Dustin Goeller wrote:

Of course, it helps to have superior writing ability. (It also helps
to have notoriously BAD writing ability. Look at all the commotion
'Mr. Thinker' has caused.) Many fics have become list favorites simply
because they were written so superbly. But, the majority of fics, at
least the majority of fic I'VE read, have been, in my opinion, above
average when it comes to writing.

I have noticed that lately, quite a few of people have given up
fanfiction and moved on. I, for one, have pretty much stopped reading
fanfiction all together. It no longer interests me. It seems that
whenever I start reading a fic posted to this list, I feel although
I've read it many times before. I often wonder if I am the only person
who feels this way. Perhaps I've just "out-grown" fanfiction? Perhaps
I am just a twisted SOB with no life? Who knows?

Well, maybe we're the only two people who feel that way.  ^_-

The main problem, as I see it, is oversaturation.  Since I started
reading fanfic in mid 1995, the main type of fanfiction I've read is
Ranma fanfic.  These days however, it seems there are no (or very few)
new concepts in Ranma fanfiction.  Though are the few gems, such as
James Champagne's 'Mobile Delivery System.'

I can't however comment on oversaturation in fanfiction of other series.

I can, a little.  There hasn't been the kind of saturation with, say, BGC 
fanfics, as there has been for Ranma.  Years ago, I'm told, it was Dirty 
Pair.  Still, the problem is the same.  We need something new.

That's notwithstanding the fact that I've seen a bunch of NGE fics (which 
is relatively new) come through the list lately.  ;)

Ranma and Dirty Pair fics are easy to write because the series are very 
"open".  That is, there isn't a strong continuity in the canon itself, so 
it's easy to put a "what if" in there somewhere.

Many people take to these series because they're so popular, AND because 
they're "open".  Therein lies the problem, as it were.

With that note, I encourage people to start taking a look at some of the 
other anime out there, such as:

Nuku Nuku (good fics on this so far, but there are only a few)
Armored Trooper Votoms (haven't seen ANY fics on this...)
Madox-01 (It was only one tape, but it was GOOD.  :)
Dominion Tank Police
Irresponsible Captain Tyler
Lupin III
Armitage III (the continuity is rather tight, but still...)
Crusher Joe
Venus Wars

There are plenty more I could mention too.

Oh yeah.  Since this (if it happens to turn into a thread) isn't really 
on-topic for the FFML, I suggest moving it to the Spam ML.  :)
(If you don't know what that is, read the bloody Resources Guide.  :P~  ;)

Damon Casale, damoo@jps.net
Spam, spam!  WONDERFUL Spam!!  ^_^