The Old Glamour of fics, lost.

[Splush]

Well lately I have been spending A LOT of time reading old fan fictions on the old sites (SymbolicAgony, Jenga's Library, FF.NET, and so on). While doing all this I came to a conclusion...Fan fictions are nowhere as good as they used to be. Reading these old fics I feel like I am teleported into the past it’s completely different, the vibe and the writing quality is so much better.

With the archives there was a certain amount of quality expected, now with RB and PRN anyone can write and post a fic, and not everyone can do it successfully. Even if one does it is lost among the crap. Even more saddening are fans are accepting these pieces of shit giving review such as “OmgooD!! This tis’ grAET update Suun!?!!”, and giving these writers confidence in there so called talent.

This thread really doesn’t have a purpose, I am just ranting….Truth to be told, I miss the old fandom completely, when I was first introduced to it 3 years ago, I was awed…now I am disappointed.



Does anyone agree with me?

[Ryuranger]

Yes.

I think boards like this are part of the reason fan-fics suck compared to the Ellen Brand days. People sit at a computer. They type a little bit of a story. They copy and paste to post as they go.

Back in the Ellen Brand era, authors crafted a story and finished it before posting. They thought in terms of plot, characters and story. They took time and care. Then they polished their stories and e-mailed them to Angel Grove Youth Center, Jenga's Library or where-ever.

The key is, Brand and her people took time to make a story. They never settled for making "Power Rangers: Overdone Zodiac Team," "Power Rangers Twisted Metal," or "Power Rangers:Ass Munch." They wrote "Personality Conflicts," "All I Want for Christmas," and "The Fan is Mighter than the Sword."

They wrote stories.

[ModrnEerie]

Then stop bitching and do something about it, if it concerns you so.

[Eternal]

Lemme thrown in my two cents ... they're just stories. That's it. Wish I had time to read them and write them, but right now I really don't and nor I do care too much because life is GOOD. Go do something with your friends, talk to your family, do something. I'm sure there's a fall festival going on somewhere near you.

But yes ... the good ones are gone. Not ALL are gone, but most are. What is silly are the really nerdy names some fics have. I remember some stupid title called Power Rangers Tornado Time.

Light bulb!

There should be a new rule for the fic board. When you post a fic, those who are "active" writers/readers here MUST submit five okays for it to continue. Five nays will shut the thread down. In all, ten votes, the majority of yeys or nays rule. Probably won't happen, but ah well.

CT

[Ryuranger]

Then stop bitching and do something about it, if it concerns you so.


Okay.

[Green Senturion]

With the archives there was a certain amount of quality expected, now with RB and PRN anyone can write and post a fic, and not everyone can do it successfully. Even if one does it is lost among the crap. Even more saddening are fans are accepting these pieces of shit giving review such as “OmgooD!! This tis’ grAET update Suun!?!!”, and giving these writers confidence in there so called talent.

Generalizing about how bad all the fics are isn't encouraging anyone to search for the good fics. And yes, I know that a lot...and I mean A LOT of people don't plan their plots or characters out in advance. But I can take pride in the fact that I myself do. Even if few people respond to the thread, as long as I have one or two active readers who are trying to help me out, and as long as I continue to keep my fic organized, I am doing my job as a writer. But whining about how there will never be another "Personality Conflicts" without doing some searching (and you can usually tell what fics will go south from the get-go) is a waste of everyone's time, including yours. As Crys said, do something about it. Either find a fic you like (as I said, it shouldn't take THAT long) or stop complaining. You aren't helping yourself or others by doing nothing to mend the situation.

[Impy]

Most fics these days are pretty bad. Gods, I yearn for the days of the Crystellan Saga and Crisisranger. At least i've gots plenty t' MiST

[ModrnEerie]

Nothing personal to the thread starter or any other posters here--I'm just tired of constantly hearing how low the fanfics of PR have gone.

[Magic Force]

I think they're fine. Not only because I'm writing one myself... but because they are more creative and well written since we have more PR and Sentai knowledge.

^V^

[jetfire85]

To be honest, I only use fanfics as practice for regular writings. If I get writer's block on a regular story, I write fanfic.

[Shoichi]

this is really one of the reasons why i prefer to take an existing series and revamp it wholly, including original characters and interpretations of events.

[Dynomutt Megaship]

"Splush, take your weapon, strike me down with all of your hatred, and your journey towards the criticism side will be complete"

But in all honesty, he's only re-interpetating what I've bene trying to get into people's heads in this forum for months, namley shape up, use the source material, use whatever cannon you can, write something the audience can CONNECT with.

I've given Mary Sue P.R Fanfics there due before, Tribulation Force and Hidden War, despite thier flaws, are quite good, Tribulation Force blurrs the line between P.R and flat out Sentai, Hidden War tries to make sense badly of a throughly difficult continunity and re-writes it's timeline accordingly like it matters to the P.R universe.

But those fanfics are few and far between, the last excellent one, "Forever Red: The Novel", was a masterpiece of precision expansion, character deapth to familiar faces that were capable of displaying that deapth.

When you create a mary sue character in any scenario, you're not helping ANYBODY, recently, the current Generation One comic introduced a mary sue Deceptacon (Who was more or less Starscream with a different colour), the result? A LOT of fan dissapointment, especially as they killed off Skyfire to defeat this worthless character...

Yes, we've heard this before, yes, we've all been told to stop bitching and ignore what happens, but when the P.R fandom produces some of the worst fanfics on the planet on more occasions than most Ash/Misty lemon writers, we DO have to acknowledge there is a problem, and one day, I hope it's fixed.

[Splush]

Nothing personal to the thread starter or any other posters here--I'm just tired of constantly hearing how low the fanfics of PR have gone.

Well I understand how it can be annoying to hear, but it is true. C14, you are right I should stop bitching and do something about it.

[y3k]

Well, at least Zarius is actually making some points this time (and some good ones at that), instead of just outright saying that everything except FR, Crys's and Aaron's fics suck, and that he's planning to take control of the forum.

However, once agian, I have to come and say "Not all the newer fics here suck". Look at Neo-Zeo, or Different Shade of Pink. Nither is half bad, and nither is Impy's Diarys fic (although that's comic relife)

Hell, I'm guilty of using Mary Sue guys both here and an RPG I play (Nationstates, I'm Atlantian Outcasts). Which was why when I finished up season 1 of Olympia about a month and a half ago, I desided to lengthen each epsiode to 10 pages, from my usual 6-7, giving me more time for character development. But there is something else I discovered. I don't need replys, and I don't need people saying it sucks or not. I'm no longer writing for that reason. Now I'm writing because I need another outlet for my imagination (especally since I no longer visit BB).

Ryu: You don't need the whole season typed before posting it. I usually have an outline of the plot, and write fics as I post them.

Also, we have to remember. While it's true that FR was an EXCELENT fic, most amature writters cannot reach that kind of writting imedietly (myself included). It takes ALOT of practice. Most guys who suck don't care much about their fics, and they give up. Others are forced out of the forum (Tasha Oliver, anyone?). The remaining ones either give up because they don't have any feedback, or say screw it and start writting for their own enjoyment. The remainder then either aspire greatness, or just.....hang around....

[Goldtheo]

FR the novel was the first fic I ever read. Although I like alot of fan fics on this board, I wish all ff could be as well thought out, and written as fr.

[Splush]

FR the novel was the first fic I ever read. Although I like alot of fan fics on this board, I wish all ff could be as well thought out, and written as fr.


I could link you to some works that are just as good (some even better), thats if you want. PM me if you want them...actually anyone who wants to read some of the classics but don't know where to find them PM me.

[Ryuranger]

Well, at least Zarius is actually making some points this time (and some good ones at that), instead of just outright saying that everything except FR, Crys's and Aaron's fics suck, and that he's planning to take control of the forum.

However, once agian, I have to come and say "Not all the newer fics here suck". Look at Neo-Zeo, or Different Shade of Pink. Nither is half bad, and nither is Impy's Diarys fic (although that's comic relife)

Hell, I'm guilty of using Mary Sue guys both here and an RPG I play (Nationstates, I'm Atlantian Outcasts). Which was why when I finished up season 1 of Olympia about a month and a half ago, I desided to lengthen each epsiode to 10 pages, from my usual 6-7, giving me more time for character development. But there is something else I discovered. I don't need replys, and I don't need people saying it sucks or not. I'm no longer writing for that reason. Now I'm writing because I need another outlet for my imagination (especally since I no longer visit BB).

Ryu: You don't need the whole season typed before posting it. I usually have an outline of the plot, and write fics as I post them.

Also, we have to remember. While it's true that FR was an EXCELENT fic, most amature writters cannot reach that kind of writting imedietly (myself included). It takes ALOT of practice. Most guys who suck don't care much about their fics, and they give up. Others are forced out of the forum (Tasha Oliver, anyone?). The remaining ones either give up because they don't have any feedback, or say screw it and start writting for their own enjoyment. The remainder then either aspire greatness, or just.....hang around....


They did not think in terms of "seasons" back then. You're missing the point.

[Cmdr Crayfish]

It's not a dig, Crys. Thing is, we do over romanticize a lot. We remember the Steph Moffetts and the Mara MacLeods and the Ellen Brands and the Rob Sieberts. We don't so easily remember the HottieGrrrrl4Us. Do I believe the percentage of excellent PR fanfiction has diminished exponentially over the years? Yes. Do I think that's because 99% of PR fanfic writers no longer bother to write about the televised series, nor (when they do) in a believable way? Yes. Can we fix that? Eh.

[y3k]

Do I think that's because 99% of PR fanfic writers no longer bother to write about the televised series?


Ok...call me confused, but are you saying that all fics that don't revolve around characters from the actual show are crap?

[Splush]

A friend of mine made a good point, we are going though a transition period...the writers of old are leaving and the new less talented writers are emerging...

[Dynomutt Megaship]

Ok...call me confused, but are you saying that all fics that don't revolve around characters from the actual show are crap?


I would'nt say ALL of them are crap...just...they don't EXCITE P.R fans, because only the author truly knows how the characters talk, think, and display thier emotions, most fans of Mary Sue P.R fanfiction tend to think it's not about P.R just to get through it.

If you use previous Sentai teams as a basis for Rangers, then a degree of familiarity will be felt from people familiar to Sentai, giving the fic a chance of being worth reading just on the promise of the coustumes, anything else, be it using fanart or just new characters, they don't connect with the fans and can't be taken seriously as a P.R expansion, just a well written story leeching off of the P.R name like a crutch.

[Magic Force]

Ok...call me confused, but are you saying that all fics that don't revolve around characters from the actual show are crap?

That is what I just understood from his post. It doesn't make sense what he is saying.

FanFics, to me should be based off of ANYTHING that the writer wants them to be based off of.

Not just the PR or Sentai existing series.

That would be stupid and very unoriginal.

^V^

[Cmdr Crayfish]

If they don't feature characters from the program or in some way relate to the sense of a larger PRU, they aren't Power Rangers fanfics. They're glorified sentai fanfics. A thought experiment in creating costumes, mecha, and characters within a prestructured formula. I find these things usually drier than toast and avoid when at all possible. The notion of a "season" with a "theme song" and such irks me. It totally ignores the strengths of fanfiction as a viable form of prose writing.

[Cmdr Crayfish]

No, that would be writing fiction. FAN fiction implies something which has fans. A derivative product based on something we all know and at least understand. I haven't seen an episode of any of these "seasons." This is broadly adhering to a formula and telling us it's Power Rangers without the effort of having the write the characters we all know and love. It's fucking MAD LIBS!

[Dynomutt Megaship]

Some of the theme songs don't even bother to parody any of the older P.R themes, and therfore the audience has no clue what music to listien to.

[Magic Force]

If they don't feature characters from the program or in some way relate to the sense of a larger PRU, they aren't Power Rangers fanfics. They're glorified sentai fanfics. A thought experiment in creating costumes, mecha, and characters within a prestructured formula. I find these things usually drier than toast and avoid when at all possible. The notion of a "season" with a "theme song" and such irks me. It totally ignores the strengths of fanfiction as a viable form of prose writing.

Yes, yes, yes. People who give their FF a theme song is slightly odd. Hence I haven't given myself one. And don't plan on doing so.

Dynomutt, dare I say it but you have a fair argument there. But I have to disagree. That is one of the best parts about a custom fanfic is that you are slowly revealing and introducing these characters. These new characters. Basing your ff off of an existing PR storyline or series won't give any excitement to the reader seeing as they already know who the characters are, what the zords are, the weaponary, and the suits are. To me, I wouldn't see ANY excitement in that at all. Mainly, actualy only, with Power Rangers or Sentai fanfics.

Now other fanfics, such as the Smallville one I'm writing now, on the other hand, I like to have based on existing series. Unless if they are totally custom and are basically novels.

^V^

[Ryuranger]

Magic: You are right. Fan fics can be based off of anything you want.

Dynomutt: You're right too. Most "Power Rangers: Tampon Five" and "Power Rangers: Fuck Ass Force" fics suck because the author does not put thought into them

[Magic Force]

No, that would be writing fiction. FAN fiction implies something which has fans. A derivative product based on something we all know and at least understand. I haven't seen an episode of any of these "seasons." This is broadly adhering to a formula and telling us it's Power Rangers without the effort of having the write the characters we all know and love. It's fucking MAD LIBS!

No. I disagree. Not basing your fanfic on an existing series, is *read my above post for more details* a CUSTOM series or season. Keyword: CUSTOM. The CUSTOM fanfics still have that Power Ranger feel to them- suits, zords, megazords, weapons, etc.. It is just that they don't have existing characters and zords *read above post for more details*.

^V^

[Dynomutt Megaship]

Magic: You are right. Fan fics can be based off of anything you want


No, Magic is stupid and wrong, the point of FAN FICTION, is to write a peice of prowse BASED on a series, not just the barren concepts such as Zords and weapons, and "Zordon's son's daughter's Nephew's fish", it's a familair Ranger group, or none at all.

Anything else, as I posted earleir for the benefit of those who had the capacity to read, is just fiction with the P.R name slapped across it

"Time Force 2" was a great example of this, but the site is down now....

[Magic Force]

No, Magic is stupid and wrong, the point of FAN FICTION, is to write a peice of prowse BASED on a series, not just the barren concepts such as Zords and weapons, and "Zordon's son's daughter's Nephew's fish", it's a familair Ranger group, or none at all.

"Time Force 2" was a great example of this, but the site is down now....

Fan Fiction. FICTION!!!!!! It is custom no matter what you base it off of! Even if you take an existing team and write a fanfic off of them.... you HAVE TO HAVE SOME FICTION IN THERE!!! Unless your are writing a novelization to an entire PR season. Then it isn't a Fan Fiction and it is just a Fan Novelization.

A Fan FICTION is FICTION no matter what. Even if you base it off of a PR series. The plots in the end are different than before.

FAN FICTION. FICTION!!!

^V^

[y3k]

If they don't feature characters from the program or in some way relate to the sense of a larger PRU, they aren't Power Rangers fanfics. They're glorified sentai fanfics. A thought experiment in creating costumes, mecha, and characters within a prestructured formula. I find these things usually drier than toast and avoid when at all possible. The notion of a "season" with a "theme song" and such irks me. It totally ignores the strengths of fanfiction as a viable form of prose writing.


So, instead of something compleatly origional, you would rather see 5 million Forever Reds (no offense to FR:TN), Blues, and Pinks, and the occasional reunion of the origional team (no offense to Splush). Wonderful.

"If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, swims like a duck, looks like a duck, and smells like a...." well, you get the picture. If it uses a team of heros wearing spandex suits, goint fighting robots, rubber monsters with snappy combacks, a non-Japanise cast, and the name "Power Rangers", then it's Power Rangers. It uses the same material, same formula, and usually takes more thought then setting up a "C2D2". (unless it truly sucks, but so could "C2D2")

The line between PR and Sentai is vaug at best. It is desided by what the author wants it to be. If he/she calls it sentai, then it's sentai. If he/she calls it PR, then it's PR.

And how can you generalize it all as "Drier then Toast"? What if one has a good storyline? Does your little rule automaticly make "Turbo" better then it?

[y3k]

Fan Fiction. FICTION!!!!!! It is custom no matter what you base it off of! Even if you take an existing team and write a fanfic off of them.... you HAVE TO HAVE SOME FICTION IN THERE!!! Unless your are writing a novelization to an entire PR season. Then it isn't a Fan Fiction and it is just a Fan Novelization.

A Fan FICTION is FICTION no matter what. Even if you base it off of a PR series. The plots in the end are different than before.

FAN FICTION. FICTION!!!

^V^

You need to chill out. Screaming isn't helping anything.

[Magic Force]

I wasn't screaming. I'm trying to point out the word FICTION. Sorry for those who interperated that as screaming.

^V^

[Magic Force]

So, instead of something compleatly origional, you would rather see 5 million Forever Reds (no offense to FR:TN), Blues, and Pinks, and the occasional reunion of the origional team (no offense to Splush). Wonderful.

"If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, swims like a duck, looks like a duck, and smells like a...." well, you get the picture. If it uses a team of heros wearing spandex suits, goint fighting robots, rubber monsters with snappy combacks, a non-Japanise cast, and the name "Power Rangers", then it's Power Rangers. It uses the same material, same formula, and usually takes more thought then setting up a "C2D2". (unless it truly sucks, but so could "C2D2")

The line between PR and Sentai is vaug at best. It is desided by what the author wants it to be. If he/she calls it sentai, then it's sentai. If he/she calls it PR, then it's PR.

And how can you generalize it all as "Drier then Toast"? What if one has a good storyline? Does your little rule automaticly make "Turbo" better then it?

That is what I've been trying to say to you guys!!!

Thank you for posting that, Y2k. I couldn't think of how to put it onto paper.

I totally agree with you.

^V^

[Dragon Warrior]

Heh, this reminds me of reading the old "Command Center Archives" site.

I honestly think, that the people writing the fics do have good ideas. They just don't develop them to there potential. It seams like they don't care about the characters. I've read a few where the majority of the story is just focused on fighting. A story cannot survive on that alone.

[Aza Rina Shin Ryu]

I haven't been in the PR fandom for too long, but since the show changes casts every single year, this is the only fandom I can think of where there's validity in taking the overall concept and applying it to a cast of original characters and still being able to call it "fanfiction." Sentai, PR, whatever. Bottom line, if I find the story enjoyable, I'll read it. If I have an idea that applies the concepts of PR that piques my interest, nothing's gonna stop me from writing it. Fanfiction is supposed to be read or written for fun. Not like it's ever going to get published anyway.

[Magic Force]

My fanfic is in the early stages of growing. I'm still working on the second episode and so far it is revolving around the Heather/Clark relationship and the David betrayal thingy I have going.

I can't write fight scenes very well. Never could. So I will focus a LOT on the characters' developements more than the fighting. I will also focus on the plot a LOT too.

^V^

[y3k]

Heh, this reminds me of reading the old "Command Center Archives" site.

I honestly think, that the people writing the fics do have good ideas. They just don't develop them to there potential. It seams like they don't care about the characters. I've read a few where the majority of the story is just focused on fighting. A story cannot survive on that alone.


Another good point. I'm also guilty of this. I consiter myself an excelent fighting writter. I can make glorious battles, but I end up pushing the storyline to the backseat. That's why the epsiodes of season 2 of Olympia will be longer then season 1 was....

[Dragon Warrior]

Another good point. I'm also guilty of this. I consiter myself an excelent fighting writter. I can make glorious battles, but I end up pushing the storyline to the backseat. That's why the epsiodes of season 2 of Olympia will be longer then season 1 was....


Don't get me wrong, I love reading the fights in fics. I just think that you have to have some sort of connection to your charaters. I think that is the key.

[Aza Rina Shin Ryu]

Don't get me wrong, I love reading the fights in fics. I just think that you have to have some sort of connection to your charaters. I think that is the key.
On that note...I have an idea. I just hope people don't FUCK it up like I think they might....

[jetfire85]

I try to go with a bit of a different approach to PR fanfiction. The second version of Strike Force had a lot of in-fighting between the Ranger teams. The third version of Strike Force had the whole "Zordon was evil and Kim was pregnant" subplot that brought it down, but I think could return. I'm more interested in bringing in new characters to bring out the strengths and flaws in existing ones.

The other idea I've been working on--and something I'll post here soon--uses an abandoned Maskman mecha design from the Sentai Mecha Book as the genesis for the entire series. It otherwise has nothing to do with Power Rangers or Sentai, but it takes an unused idea from Sentai and adapts it.

[Shoichi]

self-opinion wise, i think if you're gonna have a theme song, change the lyrics of previous PR songs, or just use any other song you like which complements the entire feel of the series. for example, i used Noriko Watanabe's FOREVER (from Shin Kamen Rider) to complement the feel for a recent episode, and Stratovarius' Speed of Light and Against the Wind for fight scenes.

[Dragon Warrior]

Another thing, If you care about a character, let's say Adam. If you want to do something with him, fine but at least let it make sense. A good example is Devin Grayson's run on Nightwing.

You can take a great character, tear him down, rebuild him, turn him into something of your own. But you cant destroy the few basic things that attracted you to that character in the 1st place.

[Aza Rina Shin Ryu]

...'Member psycho Billy???

[jetfire85]

Another thing, If you care about a character, let's say Adam. If you want to do something with him, fine but at least let it make sense. A good example is Devin Grayson's run on Nightwing.

You can take a great character, tear him down, rebuild him, turn him into something of your own. But you cant destroy the few basic things that attracted you to that character in the 1st place.

I absolutely agree. You have to plan to rebuild before you destroy.

[Dragon Warrior]

A great example of a charater being reborn is Frank Miller's run on Daredevil.

[jetfire85]

A great example of a charater being reborn is Frank Miller's run on Daredevil.

On that note, a great example of how to not recreate a character is John Byrne's "Chapter One" version of Spider-Man.

[Dragon Warrior]

or the current run on Nightwing. Way to screw over a great charater and the fans.

[Jspider]

Yes.

I think boards like this are part of the reason fan-fics suck compared to the Ellen Brand days. People sit at a computer. They type a little bit of a story. They copy and paste to post as they go.

Back in the Ellen Brand era, authors crafted a story and finished it before posting. They thought in terms of plot, characters and story. They took time and care. Then they polished their stories and e-mailed them to Angel Grove Youth Center, Jenga's Library or where-ever.

The key is, Brand and her people took time to make a story. They never settled for making "Power Rangers: Overdone Zodiac Team," "Power Rangers Twisted Metal," or "Power Rangers:Ass Munch." They wrote "Personality Conflicts," "All I Want for Christmas," and "The Fan is Mighter than the Sword."

They wrote stories.


I agree

maybe we should do more to bring back good fanfiction I've had a few ideas I've been toying around with maybe I'll actualy write a fic ;) (I might start writing tonight but don't hold your breath)

I agree with most of the stuff said here most of the writing now sucks I think the other thing that's killing Power Rangers fanfiction is general stuff like Fanfiction.net fanfic.net is destroying the communities that allowed people to share their ideas and increase creativity

posting on a message board in this style just doesn't give fics the attention they deserve and there's no farming or mass collection of creativity like their used to be :(

[Dynomutt Megaship]

...'Member psycho Billy???

Please tell me you mean Amit's evil Billy...

[Dynomutt Megaship]

or the current run on Nightwing. Way to screw over a great charater and the fans.


Now when you say "screw", just remember: It was literal in Nightwing's case :(

[Aza Rina Shin Ryu]

...For some reason, a number of people liked to write about a clinically depressed, pill-poppin' Billy who was suicidal and played with guns....

[jetfire85]

That Cestria. What a bitch.

[Knuckles]

Ok, when I first saw this thread, my immediate reaction was 'oh no, not another one', but you know, it's just too far beyond that now to illeciate any proper reactions from it. A lot of people probably feel the same. The time for talking about change, is long since over - if you want this change so badly, then it's time for some action. Put up grammar / spelling stickies, put up power ranger writing tips which contain no flames or personal opinions, put up a suggestions archive if people have old ideas that they can't write themselves but someone else might, put up regular competitions to help writers have something more to reach for ... do ... something, but let's stop all the talk.

Writing a good PR fanfic takes time. Perhaps that is the crucial missing element in most cases - the time taken over fanfics. But like I said, it's time to stop the endless talk. Is this thread going to be forgotten in a week and descend into the pits of this board having done nothing (though reappearing in a months time in the same format but by another writer / reader) or are we going to do something about this?

[Cmdr Crayfish]

I don't know what happened to you people to make it seem like writing stories about actual characters we know and care about is such a chore. FR:TN is barely an original novel, but that's the point. Rob was elevating the show to a higher level. There's characterization in that we'd have never seen televised (Eric's reaction to Aurico's death and how that relates to Andros, who watched Zhane "die," etc). It's excellent.

It's also NOT an example of Rob's writing. His original stuff is really, really good. I wish he had gotten the chance to finish it. Read the original Personality Conflicts. Read the Clone Wars. Read Out of Time. Read Identiverse. They feature the show characters growing and changing and evolving and having adventures pertaining to themselves. I fucking HATE "forever colors," but it's a symptom of how creatively bereft the RB fanfic board has made PR ficcers that they believe those to BE PR fics.

A fanfic in script form, unless it is a parody, is not a fanfic. I fought that for years, because I had read brilliant script format stories. The collective talent of the fandom has backslid to the point where I agree. They aren't fanfics. A fanfic that features no one I know, in no situation I am aware of, and uses nothing other than whatever wanking created by the writer is not a fanfic either. Like I said, it's PR Formula Mad Libs. These hold not the slightest bit of interest to me.

Where's the excellent WF or NS fics that elevate the seasons to a higher level? That take disparate or thin characterizations and make them shine? Where's the good random stories with alien invasions and wacky plots of the day? Oh right -- those require the ability to write the show characters and the larger universe.

The show changes annually. I can accept that. I don't like it a lot, but I accept it. However, it doesn't do us a lot of good as readers to have to practically study to grasp what we should be reading for enjoyment. The talent needed to create something wholly new is much less than the talent to create something justified and established. So yes, I consider it laziness. They don't want, or have the ability, to write the show cast.

And for the record, Turbo was pretty well written. It established all of the four new leads with heavy character focus episodes because Space would have none to go around. It furthered the Millennium Message storyline without a lot of cumbersome buildup. It knew where, when, and how to climax for maximum drama. We rag on Turbo? I don't think we had a better "still living in the real world" PR until Dino Thunder. Turbo was structured better than most fanfics in this fandom.

[Dragon Warrior]

Now when you say "screw", just remember: It was literal in Nightwing's case :(

That was devin acting out not only her fantasy but also her life.

[Aza Rina Shin Ryu]

I don't think it's the inability to write about the show's cast. Other fandoms do that, both very well and very, very terribly.

Perhaps the fans have gotten used to the yearly cast changes? So, instead of getting attached to characters since the characters will only be around for a season and maybe a teamup, they've grown more attached to the concept instead. Ergo, they write about the concept instead of the show's characters because the show's characters are unenduring.

The bottom line, I think, is that the annual new characters and the annual new plots don't have the same impact on the audience that they used to. Fans -- anyone, actually -- will only write what means something to them.

Notice, however, that people still write about the original cast. And the Phantom Ranger.

[Cmdr Crayfish]

I just find it odd is all. DT has a pretty active ficdom on ff.net, not that most are any good. NS ficdom is largely confined to CHT, but that's still lively. WF really had none. TF had a slew of fics, but most of TF's better writers folded into later seasons. Now the only people left doing dedicated TF work are Shirley Chong and Rachel Trench.

RB's fanfics really leave me puzzled because they're so not akin to how PR fandom is or was represented on your more proper fanfic venue. Even ff.net is pretty much recognizably "PR" PR stories. And yeah, I could accept disconnected stories if I felt like they had a universe behind them.

As I was saying earlier today, when NS reveals Shimazu ruled Asia two thousand years ago, the PRU just grew and evolved. We learned something. When a faux-sentai does it there isn't anything gleamed beyond the narrow aspects by which it pertains to the leads. I mean, am I wrong? Do writers of faux-sentais have universes? Teamups? Do they care about adhering to the PRU prior to the creation of their teams? Disconnected as PR might be at times, the PRU is still the star of its own series.

I suppose I could blame Dairenn Lombard for Astroranger, but even he made a dedicated effort to sell it to the audiences at face value in the style of a Toei program. That also was a faux-sentai marketed to sentai fans, not being marketed as a Power Rangers fic, under the PR banner. Is that what bugs me?

[Cmdr Crayfish]

That isn't to say Rach and Shirley aren't good writers, just that they never moved on to another season. Oy.

[Aza Rina Shin Ryu]

There isn't really much that anyone can do about it. When newer fans are inducted into the fandom, many have not seen the entire series, and therefore they don't kow how everything works. Whether or not they want to find out how it works, that's up to them. It won't stop them from writing what they want to write. I think...maybe it's these new people/people who haven't seen every season who are writing these sentai-ish fics? Many of the older fanfic writers who've been around since the beginning have probably moved on as each new cast is introduced and disposed of. Sure, many seasons have their fanfic camp, but quite a few of those are people who care more about that specific cast than the PRU itself. Sad, perhaps, but I think that's the case.

[HurricaneBlack]

I want good, solid storytelling. I want a plot that captures my attention and keeps me hooked throughout the entire story. I want to feel a mixture of emotions when I'm reading a story. I'm not saying that there aren't any good writers here at RB because there are but the amount is somewhat low. It's obvious to tell who plans out their stories and who doesn't.

I think writing fanfiction centered around the yearly cast changes is easier for people to write, especially the newer fans. Continuity may be what holds them back from writing something centered around...say, the Mighty Morphin' era. There're backstories, character quirks, etc. that we learned in those first three years and then some. It's less of a hassle to write something that's had a had a year to be developed compared to 3+ years.

I hope I made a point. I think I may have confused myself. lol

[ModrnEerie]

I'll make certain threads as stickies just to help out newcomers.

What do I think as far as original fanfics are concerned? I like them. I HAD one, which I focused on for around six years. Granted it wasn't showing the best of my abilities, it was still fun. I enjoyed sitting around and thinking up stories...how to send my very own team of rangers from earth, to the sky, to an alternate dimension, to space, and to hell and back. It was fun to sit at my desk and think of cool-looking zords, rangers, weapons, and villains--no matter how bad people thought they looked. I wasn't really trying to please anyone, I was just doing it for myself because I wanted to, and I had a good time doing it. People who make their own original fanfics should just do it for themselves, and not to become a big popular writer.

Oh, and making themesongs, opening sequences, and "casting calls" for your fanfics is a totally retarded thing to do. Don't do it. You'll never have your own TV show.

[HurricaneBlack]

Right. You took the words right out my mouth. I despise casting calls. Not only is that taking the easy way out, but how are you supposed to accurately portray a character you didn't have a hand in creating? Especially when it's something like:

Name: Bob
Hair: Brown
Bio: Likes to play soccer at Reefside.

o.O

[Knuckles]

I'll make certain threads as stickies just to help out newcomers.

Thank you. Aza's 'character resume' thread is a good start. There should also be a link in one of these stickies to that 'Writers Guide to the PR Universe' that I hear so much about.

[jetfire85]

http://www.rovang.org/wg/wgindex.htm is the link to the Writer's Guide if you need it.

[ModrnEerie]

PM me with any links to info pages.