Every writer, at some point on their journey, experiences fear. How that fear manifests varies. Some freeze at the sight of an empty page (Can’t Start). Others write a few thousand words and stop because they think they don’t know how to finish the story (Writer’s Block). Still more wonder if they have a right to comment on certain subjects (Imposter Syndrome).

It’s all the same root problem. Fear.

Writing original fiction has unique battles, and those who go in unprepared may succeed, but so many fall in battle, unable to get back up and make the next strike.

For me, fanfiction provided a vital training ground for original work and helped me wrestle with the three common problems already mentioned.

Addressing: Fear of the Unknown (Can’t Start).

In fanfiction, there is a definite beginning and (sometimes) a definite end to source material. Instead of digging a new well, fanfiction lets beginners draw from an existing one. Of course, learning to dig wells is important, but for some, it might not be the best place to begin.

When I sit down to start a new fic, there are certain things I like to establish: main character, point-of-view choices, verb tense, and at least one important scene—preferably the ending, but not always.

Right away, I already have at least a half dozen choices for a main character, often far more than that as my main fandom has a host of people to choose from, with varied backgrounds, cultures, preferences, beliefs, locations, etc. I don’t have to make a new character from scratch—though I have done that on occasion—but there was no pressure to delve into the existence of someone I knew nothing about prior to brainstorming session one.

If a writer doesn’t know where to start, often the solution is as simple as a quick review of the source material. Stuck? That’s all right. Go spend two hours re-reading your favorite sections of the book your story’s based on, or watching relevant episodes of the show. Reviewing something you love is just… fun. And it reignites the spark of determination you had when you sat down to write.

When I wrote my first book length fanfic (128k) nine years ago, it took nine months, and when I finished and posted the last chapter, I knew I would be writing for a very long time to come. That inaugural project opened a host of possibilities, ones I haven’t begun to tap.

During the writing process, there were times I sat with a blank notebook page for long stretches, just letting my mind run with ideas without trying to catch them. It didn’t matter how many ideas I remembered, or how many I forgot. That wasn’t the point. It was about learning to sift through dirt and mud, not finding rubies. It wasn’t a predictable process, and when I accepted that, the words came.

Having a pre-built launch point let me stand at the top of a mountain and look out over foggy landscape. From there, I would find my next mountain, but the trees below the fog blanket were still a mystery. During the forest trek, if I got lost, I could always climb a tree—like Bilbo Baggins in The Hobbit—and get my bearings by finding the next mountain.

To sit at the head of the trail in despair because you don’t know every twist and turn to come can be crippling, but what if you knew your destination wasn’t as far away as it felt? Fanfiction helped me begin and shape the way I approach the unknown. Instead of facing the blank page with fear, I face it with anticipation.

The blank page is not a threat. It’s an invitation to find the story that belongs there.