Do You Read Any TMNT Fanfiction?
 

I wanted to get a quick general assessment of what this forum thinks about reading TMNT fanfiction in general. Not necessarily just here in the Technodrome Forums (since its mostly more dedicated fans), but in more general fanfiction websites such as Fanfiction.net. The fanfiction.net website has over 9,700 stories so far under the "Cartoon: Ninja Turtles" category while the "Cartoon: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" category has over 220. (Don't ask me why they have two different categories, but they just do.)

Feel free to post all of your hopes, disappointments, reactions, pleasant surprises, and criticisms here.
Here are some issues/topics to get you started: The fanfics are too superficial/deep? A disturbing amount of yaoi/Turtlecest stories? Mostly written by teenage fangirls who write include themselves in those romance stories? Numerous original characters (OCs) who fit the usual Gary Stu/Mary Sue descriptions? Any fanfiction stories that actually impressed you and caught yourself reading over again?

What is the ideal fanfic story for you? A lot more action/fighting? Character development? What TMNT universe do you prefer or does any of them work for you? Would you ever consider writing a fanfic story yourself if you had the time?

What tendency do you notice most frequently that you despise or actually do like in fanfiction stories? What topic/issue/plot/characters do you wish fanfiction stories would cover?

Thanks for your input everyone! I always wanted to get a general feel for how more dedicated TMNT fans saw these fanfiction stories compared to much more casual/passive fans.

Here goes...I read a lot of TMNT fan fics because I write a TMNT fan fic. I am not the supposed stereotypical teenage girl but an adult who started watching some 20 odd years ago as a kid. I guess that's when I started creating my own stories but i've only recently started posting and reading others.
It's been an eye opener but usually in the positive sense. I've read some truly great fics by people whose talent amazes me.
Despite the fact that I write a 'ship' fic (urgh, hate that term) the ones i've enjoyed the most have more action and less of the romance. As long as a good understanding of the characters is present though i'm usually hooked.
I like to see the characters challenged by situations that are perhaps more extreme than we'd see in the cartoon and more detailed than we would see in the comics.
Currently on my alert list at ff.net?
Bubblyshell's stories (all good) but especially 'Hide and seek'
Machias Banshee's 'No place to call home'
Escollido's 'The way of warriors'
Kikide's 'Shadow Hunter; Traitor'
Chevy Nova's stories, 'Donatello's spot'

I've seen some fairly strange stuff but I'm not going to criticise it, someone else probably thinks mine is weird, so y'know, people in glass houses...

All in all I don't think I need to buy a new book for a while, I'm constantly discovering gems on there that deserve praise. :tgrin:

Like Blossombrooks, I enjoy fanfiction because I write a lot of it myself under the FF.net handle Chevy Nova. However, writing them takes up quite a lot of my time, limiting my time to actually reading other stories. Adding the fact that I do believe there is a good deal of stuff I don't care to read out there also limits how much of the good stuff I am able to find. I don't care for OCs of any type (I will make exceptions for villains), romance (t-cest or otherwise), AUs, or just plain poor writing.

A majority of the time what I read is what is suggested to me through my older sister, who reads a great deal more fanfiction than I do. We have very similar tastes in how we like the Turtles to be written, so if she finds something that strikes her she'll save it to her account and I'll read it later. I do generally prefer more mature themes that explore the Turtles' family relationships, their battles and self reflection. Occasionally I like the more cute, light-hearted stuff too, but I tend to limit those types of stories for one-shots as I find it's often difficult for those types of themes to carry the weight of a full length fanfic.

When I write I tend to pull from a variety of sources, usually based heavily in the 1st TMNT movie, and then adding bits and pieces from the 2k3 series, the Nick series, the later films and the current IDW comic as I see fit. I like various aspects of each one, so I try to write them so they blend as one long continuity in the same universe, as opposed to stories that belong in separate versions.

Honestly though, I'm not sure how active the rest of the fandom is when it comes to fanfiction. I know there are a choice few who are active that I like to check in on, but it does at times seem that fanart is more popular than fanfiction. That's just from my own observances though, I could be totally off on that.

I try to read as much as possible when I have a chance, but if I hear of a writer that is notable for poor fanfics, I tend to avoid it. I recommend it since it can be the basis for ideas of official material plus its entertaining and unpredictable. I also wish there were people who were both talented in fanart and fanfiction (Andrew NDB for example) since these are the most well-rounded members with regards to creation. I enjoy both Expanded Universe and independent fanfics, plus what makes fanfics more enjoyable is a dillignet knowledge of official material so you can relate to it easily.

There is also some under comics. I mailed them some weeks ago about this, but noone replies.

Here are some tendencies.
*Lack of stories based on the 1987 show (nothing more than scandal)

*The 2003 universe dominates, but the 2012-stories will sone be bore than the 1987 show-based.
*A lot of what if... secenarios?
*The TMNT from the 1987 show meet themselves from the 2003 show due to alternate history time travel (written years before Turtles Forever).
*A 5th, female, girl turtle mutant suddenly appears (musn't be Venus de Milo).
*Venus de Milo appears in early stories (written from 1997 until circa February 2003, when the 2003 show takes over)
*Dark stories (Splinter dies, torture, blood, hyper-violence)
*Sexualization
*Girl dominated writing

Best?
"Duck and Cover" (Christmas-based with Ace Duck)
"The Long Road" (the one of Bebop and Rocksteady's adventure)

I love the idea of taking an action figure from the late 1980's-early 1990's that was never in the 1987 show, and write a fan fiction story about it.

I love the stories that do their darndest to cover the Turtles closeness with each other. As stated, Bubbly and Nova's stories are always on fine form, and I'm amazed at how many stories Bubbly has written, she has a wealth of time and talent for such undertakings.

While I love the artwork and outright passion put into the project, I've found fancomics like "Turtle Turncoat" to be a missed oppertunity and another case of trying to "grim up" an 80s cartoon property instead of embracing it's charm and sense of play. Don't get me wrong, I'm perfectly fine with the desire to have the 80s 'toon "grow with you", but the key is to not forget what makes it as unique as it is, the warmth, the wisecracks, the zany plots, and the ability to get through any situation with a smile on your face, putting the values of teamwork and other things through their paces etc.

But Turtle Turncoat is more an own TMNT universe, which is inspired by elements from several TMNT universes.

I always read Turtles fan fiction because it's awesome and a way to escape from things. Yes, I've written many stories thus far, mostly based on the 2003 series, though I am starting to delve into the Nick series as well and have scores of ideas for stories to do. I do have more time than ever now that I'm not working and haven't been. It's a way for me to escape the depression of not having a job and feeling like I'm useless.

As for what I'll read, I'll read anything that's well-written and catches my interest. Universe doesn't matter, though I do often try to read fics in universe I'm familiar with such as the cartoons or the movies. Any poorly written fics I either skip over or just offer a lot of advice on how it can be improved.

Some recommendations:

Blossombrooks' Tengu Legacy series (she posts as Brooke Thomas on FF.Net)

Machias Banshee's stories are awesome.

Bossa Nova's works.

Anything by Cynlee. She's just so talented, especially with her Turtle-Tot stories.

Zarius's fan movie script is worth checking out here as he's very talented at what he does.

Alex Hamato also has good works.

Connie Nervegas is a good author as well.

GreenWillow's works are worth a mention though she sadly took her site down.

Leo656 had some good stories though I can't read them now.

I know there are others, but these are the ones I can think of off the top of my head. If I think of others, I'll be sure to add to this list.

Most, if not all, of the fanfic I read these days comes in the form of forum/journal based panfandom rpgs.

I've never gotten into this stuff for some reason. I have a lot of friends who are into it though. Maybe in the future I will.

I find a few of the fanfics quite entertaining and funny there was one i really found good forgot who wrote it but it was called Control it had Bishop and Shredder teaming up trying to get Don to use that helmet that the triceratons used on him in the cartoon in the story it is now a mind control devise and only works with Don quite funny

I tried reading some fanfic a while back. I had a crap phone with some Internet so I usually tried to read while at work(LOT of downtime). Anyway having that limited Internet made it pretty difficult to actually find anything. The stuff I did find usually turned me off from the author's summary. As a few of you have said already, the stories consisted of a new or been around since the beginning female turtle. A young OC girl who takes precedence over the turtles. This female usually is written as being more angry and hard headed than Raph. I've stumbled upon alternate realities that just take the turtles in strange destinations. Futures that have them quit fighting and become bi/gay with humans. I really can't get into it anymore.

Well, I'm glad people read my stuff... :goofygri:

I'm currently working on a story, but I rarely read anything... there's so much incest and sex-based fics that I can't read any of it. I have a select few authors that I'll pay attention to, but usually it's more about character development than chopping people up. Or, it'll be about when they were younger... or something funny.

Anything by Splinter or Cynlee, pretty much... their quality of writing is top notch.

I got my raptor character for RPGs, but that's it. She's not in any stories... I avoid mary sue fics like the plague.

Funny thing is, practicing with fan fiction actually helped with my personal writings in school and now with what I do now for work... the more practice you get, the better you become.

To ZariusTwo,
If there was much more comic relief and more heart-warming family scenes in "Turtle Turncoat" to balance out the grimmer scenes would you have liked it better? I think the major dilemma some fanfic writers of the 80s Toon is that they want to make the plot serious or important enough so that its not forgettable (since they are putting so much effort into it) or they really want to have deep character development, but in the process it can go on a tangent into a darker tone that the Turtles can't recapture that cartoon innocence. It seems like a very delicate balancing act in writing those 80s Toon fanfics.

To Everyone,
Thanks for including all of your opinions and experiences in encountering TMNT fanfiction. This thread is turning out to be very refreshing and revealing to read from a TMNT forum unlike the vague reviews from Fanfiction.net. Feel free to keep posting your opinions everyone! Don't be shy thread stalkers! LOL

There are some Fan Fics I love to read aloud and in character. I think it was Jo Dawn who wrote one where Donatello suffered from brain damage in a battle, and it was heart rending to see him remember that he used to be the smart one...but his brain wouldn't work like that anymore.

I wish there was an option on here that said, "I don't like fanfiction when it's all about mean-spirited behavior, if it involves bizarre made-up characters, if there are too many typos, or if the turtles happen to have romantic relationships with one another." That last one is sick.:tsick: However, it's simple: I hate fanfiction when the characters are written all wrong.

Tigerfog's MNT Gaiden comic upset me. I mean, I feel like the story never ends. I can't even read it because it's so dark and depressing, and it just goes on too long (especially without Leo):tsad:. Donnie should have not shut Leo out of his life for killing Splinter. Besides, Splinter told him to do it. Therefore, it looked like, to me, a sacrifice, and Donnie should have known that. I just don't like how the story went. Plus, we don't need profanity to make things serious. I mean, the Dark Knight films didn't use the "F" word, and it was still dark. If they don't need that, TMNT doesn't need that either.

Recently, the fanfictions I don't really like are the ones on Nick.com. I don't like how the characters are written. I feel Ciro Nieli would not even like all of them either. Plus, I don't like these made-up characters, who, I feel, have no purpose in the TMNT universe. It then becomes one of those stories where the turtles are just there, but it's really about the OC's. I hate that. I feel like saying, "You know what, make your OC characters by creating a different franchise and stop using them for TMNT. I like the turtles, but we need something more original. Let's see what your characters have to offer on their own."

When I wrote this idea once, I didn't look at it as fanfiction because of certain things I did. One: the turtles were in character. Two: OC characters were only secondary and did not take over any scenes where the turtles were the main focus. Three: it was not only serious in some places, but it had humor. That's what TMNT is all about: comedy and drama (and of course, action).:twink: Four: there was no mean-spirited behavior, unless it came from the bullies. Lastly, five: no turtle had any romantic relationship together. No Turlecest stuff or anything. This was made like it was actually a TMNT episode on Nickelodeon.

Now, we do have our flaws. There are things that we miss when trying to stay true to the characters, but I just feel there are others who really need to look back at some of their work and realize that they need to revise it a bit. Heck, I would love to see a fanfiction where the turtles are reading some of the fanfiction out there today and see how they react towards them. I'd love that.:tlol:

If it was a little more "knowing" of it's surroundings, incorporated more of the Channel Six crew, oddball characters, humor and warmth, yeah it would have been a more satisfying experiance, although I did like the bits where April was hugging Raph when the story was in it's infancy, all that good will seems to have been flushed down the toilet and the story's just gotten, frankly, sillier as it gets "darker". It comes off like something which only has a vauge appreciation of the old show.

Many 80s cartoon fans do this all the time with the simpler shows from their childhood and it can boarder on interesting to irritating. I used to be in love with "Of Mice and Mayhem" (a darker and edgier Rescue Rangers fan comic designed for fans of 24 and 'shippers), but as I got older I just grew out of that urge to have my favourite cartoons to have the same mentality as a grown up would have. I think the real challenge is to put yourself in the mindset of those working on the cartoons at the time and find out just what drove them to make an altogether innocent show despite being the age to be a cynic and to have desires to tell dark storytelling. Obviously it was network mandates and focus groups at the time that forced them to think a certain way, where as fanfic authors who don't have such a job in the industry don't neccersarily have to follow that.


I don't care. Cosmeticly it's still using the 80s 'toon as a template.

I'm not saying it's awful, it's just not for me.

Tmnt
 

TMNT thankfully has a lot of versions already from the start to play on, from the comedic 1987 show to the dark Mirage.

Response to my critics :)
 

I was the one writing it when it was in its infancy (part 1). That's why it was more light-hearted. When Alan took over for part 2 and 3 he incorporated his own writing style which is much darker. Alan’s a fan of Tom Clancy and the like so he always trying to sneak in as much military stuff as possible. I didn’t like this aspect. In the end I think it comes down to taste. For me, I never cared for the channel six characters, apart from April. I preferred the turtles and my absolute fave thing about the entire TMNT universe is Shredder himself. Alan was adamant on scrapping all catchphrases (cowabunga etc) and the more silly things such as knuckle heads and foot cruisers. We had a lot of disagreements’ but in the end we compromised. He got to do something he was interested in. I got a far more focused and tighter script. Not to mention more time to work on the art itself.



Each to their own I suppose. No one's forcing you to read it. That was not meant to be a snide comment to you Zarius, I know you have been following my comic for a long time now. But come on... I'm not getting paid to do this ya know.

Hugs and kisses

Tony

www.trydowave.com

Just remembered some recommendations I forgot in my last post:

M.D Owen's work is awesome including "I Remember You" and Wonder in Leoland." Both are well-written and worth the read.

Splinter/Terran has some good works as well. "In Another's Shoes" is a riot and you really need to read it.

"Falling" by Fantasia Wandering is a great delve into the new Nick Series and very well done.

Reinbeauchaser also has some good stuff, though she hasn't written much lately.

If I think of more, I'll add them.

Sorry for coming across as a bit "hot and bothered" there Tony, I get like that when I have to defend opinions that don't "go with the flow" of popular consensus.

At least you cleared the air up on the aspects of the story that were yours, I wish more of your vision could have been interpreted in the finished work, as I did enjoy it greatly when it started, and I still get a kick out of the illiustrations, your talent cannot be ignored no matter how angsty the plot gets. It's your artwork which keeps me coming back to it.

Cheers Zarius. It sure is hard producing a comic single handed and I imagine any fan project. Speaking of fan projects, I see you have written a film script. I'll have to give it a look :)

Cya mate
Tony

I'm more impressed by the fact you do this for free. Having worked with artists on aborted fan comic projects, I know how easy it is for people to get "sidetracked" from commiting to non-paid work. Glad you've stuck it through.

To ZariusTwo and TonyDay,
I wasn't intending to create any type of divisive questioning in exploring ZariusTwo's tastes about your great work "Turtle Turncoat" TonyDay, and I apologize if it came across that way. It was solely curiosity on my part, on what each fan's individual tastes/preferences are for any type of Fan work (since it was the topic of discussion on this thread), including and beyond just fanfiction.

Both of you two each have done exceptional fan works! :D As each of you have stated before, it's very commendable that both of you have stuck with each of your fanworks for so long despite the temptation of being sidetracked.

Think nothing of it mate, we dealt with our artistic differences pretty civially. Sometimes a good critical kick up the back side improves on a work.

Jephael
 

Jephael has just finished "Seven Shredders", check out his fansite.

To those disappointed by TMNT fanfiction...
 

To those readers who were disappointed by the fanfics and don't get into anymore (i.e. "Raph Tha Dude" and "Bauer536" and others) or maybe those who haven't even bother to read TMNT fanfics,

Have you checked out or heard about the "Stealthy Stories" Fanfic competitions? (It's another TMNT forum site.) It could help in filtering through the bad fics and actually make reading TMNT fanfics an enjoyable experience.

http://www.5wwwww5.com/stealthystori...tealthystories

Most of the repliers on this thread, I believe, are also members there. It could be worth another try to check it out. Speaking of which, do you think the Technodrome forums should have their own fanfiction competitions? It would be interesting since this forum has a significantly larger amount of members/traffic and has a more diverse variety of fans (ranging from preferences of lighthearted [i.e. OT] to darker toned [i.e. Mirage] style of TMNT writing.) I guess what I'm trying to convey is finding a way to make really good TMNT fanfiction easier to access/find that even the most devoted fans can enjoy, almost as if their favorite series "never ended" in way since the legwork of not being disappointed is already taken care of (through voting/competitions.)

Just something to think about.... ;)

In other news, the ff.net category of "Cartoons: Ninja Turtles" exceeded 10,000 which is both good (more stories) and bad news (also means more sifting through the bad fics.)

I can't say I read fanfiction - maybe one or two random stories here and there. I am a not very quick reader, so I never seem to find the time to sit down and read any fics.

A pity, though. Since I've heard about some really good fics out there.

besides a couple of good fan-comics I don't dwell much into fan-fiction, mostly because it's not canon and if it's in it's own universe a lot of the fan made characters kills it for me. Like the Sues and Stus.

I had read and enjoy so much some TMNT in FanFiction....
I peek different stories and i found some are great /interesting/well done and very well talented writers to enjoy.... some others just cute tales....also enjoyables!
and of course sometimes I read some fictions I didnt like....
To sum up.: I think if you enjoy reading about TMNT you can find stories you will love....!!! :tgrin::tgrin::tgrin: just need to find the one that fit with your taste....there are tons of stories....Im sure you will find any you will like to read once and again!!!!
Im following also a story waiting for an autor to updated next chapter for a long time!!!!! :lol::lol:

Yes. There is definitely an array of...uh...themes which puts many people off, but the aforementioned writers plus a few others are worth the sifting.

Not too keen on the Mary-Sue stuff, but I have read some of the more disturbing things online and have thought, 'wow, they really nailed that character.'. But for me my favorite stories are always the ones containing insight into the turtles themselves, peppered with a little violence.

Definitely this.

Why don't we merge with Stealthy Stories? But what's the best with Fan Fiction Net is how you can add universe in the search functions.

Is Stealthy Stories back up? For the past few weeks, it's been down, and I haven't been able to access it.

I never make up characters. I use people from my actual life. Of course I usually ask them if they're cool with it.

Another cool idea is to take one character that got an action figure, but didn't appear in any cartoon or comics, and give that figure a story. (I've seen that being done to Ace Duck, who just was seen on the TV screen, and Sergeant Bananas).

That still makes them fictional characters for the story, within the universe of your stories.

I'm not interested in reading any, but I might write a few more... eventually.

I have been able to access the website easily, its just that the website says there's a "general error" if you post anything. But the thing is, is that the website does post your reply despite the error. (I noticed myself posting 3 times accidentally.) I think its still generally working well, but just a couple of bugs.


:) I definitely hear you about the whole Sues/Stus thing. That's why I throwing in the idea of maybe having a Technodrome competition/voting system where it could sift past that. It could provide somehow, I'm not sure exactly how, a way to quickly find how light or dark (or what universe) you want the Turtles to be without worrying about being disappointed since it was already read through by more devoted fans. Almost like a "Hall of Fame" fanfiction library of sorts... Do you (anyone) know what I'm trying say? :-?
(I just worry though if that competition/voting system could evolve in time to more of a favoritism-type of competition rather than simply based on good plots and character development; thus making the whole process useless. :ohwell: )

The purpose behind that idea was just so that TMNT fans could find more ways of continuing their TMNT interest without wasting tons of time searching through it all.
...Remember, there's already over 10,000 stories already in just the ff.net "Cartoons: Ninja Turtles" category alone. LOL :lol:

I support the idea of having competitions at the Technodrome Forum (maybe we should have one per universe), but they would still be published at Fan Fiction Net.