*sigh* I, for some insane reason, feel like jumping into this...
You know, a story can be a great story and a terrible fanfic...
Unless someone doesn't know the difference. This extreme doesn't wash.
Are you seriously suggesting that a majority of the people out there
know what Ranma 1/2 is?
Mr. Cannady, I think you aren't thinking clearly here about what a fanfic
is...
A fanfic is a story written for an audience consisting of fans of a
particular series or set of series (by definition- we are not counting ALL
types of derivitive works here, just fanfics. A parody, for instance,
could be a derivitive work that is not a fanfic). You are arguing that a
story can be good regardless of whether it is OOC or not. Fine, I'll agree
there- as long as the character is consistant within the story. However,
it does not make said work a good fanfic. And, if you are TRYING to write
a fanfic, that is a BIG difference.
Suppose it wasn't fanfics that we were discussing. Suppose I were an
editor for a magazine that publishes western short stories. You submit a
story to my magazine. It is a terrific story, remarkably well written, but
there's a problem. While you are trying to tell me it is a western because
everyone is named Tex, they all speak with a distinct texan accent, and
they all wear ten gallon hats, it is set in the year 2500 AD aboard a
starship, there are no gunfights or cattle drives, and everyone is a robot.
In other words, it isn't a western at all, but instead is a science
fiction story.
Now, probably, I would just toss it in the trash, MAYBE suggesting a
different magazine (which publishes science fiction stories) that you could
submit it to. I could ALSO, if I was EXTREMELY polite, explain what the
elements were about your story that made it not a western. But, whether it
is acceptable for a 'general audience' or not, I will still think it is a
TERRIBLE western. True, you might find some western short story magazines
that would be willing to take it as some sort of 'space western' or
something like that, but, well, I'd STILL not think of it as a western and
not expect my audience to, either.
Now, on the FFML, we expect FANFICS to show up. This means that certain
things to be held true- namely, that you are righting for our series, and
not just sticking the names Ranma, Akane, Tenchi, Lina Inverse, Belldandy,
etc. on the characters, MAYBE keep some portion of the rough history
(like, say, Akane, Kasumi, and Nabiki are sisters and Ranma is her
reluctanct fiancee, and Ranma is cursed with the spring of drowned girl-
all things you could concievably achieve the same effect of with some
slight work for an original story), and telling us it belongs in the series
we recognize. The names are all Tex, and the history is all covered in
their ten gallon hats and dialects.
For this reason, characterization IS important- at least enough to make it
recognizable as a fanfic of the series it is fanficking to its audience.
Otherwise, it is not a fanfic (or needs a LOT of work), and doesn't really
belong here, in what amounts to a magazine that publishes fanfics.
Well, that's my two cents. Now that it is off my chest, can we all start
resolving to DROP THIS already? We had almost the exact same debate a few
months ago. We haven't been able to change ANYONE'S opinions with this
argument, from what I've seen, since everyone is too stubborn or determined
to change their mind. Personally, I think this is a dead horse, and should
be added to the FAQ as a dead horse- something like 'Extended debates about
the relevence of canon material' perhaps?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sir Desaix, member # 116 of the Knights of the True Fiancee
desaix@sysnet.net
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/7872
fanfics available at
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/7872/fanfics.htm
In the Maryland\Virginia\DC Area? Might be coming?
Come to DAVECON! The anime party that acts like a chibi-con
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/7872/davecon.htm