Thank you for sharing this!

I’ve just been wondering why it is that I want to write HP fic and nothing else. (Of course, it’s partly because I’m addicted to my own fic and enjoy the challenge of not contradicting what I’ve written earlier, but…) Originally it is because of the books … not perfect … but … wonderfully crafted, beautifully inspiring, immensely captivating, and just all-around magical.

(Because of what I’ve said in the parentheses above, I can’t and) I don’t take HBP and DH into consideration when I write my fic, but I agree with you that knowing and respecting the canon on which I work is essential. And I, too, want to recognise the characters and their world in the fic I read, while I also appreciate all extrapolation (new spells, magical places and creatures and OCs). You just made me remember that I did reread all the HP novels a month or two before I surprised myself by getting back to writing fic. I’m checking in my writing journal: yes, I spent all December 2018 on them.

And oh, I admire betas so much, and it’s wonderful to hear how much a beta can be inspired, too. You’ve made me think about how I miss discussing another writer’s WiP also acting as a beta.