Elsa Bibat wrote:

So, you've got your backpack hitched up ? Let's go. By the way, don't forget Ryouga's umbrella.

  Got it.. You expecting Rain? The next genre is another one of the favorites.

The Crossover genre has a lot of classic fics under it's belt. It is also one filled with some of
the most idiotic examples of fanfiction out there. To create even an average crossover fic needs
skill. Lots of it. As someone once told me about writing crossovers, you better pray you survive
the experience.

   And hope you write about a series or two people actually care about... Birdy the Mighty and
the most hated character from Orange Road?  What was I thinking?

Then something that we've all either consciously or unconsciously guilty of, the Self Insert.
Come on, don't tell me you don't want to mess around with your favorite anime heroes lives ?
That's the basic premise of the SI.

You're a god-like being that can kick anyone's ass or you're just an ordinary guy with some
really neat talents. The first type I personally dislike, I go for the second one since I go for
at least a little realism. Not that I don't like the SI's winning, I just want them to go through
hell to win.

  It's not so easy... But I try...

You've chosen your series then let me tell you about a few things. Always include a disclaimer.
It may not legally get you out of trouble but it's a sign of respect to the original writer if he
or she ever read your stuff.

  True.. I think it's nice to mention the other fanfic authors who used the idea before as
well...

Next is somewhat of a personal philosophy, If you're gonna do something do it well ! If you're
gonna write something do it to the best of your abilities. That's something I hate. If you do
something go for it with the best that you got. If you're just gonna write a so-and-so work if
you could have done a masterpiece then you have no place here ! If you're gonna write a fanfic,
it's a show of love for the original work. Hell, it's an insult to the original  if you don't put
your heart into it. And putting your heart into it is something that makes a piece of fanfiction
great.

  Damn Skippy!

In the best fanworks you can feel that they love the original and they're showing it in their own
way.

  Ah, they care, we care.. It's a love/love relationship all the way!

Now on with the next thing. This is a common failing of fanfic writers. Make your work clean !
What do I mean by clean ? I mean that in a grammatical sense. Look, some of the works that I've
seen come out here on the FFML are littered by typos, misspellings and all the things people
consider as the little things. Well ,I'm someone who notices the little things. A fic is also
judged by how visually presentable it is.

  Um... Sorry?  This is very hard for me to say, but I have a very hard time seeing grammatical
errors in my own work.  I just kinda look past them... I know what I was saying, and see that
instead of the error...  I'm always so enthused when I finish a section that I want to show it to
everybody right away!  Sigh..  Do you think I should get some prereaders?  I'll take anyone who
wants to see my typos...

1. Don't have the fic revolve around the character. This is a horrible, almost always-fatal
mistake. Your audience, as a rule, doesn't care one fig for the new guy until he grows on them,
and if the plot involves him from the get-go you'll have your masterpiece consigned to the Great
Fanfic Dustheap.

  Ah my brothers piece is a big example of this...  First paragraph probably had tons of people
hitting delete.

2. Why should Ranma & Co care?

  This my brother handled pretty well I think, though not everyone would agree.

3. Play with a handicap. Take a hint from Takahashi herself. Most, if not all, of her characters
have a fatal flaw or two.

  Does a overwhelming overconfidence count?  I actually think that my brothers character is just
a bit too perfect, but at least he has a flaw or two.

4. Why are we here? Don't just have your fellow show up at the dojo to train. I mean, please, at
least make it look like you put some thought into it. Original characters need motives, and ones
that don't make the audience hit the 'd' key.

  I think Chris did that very nicely actually.

  Resist the urge to make the character a tragic figure, bursting with angst. This, too, is the
dreaded wish-fulfillment, to be avoided at all costs.

  (Well he's not exactly Mr. Happy, but...)

5. Power.  How much of it should your character have? R1/2 is a story about martial artists, so
it's reasonable to expect that your new guy might be one himself. But how good? If your character
is on the side of the angels, however, I'd recommend halting his power level around somewhere
between Akane and Ukyou.

  YES!  One out of 8 isn't bad!

6. Love and Relationships. There are plenty of single, attractive men and women in the
Ranmaverse. It's tempting to pair up your creation with one.  If you choose to do so, do it over
time. Large amounts of time. If Nabiki is glomping your character by the third or fourth episode,
you're doing something wrong.

  How about Kasumi glomping him by the sixth?  (I thought it was a bit fast myself... and what
about Tofu?  Really?)

  Keep in mind that there are factions at work. If Shampoo sees the new guy talking with Akane,
her first reactions will be unfavorable.

  Well, Shampoos first encounter with Johnathon was ... memorable. to say the least.

  One sign of a poorly-done new character is a lack of people in the normal cast who aren't
friendly towards him. If everyone likes the new guy, you blew it. Apathy and hostility should be
the rule from this crowd.

  Oh great, sounds like another mistake. (Kuno and Happosai probably aren't good enough)

7. Self-insertions.

  Oh Chris's work wasn't a SI really!

If you've been picked up and plopped down in the Ranmaverse, do not give yourself martial arts
skills. None. Nil. They won't do you a whit of good. Even if you have them in real life, edit
them out.

  Oh, even if it was...

Why? Well, simply because it's ludicrous to expect that you could beat any of the cast. Or even
hold your own.

  That couldn't be true, could it.. (He he)

Let's look at the weakest of the regulars, Tendo Akane. This is a person who's been training
since childhood in an advanced, family school. She has at very least a black belt, and very
probably several Dan ratings. She breaks bricks with her bare hands for jollies. Before Ranma
came, she defeated multiple attackers (some of whom were sumo types and kendoists) every day
without them ever posing a serious threat to her.

  I really would like to know... Are you a martial artist?  Not that it really matters, but...
The difference between a real fighter and a high school kendoist or wrestler, is immense.  The
Belt doesn't even really matter,  In these modern days, a black belt means you can perform all
the moves to a high degree of proficincy... It doesn't mean you can kick anyone's ass.

A note on Gaijin protagonists. If the character in your story is one, everyone will automatically
assume it to be a self -insertion.

  Oh Chris's fic wasn't a SI really!

Never come across as wiser than the cast. It may well be true, but this irritates the audience to
no end. Nobody likes to see people blow their own horns.

  This would be so true... But it's not an SI. REALLY!

Try to keep romantic entanglements to a minimum. If you really must have romance, try another
original character, or one of the background ones.

  Ouch, um, but it doen't matter cause it's not a SI right?

8. In closing. Not all of these rules, of course, are absolute.

   (God I hope not)

Greg Sandborn breaks several of them in Nabiki: New Horizons and still turns out a first-rate
story.

  Hey, It's a favorite of mine.

Oh, I don't care if you're taller or shorter than me. <snap fingers> There, were the same height.
Just put you hands on my hips and we'll talk as we dance.

  And you dance so nicely.

Well, since we're about to say goodbye to each other, how about a kiss ?

  On our first Date?  Only cause you say it so well..


  Oh, very nice... I think you did a great job suming up the major problems alot of us have.  My
brothers Fanfic, as much as I like it, certainly could use the advice.  As for my Crossover?  I
think I'll Start over with the main Characters being more central, maybe Ranma, instead of Akane,
skip Birdy altogther (Though I do so like that series) and use Kasuga or Tenchi as the other
protagonist?  I don't know... I just know that no one seemed to like antthing except the scenes
with Tenchi and Company in them, so I guess that's my answer.

  Oh, and I really enjoyed our hike, can we do it again some time?

Pat Olsen, fanfic writer, and editor, and sometime idiot!  Brother to Chris Olsen Serious Fanfic
writer, and NOT A PART OF HIS FANFIC REALLY!  You believe me, don't you?