Geoffrey Ty wrote:

I'm considering several things when reading fanfics. Mostly its just
simply the efort someone put into it, you can always tell when someone
decided to just throw together a few ideas without really thinking about
it or putting forth any kind of real effort.

I consider what makes me write fanfic. I've always been a big 'what if?'
person, as I'm sure most of you are too. But what ismpires you to write
fanfics? About any series? Any genre`? For the sole purpose of
entertaining others?

	"What if?" I think every writer asks that question, that or they say, 
this might be a coll thing to place in such and such anime..and in some cases 
it is a motivator for my own writing, but not always.
	A lot of my writing is based on experiences of my own or friends and 
even just reading something else sometimes gives me a good idea. The idea 
sticks in my head and I have to write about it. But inspiration is just a part 
of it. Really I start with one single picture in my mind and this might just 
sit there for a few minutes to several weeks, festering and annoying me. With 
just a single picture or word or idea, I can't write something, but then 
something else pops in and suddenly I have a point in a story. From there I 
simply work that idea building a story around it. In most cases that single 
idea actually becomes unimportant and is thrown out in the final draft, but it 
is a start to writing.
	The series I write about are ones that interest me and that I have 
knowledge about. I'd love to write a Greenwood fic but I have no ideas and I 
don't know the series that well. Right now I stick with Ranma but I'm trying 
to get a Patlabor fic together.
	Why do I write? There are several reasons. One is that writing is a 
realease for me. I write to get through moods, whether depression or boredom, 
sometimes I write to cheer myself up, it really depends on my mood. Another 
reason is that I just like to write, I find the English language a very 
beautiful and versatile language so I enjoy placing words on paper since I'm a 
horrendous speaker (I give speeches on par with Akane's cooking). Besides 
writing is good practice, it focuses my mind and allows me to express myself. 
	The last reason is really a combination, I love it when someone likes 
my writing. When someone tells me I made them cry or laugh out loud or do 
anything but stare at the screen and say "Wow, another fic... where's my trash 
folder?", there is this feeling of accomplishment. I get the same feeling when 
I finish a job in construction and get complimented on how wonderful it looks. 
It's pure euphoria, better than a physical relationship because this is my 
very soul and inner being I'm putting on paper for someone else to peruse and 
critique. And after time passes you just need this feeling, crave it.. why do 
you think writers ask for C&C? It's not just for the help, they like the 
readers to tell them "You did great! This is the best. Keep Writing. This one 
really moved me..<snif>" And I bet almost every author on the ML, even if they 
write just for themselves, will say there is this feeling of accomplishment 
and self-worth when someone tells them they liked their fic....

	Just my humble opinion...

	Joseph Ashira Kohle

	"To write is easy, To write well is difficult,
	 To write and inspire is a gift."

		-Words to myself