Fanfic Pet Peeves

[jps1926]

I was just on ff.net and someone posted, not the first chapter of a story or even a one-shot, they posted an outline for an idea of a story. They want us, the potential readers, to either tell them to actually write out the story or scrap it. They also want our input as to what could be added and things of that sort. I HATE THIS!!! Why can't these writers just make their OWN decisions and go with it??? It's like they're so afraid to completely go along with their own ideas that they want us to suck up to them for them to continue.

I especially hate when at the end of one of their chapters, an author will ask us should they do A, B, or C in the next chapter. It's like, why am I writing YOUR story??? I can understand asking for some input or even for an idea, but asking us the reader to decide the fate of your story? It just irks me to no end.

Sorry, for ranting. WK got me started when he ranted on a different post. So, I'll open the floor to everyone else. What is one thing that really pisses you off about what some fanfic writers say or do?

[.liz]

There's quite a few, but for starters...

When a story consists of 85% Author Notes and 15% story, and I can't really stand some AN which imho is a bit silly, totally unnecessary and has nothing to do whatsoever with the story.

When authors are practically begging for reviews. Alright, I know that reviews are the blood of a writer, but I think people should write for themselves. I think the process of writing stories is the most important thing ( though it could be brutally frustrating at times) because one could learn a lot and improve themselves and when a story is finished it feels oh really good. Reviews are awesome, cos it's great to get some appreciation for something you have worked so hard for and constructive feedback and criticism is essential to the development of a writer, but asking for 30 reviews per chapter so the author would post the next chapter is beyond me.

I don't mind songfics, but sometimes there will be cases just like the #1, when 85% of the story is the song lyrics. I want to read the story!

That's it for now (:

[Jade_Max]

I have to jump in on this because Liz brought this up:

"when 85% of the story is the song lyrics"

That is my major pet peeve. As someone who prefers to do a "long" song fic (couple of lines/stanza relevant to the chapters) it really bugs me when the song is the major focus of the story.


I don't mind if an author asks for reviews - I only review if I like the story... and only then if I feel it deserves it, otherwise, it's a moot point.

though posting an idea instead of a story is a bit of an attention grab. I found one of those the other day and was tempted - very tempted - to leave a review saying "Great idea but you could never do it justice"

These people are just asking for comments like that

[wk88]

*sighs* Look what I started lol