I've typed up several email messages with my thoughts on the thread
about the FFML seeming to slowly fade into the internet noise and
then deleted all of them.
Instead I decided to provide examples with my thoughts and method of
using several fanfic sites
These are fiction sites of one form or another that I frequent and
make use of each in different ways. I've purposely tried to focus on
the non-anim sites I frequent assuming most members of the FFML have
seen the anim sites.
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First the FFML
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I discovered the FFML through a search for self inserts that brought
me to a archive of FFML's messages in 1996.
Truthfully the C&C treatment being given to the self inserts and
other fanfics did not encourage me to join and I didn't feel the need
to join the FFML until 2000 or 2001. Instead I was content to
download the archived messages about once a month and send the rare
private comments to the writer.
In the 5 or 6 years I've been a member 99.9% of my C&C was privately
sent.
It might be interesting to note that my one largest fanfic submission
"Superman Unbound" immediately had several messages that told me the
FFML wasn't for that kind of fanfic.
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http://forum.spacebattles.com/
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I check "SpaceBattles" creative writing site daily or weekly and have
for 3 to 5 years.
I have never joined and only rarely privately contact the writers of
the fanfics.(All I have contacted have their own webpages.)
While I enjoy reading several of the forums somehow there is
something about the format that has discouraged me from joining the
mailing list and even actively wanting to post comments.
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http://www.battlestargalacticaclub.com/forums/?cid=11
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I check BattlestarGalacticaclub.com fanfic forums daily or weekly and
have for the past 2 to 3 years.
I've had the main club site bookmarked for 4 or 6 years.
In the creative writing section they have fallen on the BRIGHT idea
of letting each writer have two threads for each story. One is for
the writers story and the other thread is for comments on the story.
I have nearly joined this forum four times in the last year, but
somehow never joined.
This site has fewer and often less well written fanfics posted than
Spacebattles, but the BRIGHT idea of splitting the comments and story
into two thread really seems to work and might be why I have nearly
join this site and not the bigger and less specialized Spacebattles.
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http://www.lcfanfic.com/
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A fanfic archive site for Lois & Clark fanfics I check this weekly
and at least 2 to 4 times a month go through the archives for old
fanfics.
I've contacted several of the writers and have actually attempted to
submitted a fanfic to this site.
There are 2 or 3 Superman Forums that are unofficially closely
associated with the website, but I almost never visit those.
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http://www.grandt.com/XanderZone/stories/index.php
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A fanfic archive site focusing on Xander from Buffy the vampire
slayer I've had it bookmarked for about 3 years and check it maybe
three times a month. I've never sent C&C to any of the writers that
post there.
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http://p087.ezboard.com/bdrunkardswalkforums
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This has been bookmarked for at least ?5? years and I post and read
from this forum nearly daily.
I joined the site within 2 years of finding it and quickly started to
post in the forums.
It's easy to post and follow threads from all sorts of subjects not
just fanfic related issues for Drunkards Walk. There have been many
threads I've enjoy outside the "Drunkards Walk" thread dealing with
everything from Politics to computers and many other subjects.
PARADOXICALLY
I never post comments or even read the several fanfics or even
"Drunkards Walk" fanfic on the site. Preferring instead to wait for
the fanfics to appear on the FFML, other mailing list or web sites
before reading and sending private comments.
Somehow the site feel clumsy to me for reading and commenting on
fanfics.
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BIAS WARNING(I co-own this site)
Finally the website and yahoo group for Superman Unbound. I fully
handle the website and usually make monthly post of the final
versions of fanfics. The yahoo group was started by a friend and we
co-own and co-admin it.
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http://www.geocities.com/supermanunbound/index.html
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http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/LoisandClark_SUW/
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Started nearly 3 years ago by a friend that liked my post of
"Superman Unbound" and set up a group for fanfics.
The group has about 89 members and the number of messages vary, but
hovers in the double digits.
There are about 1 or 2 fanfics a month posted to the list.
The site seems fairly active and the webpage seems to get plenty of
hits given the small number of members the group has.
Most of the fanfics could also be posted to the FFML, but enough
chapters or stories would have to be skipped that the 3 or 4 active
writers don't bother posting what they can to the FFML.
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I don't know if the FFML is dying, but if changes are in the works
maybe these example sites will give the group ideas for the changes.
One suggestion I'd make is changing the ending message to include the
archive address and any websites that focus on the FFML.
howard melton
God bless
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