On Mon, 24 Jun 1996, Martin Bennett wrote:

On Sun, 23 Jun 1996, Richard D. Lawson wrote:

[Snip!]

Here's a thought, though...

What if someone adds a character that is NOT them and is pure fiction? Is 
that okay? Or is it really just the same as an author fics? Opinions?

In Fanfiction you have to work with the fact that anyone who picks it up 
is expecting to read about characters and situations that they already 
know to some degree.

When introducing your own characters the thing that often turns people 
off is that you choose to have the story revolve around *YOUR* character(s)
and the characters the reader was wanting to read about become nothing 
more than a supporting cast.

There are two ways to deal with this:
1>	Set up a sufficiently interesting situation and write well enough 
to hold the readers interest.
2>	Keep your character(s) under control and make sure that they do 
not become the center of the story.  Keep them as the supporting cast.

The great problem is that too many authors assume that solution one 
applies automatically because - TO THEM - the character(s) and situation 
ARE interesting.  It is so easy to assume that because it is interesting 
to you, it is interesting to everyone.  An overly parochial view.

Don't assume this.  Work at making it true.  One of the measures of a 
writer is *MAKING* the reader think that what you are describing is 
appropriate and entertaining.

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"The Major"                     |  "Funny Games, Strange Cartoons, Confusing
David Bateson                   |     Computers and too many Books!  No 
                                |     wonder you're weird."
major@yoyo.cc.monash.edu.au     |       - My Sister.
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