Dustin Goeller wrote:
What I am about to say is probably going to get a lot going to make a
lot of people angry at me. Fortunately, most people are probably away
visiting their friends and family, and only a small number will ever
see this. But, just as a word of advice to those who have nothing
better to do than to read my mindless rambling, all of this is
strictly MY OPINION! And as with many of my opinions, it's probably
wrong.
Now, many of you often complain that no one EVER responds to any of
the fics you post on the FFML. Well, there is a simple reason for
this. Your writing is, to put it bluntly, boring. Not so much boring
as in dull, but boring as in being plain and standard. With so many
fics being posted to the list now, unless a fic really stands out, not
too many people are going to respond to it. In fact, a lot may not
ever read it...
Quite.
And especially for Ranma fanfiction - if you think of an idea, chances
are it's already been done. Several times. And when the writing is
dull and the scenario old and tepid and oh so predictable, people just
won't bother reading any further than the first couple of sentences,
unless they have everlasting patience.
Look at the fics that have gotten a lot of attention. Take for
example, the infamous "Bitter End," written by Zen. This fic became
popular not only because it was VERY well written, but also because it
had gone where other fics wouldn't dare to go. And thanks to Zen's
rebelliousness, "The Bitter End" has arguably become the standard to
which all 'dark fics' are measured.
Yes, it was well written. But the main reason it got a lot of attention
is because where it went it was very controversial. As Caroline
Seawright said, 'It's only stories with icky bits that people really
respond to.'
Of course, it helps to have superior writing ability. (It also helps
to have notoriously BAD writing ability. Look at all the commotion
'Mr. Thinker' has caused.) Many fics have become list favorites simply
because they were written so superbly. But, the majority of fics, at
least the majority of fic I'VE read, have been, in my opinion, above
average when it comes to writing.
Am I saying that those who can't stand out should just give up and
quit fanfiction? Of course not. And even if I WERE saying that, it
should be up to you to write. There is a LOT of talent on this list.
Everyone (or most everyone) here has the ability to write a ground
breaking work of art. But, unless they realize how they need to
improve, they will be stuck in the annals of standard fanfare forever.
I have noticed that lately, quite a few of people have given up
fanfiction and moved on. I, for one, have pretty much stopped reading
fanfiction all together. It no longer interests me. It seems that
whenever I start reading a fic posted to this list, I feel although
I've read it many times before. I often wonder if I am the only person
who feels this way. Perhaps I've just "out-grown" fanfiction? Perhaps
I am just a twisted SOB with no life? Who knows?
Well, maybe we're the only two people who feel that way. ^_-
The main problem, as I see it, is oversaturation. Since I started
reading fanfic in mid 1995, the main type of fanfiction I've read is
Ranma fanfic. These days however, it seems there are no (or very few)
new concepts in Ranma fanfiction. Though are the few gems, such as
James Champagne's 'Mobile Delivery System.'
I can't however comment on oversaturation in fanfiction of other series.
<snip>