Sorry if this gets received twice.

At 09:06 PM 4/17/97 -0700, you wrote:

	So, those are what's on my plate, at one level or another.  I just 
can't decide which one to go with first: the space-Ranma really grips me,
since I can just see the suspense in my head; I feel that the ultra-
normal otaku gets cursed and loses his/her memories story has some good 
drama, some really touching stuff, but not much in the way of humour so 
far, yet I think it needs writing; I don't know if anyone else would do 
the UY/Ranma crossover the way I've got it, but I want to read it, so I
figure I'll have to write it; and I really, *really* want to see something 
funny and fluffy, what with Zen's melancholy (hell, dark and depressing) 
work, 'Bitter End' still weighing heavily on me, so I'm sometimes leaning 
towards the Gosunkugi/Nabiki story; I think it would have ample dollops of

fun

and zaniness.  Anyhow, I was hoping you-all out there could help me decide,
maybe offer some comments or suggestions for the plots, possibly your 
ideas for scenes, whatever you feel like sending me.  I appreciate that 
most people don't have much time to read everything, so I thank everyone 
who does send c&c in advance.  Thank you all for you time,

Well, they all sound pretty cool actually. (Except for the UY one, but
that's because I'm not into UY. If you are, go nuts.) If ya can only pick
one, I'd go with Space-Ranma first. I've never read that particular author,
and it sounds utterly bizarre, and convoluted as hell, but if you can
manage to keep the plot straight and coherent, you could wind up with
something pretty nice. (Not to mention different.) Besides, it sounds like
the one you really want to write, and that's most important. After that,
I'm torn between the Otaku one and the Nabs/Gos story. Depends on how much
of Nuku shows up in the latter, though it doesn't sound like much. (I'm a
sucker for Nuku.)  If ya do it though, resist the temptation to solve
everything, and instead narrow the focus to just Nabs and Gos, maybe turn
it into a character piece. If you posit that Gos changes after he gets a
slightly more stable environment, then show the changes, etc. (Though where
you got the idea that a work environment makes you more stable, I'll never
know. Mine certainly ain't stabilizing. My shrink will testify to that.
^_^) And if you do turn it into a romance, tread lightly. Develop it for a
while first. (I'd have a hard time buying it, but then the point of the
story is to show how it could happen, right? It would require major changes
on Gos's part, at least.) As for the otaku story, it sounds interesting.
The beginning is convoluted, (but like I said, keep it straight, and you
should be cool,) but good. I'm not sure about the "boy-all
memories/girl-girl memories" part, but I don't see how else to get girl to
be her own person. As for where to go with it, I'm not sure. I'd avoid deus
ex machinas, of which curse cures and splitting people in half seem to fall
under. You could just stick him in one form with that permanece water
(that's from the manga, right?) That might make some interesting scenes.
Or, if you're good with the zany humor bit, this seems like a great story
to use it on; but it seems you'd rather do something a little more serious
with it. The poker club bit looked pretty good, but I'm not sure how long
it would last beyond the poker table. I suppose it depends on wether the
poker-and-male-bonding is central to the story, or if it's used to launch
weird relationships. (I'm in favor of the former.)

Anyway, advice you want, advice you get. Be careful what you ask for... ^_^

Darren T.
darrent@mail.utexas.edu