"many of the pop-culture references on Buffy are cued to the writers' age, not the characters'."

Wrodily. Though some stuff, I mean knowledge of Captain & Tenille is known even among those born during the Bush administration. But since Willow is about my age, when Doogie Howser was on she probably would have been one of the many kids creeped out by NPH's big head and the short adult man in his window.

The majority of the "[character] writes fan fiction" in stories I have read are clumsily executed and excessively wink-wink, nudge-nudge.

I'm sure there are instances in which it is well done, but I'm not interested in reading it. Perhaps it's too meta for me with the TV characters writing about other characters, or perhaps the sudden jar of it, reminding me that I'm sitting in my uncomfortable desk chair in front of a monitor and doing this thing -- well, I'm knocked completely out of the narrative and back into reality.

I get that, Shrift. I like Livia's two because they're more about the community than they are about the characters. I mean, it's not really believable that Mulder would be writing fanfic, with his schedule. But there's a number of good injokes about the XF ficcing community in the stories, and I get a kick out of those.

It was an off-hand remark by Willow - not a plot point. And, as I said up thread, seems in character. I think it was a nod to fandom, but Willow is the character (like Mulder in some ways) that would have done fanfic.

As noted by Ple, Doogie Howser was in syndication for a while.

Yep. Hell, may still be in some places. And it aired right around the time kids would be getting home from school, at least on my syndi channel.

'suela, that LJ one is Fucking Funny.

I'm confused, are you upset at the idea of Willow having written fanfic or by the fics being written that will mention Willow writing/reading fanfic? I thought it was kind of a cute reference, especially with the instinctive "You're a dork, but I love you" look Buffy gave her. "I'm over you, sweetie" was also nice.

I think it's a fic about fic thing.

I'm confused, are you upset at the idea of Willow having written fanfic or by the fics being written that will mention Willow writing/reading fanfic?

On the show? Don't mind at all. Find it amusing, generally a shout-out. In fan fiction itself? Not so much. I could dig up many stories as an example why it's Generally a Bad Idea, but I might as well admit it's a squick, and leave it at that.

Some of the most unlikely people read and write fanfic. One fic writer I know is in my Bible study at church. She's a 40 yr. old mom. Last night she wore a turtleneck with a print of kittens and balls of yarn. She uses a Longaberger basket for a purse.

When I've talked to the non-initiated about fic, they generally seem to think it's cool (I have not yet told them about slash).

How long before "Mary Sue" makes it into mainstream parlance, I wonder?

I think both the objection is about characters conscious of fanfic within pieces of fanfic.