-----Original Message-----
From: Nick Leifker [SMTP:nightelf@thekeep.org]
Sent: Saturday, August 22, 1998 12:23 PM
To: ffml@fanfic.com
Subject: [FFML] Another message...
Just a question for you all out there.
If you had a brilliant idea for a story, one that would knock the socks
off people, but one that you knew would get bad press from a few
overzealous, overauthoritative people, would you write it? Would you
release it, knowing that it would cause you a lot of unnecessary grief?
Would you even think of it, when narrow-minded people are blasting
other characterization ideas right and left?
<snip>
Gary's goal is to see that the characterizations are as close to Takahashi
as possible. However, by encouraging this 'right characterization', he
closes doors, rather than opens them. My goal is different. I want to
see the best stories out there. I don't want to see good writers give up
on good ideas because of anyone's intimidation.
I make no apologies for what I said. I still say Gary's a hypocrite, as
he expects of others what he himself isn't able to give. I still say
Gary's harming fanfiction, for the reasons above. And I have yet to hear
a response from him that he would EVER be willing to do otherwise.
Perhaps my earlier message was too inflammatory, but the reasoning behind
it has yet to be disproven.
I'm responding to this because I think there's a decent, neutral question
wrapped up in this message, one which others might consider to be worth
discussion on the FFML. But first, I'd like to suggest to Nick that you've
taken this about as far as it should probably go. Outside of the criticisms
about "Hearts and Minds," you've suggested to Gary that he re-think his
attitude and approach towards C&C in general. You've given your reasons
and explained your concerns. Now, that's about all you can do. He can
choose to accept or reject your suggestions in part or as a whole as he
sees fit. Without bringing to bear mind-controlling mushrooms, you can
do no more, especially since the argument has become so personal and
ugly.
Now, the question I was talking about (unburdened from the biased language
used in the original asking, which is meant to beg a certain answer): How
have you (anyone) as a writer been affected by the kinds of criticisms you
have heard from others on this list? How have they (the criticisms) changed
the way you've written?
Answering this may help those of us who wish to offer critiques understand
how our commentary and words affect other writers.
I'll give you an example of my own. When I set out to write "Relentless,"
I first planned most of the story out and wrote a long outline. As I actually
got into writing it, though, a lot of what I had in mind changed. There were
a couple of characters, for instance, who were set up to take serious falls
somewhere down the road in the story (hasn't happened yet, for those of
you who've read it).
As I continued to read the C&C on this list, I realized that one of the things
which drew the most negative criticism is the Transparent Character Slam
in a fic. When it's clear that the author sets out to dump on a character
that he or she doesn't like, that seems to weaken the overall story. Every
character has a fan club, and they all have their reasons for liking their
favorite character(s).
I went back to my outline of "Relentless" and reconsidered my reasons for
plotting it the way I did, trying to determine if I was doing this thing which
many reasonable critics (Gary amongst them) have pointed to as a fanfic
pitfall. The characters I'm thinking of certainly are not my favorites. In an
effort to ensure that I was giving the characters a fair shake, that I was
letting them stand or fall on their own merits in such a way that served the
story rather than bashing them around for petty reasons, I went back and
re-thought those segments of the story. I made an effort to get to know
those characters better, to come to an understanding of them and try to
see them in a sympathetic light.
I have made some adjustments to the outline. I didn't completely change
it, but I made sure I took the time to treat those characters with fairness.
I like the new versions better, and I think "Relentless" will be a stronger story
for the changes. None of the critiques I'm thinking about were aimed at me,
personally (since I hadn't even released the parts I'm talking about yet), but
the critics who made them have helped me focus my writing and create a
story which I think is better than it would have been if I'd written it in a vaccuum,
without their imput.
So that's what I mean. Any other responses?
Grayson Towler
grayson@rigroup.net
http://www.rigroup.com/~grayson/relentless