What makes you read a fic?

[Weaver Atropos]

Paragraphs. Yes. They are a must. It's really impossible to begin reading a story knowing you're eyes are gonna hurt afterwards from trying to differentiate between lines of text.

Coincidentially, and on another note, has anyone noticed that, a lot of times, very well written stories are lacking in the amount of reviews while others, which may be of blech quality have thousands of reviews? It bothers me sometimes when people overlook quality on basis of quantity (in this case, how many people have already reviewed the story).

[White Witch]

Wow. I just realized I'm more ignorant of fanfics than I thought.

The first thing I look at is the SUMMARY. Sometimes, I don't even know the title of the fanfic cause I just look at the summary when scanning for fics. But it helps when it has a catchy title, I write my favorite stories in a notebook...something like "Untitled" just doesn't look quite right amongst titles like "Butterflies of the Night" and "Eternity in His Hand".I don't care for "summary sucks" notes, as long as they provide some sort of phrase on what the story's really about. PAIRINGS, are also very important. Having a big note on the pairings in the story helps a lot in choosing a fanfic to read. Correct grammar in the summary could mean that the story probably has good grammar and speling too.

Onto the story itself...I LOVE paragraphs. Since I have 4 eyes already, it's hard for me to read a story formatted in one huge block. It makes it look so hard to read. As I mentioned, SPELLING AND GRAMMAR. It's a heritage thing, I guess. Most of us tend to poke fun at all sorts of mistakes, even if we make some mistakes like that too. Especially homonyms (um, am I right? It was homo something...). Stuff like stake>steak, and see>sea mean two completely different things. And using Japanese words that you aren't even sure of the meaning is soooooo not good. RESPECT NIHONGGO, onegai! Capitalization is something I'm also very particular too. But using ThIs StYlE oF wRiTiNg is SOOOOO not okay. In the author's notes, it's fine, but NOT in the actual story. Also writing as f u r chatting w/ sum1 over d ntrnet is not good with me. And I love descriptions, but not too descriptive as some Olden Day novel.

That went longer that I thought

[ffgirl_07]

i go with the title and summary.. or just click on any randome story and read the first page to see if it's good or not...

[Sovereign of Silence]

I agree.

It has to have a tag, either in the title or the summary that is good. If the fic is so good but they can't summerize it up, why don't they use a quote from their own story? Many of the best fics I have read have done exactly that.

well for me it necessarly has to have a good title but must have a good story line, summary and i'm very fussy when it comes to choosing a fanfic i just click glance and if it doesn't capture my eyes i leave a first sentence isn't always what it crack up to be i read stories where the first few lines are crap but when u read a little further i was

like wow this is nice. and it must have spaces between paraghs if its jumble i say nah my eyes hurt, and i hate stories where relena is at her balcony waiting for the moon to burn through her scalp n' say ' hey u idiot heero is not come stop waitng for him or he's coming

through the bushes godammmit its just so corner even if she does wait till the end of time for him make it interesting geez sometimes i wonder what the hell these writers r thinking

i have to give credit for posting it in the first place cause i ain't got none but seriously that is a turn off for heero relena story and i hate when the characters r way out of characters (notice i say WAY out of characters) kills the character u like n' what u like about him/her in the first place.


ne one agrees?


Summary's more important than the title. i ignore fics that resort to

"i suck at summaries, just read". They probably suck at writing, too.

[melrose_stormhaven]

Hmmm...

I usually go for fics with good style, grammar, plot, character, regardless of pairing..(except for GWing yaoi. I can't....I can't..bring myself to read through).

But I also go for 'entertainment'. There are some fics who have all of the above mentioned qualities...but for some strange reason leaves me...going like..."and so?" Good writing doesn't necessarily mean you have a 'good' story, in my book.

Weird, isn't it?

[Sovereign of Silence]

true i agree Good writing doesn't necessarily mean you have a 'good' story, in my book. i've read some write good but isn't good get wat i'm saying