Writers can't ask readers not to interpret their work. You
can't enjoy a novel that you haven't interpreted — unless you
model the author's characters in your head, you can't care
about what they do and why they do it. And once readers model
a character, it's only natural that readers will take pleasure
in imagining what that character might do offstage, to noodle
around with it. This isn't disrespect: it's active reading.

Our field is incredibly privileged to have such an active fanfic
writing practice. Let's stop treating them like thieves and start
treating them like honored guests at a table that we laid just
for them.