Post by Gifted on Jun 29, 2007 4:25:23 GMT -5
Found some good resources on FFN.
The first is from a review I found on Fanfiction.net in the Alice in Wonderland section. It's by a author named Pretty Red Fire Hydrant who puts a asterick next to a number of a rule of good writing if the reviewed author had forgetten this rule. A little impersonal, but I thought it had things we should all consider:
1. Try and be coherent. Mashed and squished sentences/paragraphs are hard to read--not to mention, quite unsightly.
2. Capitalize the beginning of a sentence, names, and where you should--there is no excuse for this.
3. No chat-speaking…most of us are here to READ A STORY. Not watch as you and your imaginary friends giggle and bounce around.
4. Do not bold your prose. Do you see published books with bold printing on the inside? No. If you want to emphasis a word…use ALL CAPS or italicize. Subtlety
5. No author notes in the MIDDLE of the story. You jar the reader when you do that. Notes in the middle of a paragraph are immature and uncalled for.
6. No shallow OC‘s: These are what we call Mary Sues. While some may actually be enjoyable to read, few are memorable. A tale about you and your friends playing with canon characters is not a fun read. Self insertion (unless you keep yourself balanced and don’t HINT or tell that said character is you), is not a fun read. A tale depicting a perfect, wonderful and goddess-like OC is not a fun read. We like flaws and balance…balance is the key to an OC that readers will grow to love.
7. OOC: Unless labeled AU and warned for good reason, canon characters must behave as in show/book/movie/game/etc. [Romantic] preferences may be altered if storyline is coherent and believable. Otherwise, any story not reflecting the characters true personality, or warping the characters personality to fit whatever demented plotline contrived…is a readers nightmare.
8. Plot…have one darling…it makes all the difference in the world.
9. Rudimentary knowledge of grammar. Please…*sobs* please do this!
10. Do not mix tenses. Past tense, present tense and future tense in the same sentence is can cause brain damage to readers. Try and refrain from causing spontaneous imploding of your readers skulls. One tense per scene…unless stylized. Ex. Past simple tense for all chapter, but memories the character has, or flashbacks may be in present tense--or whatever tense you prefer. I recommend advanced study for tenses…they are tricky to learn.
11. Strings of consciousness are for experienced writers…and even they can’t do it right.
12. Try and spell correctly: before you post a story here on you must agree to a TOS (terms of service). This TOS says quite bluntly, that there is NO EXCUSE for bad spelling and punctuation. Yet, you, dear one have ignored this stern warning and posted drivel. They may not enforce standards after such a travesty, but flamers will.
13. Repetitive wording. Saying I I I I I I and He He He He in every paragraph, at the start of every sentence and basically a few trillion times in your chapter...it strains the readers eyes.
14. Adverbs Adjectives galore: Try and not bog down your story with as many descriptive words as you can cram in one sentence.
Example: "The heavy and sparking rain poured down on my yellow gleaming and crimson umbrella while I twirled it in my rain-slicked fingers like a big, stupid, dope."
Also, I found a story on FFN that tries to help authors write good stories. It's called "How to write a popular POTC story", but it can apply for any story. Here's the link: www.fanfiction.net/s/3182837/1/ Mentions "you-know-what" in passing in Chapter 1, Chapter 3, and the title of Chapter 4 (I apologize if I missed any or you're offended). Other than that, it has excellent advice even exprienced authors would love.
The first is from a review I found on Fanfiction.net in the Alice in Wonderland section. It's by a author named Pretty Red Fire Hydrant who puts a asterick next to a number of a rule of good writing if the reviewed author had forgetten this rule. A little impersonal, but I thought it had things we should all consider:
1. Try and be coherent. Mashed and squished sentences/paragraphs are hard to read--not to mention, quite unsightly.
2. Capitalize the beginning of a sentence, names, and where you should--there is no excuse for this.
3. No chat-speaking…most of us are here to READ A STORY. Not watch as you and your imaginary friends giggle and bounce around.
4. Do not bold your prose. Do you see published books with bold printing on the inside? No. If you want to emphasis a word…use ALL CAPS or italicize. Subtlety
5. No author notes in the MIDDLE of the story. You jar the reader when you do that. Notes in the middle of a paragraph are immature and uncalled for.
6. No shallow OC‘s: These are what we call Mary Sues. While some may actually be enjoyable to read, few are memorable. A tale about you and your friends playing with canon characters is not a fun read. Self insertion (unless you keep yourself balanced and don’t HINT or tell that said character is you), is not a fun read. A tale depicting a perfect, wonderful and goddess-like OC is not a fun read. We like flaws and balance…balance is the key to an OC that readers will grow to love.
7. OOC: Unless labeled AU and warned for good reason, canon characters must behave as in show/book/movie/game/etc. [Romantic] preferences may be altered if storyline is coherent and believable. Otherwise, any story not reflecting the characters true personality, or warping the characters personality to fit whatever demented plotline contrived…is a readers nightmare.
8. Plot…have one darling…it makes all the difference in the world.
9. Rudimentary knowledge of grammar. Please…*sobs* please do this!
10. Do not mix tenses. Past tense, present tense and future tense in the same sentence is can cause brain damage to readers. Try and refrain from causing spontaneous imploding of your readers skulls. One tense per scene…unless stylized. Ex. Past simple tense for all chapter, but memories the character has, or flashbacks may be in present tense--or whatever tense you prefer. I recommend advanced study for tenses…they are tricky to learn.
11. Strings of consciousness are for experienced writers…and even they can’t do it right.
12. Try and spell correctly: before you post a story here on you must agree to a TOS (terms of service). This TOS says quite bluntly, that there is NO EXCUSE for bad spelling and punctuation. Yet, you, dear one have ignored this stern warning and posted drivel. They may not enforce standards after such a travesty, but flamers will.
13. Repetitive wording. Saying I I I I I I and He He He He in every paragraph, at the start of every sentence and basically a few trillion times in your chapter...it strains the readers eyes.
14. Adverbs Adjectives galore: Try and not bog down your story with as many descriptive words as you can cram in one sentence.
Example: "The heavy and sparking rain poured down on my yellow gleaming and crimson umbrella while I twirled it in my rain-slicked fingers like a big, stupid, dope."
Also, I found a story on FFN that tries to help authors write good stories. It's called "How to write a popular POTC story", but it can apply for any story. Here's the link: www.fanfiction.net/s/3182837/1/ Mentions "you-know-what" in passing in Chapter 1, Chapter 3, and the title of Chapter 4 (I apologize if I missed any or you're offended). Other than that, it has excellent advice even exprienced authors would love.
