Do You Read Any TMNT Fanfiction?

[Pterobat]

None of the poll options suited me, either: there wasn't an option for "doesn't read fanfiction, but writes it on occasion."

Now, I don't think I'm better than other people, it's just that...eh, I don't know. I just don't feel the urge to read fanfiction anymore. I post it publicly, but it's something I do for me, and I'm not interested in being part of the reciprocal fanfiction community/culture anymore.

Incest makes me nauseous, so there's T-Cest out. Making the OT "dark" is something I roll my eyes at, and being dishonest about a character's faults is another. Since I don't read fanfiction I haven't witnessed those firsthand, but they don't sound like something I'd enjoy.

[Refractive Reflections]

So I was reading the Wikipedia entry for Fanfiction.net, and one detail that stood out was it's apparently the World's most erotic site for women according to the Wall Street Journal:

One of our most interesting findings was that women are very different from men in how they use these online services. All across the planet, what most women seek out, in growing numbers, are not explicit scenes of sexual activity but character-driven stories of romantic relationships.

...

In addition to providing a new platform for traditional romance tales, the Web has fueled an explosion of stories written by a highly interactive community of female amateurs: a genre called "fan fiction." These pop culture "fandoms" consist of enthusiasts for such familiar franchises as "Harry Potter," "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Twilight," as well as for other books, television shows and movies. The most popular fan fiction website—and the world's most popular "erotic" site for women—is FanFiction.net, which boasts more than two million different stories and more than 1.5 million visitors a month. Nor is fan fiction limited to English-speaking countries; there are vibrant fan fiction communities in Russia, Japan, Brazil and China.

The article doesn't necessarily state how this data was collected to classify Fanfiction.net as being an "erotic" literature site for woman, and how it distinguishes the difference between "romance" and "erotica" fanfic stories. But then again with around 80% of its registrants being female, way back in 2002, it could explain the abundance of the romantic/erotic-leaning content on Fanfiction.net and therefore including the TMNT fanfics there.

Feel free to comment on this article and its application to TMNT fanfics... I'm pretty sure everyone will have an opinion on it.

[Pterobat]

That most fanfic writers are ladies is no secret...and when I say most, I mean *most*, not just the romance writers. I myself, have the double X chromosomes.

(I don't write heavily romantic stories, though. I want my writing to read like tie-in novels starring the characters nobody cares about.)

A lot of people have studied why women write *romantic* fanfic, but never why we write fanfic *in general*. It'd be interesting to find out, since this all
goes against the common wisdom that girls never do anything nerdy, when we're doing one of the nerdiest things on the planet.

[BubblyShell22]

That's very interesting to hear that FF.Net is the most "erotic" site for women, but it doesn't surprise me. There are some good mature stories on there for sure.

[MsMarvelDuckie]

Most erotic site for women? That doesn't surprise me, with some of the writers on there. Hummerhouse comes to mind. Her stories are almost always VERY mature. I will also agree with others that Bubbly, Sleeping Seeker, and Zarius all have great stories on there. I also post a few tales there myself- under the same name I use here- and it's been a great outlet for my writing.

[BubblyShell22]

And your stories are wonderful, Duckie. Seriously, go read her epic story "Love Is Shell." It's awesome.

[Technogeek29]

I'm stuck in how I want the story to flow. Mine is essentially Turtles Forever but with all 3 Turtles Cartoons. Labeled "Trinity Unit". The title has a double meaning.

I got the idea from the Kraang being able to travel between worlds in Worm Quake. They travel to the 2k3 verse by mistake and run into the Purple dragons who they attack because the Purple Dragons try to mug them. In the heat of the moment the Turtles spot the scuffle and wonder if they should help? When a Kraang is injured and reveals himself the 2k3 Turtles mistake him for an Utrom and offer the assistance but make the Kraang focus their attention on them instead. Raph not wanting to let them get away tackles one of them into the portal it was escaping in forcing the other Turtles to pursue.

Here I wanted them to end up in the OT Verse haven't really planned out a meeting yet and I at least wanted a small scuffle between the two teams. I want to have Krang, The Kraang and Ch'rell team up but with all parties secretly planning to backstab the other for their own agenda's. I know I'm introducing the 2k12 Turtles last but their show hasn't finish it's season 2 run yet so I waited until more potential elements I could use we're revealed. I'm at a lost what to do for some characters like April, Casey and Splinter. And the only Shredder (besides 2k3) I really plan on using was the OT.

It all sounds good but I'm not a good enough writer to make it come to life like I envisioned in my head.

[BubblyShell22]

My advice would be to write down the idea and see if you can create an outline for it. If you can, then maybe that'll organize your story better so you know where to put what in your story.

[Metalwolf]

I put "Yes, I'm always interested/curious to read about them."

However, this comes with a caveat: Right off the bat I will not bother with a story if the description (on fanfiction.net) has the words 'young' 'girl,' or 'teen.' Very often these end up containing Mary Sues.

Also the words "Turtle-cest' 'slash' or 'femslash.' Once I found a story that had Master Splinter get busy with Leo. Icky icky poo.

Second thing in these types of fictions is if they have an encounter with mutagen. Very often they get turned into a turtle, fox, lizard or tiger. Something conveniently not ugly so the Turtle(s) can fall in love with them.

Third, I hate romance. Romance sucks in most forms but especially in idle teen girl noodlings. I hate reading about it, and it's almost the same old thing: TurtleXOC who is either a girl turned mutant or she has magical powers.

All of these are my main top peeves in fanfiction, at least as far as TMNT fanfiction goes. I'd also put on OOCness of canon characters, but I think that bugs most people, not just me.

[snake]

One reason I hate digging through FF archives for something good is all the ORIGINALCONTENTDONOTSTEAL self insert mary sue characters that 13 year old girls put in their fanfics just to have a relationship with one of the turtles (Usually Raph) or get mutated into a Lizard, Fox, or whatever.

[Sleepingseeker]

Originally Posted by Metalwolf

I put "Yes, I'm always interested/curious to read about them."

However, this comes with a caveat: Right off the bat I will not bother with a story if the description (on fanfiction.net) has the words 'young' 'girl,' or 'teen.' Very often these end up containing Mary Sues.

Also the words "Turtle-cest' 'slash' or 'femslash.' Once I found a story that had Master Splinter get busy with Leo. Icky icky poo.

Second thing in these types of fictions is if they have an encounter with mutagen. Very often they get turned into a turtle, fox, lizard or tiger. Something conveniently not ugly so the Turtle(s) can fall in love with them.

Third, I hate romance. Romance sucks in most forms but especially in idle teen girl noodlings. I hate reading about it, and it's almost the same old thing: TurtleXOC who is either a girl turned mutant or she has magical powers.

All of these are my main top peeves in fanfiction, at least as far as TMNT fanfiction goes. I'd also put on OOCness of canon characters, but I think that bugs most people, not just me.

Oh man, I understand. Romance can be bad. Just terrible. But!

I love when I get a potential reader who HATES romance, because I want to convert them! The problem is that romance by itself is festering with over-done, overly-sweet, b.s. that we've honestly seen time and time again in every rom-com that studios produce. Real romance should be filled with twists, action, tender moments, angst and fear. It should reflect all the complications of reality made even more messed up because of the situation the guys find themselves in.

If I could be so bold as to suggest that you give my story, The Tender Trap, a try. I have taken more than a few readers from hating romance to seeing it in a completely new light. https://www.fanfiction.net/s/9016809/1/The-Tender-Trap

I usually write heavy and often dark themes suffuse my tales and while this story is categorized as romance, I think you may enjoy it. Thanks for checking it out!

[Zulithe]

i love reading fancomics. but fanfiction just isn't the same... because to me TMNT is tightly integrated with the visual aspect... it started off as a comic so it's part of its heritage.

[Metalwolf]

Sounds intriguing, Sleepingseeker, I'll have to check it out. Already the premise looks to be interesting, and doesn't appear to have the dreaded OCs, teen girly fluff or badly mispelled/bad grammer mistakes most of the readers of those fics can often expect.

[pennydreadful]

I also put I "Yes, I'm always interested/curious to read about them."

I've been an avid fanfiction reader since my early teens, and to me it's just a natural extension of enjoying a franchise. I'm an unabashed yaoi/slashfic fan - I understand it's not for everybody though.

I don't like MarySue/GaryStu fics, and poor spelling/grammar instantly puts me off, so I generally use rec sites rather than trawling through ff.net. If it's well-written, I'll read any genre - unfortunately I just don't have as much free time lately so I don't get to read as much fanfic as I'd like to (my "to read" and "to watch" piles are enormous and I will probably never get through them all!).

[Netkeeper]

>Maybe I might, but it's not worth my time to look for it.

My vote. It's the closest to "I'd be reading constantly if anybody wrote my OTP" but alas, nobody gives a damn.

[BubblyShell22]

And what's your OTP, NK?

[Netkeeper]

2k3 Leatherhead/Donatello. :V

[BubblyShell22]

Ah, I see. Well, you could always write one yourself if you really wanted.

[Netkeeper]

Oh trust me, I've heavily considered it. I'm just not much of a fic writer because my narration is really clunky and boring; I excel in dialogue. [That and I prefer RP.] Ah well, though.

[BubblyShell22]

You could always keep working at it. Everyone has to start somewhere when it comes to fan fiction.