I'd like to issue a mild challenge.  If you are someone who writes 
RANMA fiction and only RANMA fiction, try writing one story in another 
universe.  I know there's plenty of non-RANMA fic out there, but there 
could be plenty more if more writers would be willing to take the first 
step into an as yet unexplored region.  Especially new writers; don't 
be afraid to start off with something other than RANMA.

Although, I must say I can see why new writers are drawn to RANMA.  
It's so easy to write the characters.  Most RANMA characters' 
motivations can be summed up in a single sentence, which makes it good 
for a first try.  It's the simplicity of RANMA which keeps me away from 
it as a writer; I just don't feel challenged by it.  Of course, it's 
possible to get radical with any character, but in the case of RANMA, I 
have to feel that assigning depth to any of the characters is the 
literary equivalent of staring at a pattern of lines until you see it 
change from eyestrain.  There's nothing really there that you haven't 
completely made up.

While I'm making friends :-) I might as well comment on a few other 
topics.

-- On new writers not getting any commentary:  I wasn't aware of this, 
since, as I've stated many times, I write far more than I read.  I must 
say though, that IMHO those who do comment should take it upon 
themselves to encourage new writers.  We need all the new blood we can 
get.

I have to wonder what consitutes "new", since this list is constantly 
growing and turning over.  Quantity is, of course, important when it 
comes to recognition.  Someone like me, who puts out one sizable work
every six months or so is not as likely to be known as someone 
currently pumping out a serial (especially a RANMA serial).  A friend 
of mine visited #ffml and had trouble finding anyone who knew who I 
was.  And I've only been in this business since 1991.  :-)  Oh,well...

-- On the volume of this ML:  Like Ms. Hedge, I too am deleting 75% or 
more of this list without reading it.  Thankfully, Netcom gives me a 
whopping huge mailbox.  I've suggested before that this ML, as it 
exists, might better be served as an "alt" group.  The response I got 
was that the advantage of the ML was that bad-tempered or noisy members 
could be kicked off.  I've never seen that happen though, so I repeat: 
why don't we move this to Usenet?

Okay, can't resist a plug:  I'm working on "Galaxy Police Mihoshi's 
ACADEMY DAYS", the story of Mihoshi and Kiyone's first meeting, which 
will illustrate just how powerful Mihoshi is.  (Really!  The anime's 
full of examples if you look in the right places...)  I'll have the 
first chapter for your perusal shortly, hopefully after this weekend.  
Hope you folks will enjoy it.  Thank you and good night.  :-)

------RM