[PattyP]

Hi!

First, let me say I am not here to rail against the site's owner or moderators. I think anyone who loves LOTR enough, and het on top of that, to create this site, maintain and manage it derserves a gold star - no - a gold crown!

A fellow writer told me about the site and I decided to check it out. I am working on the 30th chapter on my first fanfic, Shards, a primarily het AU LOTR romance involving Elrond/OFC. It has a tiny bit of slash (maybe 3 to 6 chapters later, not yet) in what will be likley 90 or more chapters. I truly understand why no slash is permitted here after reading (most only partway through) too many brainless fluffy PWP slash fics with Mpreg and worse in other venues.

As for quality control I agree! I have gagged more than once on bad grammar, modern language usage, and shredded canon. ("Elrond and Thranduil met halfway between Rivendale (sp) and Mirkwood for lunch!" OR "Elrond freaked out")

The portion of the guidlines I take great exception to is that an OFC (in an AU where he/she arrives from the modern world) must not know the trilogy because it is "lazy plotting". If you have a chance to read my story "Shards" on my website at www.pattyp.net, you will see that it has a very involved plot and my OFC knowing the trilogy is actually a sidebar to the rest of the story, BUT it cannot be omitted because of other plot threads related to it.

Yes, I am well aware that some (dare I say of lesser skill?) would use the knowledge of the trilogy to give them an easy "out" for plot devices. My theory is that everyon reading my story should already know what's in the trilogy. My character brings yes, some of that information to those who need it, but carries information beyond what Tolkien wrote. Even that is a small part of my story in a sweeping, many millenia long saga that will eventually unfold.

I have a number of dedicated readers but sought to expand that even more by posting here.

I apologize if I have offended anyone, and my posting of my web address is not intended to steal readers here. Again, I'm not out to denigrate those who work hard to keep this site running. It's difficult to find a proper venue for LOTR het.

I can understand being turned away for even a tiny bit of slash. However, using an already known plot concept and making it intriguing and yet more complex by the very skill of the writer is what good fan fiction is all about. Denying that possibility is short-sighted.

*steps down from soapbox*

Patty P

[Robbie]

Hi,

Firstly welcome - and don't feel afraid at posting your points of view.

The guidelines have been set up to try to guide authors away from those types of writing that get the heckles up many readers. The only strong rule we have is "no slash" - the rest are "guidelines", and a well written piece that may push the guidelines a little will remain; bad pieces, even if they fit in the guidelines, may be removed.

We don't mind you posting a link to your own site - we're here to share not to make money or see how many members we can get. Personally we're happy when users do set up their own sites (saves us the bandwidth costs) but we remain, and always will remain, a place for readers to go knowing that they won't be reading slash.

I hope the story works, and any users who want to read it (warning - may contain slash) should probably try this link instead
www.pattyp.net

[PattyP]

Robbie,

Thanks for your understanding. I looked for an "edit" button for my posting, so I could take away the dratted comma at the end of the web address, but I didn't see one. I guess once the post is made, it's permanent. Thanks for reposting it.

Patty P

[krazykataave]

Hi PattyP.