Comparisons are odious, as Don Quijote rightly says, but since this series seems to have been overlooked elsewhere, it's worth pointing out that there are at least five (and perhaps as many as fourteen) chapters in this series that are among the best catfight stories ever written.
Off the top of my head: the one in the tower with Miche, the one in the basement with the stroppy postmistress, the feud with Jolene and her sister, the one against the loud-mouthed New Yorker, with the latter's colleagues – Kiva (making her first appearance) and her young doctor friend – witnessing the showdown, the fight with the trophy hunter, the one in which she and her husband take on the rich Asian couple, the fights with the Doshis … the list goes on. And all reward re-reading!
I noticed there are discussions going on in other threads about a Hall of Fame for FCF stories. My feelings about it are mixed. I was never comfortable with “Nurse of the Year” awards. It didn’t seem right to honor one person when everyone worked their guts out. But I think it’s fine to call attention to some of the most popular stories so they don’t get lost in cyberspace.
FyreCracka was mentioned in one post for her influence on the community. I certainly agree with that. Fyre’s Fight Journal is in its ninth year and still has many readers talking about it. Kelli’s writing was a major inspiration for my storytelling as it has been for several other writers here. I learned a lot from her about structuring stories, crafting characters and building up to the fight. I still don’t write fight scenes as well as she and Jake do.
The catpin universe is a gold mine for a writer. You don’t need to create a reason for a fight. You can focus on the characters and build-up. The catpin universe will work in any community all over the globe. You only need an imagination. Kelli has always been generous in encouraging other writers to tell their own catpin story.
I think what I got most from FFJ is the power of the first person present tense narrative to tell a compelling character-driven story. The first person narrative allows the reader to really get to know the character so you will hopefully identify with her and get a sense of what she feels. So when she wins or loses, you feel her joy or pain.
The present tense narrative is effective in giving the story a sense of it happening “now” in the present, adding a sense of immediacy. Because it’s first person, the reader only knows what the character knows. When there’s a surprise in the story, you feel it when she does.
So I’ve taken FyreCracka’s concept and incorporated it into my own style, where I try to go deep into psychology and plot development, and how the character is affected by the action.
Finally, Kelli is a wonderful writing collaborator. We’ve had fun writing crossover stories where we appear in each other’s journals, exchanging ideas and drafts.
It looks like Kelli is on another hiatus. I’ve been on FCF only half as long as she has. I know how very hard it is to stay active and have a normal life. I hope she doesn’t mind me using her thread to give her a shout-out.