Subject: [FFML] [Draft] FAQ for the NEW and IMPROVED FFML!
From: KLEPPE@execpc.com (Gary Kleppe)
Date: 2/5/1998, 8:55 PM
To: fanfic@fanfic.com
CC: safyr@juno.com
Reply-to:
kleppe@execpc.com, safyr@juno.com

This is a draft of the revised FAQ. It has correct instructions for
subbing and unsubbing with the new system, and the new addresses for
White Wolf and Tybalt. Please send any suggestions for revisions or any
other questions you'd like answered to myself and Saf. 		-Gary



WELCOME TO THE FANFIC MAILING LIST FAQ!
==========================

LAST UPDATED: February 5, 1998

Updated Sections: - How do I subscribe to/unsubscribe from the ML?
		  - E-mail addresses for White Wolf and Tybalt

New Section: - What is an MST?

Deleted Section: - The FFML Archive


* FAQ Co-Creators:

Andy Skuse (Panda)                      Sapphire, The Blue Tigress
askuse@execulink.com                    safyr@juno.com

* Current Maintainers:

Sapphire, The Blue Tigress              Gary Kleppe
safyr@juno.com                          kleppe@execpc.com

If you have any questions or comments regarding this FAQ, or would like
the latest updated version, please E-mail either of the two addresses
above.

A text version of this FAQ can be found at:
http://www.fortunecity.com/victorian/woodcut/77/ffmlfaq.txt

Yoo C. Chung has put together an HTML version of the FFML FAQ at:
http://illusion.snu.ac.kr/~wacko/ffml/faq.html


		       ***VERY VERY IMPORTANT NOTES***

1) DO NOT POST TEST MESSAGES TO THE LIST!!!

If you think you've been unsubscribed or if you think the list is 
down, see the section "* 'I think I've been unsubscribed.' OR 'Is the 
list down?'"

2) DO NOT POST CHAIN MESSAGES TO THE LIST!!!

Be forewarned that anyone posting a chain message to the FFML will be
immediately banned.

3) Gary and Sapphire have ABSOLUTELY NOTHING to do with the actual 
list management itself.  If you have a problem with the list, email 
the list moderators.  See section "* Who are the moderators of the 
list?"


***IMPORTANT FAQ NOTE: For the following information about email
messages and requests, any word in square brackets should NOT include
the brackets with the word. The square brackets are used only to clarify
the word(s) they contain.


TABLE OF CONTENTS
=================

* What is the fanfic mailing list?
* How do I subscribe to/unsubscribe from the ML?
* How do I post to the ML?
* What can I post to the ML?
* What's this about "subject tags"?
* What about story format?
* Who are the moderators of the list?
* 'I think I've been unsubscribed.'  OR 'Is the list down?'
* How large a file can I send to the ML?
* What is SPAM?
* Don't beat a dead horse.
* What is C&C?
* What is an MST?
* What is a 'LEMON' fanfic?
* Is there an archive for stories posted to the ML?

For information about fanfic related websites, newsgroups and irc, see
the "FFML Resources" guide. If you missed it when it was posted, send a
request to either of the FAQ Co-Maintainers listed at the top of this
FAQ.  Or you can get it from the following websites:

A plain text version is at:
http://www.fortunecity.com/victorian/woodcut/77/ffmlgde.txt

HTMLized versions can be found at:
http://erau.db.erau.edu/~sachss/Anime/FFML.Resource.Guide.html
http://illusion.snu.ac.kr/~wacko/ffml/resource-guide.html

====================

* WHAT IS THE FANFIC MAILING LIST?

The fanfic mailing list (ML) is a forum for authors and fans to discuss
fanfics (fanfiction stories) with an anime/manga theme that are posted
to the ML. Generally, this means stories involving settings, characters,
props, or attacks or any combination of the above from anime/manga.

====================

* HOW DO I SUBSCRIBE TO/UNSUBSCRIBE FROM THE ML?

To SUBSCRIBE to the mailing list, send an email message with the words
[subscribe ffml] in the body of the message to
[fanfic-request@fanfic.com]. The subject does not matter.

To UNSUBSCRIBE from the mailing list, simply send a message with the
words [unsubscribe ffml] in the body of the message to
[fanfic-request@fanfic.com].

Most (un)subscription requests are processed automatically without
human intervention.

NOTE: The [-request] server usually does an excellent job in
discriminating between (un)subscribe requests and messages intended for
the maintainer. If you'd like to make sure a human reads your message,
send it to [fanfic-owner@fanfic.com].

====================

* HOW DO I POST TO THE ML?

Send mail to [fanfic@fanfic.com].  Anyone can post to the ML, even those
not subscribed to it.  Before you send anything, please, please, PLEASE 
read the rest of the FAQ, especially the following sections "What can I 
post to the ML?"; "What is SPAM?"; "Don't beat a dead horse"; and the 
first section of "What is C&C?"  If you're new to the net or just need 
to brush up on your netiquette, check out the following website:

http://www.fau.edu/rinaldi/net/index.htm

====================

* WHAT CAN I POST TO THE ML?

You can post stories, of course, story ideas, and C&C.  Also, where to
find background and character information and questions and answers
about the same. Email people directly when answering a simple question 
and don't forget to remind people to email you directly when answering 
your question.  

If you are looking for a chapter of a particular story and you know the
author's email address, please email the author first to request the
missing chapter instead of the ML. If you don't know the author's
address, try emailing someone else on the list who seems to have read
the fic. Other ways of obtaining missing or missed chapters are to check
the FFML archive (see the section on this below) or to check and see if
the RAAC archives or the FFML remailer have a copy (see the new
"FFML FAQ Resources" guide. Didn't get this? Email one of the FFML FAQ
Co-Maintainers and ask for a copy, or see the web addresses given
above).

This mailing list is mostly for stories not yet on
rec.arts.anime.creative, although there are exceptions such as if it's
not available via ftp anywhere or if the general consensus on the list
is to post it. Also, if you're posting the next part of a series that
has never been seen on the list before, post the previous parts unless
they're really big.

====================

* WHAT'S THIS ABOUT "SUBJECT TAGS"?

To help members of the list sort the mail they receive from the FFML
more efficiently please use the following tags in the subject header of
your posts to the FFML.

[Fanfic] =  Marks a message as containing a fanfic story\chapter.
[C&C] = Message containing Comments & Criticisms on a fanfic.
[Spam], [Spamfic]  = Self-explanatory. Sig characters go here. :)
[Info], [Announce]  = Side notes, not quite spam, but not 'fics either.
[FAQ] = Frequently Asked Questions update or Resource Guide.
[Admin]  = Moderators' (WW & Tybalt) use only. If a post comes over the
	list with this tag, you should read it.
[Lemon] = See the section below on 'LEMON' fanfics.

Additional tags are also used to identify which series a fanfic is based
on, e.g. [Ranma], [BGC], [Inu-Yasha]. This will help direct your story
toward those who would like to read it.

====================

* WHAT ABOUT STORY FORMAT?

This is just to tell you to use US-ASCII characters and to wrap your
lines to about 74 characters a line or about 10 to 12 words a line.  
Basically, whatever word processing program you use, save the story in 
ASCII text format (the one with the extension .TXT).  Don't use fancy 
quotes and characters either; not all of these characters translate 
very nicely to ASCII format.  

Also, don't send it as an attachment; cut and paste the story in the 
body of the message itself.  Everyone has different mail readers and 
these little formatting tricks makes it easier for more people to read 
your story.

You also might want to note where to find previous parts or chapters 
of the story.  New list members are more likely to read that new chapter

if they can get their hands on the previous chapters.

You do want your story read, don't you?

====================

* WHO ARE THE MODERATORS OF THE LIST?

There are now two moderators as such of the FFML.

If you have any problems related to the list these are the folks to talk
to:

Tybalt at:

tybalt@fanfic.com

or

White Wolf at:

[wwolf@fanfic.com]
or
[fanfic-owner@fanfic.com]


====================

* 'I THINK I'VE BEEN UNSUBSCRIBED.'  OR 'IS THE LIST DOWN?'

If the ML seems too quiet and you think you've been unsubscribed, just
try subscribing again.  It won't let you be subscribed twice so you
don't have to worry about getting tons of double posts if you haven't
been unsubscribed.

There have been a few folks who somehow were subscribed twice when they
used the above method. We're still tracking down the reasons for this
happening, but one way to circumvent this is to send an unsubscribe
message before you try to resubscribe. If for some reason you still
experience difficulties, send a message to the moderator at
<tybalt@tendo-dojo.ranma.net> and explain the problem.

PLEASE DO NOT SEND TEST MESSAGES TO THE ML!!!

If you think the list is down, DON'T email the list!!!  Ask one of the 
moderators privately.  Alternatively, E-mail another subscriber and ask
whether he or she has been receiving list mail. If the list is down and
you send a test message, you're just making matters worse.  And if the
list isn't down (or when it goes back up), you'll draw the wrath of the
moderators down on your head.

====================

* HOW LARGE A FILE CAN I SEND TO THE ML?

Since everyone's mail system is different there is no definite answer.
The best route is to just send the whole story or send it chapter by
chapter. A good rule of thumb to avoid complaints from people who cannot
download large pieces of email is to keep your installments under 100k,
and chop up single installments over this size into 100k sections. Just
mark each section as 1 of 4 and 2 of 4 and so on. The readers with
restrictive mailboxes will appreciate it, and in the end you'll have a
larger audience. In any case, White Wolf has asked that all posts be
limited to 400k or less in order to avoid technical problems with the
system.

====================

* WHAT IS SPAM?

SPAM is junk mail/ off-topic conversation.  DON'T SPAM a lot.  We're a
pretty easy-going bunch about this but if you don't stop when asked, you
may be banned from the list.

Tybalt <tybalt@fanfic.com>, who acts as FFML moderator to keep list
traffic at a manageable level, has the following policy on SPAM:

** Posts that are not allowed and can result in permanent banning:

Extremely offensive flames
Chain letters
Commercial solicitations

** Not allowed, may result in immediate temporary banning:

Test messages
Spam polls: off-topic surveys that ask for on-list responses
Continuation of a thread that has been banned by the moderators
Portrayals of the murdering of another author without permission (yes,
somebody actually did this).

** Not allowed, tempbanning may result for repeated offenses:

Controversial off-topic arguments
Fic requests (see below)

** Discouraged, tempbanning may result for excessive amounts:

"Me too"s -- posts that agree without adding anything
Character debates (e.g. "So-and-so is Ranma's Best Babe!")
Off-topic discussions

It is always a good idea to check through an entire thread before
posting in it. The question you are answering may have already been
answered, or the moderators may have already called a halt to the
thread.

Requests for fanfics should be emailed privately to the author(s). If
you don't know who the author of a fic is, try searching the archive for
it (see below) or emailing someone else on the list who seems to have
read the fic. Posting a fic request to the list should be a LAST resort.

SPAM includes threads where a few people are replying to each other more
than twice a day so the list seems more like a conversation between two
or three people, and anything that would be better off emailed
privately.  Don't forget that complaints about the amount of SPAM on the
list are SPAM themselves and tend to generate even more SPAM.

====================

* DON'T BEAT A DEAD HORSE

Threads that usually degenerate into SPAM, or are SPAM to start with,
are better not started on the list in the first place. If you really
have to ask about such topics on the list, make sure you remind everyone
to send responses PRIVATELY and not to the list. If you want to, you can
post the results of the PRIVATE discussions on the list afterwards.

     - Romanji spelling.  Especially, the 'u' argument.  "Is Ryoga 
       spelled 'Ryoga' or 'Ryouga'?  Just remember that there's more 
       than one 'official' system being used in the world today.
     - Physics discussions.  Anything from black holes to time travel.
       Questions on these subjects may be E-mailed directly to Gary
       <kleppe@execpc.com> for answering.
     - Technical discussions.  Mech designs, weapon comparisons, and 
       things that go boom.
     - Character debates, such as those over who would make the best
       spouse for character X or who would win in a fight between
       characters Y and Z. (Characterization issues that are related to
       a specific posted fic *are* fair game for the list, provided that
       they are kept focussed and that the discussion stops when the
       moderators ask that it do so.)
     - Discussions of controversial topics like religion, politics, etc.
       when not directly related to a particular posted fic.

====================

* WHAT IS C&C?

Comments and criticisms.  Every author wants feedback on their stories
to help improve them.  After all, this is what the list is really for.

When sending comments or criticisms to an author, there are a few things
to consider before posting your observations:

1) Lurk for a while before posting to the list. Spend some time getting
to know the FanFic ML. There is no better way to find out about
etiquette and 'unspoken' rules.

2) Some authors want comments on creative content (plot,
characterization, etc.) while others like a more detailed analysis of
their stories that includes technical aspects such as grammar and
spelling. Some authors greatly appreciate honest negative criticism,
while others would prefer those without anything nice to say to say
nothing at all. Often authors will indicate what kind of feedback they
are looking for in their authors' notes. If not, consider asking the
author via private email which type of response they would prefer.

3) Posting your C & C to the mailing list is fine unless the author
states otherwise. If an author specifically asks for private comments
then you should abide by their wishes.

4) In your C&C, quote however much (if any) of the story is necessary or
helpful for readers to understand what you are referring to. Sections
that you have no comment on should be snipped.

====================

* WHAT IS AN MST?

MST stands for Mystery Science Theater 3000, a cable TV show featuring a
man and two wisecracking robots. They are forced to watch bad movies,
and they make clever commentary on them as they go.

Fanfiction MSTs are based on the format of that show. In a fanfiction
MST, several characters (one of whom is usually the actual author) read
a fic and make (usually humorous) running commentary.

It's important to note that an MSTing doesn't necessarily indicate a bad
fic. While some authors do MSTs because they don't like a story, others
do them for stories that they like in order to give them more exposure.

====================

* WHAT IS A 'LEMON' FANFIC?

'Lemons' are stories with explicit sexual content and should be labeled
as such in the [Subject:] field when posted.  Not everyone on the ML is
over 21.

Example:

 Subject:  [LEMON] Story name