Sorry if these are kind of obvious questions, but since I'm new to fanfic I kinda get turned around b/c of all the indexes/archives, etc.

When the archives are referred to you mean this site, right? http://www.lcfanfic.com/

Are all the stories listed on Zoom's message board fanfic index also there?

What about nfic? I figure annesplace is the main archive for that, correct? And the current stuff I would find on the boards?

I guess I'm just overwhelmed by the sheer amount of catching up I have to do and I don't want to miss out on any of it!!

~Liz

Hey Liz,

Yes, the Archive that we tend to refer to is www.lcfanfic.com. A lot of the stories that have been posted on the Message Boards tend to end up on there eventually. But that's up to the author to submit them, and there are going to be some that don't go there.

Annesplace is the main nfic site, and she also has a PG fic site on there too - I've never done a comparison between her PG archive and THE Archive, but I'd imagine a lot of the stories are on both.

And don't worry about the amount of catching up...there's a lot, but it'll be FUN!!!

Jill

Yup, you got it down. Now not everything that's been posted at Zoom's boards (and now here) always makes it to the archive and annesplace, if I'm not mistaken, but from what I've seen and read, the majority of it does. You'll catch up soon enough; it's addicting! :p

Just so this post isn't a total waste since you posted like a minute before I did, I took the liberty of peeking in the PG section on Annesplace, and I'm seeing a lot of stuff that's on the Archive, too.

There are some good stories that didn't reach the archives, and some of them are looong.

The Zoomway MBs index it's useful for that. Zoomway MBs Index

For example, you could find the Silly Revellations at Annesplace, but you could read the comments that people made at the old Zoomway boads. Some of them are as good as the revelation.

Plus, a lot of stuff goes to the archive without ever being posted on any message boards...

**coughFromPeopleLikeMeWhoGetIntimidatedByMessageBoardsAndFeedbackcough**

intimidated by feedback???

i think that's the first time i've heard a writer admit to that problem...

care to explain?

just worried about too much criticism and not enough support? if so, you should know better by now. <g>

Paul

The simplest answer? I grew up in a very critical household. But seeing as how I'm my absolute own worst critic, it surprises me that I think anything you guys say can possibly be any worse than what I'm already thinking. But you're right, I really should know better. <g>

I think everyone has summed up the answers to your questions nicely.

I just wanted to address Jen's fear of feedback. I can understand this. When I first started posting (was that really only a year and half ago? it feels like ages.) I was nervous. It's hard being your own worst critic and anticipating having those sad private thoughts broadcast in front of other people, especially people you admire.

However, I *strongly* urge anyone who is a closet writer, to come out and post. First of all, I *promise* you, no one is going to say, "you suck" "this is awful" etc. Not going to happen. You will be amazed at the outpouring of compliments and encouragement. Second, if you take the constructive criticism (and that's the only kind there will be, I promise) to heart, it will make you a much better writer. I have learned SO MUCH from the talented people here. There have been so many times when I've posted something and known something was not quite right, but just didn't know whyI didn't like it what I could do to fix it. But then I post, and someone says, "You know, if you just..." And there it is. The answer I was looking for. They've helped me with everything from simple word choices, to naming characters/companies, to rearranging my entire story to make it more cohesive. Anybody's Baby is a COMPLETELY different story than what I would have submitted to the archives without having posted it first. I love that story, it's probably my favorite of all that I've written, and that's because whenever I read it, I think back on all the fun I had posting it and working on it with other people.

Annie

It can be nervewracking to let anyone else see your intellectual baby, even if you don't expect the worst... but I agree with Annie, it will be worth it

I have learned *so* much about writing from this fandom. When I started I knew how to tell a story, but I've learned a heck of a lot about style, plotting, grammar, POV, pacing, etc., since then. And now I usually remember to spell-check, too

Some of that was from beta-readers, some of it was from being part of Season 5 and seeing the behind-the-scenes editing comments on each ep, and some of it was from comments folders and private feedback.

And I promise, we're very nice to new writers. Well, except for the fact that we'll nag you to death to post more...

PJ

Speaking of Anybody's Baby, Annie, I finished it this afternoon. No fair making me almost cry in the carpool line (waiting for my kids' school to be over)!

Thanks, Rivka! I'm glad you enjoyed it. Sorry it made you cry, but if it makes you feel any better, it made me cry too. <G>

Annie

I don't mind stories that make me cry -- actually I find them cathartic. It was the choking back the tears so I didn't make a display of myself in the carpool line that I was not entirely thrilled about. And somehow, I don't think calling IAAF! would have helped...

Besides, then I had ten more minutes to sit and wait, and no more fic to read! Clearly terrible planning on my part.

Reading this thread has made me want to post my fic here! However, since its for a completely different fandom, not even original fic, I can't! *sigh* I suppose this means I'll have to write some L&C. I *did* have an interesting premise for a story, but I don't have the RL knowledge to do it.

Loriel (who did start an original fic but has no idea where to take it (story wise) and doesn't even have enough to post to ask for opinions! )

Works for me, Loriel.

Well, that's where your very own personal research department comes in handy. You can either post here on the mbs and ask for those who have the experience to share. Or, if it's something you'd rather not post <g>, post and ask for some volunteers to look over your idea and brainstorm it out with you, privately by email or on irc.

Brainstorming is a whole lot of fun and usually pretty darn useful for getting a story out of the doldrums.

LabRat

You can also do a lot of good old fashioned research on the internet. It's amazing what you can find by googling something.

I've found myself looking at websites that I never imagined myself looking at. Yesterday I was looking at pictures of guns and what different models look like and how they work. This is not something that the average 20-year-old female college student from Seattle looks at, but it was all for the sake of a story.

~Anna

This brings up another good point. Don't ever hesitate to ask for help on the boards. Whether you need help with grammar, characterization, plot development or fact checking, there is bound to be someone here who can (and will) help you. One of the many wonderful benefits of having such a diverse group of friends here, is that we have built in experts. You would not believe some of the random (but useful) knowledge people here have. And if people don't know, they can almost always point you in the direction of someone who does or a web site that can explain it.

And this...

If you have a vague idea, that's enough. Every story starts with one mental picture ... one question ... one something. You wouldn't believe some of the stories I've asked for help with. "Hey guys, what if Lois had to babysit? What do you think would happen?" or "Does anyone remember that Paul guy Lois talked about? She dated him in college right? I wonder what ever happened to him...." Trust me, it's worth asking for help.


Annie

LOL, Anna. How true. I'm still convinced I'm on the CIA's most wanted list after some of the sites I had to check out for Masques. After guns, tasers, psychological torture, kidnapping, Stockholm Syndrome and ether-based drugs and how quickly they can knock someone out, I think they were probably tracking my movements.


LabRat

ROTFL Labby! I don't doubt it. And my next WIP, although not nearly to Masques porportions, will be much worse than EAJ. I just might be joining you on that list.

~Anna (who hopes that posting that tinyest little tidbit about her next WIP won't bring out the anti-angst shears)

Hearing you guys talk, makes me anxious to read the stories you are talking about. So get out the pens and notebooks (or get those typing fingers in gear, depending on how you prefer to get the first draft down) and WRITE...

I know from my own experience (and I'm sure there are others with similar experiences) that you can talk and talk about your story ideas all you want, but when you actually start getting them captured on paper or WORD .doc, it makes your muse sit up and realize she needs to get to work. (Um, I won't repeat my story from the thread about 'what was your first fanfic' - if you want, you can go have a look...)

Melisma (slinking shyly back under her Rock to see what you all will come up with)

I might go and post the beginning of my orginal fic. Will need to fill in some names and stuff first, and if you read it, beware, it may get edited, and/or may languish in the Land of the Unfinished til at least the Summer Holidays (love Uni for that very reason! ).

If you want to see my L&C idea, I started a new thread here , come over and join me!

Loriel

PS. Anna, I'll send after you if you keep teasing us like that!

Wow. I'm not the only one who cried at her own story. I've actually had to put my notebook aside to compose myself before going back to it and that was in the waiting room at the dealership while my car was being serviced. I hate it when that kind of stuff happens in public.

lol, labby. i know that feeling. i was BRing PttC for sarah and, at one point, ended up sifting through sites looking for information on the assembly, parts, and triggering mechanisms of nuclear bombs. not sure if that's worse than your list or not... quality vs quantity.. hmm...

as for annie and anne... makes me glad i'm primarily a comedy writer. i've never cried about my own stories (never believed in catharsis, anyway...), but i have laughed at them on occasion. in a good way, usually.

Paul