Huineroson, Herr Wozzok, Araeph, and Neshomeh all come to mind.

Disclaimer: These are "classic" spin-offs that I think are particularly helpful in gaining an understanding of the PPC and which I personally enjoy. I'm in no way intending to imply that other spin-offs aren't good or that you HAVE to like these ones. There's a lot of good stuff out there, by authors both old and new. {= )

* Caitlin and Sidh - This is just a one-off, but I think it introduces the PPC really well, has excellent characterization, and is overall high quality writing. I wish they'd written more.

* Architeuthis - The original Department of Intelligence series. Her definition of a Mary Sue is out of date now, but this is still an important foundational series.

* Nenya and Rosie - The Jay and Acacia Kooky Spin-Off Nerd Society. Of particular inspiration to me is the FicPsych chapter.

* Mara and Isaiah - The Department of Technical Errors. Excellent and foundational. Araeph is a real-life editor, so you can't go wrong taking cues from her.

* Trojanhorse and Paddlebrains - Department of Bad Slash. Absolutely hilarious. Takes an under-appreciated department and owns it in a way few others have managed before or since. (Plus, if you're looking for badfics in which the author did not do the research, you'll find a lot of that here.)

* Dafydd and Selene (and Constance) - Department of Geographical Aberrations. hS went on to write the PPC's history (or at least, what the Flowers want us to think is the PPC's history ^_~ ) and is an incredibly influential person hereabouts. That didn't happen by accident—that happened because he's a highly talented writer and generally well-liked.

* Suicide, Diocletian, and Ithalond - This is a more recent spin-off, included because Tungsten Monk is quite simply one of the funniest people I know. Also, she's a real-life published author now.

Someday, I'll put together a full rec list of PPC stories from different eras... It would be a long list, though, so I'm leaving it at this for the time being.

~Neshomeh

Read around, see what catches your eye. That's how I got my start. What sort of fic do you most want to kill? Bad slash? Sue? Crossover?

If you're looking for specific author/agent recommendations, I'd go for Herr-Wozzeck's missions, Ian and Lee, PoorCynic, and the Fisherman & Evie.

1) What fandoms? It's rather hard, but not by any means impossible, to make sense of a mission in a canon you are unfamiliar with.

2) More importantly, what is it about fan fiction that bothers/amuses you? I go in for spelling and linguistic errors, so I follow more closely the Floaters', Techical Errors, and Mary Sues Departments.


In terms of actually learning "how the PPC works", the wiki is likely going to provide you much more concentrated information than the missions.

Which media do you like? If you have a preference, here is the place to go. http://ppc.wikia.com/wiki/KilledBadfic

What type of fanfiction would you prefer to spork, if you're up to doing many different canons? ppc.wikia.com/wiki/TheCompleteListofPPCFiction

My favorite tactic to find missions is to wander around the wiki or press the random button. There's usually links to different stories towards the bottom of the article.