Hmm. I can understand Mr. Stolz's feelings; most of the stuff we get is 
Ranma, which must be aggravating if you dislike it. And I suppose that 
there is a bit of an overflow of Ranma material.
   Still, this isn't really something that can be changed. I've written 
almost exclusively Ranma in the brief time i've been on; the sole exception, 
"Institut Rats", wasn't really even fanfiction. Why? Easy.
 1.- I like the series.
 It's fun. The characters are interesting. The potential for 
storylines is nigh infinite; Takahashi has given us a setting and actors 
and turned us loose. Anime like Robotech, with a series of events laid 
out in order, is a bit more difficult to write in; how do you fit your 
story into the history?
 2. - Audience.
   Just about everyone on the list has seen Ranma. As a result, we know 
that a Ranma fanfic will be read and enjoyed by the entire ML.
 3. - Dirty What?
   I'm not a Anime fan. I've seen about four or six different pieces, and 
I've yet to have seen an entire series. Until I joined the ML, I couldn't 
have told you what a "boomer" was. And it only took 15 minutes of "Sailor 
Moon" to make me run out of the viewing room ready to vomit. (Sorry, S M 
fans, but that's how I feel) As a result, I find myself reluctant to 
critque a lot of non-Ranma stuff, simply because I'm not qualified.
   I still read it, (except for Sailor Moon - again, sorry) and I give my 
opinion on writing style, quality, etc. But I don't know the background 
to much of it, which is a big obsticale to overcome.
 4. - Ease.
  Quite frankly, I write stuff for the ML to keep my hand in. Journalism 
is hell on your writing abilities; you have to master a very neutral 
style that does not work for fiction. Doing fanfics is one way to avoid 
being locked in a mold. It's fun, it's effortless, and I like to think it 
brings enjoyment to people.
   In the same vein, I like reading Ranma fanfics. They have absolutly no 
social merit whatsoever, and that's what I need at the end of the day.

   And yes, new authors do get less attention much of the time. I try to 
write a critique for most of the stuff I read, and I almost never manage 
to do so. There's just too much stuff some nights. I, speaking as a 
fairly new author, have been happy with the amount of C&C I've gotten. 
About 2/3ds to 1/2 of it was via private email; something to consider.
   I was somewhat disappointed by the lack of responce on "Institut 
Rats", but as it wasn't a fanfic I saw it coming. Still, a point in your 
favor - Non-Ranma stuff needs more C&C. 

- Mike of No Particular Title or Handle
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  /  \    l   Mike Loader - Lincolnite, Amberite, Illuminatus, Discordian,
 / () \   l      Journalist, Author, Traveler, Historian, Java Fiend.
/      \  l        Trier - LA - LV - Kiev - Reno - Hong Kong. Fnord.
--------  l                    mloader@scs.unr.edu
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