Fancfic writing advice needed

[cyndaquil_dratini]

hey, I'm just beginning writing a fanfic, Alexi, and i'm about to finish my second chapter, but i'm not sure whether i should or not. after some good advice from xXSaberXx, ive been spacing all my paragraphs. but the second chapter to my fanfic is about six pages long now. how long is too long? i didnt want to dwell too much on the whole "quest beginning" thing, so i dont want to split it into two seperate chapters. everything that's said is pretty important, im just not sure what to do.
should i leave chapter two as it is and let people who r really keen read the whole thing? its not like its boring, just coz its so long. should i split the story into two chapters, so it takes an extra chapter to get off the island? should i cut out some good bits of the story, just to make it a bit shorter and easier to read? i dunno. ill prolly have lots of problems liek this, ones i dont really want to be posted with the fanfic itself, in case i change it before i post it, but im sure lots of other newbie fanfic writers have the same kinda problems, so ill post them here and see if i get some good advice.

 

[Wandering Rhythmical Phoenix]

I say, Keep it, So far, Ive had a seven page, a nine page, and a most recently, Eight page chapters. my aveage has been 5 per chapter, so, in my eyes, six is completely normal, If it has to be that long to get the point across, let it be that long!

 

[IceKing]

Actually, six pages is the amount that most reviewers at Serebii would like to see Its not too long at all and dont feel that your spending too long on something because when a newbie usually feels that it means there spending the right amount of time on something. I wrote 16 pages for my first chapter and Saber herself writes 30 page chapters (insane, yes)! So don't stress, and just write normally

 

[cyndaquil_dratini]

OK...I've got a few more questions. im only askign them here coz i dont know where else to ask them.

Um...whats with PMing? I mean, I know you can send private messages to people and stuff, but what is and isnt ok with that? For example....I was reading "You're Not Alone" last night, and Ratiasu and Charco kept mentioning a list of PMs...like...is it ok to PM people who said theyd be interested in reading your story and let them know you've finished the next bit? If not...what are PMs for, and what kidna stuff should you put in them?

Also, I tried reading the Christmas Awards thing, but it was just too complicated. Seems like someone wants to get more newbie fanfics involved, only I don't see how he's gonna do that with a whole heap of awards specifically created for specific awards- like this Burnt Flower person; ok, she's good at writing horror, but how many other horror stories about pokemon are there gonna be? It's nice how theres this little group of people who all know each other and talk to each other and everything but...i dont know who you are.

Can I review stories if I've only just posted mine? What "qualifications" do you need for that? And its hard to review stories that are already 14 chapters long, because theres so much to read through. if there are any new-starting stories by people who'll read my story, id be happy to read through it and tell them what i think.

And just lastly, since i got no more threads on my fanfic post...how often should you put out new chapters? It seems liek its kinda a weekly thing, so from now on, ill just stick to that if i get no other responses.

Oh. And I think its kinda unfair to give something like 'The Drama of Serebii" five stars just coz all the people that rate the story are in it. Its a clever idea but, no, its not interesting for anyone whos not involved. Basically, what im saying is "Let me in!!!!!" Id really liek to get involved in something liek this, but it seems kinda difficult. Is there a forum or something i should go to? Have I just missed the link?

 

[Xiang]

Oh, I'm so honored!

Pms are for notifying someone that another chapter is up, so they won't have to check day after day and lose their head. All I put in mine are:

Next chapter of *insert fic title* is here! Enjoy!

*insert username*

I don't really get your second question.

Yes, you can review stories whenever you want, as long as it is fair, states what you like and dislike, and isn't SPAM. Personally, I never have time for the fics with that many chapters, so I just leave them to the others.

You should post up chapter when you think they are good and ready. I've learned *the hard way* that if you post up *yucky* chapter one a day, you will find that most people enjoy a good chpater that takes a long time.

 

[Pinecone Tortoise]

I think what cyndaquil_dratini means about the Christmas awards is that the awards do seem to be specifically aimed at particular people known throughout Serebii as being the master of that category. Sort of by saying 'Best Horror Writer' or whatever it is, there's only one person eligible to win.

Although I can see that the Awards appear tailor made to fit certain people on here, I reckon the reason some of the more 'popular' authors withdrew from being nominated is to give newbies a chance. For example, sure, Burnt Flower is the best horror writer around here, but if you take her(?) out of the equation, who would the award go to? I see it as encouraging understudies or the unnoticed authors. If the 'great's' are removed, who will take their place?

With regards to the length of your chapters, go full out as long as you're not waffling on. I think at only four/five chapters in length, my fic is approximately thirty odd pages long. That averages out to over six pages per chapter. And the actual distribution isn't even. I think I've had up to eight without losing readership. (Though my most recent chapter ended up being about six/seven pages and that was supposed to be the first half of the chapter so I posted that as a chapter in itself and will do the same for the second. I reckon there are limits, but the line isn't drawn at six.)

cyndaquil_dratini (okay if I call you cynda? Your name is a pain to write!): If you want to be part of the 'in-club' that seems to have sprung up around Serebii, I'd advise not using chatspeak and start adding in capitals where required. People go a lot on looks, so if you look professional, people think of you that way. Keep your eyes open in the Author's Cafe and Fanfiction threads and keep up to date with what's going on. Plus, please stop saying liek. It might be just me, but I find it irritating.

Also, review other people's fics. Not only does it get your name out and often remembered, but it makes other people happy and feel more confident in their writing. What goes around, comes around.

If you're lonely or something, feel free to PM me to say hi or chat. There's a lot of people who just straight out ask to be friends because if you don't ask, you'll never know. Hope this helps a bit.

 

[cyndaquil_dratini]

Oh, ok. Yeah, I think I get it now. I'm really new to the whole forum thing too- I just assmed that people used the same kind of rules as on msn, but I'm glad to hear it's different. I only write liek because I'm lazy and I forget to check my posts before I post them- it's one of those words I always typo on.
This thread has been really useful to me so far, I think I'm getting a bit more used to this kind of environment. I love critiqueing everything I read, so I'll go and review all the just-beginning stories I can find now, shall I? I'm just worried people won't take any criticism from me on board, because they don't know who I am. You can call me cynda if you like, just not cyndi because I'm a guy. Actually, that'd be sorta funny, because I'm gay. It's really bizarre sometimes, writing about someone and you don't know what gender they are. I just assume, like with Burnt Flower, but what else can you do? I'll go around PMing everyone, saying "Excuse me, what's your gender?"
I think I just find the Christmas awards thing confusing, because theres so much to take in...and so many posts to read. It's probably easier just not to worry about it for now.
Ok then, well, if anyone wants their fanfic reviewed...and it's got less than four chapters so far...PM me and ill do it gladly. I just don't like picking up things halfway through, I hope that's ok. Thanks for the advice, Pinecone tortoise, (whose name is equally as painful as mine to write,and so from now on I shall call...um...Piney? Tortoisey?) it's exactly what I've been looking for.

 

[Pinecone Tortoise]

It's Piney. And I'm glad this helped you. As I said, PM me if you want to talk or need help. ^^ Have fun,

Piney.
;204;;324;

 

[cyndaquil_dratini]

Rightio, a new question.

What do people think about anthropomorphism in pokemon stories- that is, describing thigns by saying its like an animal, when there arent any animals in pokemon, only pokemon.

I, personally, think its the corniest thing in the world to use pokemon to describe something (Like- the woman had hair like a Murkrow, or something), but when its my characters describing each other as ferrets, and weasels, I feel like its kind of unreasonable, and maybe stretching it a bit.

How have other people dealt with this problem?

 

[Silawen]

I think it would be very logical to use those analogies. I mean, we would sometimes compare human features/personality traits to those of animals, so why shouldn't the people in the pokémon world do the same.

"Cunning as a fox."
"Slow as a snail." Etc. etc.

Murkrow black hair, for instance, isn't that bad an analogy.
"As slow as a slowpoke."