[Andreth]

This is the first and only fandom I've ever been involved in, so my knowledge of fanfic etiquette hovers somewhere around zilch. I have a question for you more experienced souls out there.

I think this question has been asked before, but I'm too lazy to go hunt it down in the forums, so I'll ask again. I have a story that has a decent amount of people reading it (or they were at one time anyway, before my muse went on strike) but I'm really unhappy with the direction the story's taking. I want to go back and change my fledgling romance writer mistakes, but that will mean cutting major parts out of the story and changing a fair-sized portion of the plot structure. Trimming out the unnecessary fat and extras so that I can get back to the original reason I started writing the story in the first place before I got off onto this romance tangent from hell.

So do I just edit the story and make a note of it in my next SSP and next chapter's author's notes? Or do I delete it and start all over, reposting the whole thing? Reposting would mean losing all the reviews and ratings I've gotten for it so far. I admit that I'm vain enough that the idea of losing those isn't too appealing for me, but I'd be willing to do it if that were the best way to go about it.

I've been thinking about changing it for a few weeks now and I really want to do some dramatic edits, but I want to do it in a way that's fair to the people reading it and doesn't leave them thinking WTF? If that makes any sense.

[Moralanqua]

You make the changes you want, post the newer version with a note to say its a 'Second Edition' and then delete the older one in a few weeks.

or

You make your edits online, marking each chapter where any changes occur and note in the Summary that its also a new edition thereby keeping the old reviews.


I did the same with TB. In the end, i decided i wanted reviews for the fic that was being read - not for the fic that used to be there.

Good luck and have fun with the rewrites!

[Viv]

Eh, just edit. Just don't take luscious Cirdan out completely. Or even-more-luscious Gil-G.

Or Elrond.

Or if you do take out any of these hotties, please post spin-off stories where they all get laid.

Thank you.

[JaneDoe]

[ellisk]

I did the same thing with my first story. I deleted a bunch of chapters and reposted my rewrites with an authors note saying that I wanted to tighten some things up. I didn't delete my original, I just made the changes there. Everyone seemed to be fine with that. I've seen at least three other authors do the same on this sight. I think that's ok. Unless you don't mind loosing the reviews, I'd do it that way. Depends on whether you think the reviews that you have would still be relevent, I guess.

[SpaceWeavil]

[Thuriniel]

Andreth ... you are the writer, you are the boss. Do what you think will be best and what will make you happy, thus inviting inspiration rather than working on a task you do not enjoy. In my limited fanfic writing experience I've come to realize that it's impossible to keep everyone happy ... so listen to your heart's desires .

As far as the posting goes ... if you don't want to lose the reviews, I would probably delete all the chapters except the first, and then I would start posting again, adding a note that clarifies that it is a second edition of the fic. I'm assuming the reviews will stay as long as the story is not deleted as a whole.

[Andreth]

Thanks ladies. Lots of good advice. I think I'll take a bit from each piece of advice. I'll delete the story except for the prologue, which I won't be making any changes to, and just start reposting each chapter as I make the changes. I'll change the summary to say that this is a revised edition and in the first few chapters where not much changes, I'll make a note of whether or not there are changes in that chapter. And I won't worry so much about how the changes will be received by the readers, just write it and hope they like it. Hopefully our resident literary goddess, Ms. Viv-a-licious, can help me get back on track.

And yes, we'll start a queue for Elrond. I'll take numbers 1 through, oh....say, 1,000, and then the rest of you can have what's left when I'm finished.

[SpaceWeavil]

That's okay. I'm an accomplished queue-jumper

Good luck with the rewrite. I look forward to reading the new version

[JaneDoe]

[SpaceWeavil]

[Andreth]

So are you including Elros in the Elroslut label? Being Elrond's supposed identical twin, he does have his potential, you know.

[SpaceWeavil]

[JaneDoe]

[DarkElfChilde]

Caffiene makes me evil...and really hyper.

Er, um...hmmm. Why did I come in here for again



Oh yeah...I forgot who said, "It's your fan fic, do what you want to do..." and so on. I totally agree. Whatever makes you happy and your readers happy. It's your story.

Speaking of stories! I need to write more of mine before I explode from the large amounts of boredom that suddenly overwhelmed me.

-shifty eyes-

Your friendly elf,

DarkElfChilde


(ignore this post from elfie, and call the men in white coats ASAP)