Okay, perhaps I should have said "I don't really think where the story
begins is the *only* problem."

Which I suppose indicates that the story is
very problematic, ne? If such is the case,
let us tackle the problems one at a time.

There was no "Alternate Universe" tag on this fic.  It was written as if
to fit into the actual continuity, which it didn't.  Now, while an
"alt-universe" tag would be nice on the fic, it wouldn't fix all the
problems I had with it -- namely grammar, spelling, and general
storytelling.  I'm actually speaking with a more-informed opinion than

The first problem we have is on characterization and
continuity, right? The next is regarding grammar and 
spelling. The final problem is regarding storytelling.


Let us first tackle the simplest - spelling and grammar.

Spelling and grammar is easily fixed, and should
be given the most slack in any fic posting. After
all, isn't the FFML the place where unpolished
fics are posted? I have come to expect that fics
posted here will have spelling and grammar
problems; these are, after all, fics which are
being sent for evaluation. It almost goes without
saying that these fics have technical problems.
That is why I usually forego checks on these areas.


Regarding continuity and characterization... 

There was no "Alternate Universe" tag on this fic.  It was written as if
to fit into the actual continuity, which it didn't.  Now, while an

If you read fanfics long enough, you get a sense for what
a fanfic is about. If you take the time to analyze what the
story is about, you'll see whether a story is an alternate
universe fic or an original flavor fic.

When you read a Ranma fic that spins off with Ranma having
secret talks with Nodoka, then you know that it isn't a normal 
continuity story. Ranma NEVER had secret talks with Nodoka 
during the run of the anime series, and definitely not in the 
portions of the manga which are relevant to this fic. From the
beginning alone you can see that the fic is not an original
flavor fic. How can you claim that the story tries to fit in 
actual continuity? 

There's a huge difference between writing a *good* fic that goes against
the grain of the canon, and writing a *bad* fic that goes against the
grain of the canon.  There's a difference between writing a character
OOC for an entertaining purpose, or just character-bashing.  Some

Alright, we'll deal with what a *good* fic is
and what a *bad* fic is later. For now, let
us talk about what constitutes entertaining
and what constitutes character bashing.

So, what exactly is the difference between something
being entertaining and being character bashing? Does it
lie in the feelings of the reader? Or does the definition
lie somewhere else in an absolute truth?

Let us take a reader who, for example, likes Akane and
hates Ukyou. If said reader sees a story where Ranma
dumps Ukyou and marries Akane, is this entertaining?
Now, if this same reader sees a story where Ranma
dumps Akane and marries Ukyou, is this entertaining?
Or is this labeled as character bashing? Does the
difference between the two lie here, or is it defined
by some all encompassing truth? If it is, what is that
truth?

If you cannot find that singular truth, then it is
safe to assume that the answer lies in the emotions
of the reader. If you will look within yourself and
examine your definitions, you will find that those
definitions spring from a personal preference. 
Everyone has preferences. And it is because of
that fact that, if you value other's opinions, you
will withhold serious judgement of something
because what you see is not necessarily what 
another sees.

So what constitutes a *good* fic and a *bad* fic?
One would logically point to the main culprit -
storytelling. But before we discuss storytelling,
I would like you to keep in mind the purpose of
my message.

If you will look back at my earlier message, you
will notice that I was focusing my discussion and
defense towards Chaos Chronicles' characterization.
Why this particular focus? Well... 

Quite a few, actually.  And in *some* of those stories (Thy Inward Love,
for example), the story was written well enough, and the
characterizations *believable* enough, that I didn't mind if it perhaps
went against the true-blue Takahashi-esque grain of canon.
Why do you ask?  ;p

Here you have said that it is the story-telling 
which really counts when it comes down to it. 
Storytelling is what turns a fic from a jumble
of words to something great and readable.

However, good storytelling is a very rare gift,  
and not everyone on the FFML is good at it.
What happens when a person not as talented
as, say, Mr. Lawson, puts out a fic? 

Of late, I have noticed that people on the FFML 
tend to focus on giving criticism on how off the 
characterizations are from canon, or how the 
continuity is being disrupted. 

Just this week I have read two fics which utilize 
a different approach on continuity, and which have 
the characters behaving a bit differently. "Will
you be my fiancee?" and "Chaos Chronicles." Each 
one has been subjected to criticism regarding
how the characters are acting so out of character.

Why is this the focus of so much criticism, when
it is the storytelling aspect which is the all
important factor? What is happening is that fic
writers are being discouraged from writing these
different kind of fics. Just because there's
something wrong with their storytelling, doesn't
mean that there's something wrong with their
story idea. Or does the bloody killer Akane
fail to bring home the point?

Had the story about Akane turning into a cold
blooded kiler been written with less skill,
how would you have reacted? Would you have
labeled it further as Akane bashing, a thinly
veiled agenda of the author who is trying to
preach or bash a character because he or she
does not like them?

So what if their storytelling was a little bad?
Not everyone is a great storyteller. But
storytelling can improve, if a writer is
given enough support. If the fic is not written 
well-enough that you can't bear to read it, then 
comment to the author regarding his or her 
storytelling, and provide tips and helpful 
criticism to improve it. Attacking the fic's
foundations itself -- the continuity and 
basic setting of the plot -- is hardly helpful.

No one will be happy if you send a writer
away because you bit his head off. Not
the writer, not the community, and 
definitely not you, unless you take a sick
pleasure in someone else's sorrow.

You don't have to read every fic that comes
by. Everyone has his or her own personal
preferences as to what is a good read or
not. But of those that you do read, giving
careful, constructive commentary, will 
surely go a long way in helping the
author become a better writer.

Isn't this what the FFML is really for?