On Wed, 27 May 1998 07:29:11 +0800 TimeRunner <keiichi@i-manila.com.ph>
writes:
This, like RpM, basically paints a bullseye on
me, but, well, basically it's how I feel.
About oh, say, a fifth of the posts on this list go
along the lines of:
'Hey I've got an idea, what if A was B'?
Which is usually followed by:
'But I'm too lazy to write it, anyone want it?'
WHY?
Why would you post this? Why would you have
someone do the hard work for you, writing the
fic, and then later say, 'Hey, that was my idea'?
Why not become un-lazy and write the thing, so
instead of saying 'hey, that was my idea, but I
just gave it to him to write', you can say 'that's
my fic'?
Umm, TimeRunner, I think you're whole argument is based on the fact that
people will automatically claim an idea after a fic is written, but
that's hardly always the case. I know for a fact I'd love someone to
take my idea and run with it.
I know, I know, you justify it by saying 'I can't do
enough justice to the fic so I'm unselfishly giving
it off to some better fanfic writer'.
And it's rightly justified, at that. IMO, it's not so much unselfishly
"giving" the idea away, but letting a more skilled and accomplished
author do a better job with it. I'd rather pass a fic off to say Lurker,
Gary, or anyone else who's fics I enjoy reading than write it myself,
because I know that compared to my writing, theirs are much cleaner,
easier to understand, and much more appealing. And even if a less
skilled writer were to pick up the idea, the originator of the idea
shouldn't really complain because he/she put out the idea for public
consumption (right word?).
And if you don't like that "excuse", then what's wrong with the "I just
don't have time" one? I've got all of a few hours a night once I start
working to spend on the list, fanfics, the net, etc., and I'd much rather
spend it reading fics than writing one. If an interesting enough idea
were to come to mind, I'd write it myself (in fact, I've done so once).
But if I don't really feel like writing it, but if I feel someone else
might want to write it, I'll put it on the list.
But jeez! How many times have we heard that
before? You like an idea, run with it! Many fanfic
writers jealously guard their ideas until they
can get it down on phosphor, because they feel
that the idea is original, and they don't want
anyone else writing it before they do.
Let's be realistic here. More than half, even 2/3 of the ideas that come
out these days are basically ones that have been written ten times to
Tuesday. There's a few basic tweaks to the original idea, but that's
about it. And even if a legit new idea comes out... *shrug* Personally,
having two fics that basically are based on the same idea don't really
bother me, if it's a new idea.
Look at, oh, say, Scriviner. He frantically put out
what he finished with Loveletters on the Edge
because he was afraid of someone else coming
out with a fic with a concept that was too close
for comfort (his comfort). Then, when it came out,
he could proudly say 'I was first'.
And how much novelty will come with being the first? Given a few weeks
or a month, I'm sure there will be numerous fics based on the same idea
if it's a good one. And after a while, who's going to know if
Scriviner's fic is the first one if someone's improved on the idea and
put out a better fic?
Now, before you post something like 'what if Sailor
Moon met the Power Rangers' and 'I'm too lazy to
write it', WRITE IT.
Hmm, and what about the people that actually WANT to pick up ideas off
the list and run with it? If someone goes ahead and puts out an idea,
saying, "Someone go and write this, since I'm too lazy," what's wrong
with that? It annoys you?
Or maybe you're just too scared of negative feedback?
Again, why should this be any concern of yours? Some people are
comfortable with receiving ridicule, and some aren't. Is it BAD to be
scared of this? You show a surprising lack of sensitivity towards some
of the newer writers, TimeRunner. Or are you just trying to goad some of
them into writing? Either way, this sure isn't working.
doKuSHInsHA
Member of the #AAS#: Achika Appreciation Society
Now excuse me. I'm emptying my Trash folder.
=====
TimeRunner's Page:
http://www.geocities.com/Tokyo/Towers/7482
icq: 7153134 (Keiichi)
=====
"The story grew in the most convoluted way, as many people will be
surprised to learn. Writing episodically meant that when I finished
one
episode I had no idea about what the next one would contain. When, in
the
twists and turns of the plot, some event suddenly seemed to illuminate
things that had gone before, I was as surprised as anyone else."
--- Douglas Adams, "A Guide to the Guide"
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