Mike Noakes wrote:

        Hi!

        Well... seeing as how I`m a bit stalled on my current fic
(Choices), I figured that, with the little time I actually do have with
writing, I`d get a start on the other Ranma fic idea I had.  But first, I
just had a few questions...

        Basically, the fic (tentatively titled `Let the Curtain Fall) is
one of those big epic-types ones - I got the idea from reading stuff
like Chasing the Wind and Hearts of Ice.  I`m hoping to write a good,
entertaining story (with *gasp* action!  Fight scene!  Finally!), and,
at the same time, maybe even improve my skills a bit.
        But - well, I was planning on a couple of things that I`m a bit
unsure about...

        - including a couple of author-created characters.  Now, I know
how most people feel about these... and suggestions on how to keep `em
tolerable?  Or just try to keep `em to a minimum?

Denizens of the FFML may feel free to debate the contents of my essay
with me via private email.

I think one of the things that irritates most readers about
author-created characters is that they are often used as vehicles for
Otaku Wish Fulfillment. A notorious example would be Crys, of the Crys
Saga. 

When creating a non-anime cast character, it is important to decide what
exactly you want from the character. Is he a lead-in to the story? Is he
the antagonist? Is he important to the resolution of the story? Decide
what you want from this character, and stick with it.

Things *not* to do are to make the character more powerful than the
original cast members. The only time when this works is when the
character is the antagonist, any other time, it will likely turn the
reader off to the work. (Unless you do this later in the story, when the
reader is already (hopefully) hooked.) This doesn't mean the new
character can't defeat cast members in combat or other circumstances, it
just means you must tread lightly in how you present the situation and
how the new character triumphs. 

Another thing to avoid is immediately upsetting the order of
relationships in the cast. Your character is *not* one of the cast. If
you plan for a relationship between your character and one of the cast
members, do it slowly -you're breaking the reader into this as much as
the other cast members. 

Probably the biggest mistake (in my opinion) is to have your character
overshadow the rest of the original cast. When the story starts to hang
mostly upon the actions of the author-character, you are stepping out of
line. A good idea would be to remember that your character is a *guest*
in someone else's world.

        - adding in a single "otaku-type" character; that is, a character
who is somewhat (and not too loosely) patterned on yours truly.  Now I
know that, personally, I tend to delete 90% of fics with that type of
character; is that generally true for most readers?  Or can I expect some
leeway?

If your otaku character is based on you, then limit his abilites to what
you are capable of. This may not sound like much fun, but let's face it,
this is exactly the type of character you claim to hate.

I hope this helps you, Mike.

J. Austin Wilde
-- 
  _____________________________________________________________________
 /---------------------------------------------------------------------\
|---------------J. Austin Wilde and Bridget Ellen Engman---------------|
|----------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Super Critical Reactor Axe Man.    | Proofreader, Fission Park Press.|
| Head Ranger, Fission Park Press.   | "Mutants in the foyer of the    |
| Hired-Gun, P-P-P-Chan Productions. |  club! Neat-O!!!"               |
| "Those who have fought to preserve |                    -Cinderella  |
| freedom find it has a flavor the   | "'Motorcycle Cop' is a sweet    |
| protected will never know."        |  nothing?"         -Miss Piggy  |
 \_____________________________________________________________________/