I do not wan>  t to start another thread of spam based on this, I just
want an answer.  Is this ML truly for all authors, or just the few that
are very well known?

	I don't think this is spam.  It is a worthy concern that should be
addressed.  I don't think it is the fault of the ML...as many people have
stated, it is more because the people on this list are human.  I think
Shannon had a real good response to your complaint...I'll just add my two
cents as a newcomer to the list.

	I don't write fan-fiction...I have just been following it for the
past few months.  I admit that I am one of those readers/lurkers that
subscribed to this list to read fan-fiction.  Before this, I had been
visiting archives and web pages.  But I guess the people in charge of them
were not maintaining them anymore (I know it is a lot of work).
	There are many reasons why I lurk rather than participate in the
lively discussions on this list.  One, I am new and so am cautious about
putting my foot wrong.  Another reason is that I am not sure what I can
contribute...I only know Ranma and Sailor Moon (sorry, those are the only
two that I am familiar with in the anime world) through fan-fiction
(thank you all you writers!) and visiting some fan pages.  I don't know
enough from the source material to feel like I know the situation or the
characters too well.  I admit that several of the fanfics I read have
biased me.
	I am encouraged by Shannon's comments though, and I guess I will
try and C&C some of the works out there.  That brings me to the last
problem that most people suffer from.  I don't have the time to spend
on-line (I'm using a dial-up connection and I only have one phone
line) reading the stories and then writing thoughtful commentary. I
didn't know that joining this ML would bring me at least a hundred e-mails
a day.  I generally read through it, laughing at the spam content and
intrigued by discussions and C&C of the fanfics that I save for last.  I
save the fanfics and download them to read at home.  I have some free time
now because I am on vacation (yay! graduated from high school)...but I 
cannot tie up the phone line...also, my server is tetchy these days and
likes to hang up on me.

	In my case, the solution is simple.  I just need an off-line mail
reader (hint..hint).  Too often, I have comments about stories that I read
off-line...but by the time I log on to my server the next day, I will have
forgotten all about them.

	Just wanted to let you know that you weren't alone out there...
there is a reason why I just lurk and I'm sure everyone else has their
reasons as well.


	Long live fanfic writers!

Lan

PS  If anyone knows a good off-line reader, please e-mail me 
	ldang@lausd.k12.ca.us  

	Thanx in advance

<aside to Windlily>

(dragoncritterlisteningtotheDragonsdream@theCelestialTemple.com)

	You're not serious about that e-mail address are you?