On Fri, 21 Jun 1996, Richard D. Lawson wrote:

You'll notice that none of the above *mentions the quality of the fanfic 
at all*.  You might write the most moving piece of fanfiction ever, but 
if it's based on My Blue Earth, no one may read it.  Same thing on a 
Ranma/One Pound Gospel crossover; very few people may have read OPG, so 
they may not be interested in how in fits with Ranma.

I think quality is pretty far down, even if the story's a #1 or a #2 on 
your list.  I've noticed that the stories which get the most response are 
easy-reading Ranma melodramas.  That Ranma/Nabiki thing, for example, 
gets *far* more response than stories which I *know* are better.  I don't 
think easy-reading melodrama is the sign of quality fanfic, although I get 
the impression there are those who do...so it's personal opinion.

And yeah...response is weak if the fic isn't Ranma or BGC...although I 
think that's a function of the comparative weakness of other anime as 
fodder for fanfic.  "OMG!" fics, for example...you have to change things 
drastically just to make the world somewhat interesting.  And a lot of 
people haven't even seen "OPG" or "Soryuden" or whatnot.  

Now, if you write a category 1 or 2 fic and get no response, *then* you 
should worry; it usually falls into the Thumper method of response:   
"If you can't say something nice, don't say nothing at all."

Bah.  If I thought it was good, I'd be more inclined to believe the whole 
list was wrong ^_^.  My best fics typically get only a handful of 
responses...

Although it can be a real pisser if you realize your fic needs improvement, 
you're hoping for C&C, and you don't get any responses because it's no 
good.  Muchos kudos to Ms. Price for reviewing every story posted to the ML.

As always, everything I say is IMHO,

Jeff

****jdrutsch@ucdavis.edu***********************Jeff Rutsch***************** 
I -I -I-I *"She's a kind hearted woman, she studies evil all the time.
IV-IV-I-I * She's a kind hearted woman, she studies evil all the time.
V -IV-I-I * You well's to kill me, as to have it on your mind."-R. Johnson
**^_^**.daed si lauP***^_^*****^_^*****^_^**Ranma Loves Akane**^_^*****^_^*