Excerpts from mail.fanfic: 26-Apr-96 Re: A challenge -- non-Ranm.. by
<ranma@falcon.cc.uk@falc
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.
I've done that. No one noticed or cared :)
I started off writing *original* stories. Much harder, and I still have
major trouble giving any more than a surface characterization to my
characters. (guys, I need help on this one)
I bet noone on this list can even identify the story I did that had NO
Ranma. Not even a hint of Ranma. Not even a SHADOW of Ranma.
That wouldn't be Peter Noone, would it? <G>
Except Jeff Hosmer, who doesn't count for this challenge, cause he helped
me think it up :)
So be quiet, Jeff :)
I do have a pure BGC story if I ever finish it though, hanging out on the
backburner, called Bubblegum Messiah...Unfortunately, I can only work on
it when I'm in the right mood, which comes rarely.
Mike White and I are working on a BGC fic that's pre-Knight Sabers. It'll
be the first true fanfic I've written/collaborated on.
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
Same applies to 90% of Anime, like the Dirty Pair :P
I guess so, now that I think about it. But remember, the anime medium
really doesn't have the same strength or power to convey characterization
that prose does. It's doable in animation, just very difficult.
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.
I'd disagree, but we could argue fruitlessly about this for a million
years...To the extent that it is true, it also applies to about 90% of
the anime I've seen.
Someone has already mentioned that you have to get to know the character
intimately, which means exploring the reasons behind why a character is
the way he is. That might be part of the anime already, or it might not.
Virtually any and all fanfic require you to add depth to the characters,
anyway, unless you're gonna just repeat what's already been done.
Quite true.
-- 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 wrote for three months before I got even a hint anyone had ever SEEN
any of my stories, but that was pre-FFML.
I hadn't yet discovered RAAS when I first started writing. Since then,
I posted my original scripts to RAAS and rec.arts.prose. No responses.
I showed them to a friend at home in Florida, and he thought they were
"good", but I couldn't extract C&C out of him with a crowbar. All of
this makes me really grateful for the FFML.
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...
I know who you are, but then we meet once a year at Katsucon :0
Sorry, I don't. But then again, I haven't been around long enough.
Basically, it's a matter of getting people to START reading your
work...eventually you can build up your own fanbase...but that takes
time. I know I skip over a lot of fanfic cause I have limited time and
just don't read if I have no idea of the author's quality or lack
thereof.
That's where the whining comes in. Also, the idea for the "five minute
preview" was an excellent one.
On the other hand, I also skip anything that I've missed the first part
of, cause I usually don't have enough time anymore to go back and read
first parts...Thus I'm probably the only person on this list who hasn't
read any of Careful Destiny...
You've just met another.
Um...guys? THAT'S WHAT THE REMAILER IS FOR. We didn't put it up for
the stories to just sit there and molder away. What might help is a
short story concept and "what's come before" added onto the beginning
of each segment posted to the FFML, so that people can make up their
minds to go looking for earlier parts on the remailer or not.
Damon Casale, scyth@andrew.cmu.edu
* Love *
Between two people, there is nothing that
can draw them closer together