I wasn't going to write again, but Krista wrote a nice note, so I felt she
deserved a reply.
on 8/25/2000 8:16 AM, Krista Perry <kperry@aros.net> wrote:
At least, it is my opinion that
your story isn't anti-male. I think it's anti-Ranma (or at least,
anti-boy-type Ranma). And so of course anyone who is a big fan of Ranma's
male side is going to have a problem with a fic that essentially wipes out
the entire fire-and-steel of his personality -- and with it, all the
familiar romantic conflicts -- no matter what the cause.
I don't see it as anti-boy-type Ranma. It's a story about a different
person, is all. The premise is, "what if Ranma were a very different person
inside?" If he weren't, this story would be like a lot of other "Ranma
becomes a girl" stories (plus, it would be a lot shorter...). I don't think
that makes it "anti-" the canon Ranma, the Ranma who *doesn't* feel like a
girl inside. Ranko doesn't want to play the "Ranma" role any more -- that
doesn't mean that, if he were a different person, she'd hate him. She just
doesn't want to *be* him.
I have another story idea I'm working on that is based on the canon Ranma; I
like him just fine. "Genma's Daughter" isn't about him; it's about an
alternate Ranma.
I've been working on some outtakes for this story, and there's one that I
think expresses how I feel about this. I'll post it later.
Obviously, there
are those who like this type of psychological "Let's shatter Ranma and turn
him into an uber-girly-girl" fic. And there is nothing wrong with that.
I didn't want her to come across that way, just "average" (emotionally, not
in terms of her talents). I'd appreciate C&C on how to tone it down if she
doesn't seem that way. I didn't want her to be a "girly girl," just a
somewhat normal (Japanese) girl.
my advice is this: Don't worry about it. Just keep writing the
way you are, because there are those who are enjoying your fic for what it
is. But don't be surprised when you get feedback like Scott's or Mike's or
David's that take you to task for canon, plot and characterization issues,
because you're not going to convince us that you're right.
And, apparently, visa versa. ;-)
I think I understand where you all are coming from. I just wanted to try
something *really* different. I know I need to expect the criticisms you
discuss; I just wish that the other people who don't like it had taken the
tone you do here. I really appreciate the encouraging way you've expressed
your thoughts.
Thanks,
Deborah