I'm merely a reader, not a writer, who happens to be female & old enough to know better.

I will make every effort to leave a comment, even if it's just to say 'good chapter' & if there is criticism, I hope to offer it in a constructive way. And, if I can't say anything nice, I won't say anything at all. I'm sure those who post their work will offer better advice than I, & it be received more easily than that offered by someone who only reads.

I admire those people who bare their souls on a regular basis, putting their work on here to be scrutinised, & must say that there are some truly talented people on this site. And kudos to those writers who offer up their stories in a language which is not their mother tongue, that takes determination & a real willingness to take on a challenge!

My main bugbears are a complete disregard for grammar, spelling & structure, & excessive clothing branding/description. Some people forget that less is more & the story does not depend on going into great detail on the type & brand of clothing or jewellery...unless the author is aiming for a fashion article or a very shallow characterisation. The same goes for the character (Hermione) to suddenly morph into this wondrous beauty with a figure to match. Not very believable I'm afraid, & annoying to boot.

One other thing...now I'm on a roll. If the story is being based in the UK, please use British terminology as best you can. For example: Mum, not Mom. Pavement, not sidewalk. Doorstep, not stoop. Autumn, not Fall. And it may be my age, but pancakes with bacon & syrup? For breakfast? Bacon & eggs, yes. In the UK, pancakes are for Shrove Tuesday, dessert, or French cuisine, & definitely not with bacon & syrup.

An avid reader of Harry Potter fiction, I prefer Hermione to be the main character, & Draco Malfoy is the male choice du jour. I do like her to be strong but still have her character traits/habits, vulnerabilities & insecurities, after all that's what makes her interesting. A spot of Severus or Harry with Hermione won't be sniffed at either. Ron with Hermione, however, I can't bear.

Whilst my preference is HP, I do occasionally trawl through other types of fanfiction, including crossovers & have managed to find some little gems.

I do have my favourite authors; Colubrina, Shayalonnie, Robst, Cleotheo, Athena Linborn & Corvusdraconis to name a few. Naturally, there are others, but these individuals have me breathlessly waiting for updates & I will look at everything they write. I truly hope Athena Linborn comes back to finish her second story, it will be a travesty to let it go unfinished.

I have a number of stories flagged on my favouries, do have a little look, there are some stories that are definitely worth reading.