*NEW* Guide to Better Fan-Fics by Ria

[RiaBaby]

Guide to Better Fan Fiction

For starters, take a moment to think about why you are writing this fan fic. If you are merely a fan of a certain band, read a story with them in it, and thought it was a good idea to write your own, then stop reading this right now. I’m not discouraging people who just discovered writing and wish to experiment with it—I am discouraging illiterate twelve year olds who write stories about Benji screwing them and getting the main character (who just happens to have the same name as the author) preggers and they have a baby and everything is hunky-dory. Please just don’t bother writing anything if you fit this category because it saves everybody a lot of aggravation. Trust me, I know, I’ve been there.

If, however, you are serious about writing, then keep reading. I’m no expert myself, but I hope the various information and tips I post here will help you improve your writing, as I hope myself to improve—because you can only get better, and there’s always room to get better.

So, as part of the introduction I’d like to address a basic English rule that seems to have been overlooked on this board. I have no idea why, since it’s common sense, but you couldn’t imagine how many times I’ve seen this mistake. Rule #1:

a.) A new speaker always starts a new paragraph.

“It’s a handcar.”<br>
“What?”<br>
“Handcar,” the boy said impatiently, “like in the old cartoons. Look.”

(taken from Stephen King’s, The Gunslinger: The Dark Tower I, pg. 213)

The above is a perfect example of how dialogue should be written. Below is a bad example and should not be followed under any circumstances:

“It’s a handcar.” “What?” “Handcar,” the boy said impatiently, “like in the old cartoons. Look.”

(taken from Stephen King’s, The Gunslinger: The Dark Tower I, pg. 213)

Do not do that. Writing in this way is very hard to understand; it confuses the reader since it’s hard to decipher who’s actually doing the talking. That’s why a new speaker always starts a new paragraph, as does a new idea.

Okay, now that we have that basic rule done with, let’s go over some other common mistakes I see so frequently. The following tips/hints are quite important, so please pay close attention.

b.) When writing, do not use computer slang.

I realize this is the internet, but nobody wants to read a story filled with a bunch of computer jargon. The following is an example of WHAT NOT TO DO:

“so r u?” Jessica asked.
“wut?”<br> “in a rush”? she almost let out a nervous giggle but caught herself in time.

(rewritten from Sweet Valley High: Senior Year #1—Can’t Stay Away by Francine Pascal, pg. 58)

THIS IS WHAT YOU SHOULD DO:

“So are you?” Jessica asked.

“What?”<br>
“In a rush?” she almost let out a nervous giggle but caught herself in time.

(taken from Francine Pascal’s Sweet Valley High: Senior Year #1—Can’t Stay Away, pg. 58)


When writing anything, always, always go back and proofread it first. Use your brain. Use grammar. Use spellcheck. Have a friend or a relative read it and give an opinion on it before you post. But for God’s sake man, make it legible. Writing is NOT a conversation you are having with a friend on AIM. It is a work of literature, and in the name of all writers, it deserves to be written correctly.

c.) Don’t just assume your readers know your character.

Although this is fan-fiction, you can’t just start off a story by Benji waking up and getting ready for sound check. No. You are a writer, and you should be able to give depth to the character. Who is Benji? Where did he come from? What does he look like? Describe these things. Below is a good example of an introduction to a well-known fan-fiction character.

The sound of an old car sputtering to a stop in front of the school brought me back to reality. I peered out the large glass door to see a rusty black minivan with some guy getting out. Him and Sarah had the same eyes, same cute face, but his was more masculine...harder than hers. He ran a hand through his jet black hair before opening up the main doors. His eyes met mine briefly before the ground caught my attention.

(taken from Fiesty Towels’ Just a Tragedy, Chapter 2, Fifth paragraph. www.freewebs.com/fiestytowels)

Try to avoid the cliché “He was hawt with a bunch of tattoos and piercings and spiky hair and he had on this black shirt that said Rancid in white letters across it.” No. Nobody wants to hear that, it’s been done a million times and it’s completely a turn-off at this point. Okay? Okay.

d.) Do not create a character after yourself or your friends.

Don’t do it. Just don’t. Unless you are a very good writer, which few are, you simply will not be able to pull it off. So don’t be arrogant and think that you can, because you can’t. I think we’ve all made this mistake at least once, however—I know I have—but once you grow more and read more you’ll realize it’s a huge mistake. You should be able to conjure up enough imagination to create your own person—that is the beauty of writing. It is actually harder to create a character based on a real person you communicate with everyday. The reason it is acceptable in fan fiction is because you don’t know those people personally. You can create a character after Joel, or Benji, or Bob-fucking-Marley because you don’t know them and you have to imagine what they’d say in a certain situation. Thus it is still fiction. But when you put your best friend in there because she said “I claim BENJI!!” it is not a good idea. With this character you are extremely limited, and it’s also an insult on your part. It says that you, as a writer, are not even talented enough to create your own main character and secondary characters. I doubt I am doing a good job in explaining this, so please read the following paragraph and hopefully this guy will do a better job:

“I once tried to use someone I knew quite well as a character in a novel, and when I re-read what I'd written -- after carefully describing some actual things they did and said -- the character seemed a complete caricature and nothing like a real person at all. It wasn't due to my lack of skill, either -- I had some mutual acquaintances read the piece and they agreed I had captured the person dead-on -- it was just that reality does not often translate well into fiction. Fiction is art after all, and from art comes artifice.”

(written by Niko Silvester, Your Guide To Creative Writing For Teens,
teenwriting.about.com/library/weekly/aa111102d.htm)

e.) Setting is important.

It’s true. Setting is extremely important. A lot, and I mean a lot of stories I’ve come across seem to be completely oblivious to the setting. Where the fuck are they? I don’t want to hear, “It was a sunny day in Waldorf, Maryland and Brittany Sanders was driving to see her boyfriend, Benji.” No. That doesn’t suffice because usually the author will indicate at the beginning of the story that the people are in Maryland and that’s all. After that, it’s just straight dialogue. That’s not a story. You should describe the people’s surroundings, describe where they are, exactly what they’re doing, their actions, their facial expressions, the clouds, the sky, the birds, the grass, strangers around them. Don’t just have the story progress through dialogue. That is called a play, not a story. It’s always important to pay attention to the setting, because it gives a general theme to the fan fic.

[RiaBaby]

f.) Do not use *LATER THAT DAY* or *5 MONTHS LATER* interjections.

I don’t care—I expect there to be protests on this one, but I think it’s vital that these things be avoided. It’s immature and juvenile—a fifth grader stunt. You should be able to put it in your story how the time progresses, not just a simple ~At Soundcheck~ half-assed job. Below is perfectly modeled on how you speed up time in your story while still maintaining beautiful writing:

It was strange driving into Winnerow after the week we had spent at Farthy. I felt as though I had moved from one dream existence into another and back again. We had decided that we would spend our time here in my cabin and would keep it as a place for us to use whenever Logan or both of us had to return to Winnerow on business.
(taken from V. C. Andrews’ Fallen Hearts, pg. 78)

This rule also includes POV interjections. We will get into that more deeply later, but for now I just want to say that I think it’s frowned upon when people put ~Benji’s POV~ titles at the top of a chapter and people just accept it. I don’t see it as acceptable. Through your words you should be able to tell whose point of view it is. You cannot have a mixture of point of views. When I say this, I mean you can’t have first person in the first chapter then suddenly the second chapter is in third person. No. No, no, no, no, no. No. This is not acceptable. Also, you cannot have more than one character in the first person point of view. When I say this, I simply mean you can’t have one character, we’ll call her Brittany, telling her story by using “I” and then suddenly another character, we’ll call him Bob, is now telling his story by using “I”. NO. This is utterly and completely not acceptable. If you are using the “I” point of view, then the “I” can ONLY REFER TO ONE CHARACTER. You can’t just say, “Oh now it’s Benji’s point of view” and think that’s okay, because it’s not. This is what I mean:

BENJI POV

I know I shouldn’t be attracted to her, she’s totally different to anyone I ever go for, she’s bigger than anyone I ever go for, but she’s great. She’s like my riot girl! When I wrote that song I was writing it about my dream girl, never thinking I’d met her. She looks great though with her black hair with turquoise streaks, blue jeans and NFG top. I love her piercings too and the devil tattoo on her shoulder, its like were opposite but exactly the same. I don’t care what the guys say… I know she’s big but she’s really nice and her tits are huge!

“You like her don’t you bro? Joel’s voice startled Benji.

“Yeah, she’s great, she’s just like who I dreamt of, I know you’ll take the piss, but I don’t care. I’ll ignore you!” said Benji, sternly but understanding.....

BACK TO 3RD PARTY POV

About five minutes later the meet and greet was over and the fans were being pushed out the door, Becky got a few bitchy looks and comments, but she didn’t give a shit, this was what she had wanted for years and nothing was goin to get in her way.

A little later the band were sat on the bus, Becky had been introduced to Billy and Chris and they were now playing on the X Box they had bought Benji for Christmas.

“So, How about we play a game to get to know each other a little better”, said Joel to Becky.

“What kind of game?” Becky asked with a gleam in her eye.

“Not that kind of game. We ask you some questions and if we don’t agree with your answer then you have to do a dare! Ok?” said Joel expecting her to flip out.

“Ok, lets go” said Becky. The twins looked a little shocked, I don’t think they expected Becky to agree so easily.
(from sazdevilish’s Consequences, first two posts, pg. 4 in the Completed Fan Fics section)

Notice that in the beginning of the story, Benji is “I” but now he is simply Benji. Excuse my language, but this is fucking retarded and this fan fic is the perfect example of why I am going through the trouble of even creating this stupid shit anyway.

EDIT: Okay, I want to add this because if I don't I will get seriously misunderstood on this one. IT IS OKAY TO HAVE A MIXTURE OF THIRD PERSON POINTS OF VIEW. Actually, I think those are the best stories. Now, what I mean is, as long as you stick with THIRD PERSON the whole time, (whether it's omniscient, objective, or limited) then it's definitely OKAY to rotate between characters, so you can get into all their heads. Here's an example of what I mean, and I think really actually makes the story quite better:

Connor McDermott glanced warily at the throng of students crowding the entrance hall of Sweet Valley High. He knew there was supposed to be some kind of orientation for El Carro students. If he followed the lost-looking kids or, better yet, the perky-looking one with big buttons that read Welcome to Sweet Valley High! he'd probably find the way.....

[Next Scene]

Blond. Brunette. Brunette. Blond. Tall. Taller. Not so tall. The possibilities seemed endless as Jessica scanned the crowd of El Carro guys seated at the back of her American History Class. She picked a seat two rows ahead that afforded the best view.
(taken from Francine Pascal's SVH: Senior Year #1. pgs. 5 & 6.....and yes, I read this shit)

See what I mean? The narrator remains an unknown spectator and the reader is allowed to see in turn what each character is thinking by rotating the point of view. NEVER EVER HAVE THE NARRATOR ADDRESS THE READER. Nooooooo. This is baaaad bad bad. As long as the narrator stays an unknown spectator or just a character in the story, then you're okay.

g.) Avoid second person point of view.

Trust me, the title explains all. I’m not even going to attempt to explain this one, I’ll let my good friend Niko do the talking:

In second person, the narrator addresses the protagonist as "you." Often, this kind of story has the narrator speaking to a younger version of their self. This point of view is very rare because it is extremely difficult to pull off. The reader may feel that they are the one spoken to, and will find it difficult to accept that they are doing the things the narrator tells them they are doing. If you choose to tell a story in second person, it is very important to make it clear to the reader who is being addressed, so they can trust in the teller and accept the story as given.

“You missed the bus again because you just couldn't convince yourself to get out of bed. The comforter made a cozy nest around you, and there was the cat, a warm ball of fur curled next to you. So you had to walk all the way to work.”
(written by Niko Silvester, Your Guide To Creative Writing For Teens, teenwriting.about.com/library/weekly/aa111102e.htm)

[RiaBaby]

h.) All stories should be in block format.

This should seriously be an official fan fiction rule. It just looks better if you single space it, don’t have it one big glob. It’s messy when it’s one big glob. Since all stories are posted on the internet, you cannot indent. Therefore it needs to be in block format, like this:

“I’ve just been attacked by dementors and I might be expelled from Hogwarts. I want to know what’s going on and when I’m going to get out of here.”<br>
Harry copied these words onto three separate pieces of parchment the moment he reached the desk in his dark bedroom…<br>
Up and down he paced, consumed with anger and frustration, grinding his teeth and clenching his fists, casting angry looks out at the empty, star-strewn sky every time he passed the window…

(rewritten from J. K. Rowling’s Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, pg. 42)

BAD EXAMPLE:

“I’ve just been attacked by dementors and I might be expelled from Hogwarts. I want to know what’s going on and when I’m going to get out of here.”<br>Harry copied these words onto three separate pieces of parchment the moment he reached the desk in his dark bedroom…<br>Up and down he paced, consumed with anger and frustration, grinding his teeth and clenching his fists, casting angry looks out at the empty, star-strewn sky every time he passed the window…

i.) Chapters should be longer than a couple paragraphs.

‘Nough said.

j.) Hodge-Podge fan-fics are evil.

They are, and should be avoided at all costs. What is a hodge-podge fan fic, you ask? Basically, it’s a story in which people are in love with so many bands they just throw a bunch of members in there so they can have them as characters. It soon becomes an overload of under-developed characters and the story’s quality falls down about thirty notches. Here’s what I mean:

Nick, Jere, Tony, Benji, Joel, Chris, and I were all getting off the bus and going into the concert hall. Tony laughed because Jere said something funny. I looked at them strangely, secretly wishing they would die. I didn’t like them. The only reason I tolerated them was because I loved Joel, and they were his friends. If I had my way I would’ve taken a knife to them both, and while I was at it I would’ve killed Bam and Brandon too. Maybe even Tim Armstrong and that Lars douche. Fuck them all.
(taken from my weird, sick, twisted head…yes, I just made this up as I went along)

This kind of writing is just…pathetic. None of these characters have background; they aren’t interesting, there’s no depth to them, they’re like extras in a bad Woody Allen film. Just don’t do it.


k.) Avoid clichés.

Please?

Okay, I think we’re done for now, or at least until people start adding to this. Alls we have left now are some tips, and I’d like to suggest a few:

• Always use Microsoft Word.
  
  
• Write what haunts you. What I mean is, write what you would like to read about. What do you think about when you’re alone? What do you wonder about when somebody is waving their hand in front of your face saying “Hellooo are you there?” What would you say if you had the chance for your voice to be heard? Write about these things, and you’ll be recognized.
  
  
• Read Niko’s Beginner’s Guide to Fiction.
  
  
• Read things other than fan fics. Read books. Read LOTR or Harry Potter. READ.
  
  
• Dreams are sometimes a very good source for decent ideas.
  
  
• Try to have at least a plot in mind before writing. Don’t just ramble and see where it takes you.
  
  
• DO NOT USE EXCESSIVE PERIODS. “…….” NO.
  
  
• Commas come after a person’s dialogue. “Snoogans,” said Jay. See the comma? USE IT.
  
  
• Try to open the story with a compelling conflict or crisis.
  
  
• NEVER HAVE THE FIRST PERSON CHARACTER ADDRESS THE READER DIRECTLY. Example:
  
  Oh. Hi. I'm Sash. Its prounounced like Dash..'cept its Sash. Anyway, I have bright green hair that goes to my elbows, brown eyes, I stand 5'4'', and I'm kinda chubby. I have three lip rings, a tongue ring, and an eyebrow ring. I have too many tattoos to name them all, but my favorite tattoos are the two wings on the back of my shoulders. I'm 23 years old, and I have a one year old daughter named Parker. I know, I know. I'm too 'young' to be a Mom, but I love her more than anything.
  (taken from gcfanfics.com)
  
  NO. This is completely unacceptable. DON’T DO IT.
  
  
• Have a variety of characters—don’t just do a group of punk tards.
  
  
• A lot are two separate words.
  
  
• Typos are bad.

Alright kiddies, that’s all I have for now. PM me if you have anything to add, or, as I’m expecting, anything to bitch about. Please don’t argue with me here, have enough class to spew your petty bullshit privately, if it do please ya.

[RiaBaby]

oh and post your opinions, i wanna hear what i did wrong this time. and if you don't agree with something i said, or you have a point of your own, just post it here and we'll go about making everybody happy

[sheepgoquack27]

damn that takes a long time to read...excellent job Ria!!

[RiaBaby]

*stares*....someone...praised me? haha seriously though, thanks chels. it took a long time to write, actually. but i think we needed it so some people can improve their shit? ya? yeah whatever....if people actually READ this, which i doubt.

oh well. it entertained me for a couple days

[Kezzie]

aw darn i like adressing the reader it adds a personal touch when they're included, i think maybe it should be up the writer to decide on that one but i agree with a lot of the others especially the spacing big blocks put me off.... (and i know i use ellipsis waaayyyy too much )

[LightintheDark06]

Ah, I do everything wrong. Im a horrible writer? Eeek, gah..*hits self*

No, seriously, I do about eight of those....Im....finished...

[RiaBaby]

lmao but the difference kyr is that your words are powerful, so it doesnt really matter the format they're in. this whole thing was addressed to the newbies and like...beginners. i dont wanna judge people and shit, everybody has their own techniques and what not, im just....giving advice to newbs i guess...

i mean...by all means, if you can pull it off, go right ahead skippy

[LightintheDark06]

The greatest fan fictions that I have ever read, have probably been the:

"One day, I woke up. Benji was there. We had eight kids. Benji cheated on me with some skanky hoe that I didnt know. (that rhymed! baha) He got her prego, and then I said "Oh hell no!", and then we broke up. Then a week later, the hoe said it was Joel's, and it saved me and Benji's souls..(haha, pushing the rhymes now!), and then we like..fucked..again...and again...and now I have a new baby named Joshua Joel, after Joel and Josh...and the end"


They amuse me, only in reality. About half of the words are mispelled or written like this: r u c-ing dis tru?

But, they amuse me all the same, they give me somthing to do when I am bored. Come on, you all know they make you laugh.

[RiaBaby]

mm.....no i actually cringe. they annoy me beyond belief, i actually get insulted.

buttttttt the threads with the OH MU GAWD BENJI IZ SO HAWT ;D are what amuse me. and internet fights. endlessly entertaining, really.

[LightintheDark06]

Baha, oh yes..the neverending string of smilies! You have to use every single one..or it isnt a true BeNgI iza Soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo HaWtz! Post..

[Taurence]

I *heart* you Ria and I don't *heart* to many people.

[bvalentinegc]

Wow...you are...GOD!! And I only say that about...2 other people, you've taught me how to be a better writer. I praise you.
I want to post up one of my stories, though it has nothing to do with a band, but it's something. What would I put it under? Creative Writing? I shall do that. Toodles!

[RiaBaby]

Taurence said:

I *heart* you Ria and I don't *heart* to many people.

;D same here T-Dawggg

and to the person above me--thanks! That was my goal the whole time lol. and yes, you would definitely put it under creative writing ;D