META: I'm sorry to say, but the Xmen Fan-fiction archive is coming , down for good
Robyn Goldstein
The archive, as of today, is closed.
This was. in many ways, a very hard decision for me. In other ways,
it was one of the easiest decisions I've ever made.
I have enjoyed creating and updating the archive, but it has gotten to
be too much. When I first started it, in June of 1995, I worried
about 2, maybe 3, stories a week. Now, I have to worry about 5-10,
sometimes more. While I could somewhat keep up wi th it while I was
still in school, I can't do it while working 40 hours a week, and
having other things that I need to do. If I could do this as my job,
I would jump to do it in an instant, but as a hobby, it's taking up
too much of my time, as well as getting to be rather expensive.
I was considering passing the archive onto someone else, and had even
asked Susan Crites if she would take it. However, I realized that I
couldn't pass this onto someone else - especially someone with as
little knowledge of HTML as Susan - because it's too much. It'll take
over your free time, and while there are many people out there who
make investing that time worthwhile, there are some who take away all
that joy.
Which brings me to another reason why I'm taking down the archive -
all the authors out there who feel that my archive is the one and only
place to have their fan-fiction and/or that feel that I *owe* them a
spot in it.
There aren't many of these authors - and if you have to ask me if
you're one of these people, you're probably not. But the attitude is
starting to sicken me. I noticed that whenever my archive was done
for updates, the amount of stories on alt.comics.fan-fiction
decreased dramatically, even though I had stated that I was still
reading the group and downloading the stories. People seemed to be
scared that if I was not actively upkeeping the archive, I would
somehow miss their story, and that would be a "bad thing". While I
know that some of the authors weren't posting because of other
reasons, there were some who only started posting again very soon
after the archive went back up.
I am not the reason you should be writing fan-fiction. My page should
not be the only place you feel that your fan-fiction deserves a place.
There's Untold-L, X-Writers, and alt.comics.fan-fiction - as well as
numerous small web pages that are asking for fan-fiction. If you're
only writing your fan-fiction for the thrill of getting it on "Hawk's
Fan-Fiction" page, then stop writing. It's no longer going to happen.
Authors need to write fan-fiction because there's a story that they
feel that they *have* to write - and they should put it out to as many
people as they desire. But they should not look at places like
alt.comics.fan-fiction as only a holding place until I pick up your
story. Acff was around before I started my webpage, and it's going to
be around long after the archive has been forgotten. And I take
insult that some people seem to feel that the readers on acff don't
matter as much as people who read a web page - each and every reader
is as important as the next, no matter where you find them.
I don't mean to sound so depressing about keeping the archive. There
were many good times. But... I've broken. I've had enough, and I'm
not going to look back. I'm still going to be around acff, and, in
fact, I might start writing reviews of stories. I've wanted to do
that for a while. I'm also going to continue to post the FAQ. Maybe
I'll now have the time to update it on a more regular basis. I'll
also still post stories to alt.comics.fan-fiction for those people for
whom I've already promised to post. But I'm not going to take any
other new stories to post, unless you're a friend.
All the finished stories are on the FTP site. I'm going to put all
the unfinished stories there as well, so if you want to download a
story to keep for yourself, you'll still be able to do so. And
there's no intention for the FTP site to go down anytime in the near
future. However, after I add the unfinished stories to the FTP site,
there will be nothing more added to it. And I will not take *any*
requests to mail people copies of certain stories. By the end of next
week they should all be on the FTP site. If you mail me for personal
copies, I'm only going to point you there, if I don't just delete your
message outright.
For all of you who enjoyed the site, I am very sorry. I wish there
was a way to keep the site up, and keep everybody happy. But unless
someone takes it as a full-time job, that's never going to happen. I
can't imagine anyone paying someone else to keep an archive of
fan-fiction on the World Wide Web. If you really need your fan-fiction
fix, you're going to have to go and subscribe to either acff, X-Writers,
or Untold-L, or take your chances with DejaNews (http://www.dejanews.com).
That's it, folks. I just want to end with a thank you - thank you to
all who bothered to read this till the end *grin*, for all of you who,
over the past year, have complimented me on the site, and to all of
the authors who have made the effort on the webpage more than
worthwhile. The "good" authors more than outweighed the "bad", and I
enjoyed every moment that I dealt with them.
Hawk
Joshua Jarvis
I am sorry to hear this. I would gladly take over the page (I have tons of spare time
on my hands) but I also have very little knowledge of HTML. This will not discourage
me from writing and sending stories (I just need a new form of reference to my other
issues.) I enjoyed it while it lasted and I'm sorry to say that I will miss some of
the stories their. alt.comics.fan.fiction is like other fan fiction archives I will
miss some of the stories I read but this is just a price I have to pay. I will miss
the archive.
Fancy Catz
Wow! I haven't been around here very long but it's obvious that Hawk is
very well admired and loved :-). Obviously she has impacted a lot of
people's lives and it's a shame when someone who's touched so many people
"packs it in."
I want to add my thanks Hawk. A friend of mine came across your web page
and started emailing me copies of Betrayal. Then I found my way to your
page and from there to ACFF. Since then I have even written my own
(feeble) attempt at fan-fiction. As I said to you when you asked if I had
a problem with you archiving my story, I was flattered, even though I knew
you archived them all. I still feel that way. Thanks; I like being
flattered :-)
I'm sorry some people around here have a "bad" attitude. There was a post
just the other day with someone saying that all the current storylines on
ACFF "stunk" and that they wanted to write some but demanded to know if
anyone would read it if they did. Some people just don't get it.
You're right about writing for the fun of it. That's why I'm here. But
it's more fun when you do know someone is reading it, whether they think
it is good or bad. Feedback is essential. So your idea of reviews of
stories is a good one (stay away from mine!!!!! :-) ).
Anyway to close up, I for one hope you stay around and we see your name
here lots, in one capacity or another. You have single handedly furthered
the cause of fan fiction everywhere and for that you should be proud. Now
bask in the glow of your accomplishments :-)
Terri
"The majestic equality of the law is such that the rich as well as poor
are punished for stealing bread, begging in the streets and sleeping under
bridges"
-unknown source-
David L. Pulver
On 9 Aug 1996, Fancy Catz wrote:
> I'm sorry some people around here have a "bad" attitude. There was a post
> just the other day with someone saying that all the current storylines on
> ACFF "stunk" and that they wanted to write some but demanded to know if
> anyone would read it if they did. Some people just don't get it.
Actually, I think you misunderstood what that poster meant: I think he
meant the current storylines in the *Marvel X-men* comics stunk, so he
wanted to write fan fiction -- a normal enough sentiment that motivates
people; I agree it could have been expressed more clearly, but don't give
up hope on humanity yet....
Fancy Catz
Whoops; if I misunderstood the original poster's intent, than I truly am
sorry (especially about all those bad things I was thinking about that
individual. I take those back too). :-).
terri
Kielle
Well. This is late (it was written and then lost on Friday) and it's
not terribly eloquent because I'm utterly exhausted, but darnnit I
wanna say SOMETHING on the subject, so there. <G>
I've written many, many stories in my life, but always for a select
audience of 3-4 people who didn't mind if they were missing
pieces or utterly unfinished. Almost no one else I knew did this
"writing stuff," and writing for yourself isn't very good
motivation. In fact, I was on the verge of outgrowing fan stories
altogether when I bopped online for the first line and a friend
badgered me into visiting this website thingie called Hawk's Fan
Fiction Page. "It's where I picked up that Ranma/GenX
crossover," she coaxed, "and there's this Beast romance story
you might like..."
So I checked it out. It was like a bolt out of the blue: not only
were other people writing this "kids' stuff," but some of them
were really REALLY good at it! WOW!!!
I fell in love with acff. But Hawk's page was the absolute frosting
on the cupcake. On my own fledgling webpage I paid homage to
it as THE best x-stuff archive on the net, and I wasn't
exaggerating. In my eyes, to make it into Hawk's archive was a
mighty privilege indeed -- I squealed like a ten-year-old when she
first contacted me about archiving the two stories I'd tentatively
tossed onto acff. The mere idea that someone out there might,
just might actually WANT to save one of my stories where the
whole world could get at it (well, if the whole world was insane,
perhaps ;) absolutely blew my mind. I didn't think my work was
quite worthy to be up alongside "the greats" (you guys know
who you are, I shamelessly flatter you all the time now), but I was
thrilled nonetheless.
It wasn't that I HAD to get on Hawk's page at all costs. When it
came to posting stuff, it didn't matter to me whether the page was
up or down. But IMHO, being placed in the Hawk archive was
the cherry on top of the sundae, and while I could see how hard
she worked on it for us ungrateful bastiches I still envied her that
work and wished there was some way I could help. I even truly
appreciated her snappish comments on my muffed formatting and
the like! I NEEDED to know when I'd screwed up, and Hawk is
one of the few people out there who'll tell ya point-blank when
you need a good hard smack without descending into
flames...well, unless flames are warranted of course, in which case
I pity da foo' who messes wit' her.
Therefore, I join ye in doffing my hat in sorrow that Hawk's page
is no longer with us and I wish Hawk well. Of course, now that
she's free to write reviews... <shudder!> <G>
Thank you for your hard work, Hawk. We DID appreciate it.
You're a great lady. <hug>
.-=K=-.
*** "Oh god! Please! Help us! He's been playing 'Disco
Inferno' ever since he came in! He's horrible! Help us!" / For the
first time in his existance, the Ghost Rider was at a loss as to what
to do. His mission was to avenge the innocent, but he was not
sure what this situation would qualify as... -- "An Old
Beginning" ***
Tom Sheeley
>All the finished stories are on the FTP site.
>Hawk
>
Sorry to hear that your archive is going down, because I never had a
chance to visit!
Could someone at least post the URL of the FTP site? As a newcommer to
ACFF, I'm sure there are TONS of stories their that I haven't enjoyed
yet.........
Thanks!
Tom
Hawk
In article <3210c5be...@library.airnews.net>,
Tom Sheeley <tshe...@taconic.net> wrote:
>Could someone at least post the URL of the FTP site? As a newcommer to
>ACFF, I'm sure there are TONS of stories their that I haven't enjoyed
>yet.........
It's ftp://joeshaw.bevc.blacksburg.va.us/pub/fan-fiction.
Happy reading!
Hawk