In a message dated 98-08-08 15:57:00 EDT, AniManiacW@aol.com writes:

<< 
 3. And the only thing I can really fault him for, is that he is rather close-
 minded about fics that aren't perfect cannon.  Now I can understand him
 wanting to read things that stick to cannon, but there is no reason not to
 extend the benifit of the doubt to fics that don't chase the creators vision
 exactly.  As a writer, though not a terribly prolific one, I know how tough
it
 is to keep the characters IC for long periods of time without adding a small
 part to thier character, or taking away something in a character we don't
 like.  Too, there is a reason for Dark, SI's and Alternate Universe fics.
 Take Ranma, for instance.  What plot devices weren't used and abused by
 Takahashi-sama herself, or the OAV and movie writers, have been used up by
 fanfic writers already.  There are very few origonal plot ideas still to be
 found and used that don't make the fic violate cannon in some way.  I would
 much read a "Ranma get's dunked in spring of Drowned [insert noun here]
rather
 than drowned girl his first time at Jusenkyo", before another "Akane is
 kidnapped, and Ranma & Co. rush to the rescue" simply on the principal of
 reading something with a new twist.   SI's, Alties, and Darkfics, just like
 songfics, are a breath of freash air into what can easily become a very stale
 universe.  There is only so much you can do that hasn't been done before,
 somewhere.  I'm reminded of a line from 'Pump up the Voulme': "All the best
 themes have been used up, and turned into Themeparks."  A little leeway is
 needed for the characters, situations, and authors as we try to scramble to
 find new things to write about.   >>

                I understand that there are people who cannot stand non-canon
fanfics but it is nearlly or totally impossible for a fanfic writer to be
totally IC. John Biles probably writes the most IC Ranma fanfics I ever read
and he goes OOC a decent amount. I find that when a writer tries too hard to
stay totally IC, they tend to exhasgerate the characters actions and
everything becomes Anarchy.