Episode 2: Diving Into Fanfiction with UglyGreenJacket
Welcome back to the Culture Coven, your safe haven for celebrating the unbridled passion of fandom and girlhood! After kicking off our premiere week with a deep dive into sports culture, we are pivoting to a corner of the internet built entirely on heart, community, and immense creativity: fanfiction.
Let’s be honest—for a long time, the mainstream world has attached an unfair stigma to reading and writing fanfiction. But here at Culture Coven, host Leah Jones is setting the record straight. Fanfiction isn't something to be embarrassed about; it is the vital glue that holds fan communities together.
Think about it: fic writers are creators who take established universes and treat them like a sandbox. They fix frustrating canon plot points, explore complex "what-if" scenarios, and keep fandoms alive long after a series has ended. They are doing high-caliber, long-form creative writing completely for free, simply out of love for the characters. In fact, the mainstream publishing industry has taken notice, with major book houses actively scouting these exact forums for the next big romance authors.
To pull back the curtain on the life of a fic writer, Leah sat down with one of her favorite fic authors, UglyGreenJacket.
From Sailor Moon to Heated Rivalry: The Evolution of a Writer
UglyGreenJacket’s journey into the world of fanfiction didn’t happen overnight. In a cozy, candid chat, she shares that her love for the medium goes back over twenty years, starting with a childhood obsession with Sailor Moon. For decades, she was a self-described "lurker"—someone who voraciously read stories but never posted her own.
That all changed when she stumbled into Rachel Reid's Game Changers universe, specifically the fandom surrounding the beloved book and show Heated Rivalry. After a year-and-a-half-long writing hiatus, she took the leap, started posting, and the community welcomed her fic with open arms.
Behind the Scenes
What does the actual process of a popular fanfiction writer look like? As it turns out, it involves a lot of adrenaline, a bit of procrastination, and some unexpected tech skills.
The Sunday Scramble: Despite wanting to be an organized writer who works ahead, UglyGreenJacket admits that her process is heavily deadline-driven. "UglyGreenJacket Sundays" are often the result of intense weekend writing sessions where she formats and posts the chapters fresh off the digital press.
AO3 and Coding: For the uninitiated, posting custom-formatted stories on Archive of Our Own (AO3) requires a surprising amount of work. UglyGreenJacket laughs about navigating the archaic HTML and CSS skins needed to make text messages or specific layouts look right on the platform.
Writing as a Vital Coping Mechanism
One of the most touching moments of the episode delves into why fanfiction is so important to the people who create it. By day, UglyGreenJacket works a heavy, emotionally demanding job as a school counselor.
Navigating the real-world trauma and struggles of students takes a toll, and she notes that diving into romantic comedies, humor, and fictional happy endings serves as a vital mental break and coping mechanism. Writing these stories isn't just a hobby; it’s a form of emotional escapism that brings joy to both her and thousands of readers who need a safe place to land.
Where to find UglyGreenJacket
You can find her on Threads, Tumblr or Archive of Our Own!
Listen Now!
Whether you are a seasoned AO3 bookmarker who understands the thrill of a 100k-word slow-burn, or you are completely new to the concept of transformative fandom work, this conversation is a beautiful love letter to internet creators.
Grab your headphones and listen to the full interview with UglyGreenJacket on our website or your favorite podcast platform! And remember, because it's premiere week, Episode 3 is also live right now, where we shift the spotlight over to the incredible world of fanart!
