On Sun, 19 Jul 1998, skeezy5 wrote:

Hi, I'm planning on writing an alternate universe
story line for Ranma 1/2, and would like to know
if somebody's already done the idea I'm considering.
If you know of a fic that was written on this premise,
please respond to me privately.

Ranma grows up with his two older brothers.
    -They are not much like Kasumi and Nabiki
Akane is an only child who travelled with her
    father.

I haven't heard of one exactly like that, but then, alternate universe
fics have an alarming tendancy to be easily forgettable. They appear in
great numbers, and disappear almost in immediately.

The usual gang of malcontents in the Keep of the Four Worlds on Kmuck
were discussing this very fact, and we came to the conclusion that the
main failing of the average alt-universe fic is that it starts with an
idea: what if Ukyou had been a better martial artist than Ranma, what if
Nabiki didn't exist and Akane managed the family finances, etc. Then they
retell the manga based on this change. This is dull and boring. After the
initial novelty wears off, the readers fall asleep.
 
The vital difference between a failed and successful alt-universe fic
seems to be a driving goal/plotline that pulls the reader along and keeps
them interested. Examples:

Careful Destiny: Ranma wants to get it on with Akane. Will Ranma get it on
with Akane? How will Ranma get it on with Akane, considering the obstacles
in his path?

Here, instead of relying upon the rather flat 'Ranma has a sister now!
Gosh! Her name's 'Ranko'!' gimmick, the author has given Ranma an ultimate
goal to work towards, which gets us interested and involved. Takahashi's
series was not working towards a goal, but you aren't as cool as
Takahashi-sensei.

Ill Met By Starlight: Ranma wants to (get it on? kill? something else?)
Akane. Just what the smeg is up with Ranma, anyhow? Who's gonna win and
who's gonna buy the farm?

Here, the authors (hi there!) began laying on the pressure in Chapter 1,
and haven't let up. If we solve part of a mystery (which we must) we toss
on another to take it's place. The central mystery - what's the deal with
Ranma - don't get reveal til the last act, which is also essential.. Once
you knock out the central question of a series, it gets boring real quick.
Just ask a 'Twin Peaks' fan. 

Complete Control (not my favorite, but that's just me): Ranma's got these
powers, and there's mind control and sex... and sex... have we mentioned
the sex yet?

It has sex innit. A bit of plot, too, enough to satisy discriminating
folks who won't read for just sex. It doesn't really need anything else to
keep folks reading.

Alt-unis can be real fun to write in. I speak as one who knows. Just make
your you have a real, cohesive plot once the gimmick weaks off. It will
start to wear of halfway through chapter one. No, typical Ranma Hijinks
won't cut it.

- Mike Loader
===/\=====+==================================================================
  /  \    l  "For, look you, there is humour in all things, and the truest
 / () \   l   philosophy is that which teaches us to find it and make the
/      \  l   most of it." - Jack Point, _The Yeomen of the Guard_
--------  l                    mike@thekeep.org
==========+==================================================================
Fnord.

Well, I hope nobody has, since I've outlined it up to Mousse showing
up... 

-skeezy5