i'm just curious, because i see you reblog a lot of fanart from around tumblr, what are the legal differences between you viewing fanart and reading fanfiction? it seems to me the both come from the same place -- a love of the characters and a desire to se

It is a more than fair question!  I think it has to do with the idea that it's easy for a writer to CLAIM a plot or story was stolen from them (one company I know was sued by a guy whose story came out a YEAR after the company published something he felt was similar!).  With art, that's a different thing, the artist knows he or she doesn't have copyright. But a lot of aspiring writers are convinced people are out to steal their ideas (we aren't, we're not in this business for YOUR ideas, we're in it for OURS), and also, many lack perspective on their own work. They think it's so brilliant that of COURSE people want to steal it. There's definitely some deluded folks out there. And they're the ones who make it so we have to be so careful. Otherwise, it would be no big deal at all.