Quoting jlb9986@mailer.fsu.edu:

Alright, I've had this little snippet of a story lurking around for
quite 
a while now on my hard drive.  I have written and re-written
perhaps a
dozen versions that vary wildly.  I am intrigued by it but I can't
quite
decide where to go with it.  So before posting it elsewhere I am
looking
for some constructive critisim and suggestions about what to do
with it.  
Thanks in advance. 

Robert Jordan is an author who decided to write a series in which
people did stuff, but there was no real plot.  As a result a fair
number of Ranma authors have decided to write crossovers, only to
discover that they had no real idea what to do with said crossovers.
They amble aimlessly, accomplish nothing except to have people reacting
to magic that operates by different rules and then grind to a halt
because if you are going to churn out extruded fantasy product, it
helps to get paid for it.  Otherwise writing a story is like fighting
a war.  If you are smart, go into it with an exit strategy.  Otherwise
you'll get bogged in an endless narrative until you run out of energy
and just stop.  

So IF you are going to continue this, start with an ending.  What do
you want this story to be about?  Is it about how Ranma finally joins
the Aes Sedai and becomes their transexual in charge?  Or is it about
Ranma turns out to be the true Dragon and cleanses the male side of the 
One Power using his uniquely female nature?  Is it about how Ranma
falls in love with some female character from the Jordan  and they
have a Ryoga to go with little Akane?  Once you have your exit
strategy, then write your story with an eye to getting there.  Once
you reach your destination...stop, even if Robert Jordan's series
continues for 8 volumes after your stopping point.  If you want to
write a sequel make sure it has a new destination you think worth
reaching before you start 
writing it.  Otherwise you'll be wasting your time as much as Robert
Jordan would be, were he not getting paid for extruding his product.  



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