Writing What Flows With It (Writing & Reading Fanfiction)

[asian_tofu]

As a fervent reader of the fanfiction community, and a little of an author, I thought it would?ve been nice to have a thread that talked about the habits and odd things that we do for writing/reading. Also the things that we may hate as we read or write fanfiction. And maybe a thread just for complaining? :D

I for one have the worst habit of changing my penname during sudden new obsessions. I?ve gone through colors, Japanese, pointy objects, and now and exploring the possibility of food. Also, as fanfiction becomes bigger, it can also get into my life. Hence, this results in long lapses in my updates. My longest break was from May-September this year. I?ve just recently finished editing only two chapters and reposted them. As a reader, what depresses me most is the number of talented authors who pull out of writing their fanfictions, leaving them unfinished and never giving readers a conclusion. Anyway, I have this weird thing that I do when I finish writing chapters. I count how many words are in each one (does anyone else do this?). I guess it sort of becomes a general chapter marker for me, but I?ve read about some who count their pages. There?re also the difficulties of writing fanfiction about animanga. You have to use a lot of onomatopoeias (at least for me), and it?s sometimes hard to depict some anime trademarks (the sweatdrop, the exasperated fall, etc?).

For some reason, I only know one author who proclaims to keep a notebook and handwrites chapters first. I myself can only write properly (and with somewhat of an entertaining style) on the computer. Then there?s the dreaded writer?s block. I?ve never kept an outline for my stories ? I just sort of write and go with what me head tells me. I guess that?s bad?but I never write when I don?t want to. When you just start out writing, you want people to review and comment on your stories to improve. When you write (in my personal opinion), always do it for yourself. There?s always the need to become acknowledged when you?re still that little overlooked one chapter story with the summary that claims that the author sucks at writing summaries. When you finally do become popular (as I?ve discovered with many authors who?ve made a name for themselves), there?s a lot of pressure from readers to get quality chapters out in a short amount of time. You lose the inspiration and write without much soul if you falter under the stress?whew. *wipes brow* Just had to get that lot across. J

Now for the *coughs*complaints*coughs* I have as a reader ? mostly just opinions about writing styles and fanfiction peculiarities. Please excuse me if I sound harsh, but that?s what happens when I go on rants?

The worst thing about reading fanfiction based on popular anime is (how frequently is this voiced?) the number of fanfictions by obsessive, hyperactive fans that possess nothing of a plot and basic writing skills. There are the cliché ideas that are used over again and again with almost no variations, and the annoying use of random Japanese words (especially when the meanings aren?t correct) when the author does it often. Longs lapses from updates are understandable if the author gives an explanation, but discontinuation is extremely disappointing (I had to do this to one of my fics because of lack of time and interest though). Some authors have never heard of the word ?synonym,? which causes the descriptions in their stories very tiring to read. Overdramatic scenes that are overly elaborated on are very strenuous to read (as I?ve discovered at 2AM). Authors should always put quality over quantity as well. A one-chapter story may be ten-fold better than a 60-chapter story. But, as for the upside of fanfiction?the model fanfiction (for me); a story that enraptures the reader with an interesting plot, an author that uses enough and only that much description, grammar and spelling with the occasional typo (no one?s perfect), and the feeling that it just ?flows.?

--BLUE

[Delta]

[quote name='Blade911']There are the cliché ideas that are used over again and again with almost no variations, and the annoying use of random Japanese words (especially when the meanings aren?t correct) when the author does it often. [/quote]
[COLOR=DarkRed][SIZE=1]You mean clichés like [I]"..And he woke up and realized that it was only a dream"[/I]?
(which, I think, is a trite excuse for a lousy plot)

Fanfics written in English get even weirder when characters like Count Cain start saying "Baka!" or "Hidoi!" That's neo-Victorian era for you.
Ah well. Maybe their use is an allusion to the anime's/manga's Japanese origin.

Forgive them obsessive, hyperactive fans.

Love and Peace! :love2:
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[Guest The Pro]

Well, i'd have to say, as a fellow amature wrighter, that you are pretty much correct in what yus saying, except that in chapters, i dont think it is all that good to count the words, couse then you might think you have to few, and over-extend the lpotline for each chapters, making it look sloppy and un-proffessional. Just end when you think is wright, in a suspensful period of time, then you make the next chapter completly different from that one, in a different setting talking abut somon else, dont know what kind of story you wright, but do it when you can.

[asian_tofu]

I write Inuyasha fanfiction, which sort of explains all my *cough*complaining*cough* about popular anime fanfiction. I use ff.net (with the same sn), so when I read overenthusiastic summaries, it kind of makes me feel the obsessive, hyperactive fans...

--BLUE