The Wall St. Journal has a new article today that talks about the surge infan fiction writing and how for some, it has even turned into a career. To find out the state of fan fiction, and where aspriring Star Wars writers rank, hit the link above (subscription may be required):

She writes about a group of young wizards attending the Hogwarts School. She has legions of readers throughout the world.

Her name is Hannah Jones, and she's 19 years old.

Fan fiction, stories by amateur writers about characters from their favorite books, movies and television shows, was once mainly a fringe pursuit. Now, it's changing the world of fiction, as Internet exposure helps unknown authors find mainstream success. Some Web sites are attracting unprecedented numbers of readers and, in some cases, leading to book deals. They are also feeding the appetites of readers and viewers who can't get enough.