1. Table of Contents and lessons learned

• bolded chapters are important

2. Intro- what experienced readers look for

3. Taking titles into consideration 

• People look at tags, description, title, and rating to determine if they want to read a fic
• They also look at number of subs, views, comments, and chapters
• Titles need to sound unique
• The title can’t summarize the fic
• A title can make sense at the end, but not describe the outcome
• Vague, meaningless titles are bad
• Good titles make people think
• Themes from the title repeat throughout the fic

4. Forewords, Descriptions, and Tags, the right and wrong way

• Try and get the juicy part of your story out there in the first 200 characters of your Description
• Descriptions are only for giving readers a taste of your fic, not for pointless author’s notes
• The foreword is not necessary, but recommended.
• Don’t pretend your fic has ever been copyrighted
• Don’t use character profiles with lists of traits, pictures, and relations to other characters
• Don’t link to others stories or social networking sites. Your reader for one fic is not automatically your reader for another and they are not your friend.
• Write a prologue, use an excerpt, write an author’s note, and do not spoil the story!
• NEVER CHANGE THE FONT EVER, EVER, EVER!
• Only use necessary and relevant tags

5. The importance of Chapter One-the impression of writing

• Do not write your fic in the area provided by AFF
• Put spaces between paragraphs
• Script Writing is forever banned
• Don’t change the alignment of the text
• The size and color is to remain default
• POVs are not to be pointed out directly and/or changed
• Flashbacks must be used creatively
• Always read the first chapter

6. Cliche and illogical plots and characters

• Clichés are fine, IF YOU CAN WRITE THEM WELL
• Try to avoid very obvious plots and characterizations or try to make them unique and original. Changing names and places isn’t cutting it
• MAKE IT REALISTIC. Sure, vampires aren’t realistic, but at least try and add some realism into it.

7. What is the purpose of critiquing fanfiction? We aren't professionals...

• No matter how good or bad you are at writing, you can always use some extra help
• People write for attention and satisfaction, we must help them get it
• AFF IS A MARKET
• Unless the reviewer is a douche, it is most likely right
• Even though the reviewer might not be the best writer, their critiques are still valid on some level

8.  Oneshots and other short fics Vs. Long fics

• Short stories need some love. They are good stories too!
• Try out the prompt writing challenge. Go to chapter to see it.

9. Characterization

• Characters need to be original
• Each person needs to have clear differences from the others
• Developed characters need a purpose
• Real people have flaws and characters should too
• There is a public face and a private face, characters should have both
• Dynamic characters and relationships are interesting
• The main characters should not be based off of the author
• Lol, none of this matters, you love your idol too much to care

10. OTPs

• OTP fics are usually the obvious ones like Daragon and 2Min and HunHan
• The main couple is usually accompanied by another one
• There are many overused plots and characterization
• Don’t ever talk to me about OnChicken and 2Min
• Junsu/Coconuts is the best OTP evaaarr!

11. Comments: How (not) to ask for and give them

• Comments cannot be demanded in exchange for an update
• Be grateful for any comments
• Don’t whine about subscribers not commenting
• Comments let us know people are reading our stuff
• They motivate authors
• They make our day better
• We write for ourselves and post for you
• “Update Soon!” Is meaningless
• Always be respectful
• Give advice and point out mistakes politely
• Actually think about your comment for a second

12. ual Content

• There is not a single fanfic out there that needs
• If you’re not comfortable writing scenes, don’t do it! It’s not necessary
• Does even fit with the flow of the story? No, then don’t put it!
• isn’t creative
• Don’t ask your readers whether to write it or not
• is not good, ever. Stop glorifying it.
• You wouldn’t show signs of pregnancy until a few weeks later
• , , , , ! “Great chapter!”
• I personally quite enjoy them

13. How to get your fic featured on AFF

14. Unnecessary Graphics

• Graphics do not affect the overall quality of your writing
• Posters do set the mood, but they shouldn’t spoil the story, they don’t matter
• Don’t use any old pictures off of google, actually get it edited
• Know exactly what you want in a poster before making a request for one
• Find high quality pictures
• Follow the poster maker’s rules, credit them by how they ask!
• Chapter posters should represent the chapter/story, not be a random picture of the idols
• Don’t use background pictures
• No character profile pictures –ever
• Don’t substitute pictures for things you should be describing with words. That is locations, clothes, and miscellaneous items.

15. Updating and Inspiration

• Try to update regularly (like, don’t go on hiatus for a few years)
• Don’t update too often (like everyday, or every few hours)
• Updating helps you keep up with the fic and maintain focus
• Try prompt challenges to stay creative
• Let pictures inspire you
• Music too
• Learn new words to get new ideas
• Let your experiences shape your writing

16. Advertising Fics is ridiculous

• There is no need to advertise your fic, stahp

17. Grammar

• Capitalize the first letter of every sentence and whenever an “I” stands alone or in a conjugation
• Capitalize proper nouns
• Use punctuations
• Put a space after punctuation
• NeVeR TyPe LyKE tHiS
• Never use texting abbreviations
• Please don’t use capital letters to show that someone is yelling
• Be careful to spell things correctly
•  Beware of homophones
•  Other than the above stated, other grammar rules will not be deal breakers (sentence structure, tense, etc.)
• Worry about the basics first, don’t sweat the minor stuff
• Don’t abuse ellipsesl, please

18. Attracting the Wrong Audience

• Fanfiction is a fiction written by a fan about what that fan is a fan of
• Fanfictions do not require an extensive characterization for the idol because we love them already
• It is harder to love an OC because we have no reason to love them
• Write about the bias, not the OC
• It is okay to have an OC, but do not make the plot revolve around them
• On AFF, it is okay to write about other Asian countries
• Do not cross fandoms into things like One Direction, Sherlock, or Supernatural
• Anime is not the sort of Asian desired on AFF
• I love to harass Janie

19. How to get your fic featured on AFF- Part 2

20. Friends

• Potatoes are okay/bad fics
• Tomatoes are great fics
• Cucumbers are mature fics
• AFF people vote like Americans, always for the potato because Alexander Hamilton; therefore, Thomas Jefferson and the electorate
• New company analogy, we are all farmers
• You gotta beg for dem votes!
• We’re not friends, you are my subscribers
• Totes don’t read the same type of fics
• Share your favorite fics with your friends, advertise, beg for dem votes!
• Have friends promote your fic
• Make me a god damn Lee Minho Poster, Maria!
• I hate people who blog obnoxiously and frequently
• Vote this potato up guise!

21. Know Your Reader Part 1

• I like A and B type people, go away type C
• Don’t make many references that your readers might not get
• Readers might not know who is who because of real vs stage names
• Idol quirks can be very esoteric
• Song references won’t always be understood
• Knowing one band does not automatically mean knowing of another
• Elaborate of plot details because of cultural diffrences

22. Readers’ Ages

• Younger readers enjoy cheesy plots and simple twists
• Mature readers enjoy deeper emotions and plots
• It is not your job to keep children pure
• You want your fic to be the type that people reread years later
• Don’t be satisfied with second rate

23. Writing Tips: POV

• I can't right now. I can't think anymore. Just read the chapter.
• It says tips, as in not rant
• TIPS
• and explanations
• lots of those
• not really funny
• but insightful
• sort of

24. Fanfiction VS Other Media

• My Maria finally made me an Lee Minho Poster!
• Ideas often come from movies, comics, TV shows, magazines, music etc.
• These use auditory and visual cognition
• Books use a different cognition
• Cliches won't work the same for both medias
• Script writing is still forever banned
• Fanfics are different from novels
• Type C people, I do what I want
• Should probably reread the chapter before I add anymore points

25. Let's talk about Livejournal

• there is too much content to talk about

26. Livejournal Instructions

• I use lots of pictures with step by step instructions 

27. Korean Words

• Some people might not know Korean that well
• You might be using the Korean incorrectly
• Odd or fragmented Korean words interrupt the flow of the story
• Fics are not just stories written in Korean translated into English
• Korean specific terms are okay, like "Chuseok" insteand of "Korean Thanksgiving"
• Korean song lyrics, in any form (hangul or romanized) are taboo
• Nobody is impressed with your knowledge of another language

28. Dialgoue and Description

• Dialogue needs to go in quotation marks (“___”)
• Quotes inside of dialogue need to go in apostrophes (“Words and words ‘quotes’ and words.”)
• Script writing is not allowed
• Some different instances where dialogue and description work or don't work
• Basically everything your teenage or immature character says is not important

29. Character Glorification

• It is so fake and unrealistic to glorify the character
• Make OCs tolerable
• Not too perfect, not too tragic
• Too much subtle glorification can come off as arrogant
• Use a foil to emphasize your characters

30. Writing Tips: Setting

• Location-where the story takes place
• Time-when the story takes place and for how long
• Circumstances-band fic/AU/magic/sci-fi/school/etc
• Use the setting of the POV character
• Use the five sense to describe the setting
• Bring the setting to life
• Do research and use your own experience

31. Writing Tips: Power Words

• Telling someone to expand their vocabulary is legitimate advice
• People who know better words than you will be better writers
• Your story will sound better
• You will sound smarter
• Use a thesaurus and synonyms
• Too much can kill a story
• Match the tone and maturity of the story

32. Romance

• Yay, 1000 subs
• Well-developed and purposeful romance
• Romance for the sake or romance is uck
• Romance is like a tomato only salad, gross
• Predictability makes it annoying
• Romance is a plot device, use it properly

33. Gaining Subscribers

• Basically a rant about how I hate sub-only stories
• It's really annoying to casual readers
• I make comparisons to Amazon previews...
• Don't mind me

34. Trigger Warnings

• Trigger warning fics become sub-only
• This is like censorship
• It becomes harder to read and write fics on AFF
• There is a peak of "profitability" for mature fics
• PC culture and censorship
• If we don't allow a conversation, bad things happen
• Kids with keys will unlock doors to dark places

35. Writing Tips: Angst

• I'm a judge for a writing contest, angst category
• Angst is deep anxiety or worry
• Empathy is key
• Reasonable angst for a character
• Gradual build up is better than sudden bursting
• Nothing over the top, no fake drama
• Happiness is needed too
• Endings can be bitter or sweet

Anyway, I hope from this table of contents people remember that this isn't a "fic" to necessarily help you be a good writer. Its main purpose is to help your stories not be hated. Bad characterization, rapid POV changes, and obscure idol references can make someone hate your fic. Perfect grammar, perfect vocabulary, perfect , perfect posters, perfect story -they are nice but not needed.