Fan fiction

Fan fiction (or fanfiction) for Doctor Who and related spin-offs has appeared since the 1970s or before. Many professional writers of Doctor Who universe works have started in fan fiction. Fan fiction has appeared in fanzines, charity anthologies and on the internet.

The early years
During the late 1970s and early 1980s, fan fiction appeared in early fanzines like The Celestial Toyroom, the monthly newsletter of the Doctor Who Appreciation Society, and in Cosmic Masque, a DWAS publication especially for fanfic. Writers of fan fiction included Andy Lane and Gary Russell.

The 1980s
During the mid-80s, Paul Cornell produced an early version of his first novel, Timewyrm: Revelation, which featured the Fifth Doctor. In the United States, The Doctor and the Enterprise by Jean Airey was produced. It would later have a semi-professional publication.

The 1990s
In the 1990s, fanfic began appearing on a Usegroup called alt.drwho.creative. Print fanzines had not gone away. The Doctor Who Information Network based in Canada had commenced a fan fiction 'zine called Myth Makers.

The 2000s
By the 2000s the prevalence and the ease of internet access saw an explosion in fan fiction with sites such as FanFiction.Net (launched late 90s) and Doctor Who focused sites such as "A Teaspoon and an Open Mind" (launched 2003) becoming popular. Some stories, written by notable individuals such as scientist Dr. Megan Argo who wrote a story Doctor Who and the Silver Star have even been given coverage in Scientific American and other media outlets Whilst other professional authors still continue to publish fan fiction (and proclaiming it as such) such as The Last Doctor a story posted by Paul Cornell on his website in 2009, seemingly bridging bridging between two Christmas-related Doctor Who stories he had written in 2006 and 2006 for British newspapers.