Subject: Re: [FFML][Spammy-whiney] What do you consider good writing?
From: "Ranma Al'Thor" <ranma@falcon.cc.ukans.edu>
Date: 5/5/1998, 11:14 AM
To: ffml@fanfic.com

On Mon, 4 May 1998, Razorclaw X wrote:

  But what is it that makes a good fanfic? 

Mostly the same thing that makes any writing good.  
1.  Good characterization.
2.  Ability to construct an interesting plot.
3.  Ability to write in a literate manner (Author doesn't write in all
caps, author can spell, the writing is coherent, etc.)

Several other factors come into play with fanfic
4.  Author knows the source material.  Someone who identifies Ryouga as
Akane's fiancee, or thinks Kiyone works for the Tokyo Metropolitan Police
is probably in over their head.  Now, if they change something
deliberately, that's another manner, but the author needs familiarity with
whatever elements of the original series they are using.

5.  Author picks a series appropriate to his story.  A lot of people will
argue with me on this, but most of the time, I'd rather see fanfic that
matches the mood of the original series, at least somewhat.  Armitage III
done as slapstick comedy or Ranma 1/2 done as tentacle porn might be
doable well, but it's going to be an uphill struggle.  



  All over the place I see loads of praise for stuff like Hearts of Ice 
or DnR; is the time precedent working here? Is the number of pre-readers 
proportional to the success of the story? 

Time helps, but time alone won't do the trick.

Sometimes, you can get more attention with a very short story people can
read at one sitting than a grand epic you've spent eons on. 


  Or are long, descriptive passages describing the minute details of a 
Stephen King novel, that grabs people? 

If you can write them well.


1. The author feels it's good (the easiest part)
2. Readers tell the author and others it's good
3. More than five people read the story and think it's good 

Well, one problem is that it's difficult to tell how many people read your
stories.  I've met huge numbers of people who know my stories, but have
never written me a flame or a letter of praise.  There's probably 10-20
people who don't respond for every person who does.  


 > 4. Pre-readers catch all the little glitches in the story

That certainly helps.

5. Long descriptive passages describing minute details of a Stephen King 
novel

Are you saying passages like a Stephen King novel, or that the story
should describe an actual Stephen King novel?  This sounds like sarcasm,
yet I have no idea what you're talking about.


 > 6. Said fic must exist for an extended period of time 
7. Said fic must be recognized by established reviewers as good 

What established reviewers?  Many authors have a few personal reviewers
who are kind enough to read most of what they write, but we don't have any
really 'established' reviewers who hold really high prestige.  Lots of
people have semi-regular review columns...Is that who you speak of?

9. Said author must've written about something that makes sense 

That does help :)


John Walter Biles :  MA-History, Ph.D Wannabe at U. Kansas         
ranma@falcon.cc.ukans.edu       
rhea@tass.org              http://www.tass.org/~rhea/falcon.html
rhea@maison-otaku.net      http://www.maison-otaku.net/~rhea/

Rei:  I'm sorry, Artemis, we're too busy to take care of you.  
Artemis:  If I stay here any longer, I'll go mad!
Luna:  [in the background]  As if we'd notice.
--Symphony of the Planets:  Mars