The Off-Canon Approach
The Off-Canon Approach is an essay by Kara Wild, written in February 2000.
Background
The Off-Canon Approach was written during a time of repeated debates between "canon" writers and "off-canon" writers. Canon prescriptivists felt that every fanfic storyline must remain within the confines set by the show and preferably be written in scripted format. Off-canon encompassed everything from slightly off-canon to very off-canon. Wild's essay was a response to the canon prescriptivists, notably Daniel Suni.
Summary
Wild challenges the notion that only "like the show" fanfics are worthwhile, stating that limiting characterization or subject matter to what took place on the show can prevent characters from being explored to their full potential.