Ah, me.  Do you realize how many fanfics there are at Megazone's
site?  A lot of fanfics, that's how many.  I've read a lot, and
am in no danger of running out soon.

So true...  But *I* am running out!  >_<

I'm posting this to talk about bad reading habits, and how they
prevented me from enjoying two enjoyable fanfics in John Biles'
Elseworlds series.

Bad Habit #1:  Never listen to an author's opinion of his own
story.  I had postponed reading Akane 1/2 for a long time, mainly
because the author had said it wasn't very good.  Finally read
it, and it's excellent.  Brilliant Nabiki and Kuno, excellent
Ranma and Akane, and a depressed, weeping Ukyou (a common

                      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

occurence in fics).  Last time I listen to an author.

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

NOT in MY fics, dammit!  ^_^

Bad habit #2:  Judging a fic by its synopsis.  I must admit, the
description of Looking Down the Barrel of a Glomp turned me
right off.  Happosai is my least favorite character in anime,
and I don't think much of Ataru Morobishi, either.  Therefore,
the idea of Ranma becoming a pervert did not make me leap for
the print button.  However, read this, and it's pretty damn good.
Ukyou is great, the new brother is excellent, and Kasumi...what
can I say?  Therefore, I apologize for not reading this sooner
too.

These are both very good points - I myself have read a number of fics that
I didn't think I was going to like when I heard the premise, but I was
pleasantly surprised...  mind you, there *is* some real drek out there too,
but damned if I'll make the mistake of deciding it's drek b4 reading it!

Now, admittedly I still have some bad fic reading habits.  I still
can't stand authors in their own stories, and I don't like Robert
Jordan.  But hopefully these two fanfics have taught me tolerance,
and I like to think I'm a better person as a result.

I agree with the first point here - whole heartedly.  Though, I have
actually read *one or two* of these alleged "mary jane" stories that were
pretty well written.  A definite rarity, tho.

I haven't read any of Robert Jordan's work yet.

Now where's Part 5?

Hear hear!

--Sean Gaffney
--I know, I know, bug David Tai...

Zen-


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[[                  James Bateman (Otaku@nashville.com)                  ]]
[[ -The experiment has begun - A million monkeys at a million keyboards- ]]
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