At 10:39 PM 5/4/98 PDT, Razorclaw X wrote:

 Maybe I just plain don't get it. Maybe I'm a terrible writer. Maybe I 
don't have a taste in writing. 
 But what is it that makes a good fanfic? 

	

	This is a sticky discussion. If you're wondering why your taste seems to
run counter to public opinion, either in what you read or in your own
writings, pointing out some specific examples might help.

 All over the place I see loads of praise for stuff like Hearts of Ice 
or DnR; is the time precedent working here? Is the number of pre-readers 
proportional to the success of the story? 
 Or are long, descriptive passages describing the minute details of a 
Stephen King novel, that grabs people? 

	What passes for "long, descriptive" passages in a fanfic would be
considered normal writing in a novel. Joseph Palmer's "Colors" stories are
perhaps the best example of this. By fanfic standards, he spends a lot of
time describing scenes and encounters. If his work were to appear in a
literary journal (and it is good enough to do so), it would fit right in.
Is this level of descriptiveness necessary? No. Does it make the writing
that much more resonant and sharp? Definitely. Some degree of
descriptiveness will enhance any story, no matter how fast-paced and
action-filled. For some stories, particularly shorter ones, you can get
away with spending every sentence on some thought or action central to the
story. However, this gets breathless after too long and starts taxing the
reader's attention. Taking the time to round out a scene or idea with some
details lets the reader absorb the story more fully.
	Descriptiveness plays a vital role in inter-scene pacing, as well. When
switching scenes, it's important to give the reader at least a moment to
catch up, and this can be most effectively done with a sentence or two extra.

7. Said fic must be recognized by established reviewers as good

	Who are these mysterious "established reviewers"? Taleswapper, maybe, but
he's not reviewing anymore. Even when he was reviewing, he was fairly open
about what he liked and didn't pretend to speak for everyone. The most
popular judges of public opinion seem to be the various reader polls
floating around, though these are kinda sparse for non-Ranma stuff.

9. Said author must've written about something that makes sense 

	Given the number of succesful EVA fics out there, I wouldn't think so. The
fic itself should make sense, of course, and be well-connected with the
series its based on. Something too far out in left field isn't going to
grab that much attention.


Some important qualities that I've observed in fics commonly regarded as good:

For serious fics:

1) The characters must at least _start_ reasonably within character. If
you're going to change them, show the why AND the how of the change. Be
wary of changing someone overnight, as well; drawing out someone's
development over a period of time will keep the reader attached to them.
Sudden changes, particularly if insufficiently explained, can make the
reader lose interest in the character. Character development is vital,
vital, and vital. Don't skimp on it for the sake of moving the plot along.

2) 	At least a moderate level of complexity is a good thing. It's very
common in substandard fics for the writer to focus only on  one or two of a
character's thoughts or emotions. Explore their thoughts and feelings.
Include some of the little thoughts that occur in daily life, even if they
aren't immediately relevant to the story.

3) 	Don't get bogged down in introspection. The only time many writers turn
verbose is when they're describing Torment and Anguish (tm) in their
characters. Keeping it to one or two well-crafted paragraphs will get the
point across even better.
	Don't eliminate them entirely, of course. Long, introspective passages can
be wonderful. If you feel you must write them, try to paint a full picture
of what the character is thinking and feeling.

4) Not only should the plot be new, but its effects as well. If you're
introducing a new element (a new character, new curse, an alternate
history, etc.), not only should that element be new, but the effect it has
on everyone should be somehow new and inventive. Giving the characters new
thoughts is as important as giving them new things to think about.

	These qualities alone won't insure a good story, and the lack of them
won't insure a bad one. However, good plots are a dime a dozen, and there
are plenty of new and interesting ones out there (even for _Ranma_). Good
character development comes along much less often, and many fanfics that
fail do so for lack of it.

rambling along,
patrick

P.S. As always, feel free to ignore me. I've never been accused of having
"normal" tastes in anything.
______________________________________________________

Patrick McClanahan

Lost in his own meta-hierarchy.

	"We have lingered in the chambers of the sea,
	By sea-girls, wreathed with seaweed red and brown,
	'Til human voices wake us, and we drown."

			-"The Love Song of J. Alfred Prufrock"
				by T. S. Eliot