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Okay, I do write fanfiction for fanfiction.net. Maybe these things also get to me because I also write seriously from my own ideas aside from fanfiction, but I had to say these things because they really irritate me.
1. Check your grammar (this involves syntax too, I suppose). People will say, "I know it's bad grammar...deal with it." Well guess what? If it takes me ten minutes to figure out what one sentence says because you wrote it completely weird, I'm not going to finish reading your story because it gives me a headache. If you can write, you can read...so check your story. I know it's just fanfiction, and it's for fun, but what's the point in posting it for people to read if they can't understand what you wrote? A few commas out of place, misused semicolons, colons, etc., those are fine. English grammar is not fun at all. But if I can't understand what you wrote, and you write that you are in, say, high school in your profile, then I have to wonder what your English grade looks like.
2. Edit your story. This kind of goes along with number 1. You'll find the grammar mistakes that way, at least the ones that are obvious. You don't have to find them all. Some people won't even notice the less obvious ones. You can also catch repeated sentences, etc. Edit before you upload to fanfiction.net, and edit one last time in the edit option on fanfiction.net before adding the chapter. If you want, have a friend read it before you upload it. They might catch something you missed.
3. UnDeR nO cIrCuMsTaNcEs TyPe YoUr StOrY lIkE tHiS. After you've deciphered that, you probably understand why. Also, don't type in half caps/half lower case. That should be obvious.
4. If you're writing a story as a joke between friends that involves StIcKy CaPs (why would you write like that anyway? It takes twice as long...), chat speak, etc., keep it between friends. Then you get pelted with flames, people argue, your friends go, "OMEEEGZZ!!! THZ IZ SO GUD!!!" when it's not. I know it's for fun, and I don't care if you do it, but some of us write to entertain the majority...not just our friends.
5. If you're writing on a serious subject, please check your information. I check mine, I know people who check their's, but I also see when people don't check their information. Sometimes, it's obvious to pretty much everyone that they didn't. One or two facts that are misunderstood is fine. I've corrected people a couple times on things that stuck out for me. They were understandable mistakes. Those are fine, but if everyone is going to know that the information is wrong, then you have problems.
6. Don't beg for reviews. A simple "please read and review" is fine, but don't say, "okay, where's my reviews? I know how many of you read this..." or "I need # reviews before I'll post the next chapter." Some people just don't know what to say. Sometimes I don't. I'm also less likely to review if you're begging for them. If it's a fanfiction that has a plot that's been overdone, the odds of reviews will probably be less because it's been done so often that no one wants to say, "this is great! cool idea!" or "you should change this..." because it's already been done.
7. Have fun. Really. Fanfiction is really all in fun. That's why I write it. I do write seriously (poems, and I'm starting to work on a novel of sorts...if anyone would publish it...), but fanfiction is fun. But, please, I think the above 6 things should be taken into consideration if you're going to share your stories online.
Oh, yeah. I might start posting some poems and short stories here if I ever get the chance. None will be fanfiction. I'll leave that to fanfiction.net.
1. Check your grammar (this involves syntax too, I suppose). People will say, "I know it's bad grammar...deal with it." Well guess what? If it takes me ten minutes to figure out what one sentence says because you wrote it completely weird, I'm not going to finish reading your story because it gives me a headache. If you can write, you can read...so check your story. I know it's just fanfiction, and it's for fun, but what's the point in posting it for people to read if they can't understand what you wrote? A few commas out of place, misused semicolons, colons, etc., those are fine. English grammar is not fun at all. But if I can't understand what you wrote, and you write that you are in, say, high school in your profile, then I have to wonder what your English grade looks like.
2. Edit your story. This kind of goes along with number 1. You'll find the grammar mistakes that way, at least the ones that are obvious. You don't have to find them all. Some people won't even notice the less obvious ones. You can also catch repeated sentences, etc. Edit before you upload to fanfiction.net, and edit one last time in the edit option on fanfiction.net before adding the chapter. If you want, have a friend read it before you upload it. They might catch something you missed.
3. UnDeR nO cIrCuMsTaNcEs TyPe YoUr StOrY lIkE tHiS. After you've deciphered that, you probably understand why. Also, don't type in half caps/half lower case. That should be obvious.
4. If you're writing a story as a joke between friends that involves StIcKy CaPs (why would you write like that anyway? It takes twice as long...), chat speak, etc., keep it between friends. Then you get pelted with flames, people argue, your friends go, "OMEEEGZZ!!! THZ IZ SO GUD!!!" when it's not. I know it's for fun, and I don't care if you do it, but some of us write to entertain the majority...not just our friends.
5. If you're writing on a serious subject, please check your information. I check mine, I know people who check their's, but I also see when people don't check their information. Sometimes, it's obvious to pretty much everyone that they didn't. One or two facts that are misunderstood is fine. I've corrected people a couple times on things that stuck out for me. They were understandable mistakes. Those are fine, but if everyone is going to know that the information is wrong, then you have problems.
6. Don't beg for reviews. A simple "please read and review" is fine, but don't say, "okay, where's my reviews? I know how many of you read this..." or "I need # reviews before I'll post the next chapter." Some people just don't know what to say. Sometimes I don't. I'm also less likely to review if you're begging for them. If it's a fanfiction that has a plot that's been overdone, the odds of reviews will probably be less because it's been done so often that no one wants to say, "this is great! cool idea!" or "you should change this..." because it's already been done.
7. Have fun. Really. Fanfiction is really all in fun. That's why I write it. I do write seriously (poems, and I'm starting to work on a novel of sorts...if anyone would publish it...), but fanfiction is fun. But, please, I think the above 6 things should be taken into consideration if you're going to share your stories online.
Oh, yeah. I might start posting some poems and short stories here if I ever get the chance. None will be fanfiction. I'll leave that to fanfiction.net.
