Name: TheFadingLight

Age: ...do you really need to know?

Gender: ...again, do you really need to know? If you do, I think it's apparent...

Likes: I like the outdoors, reading, puzzle and strategy games

Let's begin with the most important fact...as a writer, I pretty much suck. I would love to share my stories, I have quite a number of ideas, but it's just a matter of making a plot that makes sense, or just making it flow well. My mind is all jumbled up with all other stuff that it's a mess and takes some time to organize everything, almost drives me crazy. (Though I've already been labeled as such -_-)

As a reader, now that's different. I love reading :)

Anyways, I'll read all most anything. I guess I'll just make a list, I like lists.

What I (generally) look for:

1) A good summary. I can't say how often I'm turned away from a bad summary. It's sometimes a shame to know that I neglected to read some stories based on that reason. I do, once in a while read the first chapters to find it's a good story, just that the summary sucked. So yeah, good summary.

2) An original/cool title. Well, if the title and/or cover are interesting I'll go ahead and see what the story's about. If it seems boring or unoriginal, I'll have my doubts. If it seems too plain, it leads me to believe that the the story will be plain as well, if not, it just doesn't catch my attention. The title comes in hand with the summary, so some people are saved by awesome summaries. But, of course, the summaries are the reason why a story catches our attention.

3) A good beginning. Yeah, I've sometimes quit reading a book, or story, because the beginning was just slow and boring. I do read on, well sometimes, to find that the story does improve, but in some cases, they don't. I do appreciate those author notes that warn us readers about a slow beginning, convinces me to continue. So if you have a slow beginning, just let us know, it might convince someone like me to read on. Also, if the beginning is just too rushed, then that's the opposite. I'm sometimes left wondering 'what's going on?' I do like a nice intro to the story. Not to slow, not to rushed. Of course, there's always the exception ;D

4) Story progresses. Enough said there. Story needs to keep being told. I sometimes come upon a book/story that seems like the character is stuck in the same place. Nothing interesting is happening. And then you have those books that progresses way to fast, and of course, there are exceptions to these.

5) Within reason. I understand that books and fanfics allow us to write what we want. I'm one of those people that likes an explanation as to why something is. For fanfics, well, I mainly read those that are kept in the realm of possilbilties in the story world or ours. I do read AU, but again, I like explanations. Hmm...can't seem to express what I mean by this one :/ Oh well, moving on.

6) Character development. All good stories have them. A great example would be the Avatar series :D Anyways, in fanfics, I like to keep them, mostly in character. If they are OOC, I'd like to know and the reason why. I like a background of their story as to why the character is that way. Of course these are fanfics, I understand, I'd just like to know the reason why. Another would be the introduction of OCs. I'm iffy about OCs, just as long as they don't annoy me I guess.

7) Grammar/Spelling!! Yeah, this one is a biggie. If there are a lot of spelling/grammar errors, I flat out won't read it. Even if it's an amazing storyline. I refuse to read it. I don't understand how someone writes a story and doesn't spell/grammar check. A writer needs to know how to write well.

8) Chapters. I don't often read one-shots. I just like them long, means there's more for me to read. I guess that's it for this one :o

9) Completed. Fanfics that aren't completed? I'm sad when they're either discontinued or not updated (though I shouldn't be one to talk). I do read some that aren't completed because they just sound too awesome not to read, but I generally stay away from incomplete stories. I hate finding that it's such a great story and it's going somewhere and find myself sad that there's no next chapter. Thank goodness for those who do update.

10) Originality. That's a given. Not much for cliches, vampires, or that sort.

Anyways, there's my list. This is all based on what I look for, but of course, I don't always go by this. And if someone wants me to read/review their story, I always read something if it's suggested by someone. And of course, there's me. I know I won't have all this as a writer, but this is what I look for as a reader.