I'd have to agree with Sacrosanct, in that everyone's taste and understanding of fanfiction does develop.

I probably started reading fanfiction when I was about thirteen - maybe three years ago - and what I read was horrible. While I can't say I was ever a fan of slash (*shudder*) I must confess, I read some pretty awful Harry/Ginny stories. And enjoyed them.

Now I'm sixteen my tastes have developed so much that I'm here. That means the mindless fans of today may be reading DLP library fics a year or two from now. There is still more fans coming, and the popularity of Harry Potter is so big that I can promise people won't stop writing just because the books/movies have ended.

I think that as long as the stories keep coming, people will keep reading. And as long as people keep reading, the stories will keep coming. Reading fics will lead to wanting to write your own at some point. It's a sustainable cycle.

 

i think fanfiction interest starts off for that want for continuation, and after ~9 years of reading fanfiction, I still do it. After I finish a book, a TV show, a series or movie I really like (particular ones with open endings), I'll head straight to FF.net and read whatever crappy one-shots or continuation fics I can find.

I think most people are like that. They finish the DH (the book or movie) and want MOAR, so start reading whatever they can find - as long as it follows canon fairly closely, or starts after canon.

This group does wane off a bit though. After a time, these people lose that 'post-canon emptiness', and need to see 'what-ifs' eventuated, moving onto something else. But those that stay will start changing their taste and start looking for quality fics.

I remember I used to have no interest in AUs when I first started (since there is no real continuation from canon), but now it makes up most of the fics I read.

So I think what you'll see is less volume overall, however those fics that are created will be less of the 'cheap continuations'. You'll also see less canon-pairings too, as people get over the need to explore that more.

Instead the rabid slash-fans will still continue to go strong, and the quality fics will continue to be written - by the people who are now over the 'cheap thrills', but still want to explore this fandom.

 

I personally have told no one in my life of fanfiction until I joined my college Academic team where interestingly enough someone on the team writes Firefly fanfics.

I hung out with a group of friends in high school that would have rofled at me if I had explained it to them. High School jocks in general aren't big fanfic guys. I being the exception. Personally I think fanfiction we still continue to trudge along because realistically the possibilities are endless and are limited only by the imagination. I think that is what has made it so appealing. I mean there is what over half a million Potter stories on FF.net alone. That is unreal. Obviously it may slow down due to the movies being finished but all we need for another spike could be a prequel or anything else Potterverse related from J.k. Which we will see. Bank on it.