Sean Gaffney
26th June 2004, 02:00 PM
A quick FAQ about the Otakon Fanfiction Workshop.
WHAT IS IT?
It's a workshop at Otakon where fanfic writers and readers get together
to read other people's fanfics and offer critiques and advice.
SO IT'S THE FANFIC PANEL.
No. This is a workshop, and far more interactive than a panel
discussion would be, although there may be authors discussing fics
throughout. We had an impromptu workshop last year and it proved to be
very successful.
SO WHAT ABOUT THE FANFIC PANEL?
I don't know, I have nothing to do with the panel, just the workshop.
WHEN AND WHERE IS IT?
We don't know. We shall update you when we do, which should be before
the con. The workshop should last about 2 hours, as I asked for a slot
that long.
WHAT HAPPENS THEN?
People bring copies of a fanfic they have written, and give them to
others. The others then give comments, critique, and advice.
BUT I DON'T WANT TO WRITE ANYTHING!
That's fine. Just come along and read - you can still offer critiques.
BUT I DON'T WANT TO READ ANYTHING!
That's slightly less fine, but still acceptable. We'll still read your
fanfics. It's better to give and receive, though.
ARE THERE ANY RULES ABOUT WHAT I CAN OR CAN'T BRING?
Yes. There are as follows:
1) Please either keep your work short, or bring an excerpt with a
short synopsis of what has happened before. We do not want to spend two
hours reading your amazing two thousand page epic.
2) Please bring multiple copes (5 is recommended) of each fic you
want critiqued, to prevent lots of folks standing around watching others
read the one copy.
3) Yaoi and yuri are acceptable, as is mild sexual content.
Explicit sex is not allowed, as we aren't policing this workshop for
under-18s. No porn, please.
4) Please type, or ensure your handwriting is readable.
5) Please make sure your fanfic is somehow related to anime. Yes,
some of the people at the workshop will have written Harry Potter or
Buffy, but this is an anime con, we should be critiquing anime fics.
6) Crossovers are generally acceptable, but try not to cross over
more than 3 series, please.
7) AUs (aka "What if Ranma was a potato?" fics) should be clearly
marked as such, but are acceptable.
I HAVE A FANFIC BASED OFF OF AN OBSCURE ANIME NO ONE KNOWS. IS THAT OK?
It's fine, but be aware that your readers likely won't know the ins and
outs of the universe, so be prepared to say why your heroes are, for
example, living with a troop of armored frogs bent on world domination.
THE READERS HATE MY FIC!
Well, that might happen. Be aware that this is not a lovefest, it is a
critique session. We reserve the right to tell you that your work is
not very good. However, if a reader does say that, they need to back it
up by saying precisely why the fic sucks. Yes, even if it's Oscar or
Dr. Thinker levels. No simply saying "This sucks! Never write again!"
and moving on, please.
WILL THE READERS BE CRUEL?
Oh yes. But we won't be mean. We're here to help fanfic writers
improve, not laugh at bad fanfics. (In fact, several of the organizers
plan to spend Thursday prereg reading bad Harry Potter fics aloud, just
to get the mockery out of their system). This workshop is for you, the
writer. And it can only work with the help of you, the reader.
WILL IT BE FUN?
Oh yes. Everyone should have a blast.
WILL THERE BE PUNCH AND PIE?
Probably not, but I think I can promise the traditional Otakon pitchers
of ice water.
WILL SEAN TALK FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF STRAIGHT AGAIN, LIKE LAST YEAR?
God, I hope not.
Fanfic workshop! Otakon! Be there! With fic!
--SG
WHAT IS IT?
It's a workshop at Otakon where fanfic writers and readers get together
to read other people's fanfics and offer critiques and advice.
SO IT'S THE FANFIC PANEL.
No. This is a workshop, and far more interactive than a panel
discussion would be, although there may be authors discussing fics
throughout. We had an impromptu workshop last year and it proved to be
very successful.
SO WHAT ABOUT THE FANFIC PANEL?
I don't know, I have nothing to do with the panel, just the workshop.
WHEN AND WHERE IS IT?
We don't know. We shall update you when we do, which should be before
the con. The workshop should last about 2 hours, as I asked for a slot
that long.
WHAT HAPPENS THEN?
People bring copies of a fanfic they have written, and give them to
others. The others then give comments, critique, and advice.
BUT I DON'T WANT TO WRITE ANYTHING!
That's fine. Just come along and read - you can still offer critiques.
BUT I DON'T WANT TO READ ANYTHING!
That's slightly less fine, but still acceptable. We'll still read your
fanfics. It's better to give and receive, though.
ARE THERE ANY RULES ABOUT WHAT I CAN OR CAN'T BRING?
Yes. There are as follows:
1) Please either keep your work short, or bring an excerpt with a
short synopsis of what has happened before. We do not want to spend two
hours reading your amazing two thousand page epic.
2) Please bring multiple copes (5 is recommended) of each fic you
want critiqued, to prevent lots of folks standing around watching others
read the one copy.
3) Yaoi and yuri are acceptable, as is mild sexual content.
Explicit sex is not allowed, as we aren't policing this workshop for
under-18s. No porn, please.
4) Please type, or ensure your handwriting is readable.
5) Please make sure your fanfic is somehow related to anime. Yes,
some of the people at the workshop will have written Harry Potter or
Buffy, but this is an anime con, we should be critiquing anime fics.
6) Crossovers are generally acceptable, but try not to cross over
more than 3 series, please.
7) AUs (aka "What if Ranma was a potato?" fics) should be clearly
marked as such, but are acceptable.
I HAVE A FANFIC BASED OFF OF AN OBSCURE ANIME NO ONE KNOWS. IS THAT OK?
It's fine, but be aware that your readers likely won't know the ins and
outs of the universe, so be prepared to say why your heroes are, for
example, living with a troop of armored frogs bent on world domination.
THE READERS HATE MY FIC!
Well, that might happen. Be aware that this is not a lovefest, it is a
critique session. We reserve the right to tell you that your work is
not very good. However, if a reader does say that, they need to back it
up by saying precisely why the fic sucks. Yes, even if it's Oscar or
Dr. Thinker levels. No simply saying "This sucks! Never write again!"
and moving on, please.
WILL THE READERS BE CRUEL?
Oh yes. But we won't be mean. We're here to help fanfic writers
improve, not laugh at bad fanfics. (In fact, several of the organizers
plan to spend Thursday prereg reading bad Harry Potter fics aloud, just
to get the mockery out of their system). This workshop is for you, the
writer. And it can only work with the help of you, the reader.
WILL IT BE FUN?
Oh yes. Everyone should have a blast.
WILL THERE BE PUNCH AND PIE?
Probably not, but I think I can promise the traditional Otakon pitchers
of ice water.
WILL SEAN TALK FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF STRAIGHT AGAIN, LIKE LAST YEAR?
God, I hope not.
Fanfic workshop! Otakon! Be there! With fic!
--SG