather, the direction it's heading, will be half assed.
All those colourful themes gone to waste, in a brown puddle on the floor. A Jack, rather than a Master.
Like liking SAO, because you don't have the experience needed to see its innumerable flaws.

Now let us say that I'm a veteran Nufian and a reader, and that by quantity, I've read as much as my above mentioned version. The difference being that the novels on NU are very stagnant, with the majority of novels being about some type of fantasy world, with the premise and magic system the only thing that change even remotely. Now, my story will be with only a limited amount of themes, but at this point I'll have read enough to be able to notice the ways those themes are being used, what works, what doesn't and why. That knowledge should, in theory, allow me to take the best of the tropes used on NU and subvert them, hopefully for the better. Granted, I'd need to see other story genres in order to subvert anything properly, but still.
Because blue, even after being mixed with a dozen other shades of blue will still be blue. A Master, If not a very good one.
Like hating, er, not liking SAO, not because it's the cool thing to do, but because you can see the underlying tropes and have realised the half-assed ways in which they have been used.

It is this potential in fixating on the small group of subjects that is our community, the reason that I believe that fanfics and amateur works, are a much needed part of our corner of the Internet, for without them, there'd be nothing to break the ice, so to speak.
Well, I guess that's not completely true. If it's the ice you're worried about, you could always go read another genre, if you want to. But then you wouldn't be here with us, and who'd ever want that?

P.S. Is this what Blogs are used for? I am honestly not sure. I didn't even know this feature existed, like, 15 minutes ago.