A special FanFiction-section in our forum?

[LovelyLène]

Well thank you very, very much Gemma! I'm looking forward to your question!

XXX

[Mervi]

I would like to read more fanfiction but I simply don't have time for it nowadays. There are many stories I'd like to read, I have left comments on people's threads on this board saying I'll read their stories and I feel bad because I haven't.

So my main problem with fanfiction is lack of time and therefore whatever you decide to do with this forum won't solve it.

[Geertrui]

Originally Posted by Mervi

So my main problem with fanfiction is lack of time and therefore whatever you decide to do with this forum won't solve it.

This is my problem too. I'm saying myself already thousand times that I would read fanfiction, but I just don't have the time to do so . I hope you'll get a solution soon.

[Ella]

Originally Posted by Quinnspirit

...but I think, this forum is not that mainly Sully & Michaela orientated....as Lene said, she rather read or write about Hank and not M/S...which of course is absolutely arlight!!! But I think many people think the same way, that they prefer some characters before M/S. I can see that in several posts on this forum, that in fact some even don't like Michaela or their interest are not M/S centered. For me, this is sometimes a problem because for me the show is about S/M!!! And I basically only read/write stories about them as main characters. I am not sure if I could read anything else but I am willing to give it a chance because they are not less of a great story!!!

I have never seen somebody who doesn't like Michaela, Tina. I can't even imagine anybody who is a fan of the series Dr. Quinn and doesn't like the main character. Being critical is not the same as not to like someone.

But you might be right that this forum is very manifold regarding the main interests and the reasons why people here are fans of the series. (We have even a poll about this.) And I confess that's what I really like about this place, because for me it reflects the many aspects of the series: some (still a lot of people here) like the romance at first, some like the historical storyline about the Indians, some found certain supporting characters incredibly interesting (this is indeed a huge achievment of the series: to include characters who don't become pale next to the main persons), some are interested in the different issues which are dealed with, and for some (me included) it is all of this.

Well, but when it comes to fanfiction the main interest is indeed M+S. I guess probably 95% deal with Michaela and Sully. People want to read and write about it, so why shouldn't they. It can't be the point to change interests or to convince people to read or write different kind of fanfiction.
So, maybe it is not compatible. (?)

The only thing we can do is: see what happens.
I don't know exactly myself what Doc has in mind for the 'new fanfiction-section'. I think it will be like a certain other section (you know which), we have created for another interest group of this forum.

Originally Posted by Gemma

I think that being a fan of DQMW, we cannot ignore fanfiction. That's why I am of the opinion that fanfics should have a place here. To be discussed by those who are willing to read them.

Yes, that's what Doc told me too. And it's right.

Originally Posted by Gemma

... probably it would be a friendly reader design ...

I hope so, because that's actually one of the points why I don't read many fanfictions: I just hate it to read on ff.net. And before I print them I must be absolutely sure to be interested in it and have time to read them. (I did that with Kruemi's Off Course, the last ff I have read)

I don't know, Mervi, maybe this is actually a problem that could be solved by having the ffs right here. People surf through the forum and might have a look at one or another story, if they have them close by. They don't have to decide to go to a link and start to read elsewhere (maybe just a psychological hurdle, but a hurdle after all). A quick look into the forum, combined with another quick loook at a story.

Plus: People who are not interested in ff don't click on links, but they might have a look into the section and find by chance a story they start to like and read on.

The more I think about it .... maybe it makes sense after all.

Ohhhhh, this post is too long.....

[Lizzie]

Originally Posted by Dr. Slicker

we could create a special sub-forum solely for fanfictions with the possibility to post big snippets, chapters and complete fanfictions in an article-layout. Every reader could comment and rate the stories.

These features sound great.

There are quite a number of writers here, and it would be easier and more convenient for prospective new readers, if they had some spare time and were curious to have a go at fanfic reading, to be able to find a collection of stories in an organised place. And maybe a clearer structure linked to the café would encourage more feedback.

How about a trial, to see what the popularity and response is like?

[Kruemi]

You wouldn’t think so, but actually this question is difficult for me to answer. As you can easily see (when you look at the number of my posts) I like to be at the Café and talk to people here. If you asked me to describe this place, I would tell you that I see it as a big, cozy room. You find a big screen on one wall so you are able to enjoy watching all kind of videos here. Another large wall is kept free for putting your pictures there so people can have a thoroughly look at them if they want to. And then there are a lot of tables where you can sit and chat about all kind of things. Only when you take a very careful look you will see a bookshelf in a corner. That’s where the ff is stored. Of course you can read it any time, but people who come here aren’t so much interested because the Café is a place where you stop by in the evening or during a break so as to relax. I’m not sure if this would change when the shelf would be pulled out of its corner.
As Ella made it clear in the beginning and said it a few posts above again: the Café isn’t meant to be a place for telling/reading stories. That is why I hesitated first to even open only one thread for my stories… and actually I did it more for Mervi than myself because she told me that she can comment only here. I understand any writer who is enormously discouraged by the lack of attention their stories are gaining for I of course know how much work it costs before a story is done. So I understand this point of view as well: that there is no need for another place where you only feel rebuffed.

As to the problem who likes whom and whom not: I think the sign of the Café might be a symbol: you find everyone there – apart from the main characters of the show .

[Ella]

Originally Posted by Kruemi

As Ella made it clear in the beginning and said it a few posts above again: the Café isn’t meant to be a place for telling/reading stories.

I did?????? Where?
I said a lot of things regarding the fanfiction section within the Café, but certainly never something like this.

[Kruemi]

Originally Posted by Ella

because I wanted to avoid these only-in-one-section-kind-of-members. That's why we didn't make the ff-section that 'attractive', so to speak.

Okay, you are right... my memory played tricks with me. Sorry about that .

[Ella]

No problem. Thanks for clearing it up.

[Lynn]

I love reading fan fiction and sometimes even writing it, but I can read it other places so as to if you should enlarge your fan fiction area I don't care. If you have people here that do not have acess to the stories anywhere else then I would like to see more stories here

[Mervi]

Originally Posted by Lynn

If you have people here that do not have acess to the stories anywhere else then I would like to see more stories here

I think most stories are published on ff.net or other websites that do not require registerating so everyone is able to read them. I just wanted to have a possibility to discuss with authors and that's why I asked Kruemi to start her thread. It would have been strange to be on same forum but not being able to discuss fanfiction. I'm satisfied with the situation now. As long as ff-discussion is not too active one thread per author is OK. If there were more posts then it would be easier to have separate threads for each story.

I don't mind clicking the link to the story, it only takes two seconds. When I read the story, I want to read it properly (slow) and that's what takes my time.

[Jen]

I thought the idea sounded fine and that it would be nice for people who create fanfiction and people who enjoy it to have a place to discuss it and sort of promote it the same way people post art stuff and videos. I guess I am one of those people who sadly don't have much time to read other things besides all the study books I'm trying to cram through right now, so I've only managed to read a few stories so far (which were excellent and changed my opinion on fanfiction quite a bit). But I'm also one of those people who think that giving feedback is important, so I would also comment after reading something, just like I would comment after watching someone's video or taking a look at a wallpaper. It's just the time problem that limits the things I can do in the Dr. Quinn world right now. But I do understand that getting only a few comments can be very discouraging, and that is such a shame. I guess this forum is still quite a small community and most of the members seem rather busy, so perhaps that's one reason for the fanfiction not being read more. I'll try to be better with it when I have more time...

About the forum in general. I would say it's a place to appreciate the show as a whole, so there's quite a lot of discussion about different characters and not just the main ones. That's the thing I like here. Of course Dr. Quinn is mainly about Michaela and Sully, and why wouldn't it be, but that doesn't have to limit the discussion to be just about them. I think it's been working fine so far: there are threads about Michaela, Sully, Dorothy, Hank, Daniel, Andrew...sort of like something for everyone. A bit like Grace's cafe where all the town people gathered.

[cooperkids]

Originally Posted by Jen

About the forum in general. I would say it's a place to appreciate the show as a whole, so there's quite a lot of discussion about different characters and not just the main ones. That's the thing I like here. Of course Dr. Quinn is mainly about Michaela and Sully, and why wouldn't it be, but that doesn't have to limit the discussion to be just about them. I think it's been working fine so far: there are threads about Michaela, Sully, Dorothy, Hank, Daniel, Andrew...sort of like something for everyone. A bit like Grace's cafe where all the town people gathered.

That's one of my favorite parts too, because even though most of the show surrounds Michaela, Sully, and the kids, it's nice to be able to explore the other characters more in depth.

[SadieCass]

I voted yes simply because I wouldn't want to put my fics anywhere else. I have one fic in mind that I'd love to write (Cheryl inspired it, I think) - but I haven't written. I won't post it on ff.net (I don't even have an account because I do'nt like it) - and I refuse to go back to the other forum just to post it and have it ignored because it would NOT be M&S based (very few of my fics are)...

If I did post it, it would be only if the people of this forum alone could read it. I feel more of a kinship with people that I feel comfortable saying "I wish sully had died for season 6" to...than I do with any other fans. I ddon't post here often, but I read every post and it's a far more friendly place here.

But I could create a blog here for that just as well. So while I'd like to see a FF forum here...it's not a requirement. But it might spark me to finishing The Road Not Taken...and to writing Color Blind....

[Lynn]

If it ment reading more of your fan fictions I would definitly want it here. I honestly perfer M & S fictions but I love yours. They are so well written and your new charaters are great!