Fanfic Friday: Mistakes Fanfiction Writers Make

I've read more than my fair share of awful fanfiction...

Not acknowledging canon.

I've covered this before. Fanfiction is exactly what it sounds like, with emphasis on the fan part. AU is a wonderful thing, but even then theres a limit as to how far you can go. For example, having Dean from Supernatural drive a red Honda civic? Definitely too far. Having a healthy respect (or reverence) for canon ensures that you keep your readers happy, and also avoid appearing ignorant.

Basic spelling and grammar.
I consider being coherent to be a sort of courtesy to one's readers. If your readers are taking the time to read your fic, you should at least have the decency to make yourself intelligible. It seems that one particular trend among bad fanfic writers is to completely ignore the existence of punctuation. Come on, guys, thats common sense. Everyone has their occasional typos, but some fanfics out there are just ridiculous.

Unforgivably horrible lemon.
I'm not going to go out and bash fics that are all porn and no plot. However, I do feel as if certain people should be banned from writing erotica (*cough, cough* E.L. James!). Facepalm- worthy lemon is not good lemon.

Blatantly cliche lime.

"But Calliope!", you cry in shock and indignation. "The whole point of lime is to avoid writing lemon!"

Okay, okay, I hear you. But (especially in the case of fluff) theres got to be a slightly more graceful way to put it than to state that your two main characters fucked, right? Also, the black and white movie style "the door closed" is dreadfully overused and, frankly, irritating.

Referring to a character's eyes as "orbs".

Who hasn't seen this in use and instantly felt the urge to roll your eyes? I rest my case.

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Quick post, yes, I know. Happy Easter, everyone, and remember to keep any religious or controversial opinions to yourself :)

JK.

Fanfic Friday: Tips for First Time Fanfiction Readers and Writers

As one might tell from my previous posts, I consider myself an authority on fanfiction. I've searched up and down the internet for quality fanfics and have mastered the language of fanfiction readers/writers (I'd also like to put forward my suggestion for a name: Fanspeak).

These tips are for readers and writers alike who plan to dip their toes into the abysmal cesspool of online fanfiction.

Start Small. 
Readers: I wouldn't recommend reading outside of your otp/acceptable ships at first, nor would I try anything that you are even remotely sensitive towards. There is a fuckload, and I must repeat, a fuckload of poor quality, horribly written fics that have the power to put you off the genre indefinitely, possibly even permanently. Common tags to avoid would include character death, mpreg, or extreme OOC.

Writers: I'm not gonna be a dick and say that you should always start with some degree of caution, but in my experience its always easier to begin start gentle. Maybe start off by publishing a oneshot or a drabble and get a feel for posting fanfiction or gauge reader response.

Learn the Language.
Become familiar with what I call "fanspeak", the common terms and abbreviations that fanfic writers and readers use. Of course, you probably know the basics by now, but read up on the many translation guides available on the internet (I may even assemble one someday, but for now just Google "fanfiction terms"). Knowing the common terms used may save you a lot of agony later on, which brings me to my next point...

Read the Tags.
Readers: Seriously. As a general rule, if you don't like the tags, don't read the fic. This way no one gets butthurt over bullshit, which I have seen happen numerous times during my travels over the fanfic corner of the interwebs. This also minimizes the possibility of you flaming other people's work, which, if thats something you've done, is just plain dickfaced. Authors take the time to meticulously tag their work (have you seen the tags on AO3? incredible..), so you should respect that effort and use that to filter out anything unwanted. Warnings are often included as tags, so this is incredibly useful.

Writers: Just tag well, and don't cut any corners. Cover your ass- after all, this isn't Instagram.

Know your canon.
Readers: This is just to make sure you don't mix anything up in your head, and is of far greater importance to writers.

Writers: Here I go. At the risk of sounding like a total jerk, I'll just leave my quick opinion. Its my firm belief that although AU is a fine, dandy thing, writers should be familiar with the many corners and pitfalls of their fandom. Understanding the rules of canon not only saves you from looking like a total noob, it also makes you better at breaking them. As we all know, skillfully bending/breaking the laws of canon can make an outstanding fic.

Use the Forums.
Readers: Most/all fanfiction sites have forums, and these are terrific places to find recommendations or give them. Even without posting, you can lurk in the threads devoted to your otp/pairings and find a lot of good work.

Writers: Forums are great places to plug your fanfics, and also search for recommended works similar to what you want to write. This makes for good inspiration, and may help you avoid plagiarizing someone else's existing work. Also, check for prompts, as these can be incredibly fun and helpful for when you're experiencing writers block.

Reviews.
Readers: Words can not describe how appreciative writers are of reviews, even if its just a simple "Can't wait for the next chapter!". If you enjoyed a story, leave an encouraging comment and brighten someone's day. That having been said, please do not flame the stories you dislike. Thats just plain dickish, no matter how gut-wrenching their grammatical skills were.

Writers: I don't think I need to tell you writers to read the reviews...however, I'd like to get in a few words on the subject. Don't let rude comments disappoint you. In the words of a wise fanfiction writer whose works I've enjoyed greatly, use any flames to roast marshmallows.

Don't just stick to one site.
Readers: Certain sites have more of one/other fandoms on them, for example AO3 has the most Supernatural fanfiction, and Wattpad has its infamous 1D following.

Writers: Posting across several sites will give you a bigger audience. Always link your profiles/list the sites you're on through your profile, or make a small author's note of them for your readers.

Here is my previous post on the seven best fanfiction sites on the internet, in case you're interested.



Thats about all I have to say on the topic. If there are any tips you'd like to suggest, leave them in the comments and I just might add them in.

Until next week, enjoy your fanfiction!

Fanfiction Friday: Rant on the Seven Best Fanfiction Sites on the Internet

This week I'll be listing my seven favorite sites to find fanfiction on. I've focused on sites with a broad range of fandoms as opposed to sites focused on one fandom.

1. Fanfiction.net

This is by far the best place to find full-length, completed fanfictions, especially those with multiple chapters. Theres a definite shortage of imagines or preferences works, but there are many novel-length fics on the site for those who enjoy longer works. The search system is organized but not very detailed, so its often a bit more difficult to find fics. Manga/Anime has a a strong base on this website, especially the Naruto fandom. I was also pleased to find that there are numerous Criminal Minds fanfictions.

2. Archive of our Own

I suspect that there are fewer users on this site compared to Fanfictin.net, but the content is more diverse as there are notably more imagines as well as a healthy amount of full-length works. The organization system/tag system is very user friendly, more so than the one over at Fanfiction.net, which does not allow for much tagging. Archive of our own has an enormous, sometimes overwhelming tagging/descripton system, which is a bit of a hassle for posters but a godsend for readers. I found that the Supernatural fandom is quite strong on this site.

3. Wattpad

I know, only third place?? I'm going to go out on a limb here and declare that while Wattpad definitely has many works, those works are concentrated into two categories: One Direction and Original Works. Those who hate that boy band's British guts will inevitably roll their eyes every time a 1D fic shows up on their homepage, which is every freaking time. Its a great place for original poetry and stories, but I found the fanfiction content limited and unsatisfying. Also, can we talk about the site design for a moment? Some people like the perky design, but I find it...a bit too juvenile for my taste.

4. Livejournal

Yes, believe it or not, Livejournal has good fanfiction. Its difficult to find the individual fics as Idon't (yet?) have an account, so I pretty much rely solely on Google for help in that area.

5. Fictionpad

A newer site with less fandoms, probably due to its relative youth on the Internet. The tag system isn't as dilapidated as Archive of our own's, and the organization of the site reminds me of Wattpad. Still worth checking out, though the quality of many of the fics is questionable.

6. Quotev

Features quizzes and the like, as well as original work. I like that the original work is more fresh than Wattpad's, as they have original imagines as well, but I digress. Quotev might be annoying if you're used to more serious, fiction-focused sites like fanfiction.net, but there are still a couple decent ficworks on that site.

7. Tumblr

Great source of imagines or ship-focused oneshots. Its a bit difficult to do multi-chapter works on this site so this site mainly has short-length works. Theres an epic amount of oneshots/imagines for an incredibly diverse range of fandoms.

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Any sites I should have added? Anyone else still not over the death of Quizilla?

I'll be doing a post on original fiction sites next.

Ten Signs You're a Die-hard Welcome to Night Vale Fan

1. Every time you see an Arby's you check above its roof.

heymonster.tumblr.com

2. Helicopters make you nervous.

imgkid.com

3. You peek into the mens room a lot. In hopes of finding a floating cat you can keep as a pet.

fanpop.com

4. You flinch every time you hear the name "Steve".

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5. You have more than one conspiracy/crack theory about the podcast.

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6. You half expect weather announcers on the radio to play music.

7. You're pretty sure that being an intern is the most dangerous job in the universe.

8. Any mention of summer reading programs sends shivers down your spine.

9. Do NOT approach the dog park. NO DOGS ARE ALLOWED IN THE DOG PARK.

super-spooky.tumblr.com

10. Who needs otp when the podcast already ships Carlos/Cecil hardcore?

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And with that, listeners, I bid you good night.

Seriously, the quotes from that show are my life. My next post will likely be a quote compilation.

The Best Spencer Reid (Criminal Minds) Whump Fanfictions

As a fan of whump/abuse fics, I bring to you a list of Spencer Reid Whump Fanfiction!

Leave your suggestions/contributions to the list in the comments.

Chaos Theory (fanfiction.net)- Chloe Winchester (Complete)
Site Summary: Spencer has been missing for 2 years, and when the BAU finds him, they find a broken and scared young man. And the worst of it, the man that took him is still out there. Some chapters rated M. Reidcentric NO SLASH set in season 2 Major Reid whumpage!

Warnings: Violence, torture, rape/non-con, abuse

Notes: Can we talk about Chloe Winchester for a moment here. She has written extensively for a variety of fandoms, and many of her works include whump of some sort. 
This fic is well written (believable storyline/plot, realistic..) and as the summary mentions, major Reid whumpage.  

Worst Case Scenario (fanfiction.net)- Chloe Winchester (Complete)
Site Summary: Something horrible has happened to Hotch, he just has no idea what it is. With the team just as baffled and trying to find a missing Reid, it becomes a nightmare they all feared, an unsub targeting them. Hurt!Hotch Hurt!Reid NO SLASH! M for sexual abuse

Warnings: Violence, rape/non-con, abuse, torture.

Notes: Another great Chloe Winchester fic. Again, major character whumpage (Hotch and Reid).

How We Survive (archiveofourown)- Zoi no miko (zoi_no_miko_) (Oneshot)
Site Summary: Reid and Morgan are unwilling participants in an unsub's twisted games.

Warnings: Dub-con, forced sex, bondage

Notes: I really liked the author's style in this fic, especially how realistic the characters reactions/actions came out. Highly recommended for Morgan/Reid shippers.

Healing (theparchedquill.com)- spinner33 (Complete?)

Warnings: Mentions of torture, drug abuse.


Donor (archiveofourown)- fabrisse (oneshot)

Site Summary: Reid's been kidnapped. Hotch does his best to buy him time for the rest of the team to get there.

Warnings: Dub-con, kidnapping, a bit of violence (beating), slightly sexual content.

Notes: I'm pretty sure this is Hotch/Reid ship due to the ending. Decent style, well thought out, and the plotline brings in Reid's canon character fairly well.

The Best of Destiel+Castiel Whump Fanfictions

Here you will find a list of Destiel fanfictions (SPN fandom) that I've collected over some time. They all feature Dean Winchester/Castiel pairing or implied pairing, as well as Castiel-centric whump.

Some examples of such whump include: non-con/rape, dub-con, slavery, torture, beatings/general brutality, hurt/broken Castiel...etc

If you know of a fic that should be on this list you can email me or leave a comment with a link. This list will be updated periodically. All links open in new windows.

Defiance (archiveofourown)- trueunbeliever (Complete)
Site summary: "Held captive and abused by his Master, Castiel has spent the last eight-hundred years of his life as a slave. When two Hunters raid the nest, leaving him the only survivor, Cas resolves himself to serving the enemy."

Warnings: rape/non con, violence, abuse.

Notes: This fic has a happy ending.

Even Golden Chains Enslave (fanfiction.net)- non.timebo.mala (incomplete)
Site Summary: AU, slave!fic. Dean buys Castiel from a sketchy local slave market in hopes of saving him from the fate most slaves meet. He didn't know then how far he'd really have to go to truly save Castiel. Dean/Cas slash.

Warnings: Mentions of rape/non-con, abuse.

Notes: This fic has two chapters in total and its unlikely that it will ever be continued/finished. However, the first two chapters are decent, and might be enjoyable.

Clipped and Unbound (archiveofourown)- garrisonbabe (Complete)

Site Summary: Castiel is a slave widely regarded as unbreakable and unruly. Dean Winchester is a billionaire ending a five year long search to rescue him. They'll both learn that peace can be the hardest thing in the world to find.

Warnings: Mentions of abuse/violence/rape/non-con

Notes: Any abuse/violence occurs near the beginning, and most of this fic is vaguely fluffy Destiel hurt comfort/Castiel healing.

Blind Devotion (fanfiction.net)- conssunshine581 (Complete)
Site Summary: 20 years ago angels fell to Earth. Most are bonded to human companions, but some are sold as slaves. Lonely, down-and-out Dean wins a blind, broken angel named Castiel in a poker game. Will they learn to trust one another and is falling in love a possibility between two broken people?

Warnings: Mentions of violence/abuse/rape/non-con.

Notes: Most of the fic consists of hurt/comfort as well as the "broken Castiel" tag. Also, there is Destiel smut/lemons near the end.

In a Dark Place Where You Aren't (archiveofourown)- Casjuiceupmybutt (Complete)

Site Summary: When Castiel was kicked out of the bunker, he was lost. It hurt him, blinded him, broke him. So he didn't see the monsters hiding in the dark. Not until it was too late.

Warnings: rape/non-con, starvation, violence, abuse, torture, nihilism, kidnapping, no happy ending

Notes: This is unrequited Destiel, as the summary might have implied. There is no happy ending, and the fic is extremely, extremely dark. This may be the heaviest fic on the list in terms of angst.

Needle and Thread (archiveofourown)- Misachan (Oneshot)

Site Summary: The plan didn't go exactly how Castiel thought it would. Hurt/Comfort wing!fic.

Warnings: Angst, mentions of torture.

Notes: As the summary didn't quite seem adequate I will elaborate a little. The basic plot concerns Dean sewing up Castiel's injured wings, and the somewhat fluffy hurt/comfort/angst storyline that follows.

Kidnapper (archiveofourown)- thursdayshunter (Completed)
Site Summary: William glanced over at the pretty unconscious boy in the seat next to him. He took in the tanned skin of Castiel’s bared neck and the way the teen’s features were slack from the drug. It seemed impossible that he would have stumbled upon a stranded Castiel but William wasn’t going to question his luck. Fill for spnkink-meme READ THE TAGS

Warnings: Rape/non-con, kidnapping, abuse (minor), bondage, no happy ending

Notes: Okay, this is more of a Castiel fic, but I included it anyway because I don't yet have a post devoted to Castiel Whump. Theres a little bit of Destiel in the very beginning, but after that its just pure Castiel whumpage.