Okay, I know I haven't contributed much to the education of the next generation of fanfic writers lately, but several people have come to me for advice on new stories. So, rather than limit my advice to only those who actually ask, I've decided to thrust my opinion onto all who dare visit my website!

So, you want to write Power Rangers fanfiction? First of all… good for you! I personally feel writing is a fantastic form of expression, and a wonderful tool to help your verbal and written skills improve. Plus, Power Rangers is the perfect fandom to start with. Why? Well, for starters, there are so many plot holes, inconsistencies, and abandoned characters and story threads that it's a feeding frenzy for the imagination. Most other shows or movies aren't so ripe for fanfiction.

That said, here are some ideas you might consider. Again, this is only my opinion, but I certainly feel this is the best route to take to getting your stories on the web.

I can't stress this enough! You might have all the enthusiasm in the world, but Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither is a fiction universe! Sure, you might visit a website that hosts an extensive, creative, thrilling series involving dozens of Rangers and thought-provoking plots, and maybe you might decide that you want to create that. More power to you! But let's also be realistic. The first few months of your writing career, your writing and planning skills will improve dramatically. It's better to keep the humungous project in the future, so you can focus on developing your skills exploring the characters first.

That said, you should really start with something small. Perhaps even a character-driven vignette, a missing scene, or if you're up to it, a stand-alone Ranger adventure.

I strongly suggest you do not start your new story by introducing a new Ranger. Yeah, I know… that's how I started; but looking back to that first fic I wrote, I realize that I could've written it so much better (and eventually, I did). I firmly believe that the key to good Power Rangers writing is a thorough understanding of the characters. So you should explore the possibilities of the canon characters. I know it may be hard to keep yourself from inserting a Purple/Silver/Gold/Orange Ranger into your story, but think about it: don't you love the canon Rangers? If you don't, then why the heck would you want to write stories about them? So consider writing a story that involves the main team, or perhaps a member or two of that team. Explore the characters, see if you are able to get into their heads and have them speak and act in a manner that is consistent with the series.

I've realized something over the past few months: songfics (fics written around the lyrics of a song) are very difficult to do well. Why? Because a lot of authors fall into the trap of having the song dictate the action of the story. I've seen dozens of fanfics where the lyrics of the song are separated only by tiny paragraphs! What's the fun of reading the lyrics of a song, with no real story to go along with it? Now, if there's a song that you really love, that really reflects the feelings of a character, then I suggest you take only the piece that applies. Perhaps post those few verses at the top, and let those words set the tone for the fic.

Now, your story could very well have two main characters. But you'd better be careful of anything beyond that. If your goal is to create an insightful interpretation of a character, it's hard to do too many at once, especially for a new author! There simply isn't room within the story, and what you'll end up doing is having six cardboard cutout characters, rather than real people. I always enjoy stories that really challenge a particular character. That character changes during the story, and comes out more mature, or more self-aware, at the end. Of course, other characters can have a strong influence, and they too can go through a difficult experience. But their actions are secondary.

All stories have a plot. Even the introspective ones. The story has to go somewhere. So decide, where is your story going to go? And how's it going to get there? And it always helps to make the plot somewhat distinctive. I suggest you outline the whole thing, beginning to end. Sure, you'll make modifications along the way, but you really need to the know how the story will progress if you want to lay the proper foundation in earlier chapters. This is especially key in longer fics, since some authors have a tendency to drift in their stories. If the story isn't going somewhere, I for one lose interest. There should be cohesion among the chapters.

So, that's it for today! Bear in mind, this was written specifically for relatively new authors, to help them slide into the PR fanfiction universe cleanly. Of course, if you've written in other mediums before, you're not really a 'new' writer, so you'll probably be ahead of the game. Good luck!