Characters and Stuff.

Ranting & Raving
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Characters.

First things first. Characters. What is the point of writing a story if you don't have characters? Even better, what is the point if your characters AREN'T characters? What do I mean by that? When your 'character' is just a name and a voice in the dialogue. Let me explain.

 

I personally prefer OC fics, but only if the original character is an ORIGINAL character. I want you to come up with a new person. Name, age, birthday, back story, flaws, quirks, pet peeves, bad habits--a CHARACTER! Someone that I can identify with, and preferably, someone that I would want to share a glass of wine with.

 

I want the character to grow and change as the story progresses. Who are they at the beginning? Who are they at the time of whatever conflict that happens(there MUST be some conflict because otherwise, why bother?)? Who are they at the end of the story? If you can't answer these questions about your own characters, these creations of your own mind, then you probably shouldn't have started writing a story. What's the point?

 

These are fanfics, so we 'know' one of the characters already. Unless you're writing AU, and if you are, you should probably say that in the description. Descriptions. Since I mentioned them, they are important, people. If you can't tell me what your story is about, why should I read it?

 

Back to our oppas and noonas. We fans have a feel for who we are reading about. We see them

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Baekhyunsoul
#1
Chapter 20: I can only wish more people would use beta readers, especially if you are putting all this work into something that obviously means something to you. It only makes sense, if you’re in a rush to publish and don’t have the time time put it away to reread later when you’re not so close to it, then use the fresh and objective eyes of beta reader. Thank you for putting that out there
Baekhyunsoul
#2
Chapter 20: I can only wish more people would use beta readers, especially if you are putting all this work into something that obviously means something to you. It only makes sense, if you’re in a rush to publish and don’t have the time time put it away to reread later when you’re not so close to it, then use the fresh and objective eyes of beta reader. Thank you for putting that out there
meowzwrites
#3
Chapter 26: Omg yes @ mpreg just please stop
meowzwrites
#4
Chapter 14: Lol @ 16. I do idol fics, and I used to give characters with very little training in one area really strong twins but now I just want to punch myself and everyone who does that in the face.
haaitje
#5
Your rants and ravings are so very informative. I will revisit it when I have/find the motivation to write again. I agree with most of your opinions about the stories on AFF. I have to say I like reading your stories, I like your characters and how you "build" them. I could care less if they were black, white, purple or whatever color; race or ethnicity, I like them for who they are. How they develop. And of course their background is an important part of that but I don't think their color is key. I hope that you get what I mean, it's difficult to explain without seeing your reaction ^^. You asked about angsty stories and I just read a lot of angst stories by the same author. The stories were compelling and I couldn't stop reading them but I also thought that it was a bit too much. Too much pain and heartache never any form of relieve for the characters. I felt drained after reading their stories back-to-back, no matter how interesting I found the stories. I contemplated telling the author that, how I felt about the stories but I was to chicken to actually do it. After reading your R&R I decided to tell them anyway. It's upbuilding criticism and not a bashing. Thanks again for your insights and keep writing these interesting funny and heartwarming stories. Who doesn't want to be Luna, I sure wanted to be. ^^
PrinceOfAbstraction
#6
Chapter 35: A good story will have one or more of the following - good plot/interesting characters/attractive writing style/inexplicable something that makes you relate to the story at once.
NeoCaratTypo #7
Chapter 32: I’m CHOKING I’m pretty sure that chpt 31 (Consistency) was my story ? I specifically remember thinking that it was so innovative. I hated that decision too after writing two chapters because It got so tiring to write. I do still like the concept of the story so I’m thinking of revisiting it. Hopefully I don’t make the same mistake ?
milkia
#8
i've honestly read this through several times and i still can't get over how good this guide is. guide/rant, anyway. i love it, thanks for posting!
MinhosAegyo
#9
Chapter 41: girl i've been off this site for years (was in like middle school when i created my account) and i come back out of curiosity (now graduated from high school) and you still spilling hot fiery teaaaa. love it. now let me go catch up on your stories cause i remember them being bOMB!