[FFML] Fic Writer's Guide

[Bastion]

Karsten wrote:
>(Disclaimer: I don't write fanfiction, or any fiction for that matter - 
>I'm not creative enough. I do read voraciously though, and have been 
>lurking on the list for something like a decade now, so I've seen my 
>share of badly written fics. 

I knew you guys existed, I just never had any proof.  Heh.

>> Assuming Familiarity With Your Sources
>One thing that could be said is the more obscure a series or character 
>is, the less you should assume. And just because the writer doesn't 
>think something is obscure doesn't mean it's not.
>
>For example, practically anyone even marginally interested in anime 
>fanfiction likely knows what Ranma looks like - and if they don't, a 
>quick Google search will net them a few godzillion relevant pages and 
>images. On the other hand, if a Google search for a character's name 
>doesn't find at least a few web sites and images of them *on the first 
>page*, a full description should be worked into the text when they first 
>appear, even if the *author* doesn't consider them an obscure character 
>at all.

When it comes to *physically* describing a character, especially in fanfiction, it can get kinda hairy.  Personally I take the stance that my audience knows nothing about the canon at all.  The reason why I take that approach is that it forces me to get creative with my descriptions so that way it doesn't come off sounding stale (and if they do it isn't for a lack of trying).  

I'm sure everyone knows what Ranma looks like but you can convene a lot about a character and their immediate situation with nice smooth, easy on the eyes descriptions.  Anyway, half the fun of writing and reading is allowing your own imagination to fill in those visual details.  Anyway, most people read fanfics for the character and plot development which doesn't necessarily require exhaustive descriptions.  I have yet to see a fanfic that has Dickens-esque ad nauseam descriptions, and more power to ya if you can make it work.

Besides, it seems kinda silly to make a character's description proportional to his/her hits on Google.  However pictures from Google can be helpful when I'm trying to either get some clarification on a particular physical characteristic or if I'm trying to think up some good metaphors or some other literary device (onomatopoeia anyone?).

Anyway, happy reading, it's nice to know that we do indeed have active lurkers on the list.

Bastion