I've personally read too much fanfiction. And it's not exactly voluntary or conscious...
It started during my worst years, burnt out from highschool after consuming more (canon) stories and "wanting more".
Not as a skill to cultivate to aspire to nor because anyone likes it, but as a really massive distraction.
I'm not actually into any fandoms.
My head just happened to choose this medium as a coping outlet.
I can be into visual arts, known certain facts of characters and events, the stories...
But actually a fan? Identifying myself liking fiction? No.
Never aspired to read and write to such extent. I hate words.
No favorites, no crushes, no OTPs, no real opinions, etc.
They're all equal to me; doesn't matter what prompt, what situation, if it's crack or something disturbing. If it's just under 50 words or a million.
Doesn't matter. My head just like to consume to know.
... Surely, there's something I can get out of 20+ years of maladaptive daydreaming and 15+ years of disruptive fiction addiction?
While I overcame said maladaptive behaviors...
.. It didn't help me improve my reading skills or listening skills or my language skills overall. It's just mindless consumption and self triggering as a way to avoid the nuisance that is my emotionality.
Like, well, like being more professional about it?
The potential for me to tap into a niche markets if I acquire the skills?
And yet with no biases over shipping, headcanons, etc. while getting enough nuance over what fandoms think?
Sorry if this isn't in the vibe of being a fan in any fandom.
I do not regret my worst years.
But surely I can get something out of this? And coming from a more stable and voluntary states, too.