Helpful hints for aspiring young writers of fan fiction and their readers
collected and edited by Master Erestor o.t.c.r, who is guilty of all the sins listed below
beta-read by Miss Eveiya
Preamble
Be welcome, my friend
One morning you woke up and had this idea for a story in your head and so you sat down and wrote the tale of Legolas and Muffy, the purple dragon, who went to Mordor to save Arwen/Aragorn/the Hobbits/Gollum from the clutches of Saruman/Sauron/Arwen/the Hobbits/Peter Jackson.
Good. And now?
Now you have to make your first choice:
Did you write this tale for you, and you alone?
If the answer is "yes", you need not read any further, because then you will not put it on the internet, for all world to see. You will keep it in the drawer of your night table, read it once in a while to your cats and go your merry ways.
Do you want to share and have the world read it?
Great, welcome to the club! I hope the following tips will give you a little starting help, but before you read further, be aware of the one big truth:
We are all writing fan fiction. This means we use somebody else's characters and play around with them. We didn't invent Middle-earth or the Elves. And just because we write fan fiction it doesn't mean that we are on the same artistic level as J.R.R. Tolkien. If we were, we'd write original stories, sell a lot of books, become filthy rich and would collect academy awards for best book. You and I, my dears, are just fans writing fiction. Never forget this. We are not the gurus of fandom. We are not above our readers just because we write. We are a couple of bums having a good time, nothing else.
If you publish your work online, there will be people who like it and people who don't. Both sides are entitled to their opinion, and if you can't take criticism, keep your fic in the above-mentioned drawer or mark your stories clearly: "I only want positive feedback, thank you." Fair enough - just let people know.
So, I see that a large number of authors has left the room now, so please pull your chairs a little closer to the fire. Let us begin with the basics.
Chapter 1: The Language
1.1 - U no ur langich, d00d?
You might think that writing a story in netspeech is cool. Fair enough. But as a matter of fact, it will keep a great number of people from reading your story, not to talk about understanding it, and quite frankly: you will look like a goof. Trust me.
1.2 - Sindarin, Quenya and Grelvish
Master Tolkien invented Sindarin and Quenya. The Grey Company invented Grelvish for their role play, to my knowledge without the help of Master Tolkien.
The temptation to use these languages in your fic is great, because they are beautiful languages. But only few speak it or know how to use it. My advice would be to use it as little as possible and if you use it, make sure it is used correctly. Don't use it just to show off what a clever girl or guy you are - because as sure as spring follows winter, there will be somebody out there who will point out your mistakes and deflate your ego.
Pssst: "Legolas" means "Greenleaf". Greenleaf is not his family name. There is no Greenleaf family in Mirkwood. There is no Thranduil Greenleaf. So it's very unlikely the female character in your story who ends up being married to Legolas will be called "Mrs Greenleaf".
1.3 - Tolkien or modern?
It can be amusing if you write LOTR fan fiction and use modern language. This is great if you intended to be amusing - it can be embarrassing if you didn't.
Try to find a balance between the way Tolkien wrote and the way you speak. It is very unlikely that Legolas would slap Aragorn's back and yell: "Yo, man, cool dog, what's cookin'?" A sentence like this can ruin the whole effect you were aiming for.
1.4 - The joys of beta-readers and spellchecker
Good beta-readers are as rare as King Thranduil's 2943 2nd ager wine. If you find one, be grateful, because a good beta will improve your skills. She or he will be honest with you, not only point out typos and grammar mistakes, but also plot holes or clich้s. Do not get upset listen! If you agree, work the tale over, if you don't, explain to your beta why you don't.
As a beginner you will probably not have a beta at hand, but even the cheapest computer has a spellchecker. Use it! It's your best friend! And if you should be one of those unfortunate souls without a spellchecker: his little brother is called "dictionary". A little slow, but effective.
Comments like "I woz 2 lazy 2 read my fic thru, LOL" show that you actually don't care a rodent's rectum for your own work - so don't expect anybody else care for it.
Your time is too valuable to proof-read your story?
Fine.
Mine is too valuable to read it.
Chapter 2: Author's notes, summaries, rating, warnings, disclaimer
2.1 - Author's notes
There are some things you wish to tell the reader before s/he begins to read your story? Or you would like to dedicate your story to somebody? There was a song which inspired your tale? Then this is the place for it. Author's notes are not an extra-chapter, and nothing looks more pitiful than author's notes which are longer than the story they precede. Keep it short and sweet, your readers will be grateful. And more likely to read your notes.
2.2 - Summaries
Imagine you read a story which promises a "hot steaming story of a beautiful princess and a couple of dwarfs", and to your great disappointment, it's not about an orgy involving Arwen and some of Gimli's friends, but about well, Snowwhite and the seven dwarfs.
To avoid disappointment for your readers and trouble for yourself, make sure that your summary is informative and not misleading.
2.3 - Rating
The rating must be correct. This is not a request, dear friends - especially if you write adult stories you must be aware that, if you don't rate your story correctly and make it accessible to a minor you could get in trouble. It's all good and fine to blame the parents for not "watching what their kids do", but if you write a story with explicit violence or sex, you must rate it accordingly.
2.4 - Warnings
Warnings should contain all those contents of a story which people like or, on the contrary, do not like at all. Readers chose the stories they read by ratings, warnings and summaries - don't cheat them. If your story contains male pregnancy, heavy violence, angst or non-con and you don't warn about it, you might lure somebody into reading your story who absolutely hates violence or can't deal with angst, and you will have lost one potential reader.
2.5 - Disclaimer
Wars have been fought over the legality or illegality of fan fiction. Fact is that you use somebody else's characters in your own story. While it is unlikely that you will get sued, it is nothing but fair and decent to give credit where credit is due. A proper disclaimer should contain whose work it is you are writing a fic about, that the original story and characters are yours, that your story is written for fun only and that you will not get any profit out of it, and that no copyright infringement is intended.
Chapter 3: Trouble
3.1 - Plage- plaguer- plagerizm Plagiarism
So you liked a certain sentence in a story by a fellow writer, and you'd like to use it? Or s/he has created an original character you'd like to write about? Ask first! And if the answer is "no", don't use it! Don't make a song and dance of it, don't bad-mouth the author with all your friends, and don't throw a tantrum. Accept it, because the author is within his/her rights to refuse the unauthorized use of his/her creation.
Of course, you could say: "So what? Fan fiction in itself is one big copyright infringement, so it would be hypocritical of fan fic authors to tell fans not to use their work, because they don't respect copyright, either!" You. leave my website. NOW!
There is a small number of people who copy complete stories and repost them as their own. This is not a problem of plagiarism, this is somebody having a serious problem with self-esteem. It might be bad attention she or he is attracting, but to them, this is better than not being noticed at all. If such a sad thing should happen to you, demand to have the copycat story removed from the archive, tell the thief that you did so, AND THAT IS IT. Don't start a war. Don't send your fans out to flame the person, and don't repeat over and over in your LJ or mailing list that you wish to kill this individual. Because you, unlike him or her, have style, class, a life and friends. Be grateful.
3.2 - The canon police
There are people who know everything. Then there are people who know everything better. They will send you a five-page essay explaining that you are in the wrong by writing about Muffy the purple dragon because there is no purple dragon in Lord of the Rings. The warning "AU" (=alternative universe) attracts them like moths are attracted by the light, and they will inform you that the AU story you wrote and correctly labelled as AU is - well, AU. They will chide you for not using Sindarin in the correct way. They will argue with you at length over the proper punctuation in Quenya. They will mention several times that they "know their Tolkien", and will try to make you feel inferior because you have not learned the Silmarillion by heart (yet). If you write slash, they will explain to you at length that Tolkien wouldn't approve of slash, and hellfire and damnation will come over your pathetic person.
Don't automatically assume that the canon police hates you. It just means they see themselves as Tolkien's rightful heirs and have taken upon themselves the task of preserving his work.
Let me be honest. They probably do hate you.
How to deal with them?
Bow your head in awe of their superiority and knowledge, sacrifice a rubber chicken and then go your merry ways.
Chapter 4: Feedback, flames and criticism
Another great truth which you should learn by heart before you post anything in public is: liking you does not mean one has to agree with you all the time. True friends will tell you in real life when you have made a mistake, and cyber life is not much different. We live in times where every single bit of criticism, be it online or offline, is commented with a lot of hair-tearing, wailing and whining, but never forget: it's the mistakes you make in life that will teach you to improve. If you can't take criticism, mark your story clearly and tell people honestly that you can't handle critique and don't want it.
But maybe you really think you are the greatest, know Tolkien's work better than he did, that your grammar is perfect and you are the gods' gift to mankind?
You. Leave my website. NOW.
4.1 - Flames
This is a flame:
"You are the lousiest author I've ever seen, your story sucks more than a fluff girl on the set of a cheap porn movie, and there are so many plot holes you could sell this stinker as a piece of Swiss cheese."
How to react?
Well. Nobody is pleased to hear that a story one has worked hard on does not find everybody's appreciation. It can be discouraging and depressing, and more than one author has shed a tear or two over this kind of feedback.
But look don't take it to your heart. Somebody who sends you such a "howler" doesnt do so with the intention of improving your writing or helping you, but to hurt you. Don't let him or her succeed. Ignore it, and as tempting as it might be: don't answer. The world is full of idiots, you cannot avoid meeting one every now and again.
4.2 - Constructive criticism
This is not a flame:
"I really liked your story, it was well written and I had a lot of fun with it, but maybe you should consider a beta-reader? I found quite a lot of typos and grammar mistakes which made it a little difficult to read."
How to react?
Kiss the ground and praise the gods, because somebody out there read your story and liked it enough to take the time to sit down and write you about it. Constructive feedback is as valuable as diamonds, and never, ever call somebody who is honest with you a "flamer". A flamer wouldn't try to help you or share his thoughts on the story. A flamer would just tell you that he thinks you're an idiot.
Check your story maybe the feedback giver is right? Maybe you did miss some typos? If you can't find any, write back and politely ask if he/she could give you an example. And don't forget to say "thank you", my dear.
This is not a flame, either:
"Read your story, cool! Really liked it, but that one character of yours, Muffy the purple dragon, is a little out of place, and doesn't seem to fit in there."
Ouch now you are insulted, aren't you, because Muffy the purple dragon is your favourite character. And you invented him yourself! So the temptation to tell this feedback giver to go to Mordor and swallow an Orc is great.
Don't do it! Thank for the feedback and ask if he/she could tell you what exactly it is that they don't like about Muffy. See, as the author, you love your characters, they are your babies, and as it is often with children, one tends to overlook it when they behave like brats.
This is not a flame:
"Hm, I read your story, but you know it's a little strange: purple dragons in Middle earth? I really don't think they belong there."
This, dear friends, is a typical mail from somebody who doesn't like it if fan fiction strays too far off the "golden path" of canon. That's fair enough, but maybe you should just politely explain that you have created your own universe here and quite like it the way it is. Often, these folks don't really expect an answer, they just want you to know how they feel about your work.
Never, ever mock somebody who gave you honest feedback, or throw him/her to the lions by exposing him/her in public to your fans. A good friend in real life is somebody who cares for you enough to tell you when you made a mistake, same goes for feedback-giver.
If you don't want constructive feedback fair enough. But then, please, make this clear in the disclaimer: "Positive feedback only". If you can't take criticism, then have at least the courage to be honest about it.
4.3 - Thank for feedback!
No matter if somebody sends you a two-page essay on how wonderful your story is or only three !!!'s always answer. Also answer critical feedback. It's not only polite, it also shows that you care.
4.4 - Don't whine for feedback!
Feedback is given freely or not at all. Don't haunt mailing lists, live journal and forums and whine because nobody gives you feedback. Not many readers take their time to actually sit down and tell you that they like your work. Put a counter on your site and regard every hit as a feedback, because somebody read your story. Never, ever finish a chapter with something like "I only post another chapter if I get feedback". Because then even the dimmest bulb on the Christmas tree will see that you don't write because you enjoy it, but because you are trying to get attention. That's not bad per se it just, once again, makes you look like a goof.
4.5 - Don't get discouraged!
If your first fic gets showered with critical comments, it can be depressing. Don't let it wear you down! Pick out the points which are justified, and use them in your favour. Write as long as you have fun doing it; don't let anybody ruin it.
Fanfiction should be funfiction - fun for you to write. That's my advise above all.
Chapter 5: And last...
Don't take yourself too seriously and don't overestimate your own importance!
The temptation to assume that you are the greatest fanfic author walking Arda's ground can arise if you have a lot of people around you who constantly tell you that you are. Don't believe them! It's charming, it's great, and it can boost your ego but trust me, no matter how good you are, there will always be at least one author out there who is better than you. Keep that in mind. Just because a lot of people read your stories it doesn't mean you're important.
Always remember: for every person who tells you that you are the best thing since canned spaghetti, there will be ten who think that canned tortellini are better.
Be proud on what you achieve, and enjoy positive feedback - heck, who doesn't? But there's always room for improvement. ;-)
5.1 - Don't abuse your fans!
They read you.
They like you.
They think you are great.
They trust you.
So they deserve that you are honest with them. They deserve your respect.
And if they disagree with you, accept it.
This text will change, and more things will be added, thanks to the input and feedback of you guys out there :-). So if you think anything is missing - yell!