Your Opinion on "Pokémon School" Fics.

[Selestius]

Your Opinion on "Pokémon School" Fics.

What a surprise. As soon as I log back into Serebii.net Forums, I get an idea for a Pokémon Fan-Fiction already. This will be the incorporation of every fic I ever planned: Life of a Trainer, Tarnished Scars/Bloody Turmoil/Din, and some fics in the Pokémon Tower that I wish not to talk about.

The inspiration came from two sources: JackKnight's The Pokémon Academy, and tons of scenes from Degrassi: The Next Generation, one of my favorite teen television series. The name of the Fan Fiction will be called The Pokémon Academy [or something of that sort].

The story is composed of two parts: Freshman Year - Senior Year [Ages 10 - 14], each year about sixteen chapters, and then, the 'trilogy' - the adventure, the summoning, and then, the shocking conclusion.

What I want from you guys is your take on the Pokémon Academy and the Pokémon School genre itself. Do you think I should use that idea, or just use my usual adventure Fan-Fictions that I never got to completing?

Opinions are highly respected. Newbie writers and members, please refrain from posting SPAM and try to assist me. Thank you.

 

[Negrek]

I've never seen an academy 'fic that's been done well, but if you think that you can pull it off, go for it.

The primary reason that academy 'fics tend to be lacking, IMO, is that they just don't fit with canon. For some strange reason, academies seem to be schools focused on pokemon training, with the exiting trainer getting some sort of diploma and then going on their journey. That's rather pointless; if you want to learn about pokemon training, then you need practical experience. You can't learn about it by sitting in a classroom all day, really; there's no point in getting a diploma when you're going to walk out of school with your starter pokemon and then bet beaten to a pulp by a twelve-year-old who's already been training for two years.

And other than that, what would make a pokemon high school so significantly different from a real-world school? If you're not going to focus on the training aspect, then what's the point? (Also, a great number of the people who write highschool 'fics don't appear to know what highschool is actually like.)

So I guess the question would be... why would you want to set your story in an academy?

 

[Selestius]

The protagonist is going to be a book-smart student, but does not know the basics of battling, also known as street smart, so he won't be a Gary-Stu. Why do I want to do it? I just want to do it for the sake of creating a new ambience in my expertise.

I want to create one of those reality fics.

That's rather pointless; if you want to learn about pokemon training, then you need practical experience. You can't learn about it by sitting in a classroom all day, really; there's no point in getting a diploma when you're going to walk out of school with your starter pokemon and then bet beaten to a pulp by a twelve-year-old who's already been training for two years.

For that logic, I changed it. A Pokémon trainer in my fic must be 14 in order to be a trainer. Now, with that in mind, what do you think now?

 

[PDL]

most tend to terrible Pokemon/Harry Potter crossovers that don't end well, at all.

 

[Selestius]

Mine is not a crossover, PDL. It won't ever turn into a crossover. I can guarantee that.

 

[PDL]

Mine is not a crossover, PDL. It won't ever turn into a crossover. I can guarantee that.

well... good then

there are a question I still have though...

is he given a pokemon at all? it would be incredibly boring to have a pokemon fic and only have the characters studying about pokemon...

 

[Selestius]

PDL, I cannot believe you'd expect me to screw up this fic. I've been an author since I joined here. I don't know where you have been, but meh, but to answer your question, he, and his friend-girl [something like that - wink-wink] will receive Pokémon.

 

[PDL]

alright alright, I don't expect anything terrible or something disasterous, I'm just seeing if this fic will gain my interest for long... nothing personal or that sort of E-drama...

 

[Selestius]

Speaking of drama, this fic will have lots in it. There will actually be a chapter where there is a [spoil]shooting.[/spoil]

 

[Negrek]

A Pokémon trainer in my fic must be 14 in order to be a trainer.

Why? And don't say, "Because it should be that way for the academy to work." please.

So your character is book smart and street smart (that's what I gleaned from your response, anyway)? In other words, all-round smart, yes?

 

[Selestius]

Question 1: No, I mean, it is the trainer's and the parents' discretion in order to go on a journey, regardless if they go to school or not.

Question 2: He's book smart, but not street smart.

 

[Negrek]

Question 1: No, I mean, it is the trainer's and the parents' discretion in order to go on a journey, regardless if they go to school or not.

That's the way it's always been. Why go to an academy over a training journey?

 

[Selestius]

Some potential trainers want to get ahead of the game and know of what's ahead. Others might want to just get the fulfillment of experience and just let things flow naturally.

 

[Negrek]

You don't get ahead of the game by going to an academy; you get behind. There's nothing an academy can teach you about pokemon that you couldn't learn faster and more effectively while on the road, training.

Also, would an academy be a public or private institution?

 

[PDL]

I'm sorry for asking another question about the plot, but is it possible that the main character wants to be something other then a pokemon trainer? maybe another field of work that still involves pokemon?

 

[Mewdio]

I think it depends

 

[Saffire Persian]

Pokémon school fics...

I've never really read one of those types of stories that centered around them before - but when I think of 'school fics' I think of Harry Potter - and I think you could definitely pull it off... but to me, it would seem rather difficult, as I could see it turning into one of those angst-ridden high-school fanfic stories that I have read. X.x .. Though not in the Pokémon genré mind you.

If you're going to continue it, I suppose I could put in my two cents. First, I'd make sure to have the school setting actually be interesting - like Harry Potter. As this is an Academy, I would expect many of the scenes to be during classes, so I'd make sure that each class session you do put in actually have some relevance to the plot, lest it turn into a boring day-by-day drivel.

Second, make sure to have something that sets this apart, and makes the Academy setting seem very worthwhile. (If you get what I mean).

Third - I just am a little miffed about the title. No offense - but it seems bland and generic to me.. I'd opt to go with a different title.

 

[Selestius]

Negrek: I do not know as of yet for it to be a public or private institution; I'm thinking more along the lines of private, but I am still unsure. [And I feel a little downtrotten for this, but meh, it's for the sake of good fics, right, and not "MY ARM!" XD [You know who I am, righ'?]]

 

[Negrek]

*shrug* Sorry, it's just a genre that has numerous problems and a very bad reputation. You have to think one through very carefully before attempting one.

If it's private, why would you pay for it? Still unclear as to why you would go to one in the first place...

 

[BirthdayPirate]

I'm actually writing the first chapters of the fic that is replacing the Academy right now, so I don't have much time to offer advice. I will say, though, that you need to be very careful to balance the school stuff with the more plotish stuff. It is really easy to either forget your characters go to school and have them going on crazy adventures all the time or have them attending classes like mindless drones and not even battling. You seem like you know what you're doing, but be careful...