Fanfiction n00bs! Aaaarrrghhh! I'm sorry, but if you're going to make an account and post chapters, at least have the common decency to read the guidlines.
1. Get a Beta! For God's sake, it doesn't take much, just ask somebody if they'll pre-read for you! It's so simple. There's even a system for people struggling to find a Beta. If that doesn't work out for you, do it yourself. Just read through it slowly a few times and pick out any mistakes.
2. If you're going to write Alternate Universe (AU), then state it in the description! Just those two little letters. Look how easy it is.
3. Write actual descriptions! DO NOT PUT AS YOUR DESCRIPTION: 'hey I'm new to this, this is my first story, please read it I don't even care if you review! Luv ya!xxx' !!!!! This is annoying as hell, because it gives no inclination as to what the fic is actually about, and instead of convincing me, you're just putting me off. I don't want to waste my time. Just try to sound professional.
4. Admittedly, I fell victim to this one. Don't give yourself a stupid pen name that you're going to regret later. I did this with both my fanfiction and my YouTube accounts. I picked names that I came up with in a random mood that sound childish and I didn't fully understand. Now I'm stuck with artyfarty1996 as my YouTube name, and I just managed to change my fanfic name from funkyfish1996 to TheMoonIsLowTonight, with funkyfish after a hyphen to reduce confusion (so it's TheMoonIsLowTonight-funkyfish). I suspect it won't work.
5. Use proper grammar, please! It's so dificult to read a chapter with so many mistakes. Microsoft Word is not always right on the grammar check. The amount of times I've loved a plotline but hated the way it's written is both uncountable and rediculous.
6. Whaever you do, check your descriptions for mistakes! I always judge a fic by its description, and if theres a mistake in the 100 character description, there'll be a few more in a lengthy fic.
I'll update this post when more things irritate me. Now I need to go and be depressed.
I not sure if you realised this but you were complaining about mistakes but you spelt whatever wrong...... make sure you get someone to pre-read it :) oh i new to this luv ya xx :)
ReplyDeleteLauren