Fanfiction writing 101

[melrose_stormhaven]

When you can't seem to post a thing....
anyway, I got to dome stuff about how to write fanfics...so here it is..
Let's get things straight first. I am no expert in fanfiction writing. I have only just begun. These are just few of the basics to be considered if you want to write a decent fanfiction.

1. Read, watch, and hear every thing you possibly can about the genre/series/book you are writing about.
Picture this: You are writing a Gundam Wing fanfic and…you don't know what the pilots' Gundams' names are. Writing a decent fanfiction means that you have to know as much as you can about what you're writing about. There are a lot of means to get information especially in the ever useful internet. Research not only gives you a clear understanding of what the series or genre you are writing about, it also sometimes yields interesting story ideas. It also gives your story an added realism. It's frustrating for fans to read fanfics whose author's seems to have no idea what the original series are all about, unless your writing an AU (alternate universe) fic.
2. Remember and obey the rules of grammar.
There is nothing that ruins a good story than really bad grammar. I recall reading a good fic but the jumbled up grammar made it very hard to appreciate. Instead of feeling all angsty, I ended up grimacing at the author's bad grammar. Bad grammar can also cause confusion, especially when it comes to gender. He suddenly becomes she, she becomes he etc. To avoid this, run a spelling/grammar check but don't always rely on this. Though it can be tedious, improving your grammar can do wonders for your fanfiction.
3. Try to keep notes about your fanfiction.
Keeping notes helps you remember things you probably would normally forget. Perhaps while walking, you think of a good story idea. Not all us are blessed with photogenic memory, so it would be prudent to write that idea down for later reference. Remember, if you don't write it down, it never happened.
4. Put proper disclaimers.
I'm not saying you give credit to everyone behind the series. What I'm saying is that you should properly acknowledge that the series it not yours. You might say that disclaimers aren't all that important since it would be near impossible that the owners would read your fic but we fanfiction writers should be nice enough to acknowledge (and perhaps thank) those people responsible for giving us this wonderful series, book, genre etc. After all, without them, what would we write about?
5. Be brave and patient.
When you put out stories, it's usually because you want to share them to others, to be read and appreciated, or for you to get helpful criticisms. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. There are those who will flame your fic. It's not unusual for a writer to get reviews that say 'Your story sucks like s***!" Don't be discouraged by remarks of this kind. Instead, view them as a challenge, something you can use to improve your writing. Do not, I beg of you, go looking for your flamers' works then proceed to flame them. As for patience, it usually takes a while for someone to notice your fics, especially if you post them in fanfic libraries, like Fanfiction. Net, so don't expect to get a ton of e-mail or reviews a day after you posted your fic.
6. Finish your fanfiction.
No matter how few your reviews are, no matter how ugly you think your fanfic is, there's bound to be someone reading it, and would be terribly disappointed if you stopped writing in the middle of the story. Finish your fanfiction. Don't leave it hanging. Unfinished fanfics can turn off potential/future readers. If you write a new fanfic, they might think that it's not worth reading since you won't finish it anyway.

So, do you have anything else to add here?
ja!

[Shooting Gundam Star]

Thanks for the tips! I know I've broken all of thease rulse at least once, I better print this out for my writing notebook. Thanks again!

[Shooting Gundam Star]

Thanks for the tips! I know I've broken all of thease rulse at least once, I better print this out for my writing notebook. Thanks again!

[RelenaDorlinYuy1]

wow That help me alot thanks melrose you really helped me alot !!!!

[Weaver Atropos]

^_^ Do you mind if I add one more? I have a thing for when people post fanfiction and its in one LARGE BLOCK paragraph. It makes reading difficult and totally turns you off to the story. Never mind if its a great plot...your eyes will hurt too much too appreciate anyway. There's nothing wrong with some divisions in a block paragraph.

And another thing...when people do dialogue, its also difficult (and, annoying actually) when three+ spoken sentences are included in the same paragraph. It makes it hard to distinguish between speakers. Thanks for the tips melrose!