Velvet D Coolette

Personally, I've only ever once felt any need to apologise for a fanfic, and that was my first ever attempt. Even then it was only after I'd written several more stories, gotten good at it and then went back and read the first one. I said 'sorry, I don't like this one as it is any more, I'll rewrite it then put it back up', and I haven't yet, which again, makes me feel apologetic because there are people asking for the subsequent stories to be put back up, which I took down also. But apart from that, not at all. If it's got the right warnings on it, then you're warned. There is a writer in The Pit who keeps on apologising for his rather grim/emo work but keeps on posting it anyway, and seems to ignore concrit. He's the kind that gets on my nerves: if you feel the need to apologise, ask yourself why and fucking put it right! [/rant]

I hate stories where we are introduced to an OC, the OC and a canon character meet, they fall in love, settle down... and that's it. It happens a lot in Cats fanfiction and is utterly, unreservedly pointless. That's a fantasy, not a story! Other than that, I hate reading content by someone who's not researched what they're writing about, or is trying to write that much outside their sphere of knowledge. A small step from knowledge to deduction is fine, but just taking a wild guess? No. Apart from that, there are some stories out there that have no storyline but are just an outlet because the author fancies writing something, anything. But I don't hate them: I just don't start reading in the first place.

I've seen that before. I don't do HP fanfiction either, but a lot of the MS themes hold true! Nice!

I had a dream I kept bees and they produced absolutely masses of honey! My mum lived with me and she hated the bees. I kept 'em, though!

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I won't start a story unless I know how it ends. I think that a large portion of the pleasure of a story is how it gets wrapped up, especially if, halfway through the story, it's difficult for the readership to see where it's going to go. And I love the narrative climax of it myself!

Not quite. If you take a look at that particular litmus test (I presume you're referring to the one with the blue background?) it says at the beginning that Sueism is relative. It does invite you to use your own brain, not just rely on what the test says. In fact, I used that very test to come up with Starla Brighteyes, and most of my readers adore her think she's brilliant. Okay, she's ironic, but a great character still came out of it. So it depends on where you're coming from.

*scribbles more notes*

This is a good start! Thanks for the tip!

Hi all, I've got a story idea for Knightmare. A dungeoneer is on a quest but finds himself followed by weird white blobs - which he is warned are deadly. He tries to escape, climbing out of their reach, going down wells, etc. but they just keep following. And to make it worse, they seem to have communicated with eachother and others are coming. And they're not all small... I don't know how I want it to end, but I'm not ruling out a gruesome one. I'm wondering how long I can keep such a story up, and what twists and turns it might be possible for me to add in to make it a bit more interesting than a simple hounding chase. Anyone got any tips?

I think we're beginning to foster a culture of entitlement in the West: that everybody must be nicey-nicey to everybody all the time, and don't dare cricitise them, no matter how well-intentioned you are. We're not quite at such a dystopia yet, but I fear we're heading in that direction. So to me, it's important in principle to mention areas in which a fanfic can be improved, so I'll happily say so in a review. Nobody, as has been said before, likes a negative review, so personally I sandwich my concrit between two bits of praise. I usually start off by telling them what I liked, so that they know what they got right. After all, if the author clearly went for one kind of effect or another, then they'll be glowing with pride seeing that it's been noticed. Bear in mind also that a review is for other readers to read before they decide to delve into the story themselves. So the review should, by rights, be accessable to other readers. They want to know what you think too. Concrit does sting the ego a little, but what's wrong with a little bit of that once in a while? It makes the positive reviews all the better, especially when you see them improve after you've put a piece of concrit into practice!

I know trolls are annoying, but to wish physical pain on them? They're just people who need to grow up a bit, that's all. In any case, most of the well-established fanfiction sites have a webmaster to whom you can complain if it gets too bad. Let them deal with it; that's their job. And how do they spread 'fear', as you put in your last comment, Harley? I'm not sure I follow.

Hi all, Note to mods: I'm not sure whether this post constitutes advertising on this site, but that's not my intention. I'm looking for people interested in reciprocating links and therefore advertising would in fact be on other sites. If this post violates any rules here please accept my apologies and by all means delete it. I am currently looking for website owners who would be interested in having reciprocal links between my site (the How to Survive your Teens one mentioned in my sig) and theirs. The site currently doesn't have much traffic so I'm looking to boost it. If anybody here would be interested in doing so, please can you either reply to this thread or email me (email address is available on my site) and I'll get onto it as soon as possible. Kind regards, Hayley

*headdesk* I'm sorry foeofthelance. For some reason I've mentally linked your dragon avatar with the name Solaris. I keep getting you two mixed up. Sorry 'lance. Sorry Solaris. Sorry everyone. 2nded. WOOF! And thanks, Zanthious - I hadn't thought of the propped-up-on-hands thing. I could use that. But yes, he's literally just treating her as a hole, so no warmth. Perfect. Thank you, gentlemen!

Yes, very much! Thank you, Solaris!

Thank you, Scottishfae!

I tend to write the whole thing down in very basic terms with deliberately no dialogue. I separate scenes as paragraphs this way. The reason for the lack of dialogue at this stage is so that I can only write what's actually happening - the drama of the story. I will write something along the lines of, "A comes out to B, B is understanding and offers support in coming out to C." as that, to me, counts as part of plot. But I'll listen to, and note, the actual words that come out of the characters' mouths later, once planning is out of the way. I separate it into paragraphs so that I can see, at a glance, whether I'm giving one character too much coverage in one go, and to show me more clearly where I can get more cliffhangers in. Also, it helps to make sure I put edge-of-the-seat parts in where necessary. For example, I'm planning a story right now in which a vastly unpopular character realises how much damage she's done to her relationships and is trying to make amends. She is an OC, and even though my reviews so far have found her a very engaging character, I don't want to drown my audience with her - that would be overkill. But the process of her untangling this web of grudges and apologies and emotions is the central point to the story. So the planning tecnique I've described above has shown me where I can write in sub-plots to regain a balance.

Good morning/afternoon gentlemen, I have a question about your experience of the missionary position. When, during the act, you put your arms around a woman's shoulders and grip her, are you cuddling her or is that just a convenient position to brace yourself against the bed/floor? I'm writing a story in which a couple are having sex but the female's feeling rather unloved. The male doesn't really care about her and is using her for sex, so, as my own partner - who is very loving and affectionate - sometimes puts his arms around me during missionary, I wonder if you can let me know whether that's simply for position or to offer affection? Either way, the female will be scraping the few little crumbs of affection - real or imagined - such as that cuddle simply to stay sane in the relationship. Thanks in advance!

I'm so hot, Satan's sulking.

All the predatory animals in the world kneel before my mightiness! (and glistening white, sharp teeth)...

Well, daddy and I went to Halfords to buy a bike, but there were baby kits in there for half price. So we got one and made you!

I'm not sure what to make of your picture, but the words underneath it are strangely compelling.

Far from it! That's the only time I've no personality! G/NG: Ever gone to a fetish club?

*Watches after Zyx as the car stops and judders to a halt* "I think you'll need your keys to keep it goin' mate!" *Turns the other way and lobs keys to a stranger* "Hey, Zyx! Catch them if you caaaaaaaaaan!!"

This is certainly true, but I mention further on in the essay that some people troll even when they don't realise they're doing it. I take your point, but I have in mind Chicka, if you care to look again. Anyway, thank you for the feedback!