What NOT to do in a fic...

[FlamingRuby]

What turns you off when you read a fic?

First off, I don't like it when there's barely any description. How am I supposed to know what a character or place looks like without the author describing it?

Second of all, I don't like it when someone copies the dialogue and action right from the games themselves. If a story just looks like that, I can just play with my GBA and get a more enjoyable story

 

[Meep]

I don't like bad spelling. I can understand every so often, making a spelling mistake, but more than ten in a chapter and it gets painful to read. I can also understand some strange grammar (I'm not that good with grammar either XD), but if I can't understand it, I'm out.

I also don't like fanfics (or any stories, for that matter) that introduce something once and never explain what the object is again. I can't remember that the Super Soothe Bell is large and blue with yellow zig-zag designs if you only mention the object (other than the name) only once. How am I supposed to remember that Charlie is a Zigzagoon throughout an entire fic? But if you mention the Super Soothe Bell's color and Charlie's species at appropreate (sp) times, then I can remember. You might not think this happens very often, but people do this a lot in fanfics.

 

[Psychic]

Oh, I made a thread like this ages ago. Then it died, and I think we now have another just like it floating around.

Anyways, FR, the title of this topic is rather misleading, I thought this thread was advise writers should give each other about 'What NOT to do in a fic'. Maybe that's what the thread should be about, hmm?


Anyways, what I can't stand:
When a fic lacks description. I'm really a description maniac, so if a fic has barely any description, I know that it's written by a rather idiotic writer. Without description, it's harder to get into a story and feel like you're actually there-standright next to the character/s.

I hate unoriginal fics, especially those trainer fics where the kid gets a Pikachu/Eevee/Bagon/Dratini/Larvitar. Over-used Pokémon are always a turn-off and shows that the writer has no sense of imagination. There are a few writers who can pull it off sucessfully, but all the rest lack so much originality.
Perfect (main) characters. Brainless villains. Pokémon that have no personalities.
Clickés. Characters, plots, metaphors, whatever. I just can't stand it.

Oh, and last but not least: bad grammar. The fic's grammar doesn't improve and the whole thing is written as if a seven-year-old had written it. Then when they don't improve, even after you've tried to help and pointed out all their mistakes...


That's about it, in short.

~Psychic

 

[Dawnstar]

What turns me off while reading a fan fic?

- Example of a bad paragraph:
A cat walked down the path very slow. It was pretty and liked to chase flies. It has a small bandana on it's leg. A dog walked up to it. The dog barked and ran away. The cat was very scared.

Example of that paragraph turned much better (you should do this):
A young feline leaped slowly down the path worn from the leaves and wet soil. It's lovely satin blue-silver coat shone beautifully in the wind as it lept to capture a buzzing fly around it, which it often liked to chase. Around it's front left leg drooping near it's paw was a small white bandana that was tied tightly. From behind the tree, the leaves on the ground rustled, and a dog appeared, slowly approaching the cat. It let out a fierce bark, letting the cat know of it's territory, then strutted off with pride. The cat lay frightened and huddled down on the pathway.

Like said earlier, no unoriginal plots, such as the following:
- A Pokemon journey to become Pokemon Master
- Teams versus teams, or any teams really

Over-used way too much...

By the way, if you decide to speak confusingly and using big words, make sure you know them and don't overuse them. You can make simple sentences, like:
The cunning fox lept towards the titanic sienna oak tree after the sly and swift hare.

But make sure you don't overuse the words, use a variety. It might be hard, so use a thesaurus to help.

Stupid try with big words and confusing speaking:
Slickly a girl was wise to be in the last line.

Confusing, and makes no sense, even when translated. Way too irritating, lol.

 

[Dragonfree]

Firstly, Pokébots. Pokémon are not battling robots, and I hate to see them portrayed that way.

Then there is really any sort of "trying too hard" when writing:

- Overdescription. Yeah, you need to give us a basic idea of what a Charizard looks like in the case of readers who don't know, but frankly, even the readers who have never seen a Charizard really don't care once you've told them it's an orange Western dragon with a flame on its tail. Once that's done, get on with the story, please. Sentences entirely devoted to description should generally be kept to a minimum. Other relevant details can be added in the form of adjectives and adverbs in action-focused sentences.
- Too much thesaurus-syndrome. There are quite a few people on here who don't have English as their first language (such as me), and if I don't understand half of your fancy words, I'm likely to give up after a paragraph or two.
- Flaws for the sake of flaws. A Mary-Sue with a random flaw slapped on is NOT a realistic character, and that's that. Technically I don't care whether you make a perfect character first and then add flaws, but you need to know how to make a psychologically believable character out of it all afterwards. And really, you don't need a "flaw" to make a believable character. (Who can properly define a "flaw", anyway? I don't believe in any universal system of "good" and "bad" traits.) You need a realistic personality and understanding of how the character thinks, and if you've got that down, it's a perfectly fine character no matter what anybody says. If you get it to make sense that a given character would have managed to catch all 386 Pokémon including the legendaries, it's perfectly fine. If there is a good reason your character is a good enough trainer to beat the Pokémon league, it's perfectly fine. If your abused character behaves in such a way that it would seem realistic for a victim of abuse, it's perfectly fine.
- Using no 'overused' Pokémon at all, to the point of being just plain ridiculous. Come on, the traditional starters ARE the traditional starters, get over it. Unless you have some reason to assume that Professor Elm has started giving out Hoppip, Chinchou and Magby instead of Chikorita, Cyndaquil and Totodile, why bother changing it? Sure, you like Chinchou and want your character to get one as a starter, but then either make up an explanation or make them receive it from somebody else.


Oh, and why does the main character ALWAYS fall in love with somebody on their journey? --; Come on, ten-year-olds don't fawn over the first person of the opposite gender they meet as soon as they get out of the house. There's nothing wrong with including a bit of romance, but please let it develop properly, and contrary to popular belief, not all people express their crushes by constantly fighting with the person.

 

[Eternal Daydreamer]

Well, most of what turns me off was already said but I can add a couple more:

Overused Characters (Humans, that is)
Let's say a story's about Ash and co. or Team Rocket (Jessie, James, and Meowth). Right there that's what turns me off but if the plot's original, I'll stay for a while. But if it isn't original like these kind of stories:
-Ash saves the world from an evil Pokemon (If I wanted this, I would watch the first Pokemon movie...)
-Romance between Ash and Misty or romance between Ash and May. Or even Rocketshipping (I like some romance but these three couples are overused.)
-Pokemorph stories (Need I say more? Again, if it's well written....)

See? Those types of stories using main characters turns me off. But some people can put them into a new light, I look for that.

 

[Eileen]

Not to:
Write a Fanfic without a plot. If you write a story without a plot, how it's going to end. Your story does not end after one chapter, then it will be a short story without an ending.

 

[Negrek]

Well, I would put everything that Dragonfree said in a quote box, but that would be rather silly. So that I'll just say that I agree with her completely, and also add that I think that trying too hard is often at least as bad as not trying hard enough.

And besides that, there's the obvious spelling/grammar that looks like you ran it through BabelFish, the plot that goes nowhere and makes no sense, the classic Sue/Stu, etc. But those are pretty much givens.

Purple prose/"arteest" writing is also a personal peeve of mine, but I don't usually stop reading just because of it.

 

[PDL]

these may apply more to internet comics, but it also applies to fanfics:

1. random idiocy: it shows how bad the author is at writing a proper story

2. jokes/plots blatantly borrowed from the anime or other well known TV shows: it may have been funny on the Simpsons or Family Guy, but it won't work here, think of something new... or at least borrowed from a lesser known source...

3. romance: more personal taste really, but pokemon and romance just doesn't work most of the time.

4. Pokebots: Dragonfree and others already explained this one

5. overuse of legendaries: I'm put off by fics that have people treating legendaries as regular pokemon.

6. Crossovers: they're rarely done properly, most of the time, it's just the characters saying hi to one another or something stupid.

7. Cliches: need I explain?

 

[Dilasc]

The use of smilies. It's bad enough when a noob author won't describe, but bad juju, mon! That be the lowest of low to use a smilie in place of a three to ten letter word. Seriously, grow up, noobs!

 

[Klaus]

Well, I would have to say new area fics. I can't stand adding new pokemon
or new regions. I'm sorry, it just gets really strange.

Oh, and Ash and Co. fics. If it's a story about Max or Misty or Brock. Then I'll read it. But if it's an Ash and May love thing, NO, just NO!

*********Or what not to do**********

Don't do game plots. Don't make your characters have all the pokemon. And don't have
your characters know the anime characters.

SIncearly Klaus

As always, be kind to the mime.

 

[Dilasc]

Personally, I don't mind made up Pokemon, as long as they're unique and original, or if they perk up a species that really sucks by game standards. If it is simpl a lame, unoriginal species, then no go.

Here's some examples

Bad:
1) Zomg! We discuvrd Peekachug, it am volvd frum Peekachoo, and liks beeeEEEee333rrrRR!!111
2) W00t! I leef stoned my 33v33, and now its a Floreon. Oh wait, I sunstoned it, and now its a solareon, no wait, I gave it a french kiss and now its a Ouivee. No wait, I gave it the super rare dragon stoon, and now am Draconeon!!111

Good: Well, besides the things I make, which are anything BUT the ordinary. I mean, I have a fudge brownie, a clay swordsman, and a swordfish that swims, but is normal/fighting type. Seriously, if I were to post the good, I fear I may just steal my own ideas later and place it in Dust to Deceit. Sorry guys, you're going to have to use your own creativity for this part.

Anyway, as you can see, uniquity, and originality are important. They are so very important that it isn't even funny.

 

[Klaus]

Yeah, I see your point there. It's just when someone makes a pokemon named frenchu! A bred of Pikachu and Feraligter. Now if you take time
to but significance behind it and create something like this:

Chindler: The Flaming pokemon. That I would accept.

As always, be kind to the mime.

 

[katiekitten]

What don't I like? Trainer fics. People going out on journeys to be a Pokemon master, yada yada yada. I have the games, I don't need to read about it.

Like others have said, bad grammer and spelling. It drives me around the bend. It just sticks out like a sore thumb, making me want to cringe.
No plot storys. I don't mind parodys with no plots, but otherwise storys need plots.

 

[The Big Al]

What not to write.
I'm personally turned off by AAML and AAMayL. Can we say annoying. Fortunately, all that has been restricted to the forbidden land of shipping.

I'm turned off by most Ash fics in general. Unless they're making fun of the show or doing something original with the characters, I'll just watch another episode of the anime.

 

[Lady Barbara]

What I personally find annoying in fanfiction:

1. Poor spelling and/or grammar. Most of the fanfics on the 'net are written by college and high school age people, many of whom take advanced courses in various subjects. Yet using Microscoft Word's Spellcheck feature is something they have apparently never considered. There is no excuse for this, especially if you have someone beta-reading your fic for you.
2. Purple prose. I may be guilty of this myself, but when you write, don't try too hard. Read Ray Bradbury's work and marvel at how he tells a story using the simplest of words.
3. Lack of research. If you are writing a fic that has some basis in reality (say, a character with a disease like diabetes, for example) and you know little to nothing about that particular subject, research it. Google is your friend. There is a wonderful LJ community called "little details" where authors can ask questions about very esoteric matters and have those questions answered.
4. Gary Stu/Mary Sue characters. Enough said.
5. Authors who beg for reviews. If I like it, I will review it.
6. Author's notes that take up nearly a chapter. If you receive 10 reviews for one chapter, it is both impolite and unecessary to personally thank each reviewer individually at the beginning of the next chapter. Honestly, nothing makes me hit the 'back' button faster than an author who does this.

 

[Iveechan]

I generally have an open mind, but at the same time I'm rather nitpicky about the things that turn me off.

-AAML... any canon love. Come on, with a fandom based on cool and imaginative monsters, why waste your time writing about 10 year olds kissing?
-Minor grammar errors that grate on my nerves... an example includes saying "it's" instead of "its" in plural form. And mixing up there, their, and they're... it's very simple, they're is they and are, there is "Hey, over there!", their is possessive. For the love of dog, just sit there and think!
-Pokemon I like being portrayed badly... and I tend to like common targets, mainly Machoke.
-HOLY MOLY, DO I HATE RE-WRITES OF RUBY/SAPPHIRE!!! I mean, of all the Pokemon games it had the most interesting beginning, but in fic form it's just so freakishly redundant. And the character always choose Mudkip (named Tsunami) or Torchic (named Blaze or Phoenix). My blood boils when I see a RS re-write. Good god.
-The "Pokemon get revenge on humans" type of plot. Yawn.
-Also "Pokemorphs created by Team Rocket" plot, and the main character is always either a Raichu or a Ninetales or something, you know, a cute Pokemon the author likes.
-I don't mind trainer fics, but I really hate ones where it focuses mainly on the humans and their issues. This is POKEMON not HUMAN.

 

[Black Angel]

Currently rewriting my fic (The Adventures of Chase and Larvitar, now being renamed Double Sided) and I guess I'll add some input on what I'm trying to avoid.

Bad Grammar/Spelling: It's always mentioned but for good reason too. A typo here or there not big of a problem but when you fic's littered with them it just makes it impossible for some people to continue reading.
Readers Advice: Listen to what you readers are telling you. If they say your lacking description or your grammar isn't quite good try to improve. But there are times when listening is bad and could effect how the other readers react to your fic. Example your main character captured a Pokemon and it has yet to evolve and one reader tells you it's time it should. Unless you agree there's no reason to purposely have the Pokemon evolve just to please one reader.
Underated/Overused Pokemon: Obviously you should try to use some underated Pokemon once in awhile but there's no reason all of the Pokemon captured by your characters should be underused, overused Pokemon are perfectly just as long as they aren't the bulk of your Pokemon.
Overpowered Pokemon: I've see this alot and even done it myself. Pokemon in their right mind are strong and there's nothing wrong to have a Charmander beat a Squirtle despite the obvious weakness. BUt when a let's say a Pikachu topples a Tyrannitar with no effort whatsoever is when things get ridiculous. Keep a Pokemon's strength reasonable and believable or atleast have an explanation of how Pikachu beat Tyranitar. For example it used it's speed to out menuiver it and trick it into falling into some water, and using the water as a conductor have Pikachu use an electric attack do more damage than it would have done if it were on dry land.

 

[PDL]

-HOLY MOLY, DO I HATE RE-WRITES OF RUBY/SAPPHIRE!!! I mean, of all the Pokemon games it had the most interesting beginning, but in fic form it's just so freakishly redundant. And the character always choose Mudkip (named Tsunami) or Torchic (named Blaze or Phoenix). My blood boils when I see a RS re-write. Good god.

holy crap, your right on this one... oddly enough, it's the female character who always ALWAYS chooses the Torchic while the male character who always ALWAYS chooses the Mudkip.

Overpowered Pokemon: I've see this alot and even done it myself. Pokemon in their right mind are strong and there's nothing wrong to have a Charmander beat a Squirtle despite the obvious weakness. BUt when a let's say a Pikachu topples a Tyrannitar with no effort whatsoever is when things get ridiculous. Keep a Pokemon's strength reasonable and believable or atleast have an explanation of how Pikachu beat Tyranitar. For example it used it's speed to out menuiver it and trick it into falling into some water, and using the water as a conductor have Pikachu use an electric attack do more damage than it would have done if it were on dry land.

while it is okay to come up with an explaination for it, don't get too carried away with using too explainations... the anime may get away with that sort of thing, but you shouldn't, it's still a deus ex machina, which should be used sparingly...

 

[Fatal]

I hate fics like this:

A guy was running through the night. He was carrying a bag. Inside the bag was money. The man tripped. He got arrested. "Stupid cops!" he said. Then he fell asleep. He woke up. He ate.

THE END

(basically fics that use a lot of really short sentences)