When fanfic writers go all “English isn’t my first language lol sorry this fic my grammar etc but please be nice to me”. You know what?

English isn’t my first language either, and I don’t advertise it in my fics.

Fact is, if you’re that worried that people will judge you as a writer based on your terrible grammar, then get thee to a beta reader whose native language is English and who will check your fic for typos and all, otherwise DEAL WITH IT. Deal with your readers’ harsh judgements because poor grammar and an abundance of typos make for terrible reading and you’re basically setting yourself up as… yup, a terrible writer.

Let me reiterate something: English isn’t my first language either. I’m a born and bred French Canadian. Fully bilingual, now, yes, but for the first 13 years of my life I couldn’t care less about the English language. I could understand the basics but you couldn’t have even beat it into my brain; I was that stubborn. No one needs English in Quebec pffft. Fast-forward 11 years later and... I'm about to be shipped to Korea to teach English, because I perservered.

Here’s some advice on how you can improve as a writer in a foreign language, from a former, successful ESL student: READ. CAREFULLY. Note turns of phrase in your favourite books, look up words you don’t understand, notice how words are spelt, etc. But, moreover, READ THE BEST. I don’t mean the classics like Shakespeare, but read authors you love, the ones you look up to. Because they’ll become your blueprint. For me, it was romance novels. Not any romance novels, though. I've never really liked the classic "Harlequin" novel -- Danielle Steel bores me to tears, and can't see what people see in sheikh/boss/millionaire/etc storylines -- they're all the same. But give me JR Ward, Karen Marie Moning, Suzanne Brockmann, Elizabeth Lowell and so on, and I'll be curled up on the sofa like a happy cookie craving for more.

I’ve never written that “English isn’t my first language, please be nice and ignore my grammar and typos”. Seriously? It just cheapens your damn story and I don’t want to read something that comes across as defeatist *shrug* I it up when people find typos, but they know damn well I only have typos because I don't look when I type, and that all my story editing is done prior to typing.

Think I'm harsh? Hell. Think about the fanfic world as the publishing industry: not any one agent or editor will look at your story twice if it's a mess. So... think twice before you push the button to publish online, is all I'm sayin'