On Thu, 25 Apr 1996, Ryan Mathews wrote:

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.

Anyone here think that this was probably the best way to get the Ranma
fans away from writing the series?  (Martial Arts Fanfic Writing!!!  Yes!!!)

I am one of those 'fic writers who tends to stick to Ranma.  I will be
gone over the summer, writing, thinking, and working, but I will be back
in the fall.  Among the ideas in my head is a really cool A!MS idea that
I've been putting on the back burner since Christmas.

You're on.

BTW, as for the ease of writing the characters...only if it's done poorly.
I have stressed for the people to know the characters you write about so 
intimately that they almost write the story for you.  It isn't eyestrain.
It's looking at about every aspect of a character's life...wondering how
it affected them...Creation is involved, but only in a very limited
respect.  How intimately do you know your characters, Ryan?  Have you
ever come close to crying for them?  Have you found your hands shaking
on the keyboard, feeling the character's emotions flood through your very 
being, unable to control the tidal wave of anger and frustration flowing
from the character to yourself?  That is my counter-challenge: to know 
your characters _that_ intimately. 

Nightelf
nwl9354@tam2000.tamu.edu