David Eddy wrote:

-----Original Message-----
From: owner-ffml@ffml.fanfic.com

[mailto:owner-ffml@ffml.fanfic.com]On

Behalf Of The Critic
Sent: Friday, 28 August 1998 8:36

There seems to be a universal misunderstanding of the term
'continuation'. When I used the term to describe a certain type of

fic

(such as Shampoo 1/2), I am referring to a fic that never ends, or a

'never-ending fic'.

When a fic has several dozen huge chapters that seem to have nothing

or

little to do with anything important, you know you have a

'continuation'

fic. These are worthless.

This definition of "continuation 'fic" is radically out of step
with the actual use of the term by the remainder of the FFML
community.

I'd have to agree with David: My understanding of a 'continuation' fic
is one that continues events after the end of a series (Volume 38 in the
case of Ranma 1/2). I think this is what most people on the FFML
consider a continuation series.

A 'continuing' series (notice the ING) is one that isn't intended to
have a set ending or is episodic. The Ranma 1/2 manga is/was a
continuing series. I'm sure Ms. Takahashi did not plot all 38 volumes
out when she started. BTW...this is what the 'Best of Ranma Fanfiction
Awards' uses for ongoing series, so it's fairly certain this is the
correct term.

A mini-series or multi-part story is a story that has a distinct story
arc with a beginning and a ending (although they sometimes have
sequels). This type of story isn't a continuing series, even if it has
various sequels (Star Wars would be an example...three movie trilogies
(1-3,4-6,7-9). If George Lucas ever makes 7-9, I'd doubt he'd do more
than that.

And of course 'one-shot' stories are self-contained stories (although
they may have ties to other stories) that don't have multiple parts and
can be read in one-shot.
 

For all those interested:

I consider my Childhood of a Modern Dynasty series a continuing
continuation series. :) Of course, I do have an end in mind, but don't
know when I'll get there (60 years to cover and all). So if you want to
get REALLY picky it's a mini-series that will probably have sequels (but
can >20 parts be considered a MINI-series?) :)

Garden of Eva is a mini-series, but probably will have several sequels
(at least that's my plan). So it's more like a continuing series than a
mini-series also.

Labels are nice to use to identify something quickly, but using the same
labels helps.

--
Jim Lazar

E-Mail - mailto:jimlazar@earthlink.net
Home - http://home.earthlink.net/~jimlazar
FanFiction - http://home.earthlink.net/~jimlazar/anime

"You made Akane whose daughter?!?!"
"Genma's."
"Has she hit you with her mallet yet?"
"Several times, actually."