What is the difference between original webnovels and fanfiction?

Original web fiction builds its entire world and characters from scratch, while fanfiction is written within an already-existing fictional universe using its established characters and setting.

Is fanfiction considered a real genre?

Yes — fanfiction is one of the largest and most active categories in web fiction, with its own conventions like transmigration, rewrites, and canon-divergence stories.

Original Web Fiction vs Fanfiction: What's the Difference?