Poll: If I created it, would you guys be interested in following a tumblr account? I'd post the status of fan fiction updates, drabbles, and maybe previews. Interested? Vote Now!
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Author has written 30 stories for Legend of Zelda, Inuyasha, Tales of Symphonia, D.Gray-Man, Vocaloid, and Aldnoah Zero/アルドノア・ゼロ. (Formerly "Hyrule Master") Hi, my life is ruled by singing voice programs and magical girls. I write primarily in the romance genre for my guilty pleasure needs. OTP list: 1. RinxLen 2. LinkxZelda 3. AlicexOz 4. EmilxMarta 5. AllenxLenalee 6. SlainexAsseylum Fan Fiction/Writing Tips: 1. Before you start writing a fan fiction, be sure to have a game plan on how it's going to progress. Think of an exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution. Don't be spur of the moment and write something based merely on a concept, but having no idea where to go. 2. Be aware of character development. Ask yourself, "is this a dynamic or a static character?" For dynamic characters, think of what is to change about them and create the process of that change from there. This should be intertwined with the story plot itself. Also, in most cases, your main characters should be dynamic characters. The story will be more interesting. 3. When developing a well-rounded character, don't be afraid to give them flaws. Someone who is super perfect, strong, handsome/beautiful, and talented in everything is boring. Make a real person, not an Edward Culle--I'm sorry... FAKE person. :) If you want to double check... put your character through a Mary Sue test. 4. Be aware of your point-perspectives. Remember that we learned about three different types in grade-school. First-person, third-person limited, and third-person omnipotent. And if you forgot, I'll do a little review: first person is written with the character's perspective (I, me, my, we, etc.). They are the ones telling the story. Their knowledge is usually limited to their own thoughts, feelings, and how they perceive their surroundings. Third-person limited is written in the perspective of someone outside the story (he, she, their, they, etc.). The perspective usually takes place around one character, and some information about other characters is limited. Finally, third-person omnipotent is basically the same as third-person limited except the person telling the story knows all. Basically, the writer plays God. And as a side-note, for all three perspectives, a majority of stories are written in past-tense (except for maybe in dialogue.) 5. Obviously, fan fictions come from something that is already created. But how do we come up with these concepts? Ask yourself "what if" questions about the series. For example, with one of my stories "Drawn To You", A Vocaloid fan fiction based on the song Magnet, I asked myself several questions. Some of which included, "Why is their love forbidden?" "How would you take these lyrics into context?" "What are their normal lives like?" "Is this similar to 'Romeo and Cinderella?'" You get my drift. :) Also... Alternate Universes are cool! I personally love them. Some fandoms are easier to work with for certain universes though. For example, Vocaloid is much easier to work with when using a school setting than Legend of Zelda. (Then again, Vocaloid is VERY easy to work with for AU's for all the songs out there.) My Fan Fiction Pet Peeves: 1. When people change the points of view throughout the chapter and label them. It completely breaks the flow of the story! I can tolerate it if view points change per chapter and if they're not labelled though. Because that may be an effect. If you really want to change perspectives... do it indirectly by using third-person omnipotent. 2. When writers insult the intelligence of their readers. Use inference statements! Let your readers question! There's a 95% chance they'll get what you mean. Let them think a little! 3. When people use Japanese romaji when a song is being sung in a fan fiction that's written in English. I'm pretty sure if the majority of your readers speak English, they will not understand what's being sung unless they are either bilingual, or know the song really well. There's always an English translation that can be found online. 4. When writers use foreign words as part as regular dialogue for a character. When foreign words, I suggest italicizing them and only using it when it's necessary. In other words, don't use it for a simple response... Okay, instead of being vague, I'll just say it straight: Don't make your characters say, "How kawaii!" or "Gomennasai" or etc. in regular dialogue. 5. When writers don't research. For example, research the time period you're writing in. Study some of the behaviors that were practiced. The most common errors I see in fan fictions that I tend to read are when writers use the setting of a Japanese school. A Japanese school functions very differently from an American one. Or a European one. Or from any other school you may or may not go to (unless, of course, you are Japanese yourself.) Granted, I have never been to a Japanese school and I probably never will, but it takes a simple internet search to see how a school functions. :) It will make your story more believable. Study cultures, too! Do at least an internet search! (...unless you plan to publish something... then do much, much more than that... and it wouldn't even be a fan fiction.) Disclaimer: If your story has any of these, don't be offended. This is just my opinion. :) And even if a fan fiction has one of my pet peeves, if it has many redeeming qualities and is well-written, I will probably read it. Also, if you decide to take these "pet peeves" into account and need advice, such as internet searching or more details on specifics, feel free to PM me. I will be happy to help. :) I believe in constructive criticism, after all. |
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