So, I had this conversation with a relative not long ago, and it sort of bugged me.  I told her I'd written some fanfiction (how I started out writing), and she answered by saying, well, you should try writing your own story one day.  And I argued back that the story is mine, that I'm just using a particularly character in a original story of my own design with completely original characters sprinkled in, but she didn't seem to think of it that way.

I thought over what she said, went back and read my stories...and they could all fit in the original category, if I changed the names - and no one would be the wiser.    

What do you think?  Do you give any credence to fanfiction, consider it on par with other fiction?  Or do you consider it a level down?

It was a good place for me to start...

Just curious what others think.