PWP NO EXCUSE by Roxanne de Winter If you're an avid fanfic reader like myself, then you've probably come accross several PWP fanfics. For those of you who don't know what PWP stands for, it's "Plot? What Plot?" meaning the fanfic has no plot, and mostly sex with a weak side- plot. Now, get this straight.... I'm not condemming sex scenes in fanfics or fanfics about sex (those are the equivilant of a porno mag, and they have no side-story.... just sex. The plot IS sex.). PWP is more like a bad movie with too much sex rather than a porno video. Porno fics are a genre in themselves, and they should not be confused with PWP. PWP just means a very stupid and plotless fanfic, and doesn't HAVE to have sex in it. But is PWP really an excuse for a lame fanfic? Several times I criticized PWP fanfics, and I was told to shut up because the fanfic has no plot. But, I know of several movies that everyone knows are stupid, and that should be marked PWP, and no one bothers when the critics state the movies suck. Now, let's say that a movie has a graphic sex scene. Someone can condem the sex scene, and they definately won't get the response,"Hey, bud, it said in the warnings there was a sex scene, so deal with it!" Since GW authors produce literature, which is free for all to read and see, they should understand that it's also free to be criticized. Even if they mark it 'PWP'. They shouldn't be appalled if people call a spade a spade. You can always disagree with a critic, but don't hide behind PWP. It's just cowardly. And for all those who don't like to be slammed by critics, I suggest instead of marking stuff PWP and not taking the rap, authors should really try to produce quality fanfiction, not just crap to fill up space. And if it's bad, and it's too late to take it off your site, accept what the critics say (provided you agree with them). When you become an author, you accept all resposibility for your work, PWP or not. You can agree or disagree with the critic's opinion. That'd be fine. But don't dismiss his or her statement with a,"This fanfic is PWP, so zip it." Everyone has the right to state their opinion. It's constitutional---- freedom of speech. And no PWP stands in the way of that. Stupid is stupid, even if labeled 'stupid'. And, please don't bring in that your other fanfics are good, because a good critic only targets the fanfic he or she is criticizing. No one's saying that you're a bad author in general. Critics can only state that if they've read ALL your fanfiction. And, even if you're good, you'll always have someone who disslikes a certain fanfic, or maybe even you as a whole. You can't do anything about that. But you CAN stop posting bad fanfics. If you know it's bad, don't post it. No one came blame you for trying to write a fanfic, and posting a fanfic that, to your opinion, is worth posting. As I saiid earlier, you can't please everyone. But at least put in a plot instead of just cheap angst and mindless sex[1]. And try to be original, instead of copying bad PWP style and labeling it original literature. If anyone disagrees with my opinion, feel free to e-mail me. I'm open to any discussion. XOXOXO, Roxanne de Winter [Roxanne de Winter is a Gundam Wing fanfic author and the owner of a Gundam Wing fanfic archive] ========= [1] As in, people who just met "fall in love" and have sex the same day ========= |
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