Fanfiction.net

Celria · Newb Joined: 31 Dec 1969 Posts: 2

Not that it matters, but this is my first post. (just to get that out of my system)

I've only been at ff.net for a year or two, but in that short time it's degenerated slowly but surely. I myself semi reguarly contribute to the beyblades section, and have posts on other areas.

Over the short period of time I'e been there, the place has gone to high hell. From people getting banned for questionable materials in their work, to the load of tripe that gets posted.

No-one is able to call a bad story a bad story in their reveiws else they get harrased by the author, yet if these people do not start being told their errors, they will continue to make them.

Writers at ff.net, I call on you to stop being politically correct, tell people about the errors in their stories, the cliched plots and the 2D characters. Do it!

And for gods sake! stop writing reveiws like: U R GR8!! PLZ WRITE MORE!

I'm not exempt from this. See my signiture, click on fanfictions and I urge you to flame me, critisize me. Don't set out to bring me to tears, but don't do that crap we call constructive critisism. be ruthless. Tell me my mistakes. And tell other theirs.

Okay. I've had my gripe.

DG-sama · Moderator Joined: 31 Dec 1969 Posts: 2294

Good lord do I ever feel your pain...
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God damn you signature WORK!

Chibi_Inu · Member Joined: 31 Dec 1969 Posts: 70

All I have to say: Phew!

I know one of my favorite authors got her...or him got her/his stories copied and the stupid person put it on the same site! *cough* dumba@$$ *cough*
That's all I have to say, later.

midnightoasis · Newb Joined: 31 Dec 1969 Posts: 4

Celeria, I have to say that I agree with you [i]wholeheartedly[/i]. Although I haven't been a member for nearly as long as I've been a reader of the material on the site, I'd have to say that a majority of the fanfics that are posted are lacking in plot, grammar, ingenuity, development, and just an overall style that the author can call his or her own.

However, as various forms media reach people at increasingly younger ages (and as younger people tend to be the most technology-savvy group in general), we have to understand that a great deal of the young authors (sometimes even primary school age) might not yet have the experience to write with the quality that we, as readers (and sometimes fellow writers ^_^) come to expect. That's not to say that just because someone's younger, they can't write as well--far from it. I've read stories by authors who were still in middle school that could rival some of the material put out by students at my college. Simply, the level of literacy and language development (going by national standards) is still developing a great deal.

I'm all for constructive criticism, but to aim at an overused storyline...well, for many writers, there are only so many possibilities. If we look at the genres themselves, from video games and anime to movies and novels, we have to see that plots are recycled even within the orginals. By suggesting more details and development of both plot and characters, we can help writers to really come into their own with the art.

But...the most important thing to remember is that [i]they[/i] are the author of that story. Through our reviews and criticsms, constructive or not, we have to refrain from trying to shape the story as we want it. If their characters don't become real enough to us, by all means ask for further exploration of their personalities. If we have trouble getting a feel for the setting, ask for further description. And when they make an effort to change, give them support and encouragement. A writer can be as fragile as a rose in winter, but with enough care, they can bloom into something beautiful.

Hmm...I think that I've been rambling so long that I forgot how I wanted to end this...o_O
At any rate, it can be disheartening and sometimes downright disturbing to see characters that we have come to know and love (or hate ^_^) put into writing that we deem doesn't do them justice. But such writing [i]will[/i] inevitably go on, and by trying to muster other writers to tell these authors where they're going wrong might improve the occasional few--but the rest will take it as a hit to their ego and perpetuate the bickering that floods FFN.

Crappy stories? Yeah, they're out there. And they'll probably be there for a long time. We can hope that the authors will use others as examples and work to improve, but our encouragement and help is really all we have to offer. If the stories offend and anger you to the point of , there's a very simple solution: don't read them, and don't review them. The lack of feedback is more productive than negative comments.

Okay, that's my two cents! Just to note, this wasn't an argument with anything being said here...I just wanted to vent. :P

:huh: [i]Readin' stuff where the grammar ain't so good? Speling got yoo down?
Become a beta reader! Save a fic today! [/i] Laughing

Lasher · Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2004 5:11 pm Post subject:

Oh my god, someone who i can agree with. lol. although i am not part of the fanfiction.net site but the adult version. My stuff wouldn't do wellt there with younger readers. Why some may ask? I have violent, deep plotted story lines with blood in it indeed, that i do. But i write a lot like my favorite author Anne Rice who i've grown up reading and loving. I love the way she writes, for some many reasons.

And my storues are like her in some small ways, although i am still developing my ability, and yes, i did make a lot of grammar mistakes in my first posted story because i was to inpatient to read through it and make my corrections to it. I plan on going through it though later after finishing this one story i'm working on and cleaning it up nice and good and the re posting it.

I always encourage people people to leave cunstructive critisim and say what's on there mind. Anyone can, there's just the difference between being mature about it, and then being rule.

As for people leaving those pointless and annoying comments like "Great job! Write more!" yeah, they annoy me to no end. you might as well as not leave a comment if that's all you have to say really.

JJ · Newb Joined: 30 Jan 2004 Posts: 16

fanfiction.net isn't a bad site, it just how the adim. handles the site. I'm writer at FF.net, I know that most people just copy the work of another, but ff.net is a good site when reasonable and very good writers post there. Like me, I post my stories, there with misspellings, but I am getting better.

Silvermoonlight · Rookie Joined: 31 Dec 1969 Posts: 34

I hate to say it but I agree with you. I love writing and enjoy posting my fic for all to see. I've watched painful as the Soul Calibur section I post my fic at degrade horribly.

I thought it was only happening in the SC section but it appears it happening in every section.

People just post fics that are Mary Sues or fan girl orientated or just crossover’s, which have had no thought, put in what so ever.

There are also stacks off fics on Link who doesn't belong in the soul Calibur universe. Along with other cannon charters that don’t belong (ff.net wont subsection these fics ether)

I'm not an evil person I'd just prefer these guys to have there own section. It would just make it easier for readers who like the cannon characters.

It's like people only care for reviews not for making a good story or one that had just a little effort put in. It horrible I mean it's not hard to put a little effort or thought in to writing. Can't these people see that?

My only hope is that ff.net will do a sweep sometime or add rules to stop these terrible fics coming in.

Newsiegoil · Newb Joined: 31 Dec 1969 Posts: 3

I am a writer at ff.net. Personally, I enjoy getting reviews (yes, even the "This is a great story! Update soon!" ones.) But, yes, it would be so much better if I got more constuctive critisim. I hope to become an author someday, and really appreciate it when someone lets me know what I can do to improve the story.
However, if you give constructive critisim, you also have to give some praise. Nothing's more depressing and makes you want to give up when you get a review full of "you need to did this and that." It's nice to hear that someone likes a certain part.
And I think reviews that try to control what the author wants to do with the story are unnecessary. I mean something like "you should do this and that" (not that I've had any of those.) It's the author's story!
Also, reviews that are just nasty flames are unnecessary (like the kind that say this story sucks, blah blah blah).
As to overused plot lines and just a poorly written story . . . well, not everyone's going to write a best selling novel. It takes time and a lot of practice to get good.
And some people aren't meant to be great writers. It's the same with drawing. If any of you has looked at my drawing, you all know I'm never going to be an artist. I pretty much suck at drawing, however, I'm proud when I have done my best. It's the same with fanfiction. Some people just worked hard on a story and just want to post it.
And it's discouraging when you get no reviews. You never know if anyone's reading it or if those months of writing were a waste of time. I know from personal experience.

Well, I put in my two bits.

*~*Skater*~*

JJ · Newb Joined: 30 Jan 2004 Posts: 16

It's me again. I'm here to defend, Link in Soul Calibur 2. The only reason he is there, because he's Nintendo's Special Signerture Character. Link does belong, neither do Spawn or that other guy from Tekken.

Silvermoonlight · Rookie Joined: 31 Dec 1969 Posts: 34

Hey I never said get rid off Link fics, just cross section them. I can understand that there are folks out there who like him and other cannon characters.

I appreciate that, everyone is intituled to like who ever they want in Soul Calibur and Soul Calibur 2 fan fiction. :D

*My apologises for going off Topic *

JJ · Newb Joined: 30 Jan 2004 Posts: 16

Oh, sorry. Back to the subject at hand. If anybody read any fan fiction from Jager Janks, please tell me. Me and him use to be on the same messege board.

sally_the_ragdoll · Newb Joined: 31 Dec 1969 Posts: 22

the only catagories in fanfiction i like to read are nightmare before christmas, kingdom hearts, and sometimes tenchi muyo......well that was random!! :huh:

JJ · Newb Joined: 30 Jan 2004 Posts: 16

Kingdom Hearts....................................................................................I'm not going to touch that one.

fallenangel · Posted: Fri Feb 20, 2004 5:49 pm Post subject:

FF.net sucks. Has for a long long long time. I was a member there for awhile, until they got rid of the real person sections, and yet some are STILL there while others were deleted. Then getting rid of NC17 stories because some people, even though they're on a website devoted to WRITING, can't READ the rating. Some of the best stories were NC17 (and some of the worst, but you take the good with the bad). No matter how great the writing, the plot, the character development, they're all deleted because some people whine.

That's why the only site I ever read is, like Lasher, the adult fanfiction version. The writers are older (mostly) with more developed skills, and I don't have to wade through 1,500 crappy "stories" written by 10-year-olds to find something worth reading. And if I ever write again, it will be put there (though I was very put off from it by the nut-swinging of certain people on ff.net period).
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Zeke_hieis_girl · Very bored Joined: 01 Feb 2004 Posts: 201 Location: Hyrule

i know why you dispise the site and you may have your resons. i used to go on ff.net but i stopped cause it was changing my home page for some reson...i dont know what was wrong with it maybe it was the site maybe it was the storys maybe it was the comp but after i stopped going there i dont have any problems and i really did like the storys there wasnt any trouble between me and the authors when i pionted out mistakes and such but the only thing wrong i think was the spam it gave me and all that crap so every thing else with that site is cool i guess Cool

JJ · Newb Joined: 30 Jan 2004 Posts: 16

True, I agree with you two, that a mindless 10 year did whine about the NC-17. But there are still good stroies hanging around in ff.net. Finid them, is a nightmare. By the way what is the address for lashers? All I know is adultfanfiction.net.

dnmtt · Member Joined: 31 Dec 1969 Posts: 51

I didn't check but are there still a lot of character bashing fics. I dig the character bashing fics.

CheetahSmith · Rookie Joined: 24 Feb 2004 Posts: 38

Fanfiction.net has its good points, and its bad points.

It's good are that lots of writers, including myself, can write, and post their stories for all to see. I wrote a Dark Cloud fanfic, and I'm writting another one. I got lots of positive reviews on it, from the somewhat cliche "This is cool! Write more!" to some helpful tips of advice. I really like FFN, and if I do enough searching, I find absolute gems.

The bad points are, like many have noticed and pointed out, are the "OMG! THIS ROX! WRITE MORE PLZ!!!11!1!!1! I WANT MOR!" sort of reviews, the really bad fanfics sprouting up like weeds, buttheads that will copy your story and idea, thus making it a cliche, and countless others.

But while the bad points are annoying, I still like FFN, and I'm still faithful to it. Also, the Amidistration usually notifies visitors and members of any changes going on. Granted, my first story has garmmer errors and the like, but hey, that's what revised editions are for...

Just my two cents. ^-^

JJ · Newb Joined: 30 Jan 2004 Posts: 16

hmmmm.....................I agree on that too.

Raymei · Posted: Mon Mar 01, 2004 12:15 am Post subject:

You know what was really terrible?

They banned NC-17...but two guys on the site not only had NC-17 stories in their archives (simply rating them R) but they were incestual
One guy had several instestual (very very descriptive) stories of brothers and little sisters.
Another guy (I have the feeling it was the same guy) had a GRUESOMELY descriptive profile stating what he does "nightly" to his OWN sister o.o;;;;;;

Here's the clincher.....the first guy was asking 13 and 14 year old girls to write stories for him (you know...requests?) about characters from animes that were siblings. He turned out to be a sexual predator and this was how he started to stalk these girls.
FF.N didn't notice this at all until my dad got a hold of them (My little sister and her friend were calling this guy and such....yeah...that's how I found out about this)

The fact that their administration didn't know this TOTALLY turned me off of this site completely.
I don't trust them at all now.

That and my reviews never show up. I used to donate to the site and still didn't get them. <_< what the heck does a girl gotta do for some service around here??