The Daily Dot most directly used the novel to discuss fanfiction at large. "Carry On isn't just fanfiction; rather, fanfiction itself is never just fanfiction. This is the thing that we who write fanfiction have so much trouble getting across to people unfamiliar with the medium. Carry On contain's Rowell's own original work, her own branching-off into something new--new characterizations, character dynamics, ways of thinking about the tropes that started with Rowling, and takes on magic and worldbuilding. It's absolutely fanfiction, but it's also something entirely her own. This is what we mean when we call fanfiction transformative work."

The publication of fanworks means there’s more discussion of what millions are doing each day http://bit.ly/1Rj15hi

WhoSay wrote about the short film "Fan Friction” produced for RocketJump: The Show. "The opportunity to have a story about two female characters and their friendship was really important, particularly because in geek and nerd culture there's a lot of hostility towards women historically.

So it was an important and deliberate choice to make it two female characters. The goal with the short was to make it a love letter to female fans of nerdy stuff. Ideally that will make them feel included into a world where they are often excluded from."

Fans pay tribute to things they love in many ways & sometimes they’re paid tribute to in return http://bit.ly/1RPQf3Z

Hypable kicked off the end of year list tradition with an article on fandom things to be thankful for. "I knew that I wanted characters that I could relate to, but I had no idea the sort of self-assurance and confidence that female characters like Peggy Carter, Kimmy Schmidt, Jessica Jones, and Trish Walker could inspire.

Watching these ladies on screen made me feel like I wasn’t alone. That the things I feel and the way I see the world isn’t just an isolated view. Peggy Carter’s 'I know my value' line makes me burst into tears whenever I hear her say it because it feels like she’s talking to me. These complex women believe in themselves and give me the confidence to do the same. I’m so grateful that there’s finally a surge of women like them in media because I need them. We all do."

The year’s end often makes people think about what they’re thankful for. For fans, there’s a lot this year: http://bit.ly/1NQdFjz

Hypable reported on how a The 100 fanfic went viral in non-fanfic communities. "It’s absolutely hilarious to see how non-fandom has responded to this fictional argument, and how people have even taken sides — but the fact that Clarke was immediately assumed to be a male does say a lot about our heteronormative society, doesn’t it?! Despite this somewhat depressing factor, The 100 fans are having a blast with this, and are fully embracing the ridiculousness of #ClarketheHusband. We’ve never been more in love with this fandom."

Fanworks are usually a source of joy but that can go sour when they’re thrust into communities they weren’t made for http://bit.ly/1Tfa4PM