I better add my 2 yen to this before this thread gets banned... for this
thread is a very good one.
I came to the FFML in hopes of receiving some help with my writing. I
have indeed received what I must consider invaluable help in this
regard. In addition to that help, I have also been the recipient of
complaints which fell well outside the limits of what may rightly be
considered commentary and criticism. The overwhelming majority of the
latter were in private and more than one was vituperative. I have also
received much in the way of praise and encouragement from the FFML
membership, the majority of which was also sent to me in private. On
balance though, my experience with FFML has been negative.
Indeed, there are people who will dislike what someone writes, however,
there are also people that -like- what you write. A person who believes that
they can write a story that pleases everyone is only fooling themselves.
However, something to keep in mind is that people go to a LOT of hard work
on these fanfics, whether they be a half-baked plot, or a 'wish-fulfilling'
self insert (c'mon... we've all been tempted to write one at some time in
our literary lives). When I reply to someone or comment on their work, I try
to be positive whenever possible. I stay -light years- away from being
negative because, in my mind, writing is fragile, and it doesn't take much
to discourage a timid author to decide to abandon their work, no matter how
good it is. There are countless fanfics out there which I LOVED, yet have
never been (and possibly never will be) finished because the author either
lost interest or lost confidence in their work. Negative comments and
negative C&C is counter productive.
Regardless, there will be people who feel it is their -DUTY- to point the
flaws in someone's work. On the other hand, one reader's flaw might be
another writer's piece to a wider puzzle or perhaps even to a side story.
While I do not claim to have been mistreated, I have been witness to the
outright mistreatment of beginners other than myself here on the FFML.
Beginners make mistakes. That is why they come here, to get help in
correcting their mistakes. So here is my question, Ladies and Gentlemen:
It's very hard for a beginner to grab a foothold in FFML, IRC, Newsgroups,
and other such things. It's basically 'Trial by Fire'. The problem is that
most veterans hold everyone else to a high standard, and expect everyone to
meet that standard without objection. It's not the most nurturing way to
learn the ropes, but I will admit, it works, albeit painfully. Sadly, I
doubt that will change anytime soon.
How is it that a matter of plot choice constitutes a mistake?
There is no such thing as a plot choice mistake. There are, however, plot
hole mistakes... and it is the duty of a C&Cer to point out potential plot
holes, or OOC problems. Then again, one person's idea of 'in character'
might not match another's, so take it with a grain of salt. :)
Self-Insertion? Who cares? You have seen too many of them you cry? So?
Does that not mean that you should know how to write a good,
self-insertion piece and be able to help a beginner with such a work?
Self inserts are fine... so long as the story doesn't start to revolve
entirely around this 'new' character, and this 'new' character doesn't have
super powers and the ability to behead Saffron with a finger flick or
convince Ranma's girl side to have this 'new' character's child, etc. That's
not a story. That's a wet dream.
However, I APPLAUD self inserts that actually have a thoughtful story behind
them (and don't have ANY of the above criteria in them) and there are some
out there.
A Ranma1/2 story that "fixes" everything. So? Oh, you mean you have seen
too many of those as well? That means you should be able to help a new
author write a superbly entertaining one, right?
Well... it's just that 'fix' plots have been done over and over and over...
almost as many times as the 'Ranma gets stuck' or 'Ranma gets pregnant'
plots. People still do them, and I still read them, and I still like them.
Why do people still do them? Because there's so many creative and wonderful
ideas on HOW to solve all of Ranma's problems. That's the fun of it! Sure,
you can write a story that fixes everything, or a story where Ranma gets
pregnant about fifty times over, but if that's the sum of the story, it'll
suck hardcore. The REAL story is in HOW those problems got fixed, or what
possibly could've possessed Ranma to do the nasty with fifty men.
Now I am informed that a story based upon the Ranma1/2 stories must fall
completely within the realm of "Martial Arts Sex Farce," for it to be of
any entertainment value or, by some other criterion unknown by me, to be
somehow acceptable to veteran members. "Martial Arts Sex Farce" strikes
me as being a rather narrowly specialized field of writing. Further, I
must admit to being deeply puzzled by this emerging rule, inasmuch as
several of the more popular works based upon the Ranma1/2 stories are
nothing of the kind. Is this now the emerging consensus? Must we
indeed attempt to be self-made clones of Takahashi Rumiko before we can
expect help with works based upon these characters?
Martial arts sex farce?! Uhm... something 'X' rated comes to mind when I
hear THAT one... but in either case, BZZZT! Wrong!
Sometimes I wonder why Rumiko decided to quit the Ranma 1/2 series, and
usually the reason I come up with is "So she can get a break from people
sending her letters begging her to write a story where Ranma has a period or
get's pregnant."
Here's the problem I come up with. People writing all these fanfics for the
Ranma 1/2 series today are writing what I call 'Pepto Bismol' fanfics. Those
are fanfics with so much angst, conflict, and pain that you'll down a bottle
of PB by the second chapter. Ladies and gentlemen, need I remind you that
Ranma 1/2 is a COMEDY?!?! Not a sex comedy, not a tragedy, not a drama, not
a soap opera. Now, all these PB fics are well and good, but I can only think
of ONE fanfic that holds true to it's established comedy genre. Kenjiko, if
you're reading this, give yourself a pat on the back for your 'Girl Days'
fanfic. Now, I'm sure more are out there, but the Comedy/PB ratio is
grotesquely out of balance.
Here's one for ya... try writing a fic that solves all of Ranma's problems
WITHOUT turning it into a PB fic.
I have one last question and a request for you, my fellow FFML
Participants. Are we participating on this list to help each other, or
does this list have some other purpose? If there is a primary purpose
for the FFML other than giving and receiving help with the task of
writing fiction, would someone be good enough to explain to me what it
is? I would very much appreciate it. I hate to think that I may be
intruding where I am neither wanted nor welcome.
The purpose of the FFML is to harvest energy from the creative juices of
writers for Queen Beryl and her Negaverse. She gladly welcomes anything you
wish to contribute. :)
You are most gladly welcomed in the FFML, at least by me.
Thank you very kindly for your attention
Don Granberry.
-Troy