Fanfiction affords you a vast audience you wouldn’t normally have. Use it, and learn from it. If you give people what they’re looking for, they’ll give you praise, some of it hyperbolic. You’re allowed to bask in the love for a while and let it bolster your confidence, but don’t get complacent. Be aware that it’s all subjective and that audiences are fickle. But praise is helpful in that you begin to see what works and what you shouldn’t stop doing.
Jen Zern (NautiBitz), Fic U: Higher Education through Fanfiction