Things That Annoy You in Fanfiction

[Cherry Lover]

Yes, but killing the servants off in random fights would have been just as bad, particularly since that never happened in any of the other routes. Plus, like I said, the shadow needs to be a convincing threat to the other servants, which it's not if it never actually does anything.

[Alice]

Yeah, what happened in HF wasn't really a worf so much as an establishment of how freaking powerful the shadow is. Really, if it were a true worf, it'd just been one really powerful Servant getting the beatdown instead of multiple Servants getting attacked and killed by the thing. Plus it's technically powered by a grail-backed manifestation of Angra Manyu, so it makes sense that it'd be pretty freaking strong. ...At least I think that's about right, I'm typing this semi-coherent, so I might be remembering something wrong. ^_^"

[Elf]

You know what pisses me off?

Not having anything to read.

I want to read Rin/Archer.  There's none to be found (or the rare stories I do find rip off from me).

I thought not writing fanfic would help this, but nope. 

[Cherry Lover]

You know what pisses me off?

Not having anything to read.

I want to read Rin/Archer.  There's none to be found (or the rare stories I do find rip off from me).

Honestly, I feel much the same way, particularly when it comes to erotic fiction. The number of fanfics that actually treat Sakura decently is way too low, the amount of porn involving her is lower still and the amount that caters to my specific fetishes is basically zero....

Plus, the position I'm in makes it basically impossible for me to even ask other people to write it or suggest things, because I'm out of contact with the majority of the fandom.

I thought not writing fanfic would help this, but nope.

I'm not sure why you thought that, honestly. If people have ideas, they'll usually write them. Occasionally you'll get people who try to palm their ideas off on you, yes, but most of the time it's pretty independant.

Also, it's quite probable that the very act of writing fics encourages others to be interested in the same area, particularly when they're good fics.

[Elf]

Honestly, I feel much the same way, particularly when it comes to erotic fiction. The number of fanfics that actually treat Sakura decently is way too low, the amount of porn involving her is lower still and the amount that caters to my specific fetishes is basically zero....

Plus, the position I'm in makes it basically impossible for me to even ask other people to write it or suggest things, because I'm out of contact with the majority of the fandom.

Hey, you got two good Sakura scenes from me!

One that was pretty vanilla and the other that had some kinky stuff to it. 

I'm not sure why you thought that, honestly. If people have ideas, they'll usually write them. Occasionally you'll get people who try to palm their ideas off on you, yes, but most of the time it's pretty independant.

Also, it's quite probable that the very act of writing fics encourages others to be interested in the same area, particularly when they're good fics.

Not at all.  When I wrote, there was pretty much a lack Archer stuff because it was just automatically assumed that I would write it.  I've backed off and well, there's been a little pick up.  Even though most of it is, "Let's throw Archer into the 4th War!" fics that became insanely popular for a while.

They can be fun to read, but it just . . . I don't know, it's the same sort of fic.

Yuurei-san was writing a fairly fantastic Rin and Archer story and then she just stopped.  And the stuff I find, when I do find it, is ripping off me.  Which also pisses me off.

[Cherry Lover]

Honestly, I feel much the same way, particularly when it comes to erotic fiction. The number of fanfics that actually treat Sakura decently is way too low, the amount of porn involving her is lower still and the amount that caters to my specific fetishes is basically zero....

Plus, the position I'm in makes it basically impossible for me to even ask other people to write it or suggest things, because I'm out of contact with the majority of the fandom.

Hey, you got two good Sakura scenes from me!

One that was pretty vanilla and the other that had some kinky stuff to it. 

Yeah, true, although actually finding them now isn't that easy, particularly since I don't have the ability to bookmark threads on BL any more....

And, a couple of scenes isn't that much overall. There's considerably more Rin/Archer stuff than that. Not that they're not nice or anything, but it's not very much.

Plus, the one fic I really did like (the Sister Servants one) has disappeared without a trace, and thanks to DP, Altima and the BL mods I can't even bloody ask about it (or, at least, I have no way of getting a response).

I'm not sure why you thought that, honestly. If people have ideas, they'll usually write them. Occasionally you'll get people who try to palm their ideas off on you, yes, but most of the time it's pretty independant.

Also, it's quite probable that the very act of writing fics encourages others to be interested in the same area, particularly when they're good fics.

Not at all.  When I wrote, there was pretty much a lack Archer stuff because it was just automatically assumed that I would write it.  I've backed off and well, there's been a little pick up.  Even though most of it is, "Let's throw Archer into the 4th War!" fics that became insanely popular for a while.

They can be fun to read, but it just . . . I don't know, it's the same sort of fic.

Well, yeah, that's fair enough. But, if you're not writing it then it's difficult to really direct what other people do write.

Even so, I get the impression that Rin/Archer is more popular as a pairing than Shirou/Sakura is....

Yuurei-san was writing a fairly fantastic Rin and Archer story and then she just stopped.

I don't remember that, honestly.

And the stuff I find, when I do find it, is ripping off me.  Which also pisses me off.

Well, possibly it's because people want to read your ideas and, since you're not writing them, do so yourself....

Also, you're a good author, it's not surprising that people copy you somewhat.

[Alice]

Reviving this I guess. Technically not a complaint with fanfiction itself, but with something that happens surrounding fanfiction. I hate hugboxing. Writers don't need to be protected from criticism. Having fans of the work be overprotective of them isn't good for them at all.

And more to do with actual fanfiction, fanfiction with a canon character being wanked and made super overpowered and/or suddenly gain a harem (see, a ton of fanfics involving Shirou) also irritates me. Fanfiction with a Mary Sue OC that tends to get constant praise and adoration even when it's not appropriate to the situation also really annoys the crap outta me.

Bash fics are also stupid, at least when the author treats them as legitimate fiction instead of an outlet- it's one thing to portray a character in a negative light or have something really shitty happen to them, it's another to write a fic featuring a character getting killed horribly by a character the writer thinks is super-special-awesome just because they can't get over them being paired with their waifu or some equally stupid reason. If you have to use it to vent for whatever stupid reason, fine, just don't treat it as if it's even close to legitimate writing.

Hmm, also, Xam, do you mind if I change the title to just, "Things That Annoy You in Fanfiction"?

[Xamusel]

Regarding hugboxing... I have to agree with you there. I hate it when people think that they have to be super cuddly to a story and stymie its growth in order for it to "improve".

This is why I go out of my way to improve on my writing. I want to be given legitimate criticism for good reasons.

Alice, sure, go ahead. Thanks for reminding me about this thread and such.

[Alice]

That's a good attitude to have.

And no problem at all. I'll go ahead and change the title then.

[Xamusel]

Indeed it is.

Anyway, glad that's the case, Alice.

[Cherry Lover]

Bash fics are also stupid, at least when the author treats them as legitimate fiction instead of an outlet- it's one thing to portray a character in a negative light or have something really shitty happen to them, it's another to write a fic featuring a character getting killed horribly by a character the writer thinks is super-special-awesome just because they can't get over them being paired with their waifu or some equally stupid reason. If you have to use it to vent for whatever stupid reason, fine, just don't treat it as if it's even close to legitimate writing.

Yeah, I hate this, except perhaps when it's aimed at characters who are completely irredeemable, like Zouken. And, honestly, I wouldn't accept "venting" as an exception, either.

I also don't like it when people kill characters off gratuitously, or just to get rid of them. It's pretty much bashing, and it's really annoying.

[Alice]

When I said venting, I meant as in doing so privately and letting the result never see the light of day- writing a bash fic for venting and then presenting it to the public as if it's something to be proud of is something I object to.

And yeah, if it's just done because the writer hates them or decides that the character needs to die for their ship, then it's really annoying. It's just childish and not good writing in the slightest.

[lantzblades]

I hate the opposite of hugbox. Criticism to me is the kind gene and Roger gave. Criticism should be civil and positive  not angry and loud. Negative reinforcement doesn't work. At least I've never seen it actually do so.

Further I hate it when people don't finish a story and act like they know everything about it  and argue with people who have read the whole thing.  I also hate people who think that the rules stop applying when you leave scope of story X. Fate and Tsukihime have a rule about age equaling power, it's described referencing how vampires work in the nasuverse but applies to any character but people think that because it wasn't brought up in FSN it doesn't apply.

[Alice]

Unless it's outright flaming or insults though, all criticism can have value as long as it serves to help the writer/artist/whatever improve themselves. It's not always outright harmful like the hugbox is each and every time. If any of it begins to bother you (this being a general you, by the way), just try to focus on the actual criticism bits or even just block it out and come back to it later when you can handle it better.

But it's my opinion that if you're going to put yourself out there as a writer, you need to develop something of a thick skin, especially if you want to become better at it. Ignoring criticism because it's "mean" or "too harsh" or "they just don't understand my glorious and perfect vision!" is all a really bad move. There can be value even in the meanest of criticisms, if you know where to look.

I guess that's another thing that bugs me a bit, when people avoid giving criticism even after they ask for it just to spare that person's feelings. I guess this one's more specific to me than anything.

When I tend to ask for criticism, I don't tend to get any. Maybe it's because people just have nothing to say about it or because they don't want to hurt my feelings, or in DSM's case I'm the admin (note: don't be scared to give me criticism even though I'm the admin ), I don't know. But I find it frustrating because not only do I need it to know how to improve, I also need it to know where I stand as a writer.  Honestly, it might just be paranoia on my part caused by what's left of my perfectionism, and I'm honestly doing fine and I just can't tell that for myself. But still, I like learning about how to improve, and I wish more people would tell me.

This is honestly I think why people who don't accept criticism about their writing tend to get under my skin. It frustrates me when people actually care enough about what they write to give them critique and they just blow it off or dismiss it or claim that it's all bullying while I just sit there with no one saying anything about the stuff I do. Plus the fact that they're wasting perfectly good advice, that too.

...That was quite the rant, wasn't it? ^_^"

[lantzblades]

It seems aimed at me but frankly I'm right in this case. Negative reinforcement never works for me. If people can't be positive or at the very least analytical about what they see then I see no point in paying attention to foul mouth garbage insult or fanboys needing out far too hard.  It's called calm discussion and the TM fandom lacks the ability in spades.