Comments | alysswolf: Give me OCs, lots of OCs

alysswolf

Give me OCs, lots of OCs - mini-rant

Aug 10, 2005 13:02

In regards to the "discussion" erupting over the presence of OCs (original characters) in fanfic, I have to admit that I like OCs. I write OCs. I enjoy reading fic with OCs because it gives me as a writer (and a reader) a chance to look at the main characters from a different angle ( Read more... )

fanfic: discussion, writing: original characters

Comments 4

tarshaan August 10 2005, 20:33:23 UTC

Oh, yeah.

I've never understood the Mary Sue thing, honestly. OC's don't make Mary Sues. *Bad writing* makes mary sues. And bad writing makes mary sues all on it's lonesome without requiring OCs at all. There's a metric tonne of canon-character-only fic that proves it...

But, basically? I agree. Completely. OCs are what keep me coming *back* to fanfic, these days. The SameOldShit rehashed again and again? I don't read anymore. Give me something interesting, please... if I want pure, unadulterated canon? I watch the source material. If I go to fanfic... it's because I want more. Whether it's new viewpoints, new characters, new situations, new interactions, doesn't really matter ( ... )

alysswolf August 10 2005, 22:53:26 UTC

I love your babbling. Feel free to babble anytime you wish. *grin*

Seriously, I'm seeing some rather over-the-top reactions to OCs these days. Maybe I will have to put in a warning -- Danger! Danger! OCs ahead. *grin*

It all seems to come down to the fact that a certain segment of the fandoms don't want to explore the universe. They only want the main canon characters in canon adventures and they resent it if they start a fic and find an OC in it taking a major role.

That's fine; different strokes and all of that, but there are many readers who like OCs and enjoy seeing what's out there on the frontiers of the HL, SG1, XF universes. There are a lot of untold stories in every fandom universe and OCs are one of the ways to tell those stories.

Color me frustrated.

jcbdragon August 11 2005, 19:08:24 UTC

Well, you could put something like, "Danger, Will Robinson!"

But then you'd have to put in Crossover warnings ahead of that....

::G::

I love you. *heart* embyquinn August 27 2005, 05:10:29 UTC

As one who often writes OCs into fanfic--and is very, very careful to make the OCs both human and believable--I deeply appreciate your speaking out in favor of them.

Particularly since I've been fighting an uphill struggle as of late with my HL fanfic...though the feedback I've gotten makes the struggle worthwhile.