What does make a good fanfic for a reader? · 9:10pm May 30th, 2012
What exactly makes a good story for MLP fans?
The plot? Character development? The technical or creative writing? Maybe the writer is an English major or a teacher? Maybe they're just famous in the fandom or they got on Equestria Daily with five or six stars? Maybe on FIMfiction they have 100 Thumbs up and 300 reviews saying how much they love the fic?
The truth is, any fic can be good for any reader. It all comes down to, in the end, what the reader wants to read.
As humans, we all have various opinions, likes, and dislikes on what we love to read or write. Some of us may want to read only Human in Equestria stories while others just want to read what's on Equestria Daily and nothing else. Why do we do this? Because it's what were attracted too. For instance, I never read a fanfic that has humanity portrayed as evil warmongering villains like Conversion Bearu or Rorschach in Equestria does. I also do the same thing with fanfics that crossover with worlds I don't think can work like Star Wars, Transformers, or Dresden Files.
However, the difference is that while I may dislike and criticize those fics, I respect the writer and the fans that do read them. Because its what they want to read. Why should I tell them it's wrong to like it when they clearly have their hearts set out of it? Hell, I've heard many times from people saying that Upon Wings of Sacrifice is sadder then My Little Dashie. But I'm pretty sure a lot of people would disagree.
What we can agree on as a fandom is what fics are "popular" but "popular" doesn't mean "best". For something to be "The best" everyone in the world would have to agree with it. I don't think Fallout Equestria, Anthropology, My Little Dashie, My Little Alicorn, Whitebox, Sunny Skies All Day Long (Although it's my second favorite), Human, Through the Eyes of Another Pony, Hospice, It Takes a Village, or many others are the best MLP fanfics in the world. I think that honor belongs to It's A Dangerous Business, Going Out Your Door. Just as, while I respect Equestria Daily and it's pre-readers, you don't need to have a fic on that site to be "popular" or gain a fanbase. Look at Romance Reports, Cheerilee's Garden, Study Buddies, Beating the Heat, Three of me, and more.
About Equestria Daily's Pre-readers. I don't hate them and it's Seth's blog. He does what he does and the Pre-readers choose what they want to choose. They actually know their stuff so even if you never get on, the advice they give you is something to consider for improvement to your story. Plus they are humans with lives, they don't have time to look at every fic they get. Sure, I may not agree with everything about their system, but I respect them and they try to be fair as fair can be. Do I try to get on the site? Yes, I won't lie. I do. It's not a bad achievement to do so. But you don't have to be on that site to be a great writer. If I don't get on, I don't get on. Okay.
I don't care if I'm "the best" because I know I will never be "the best" nor will any writer in this site. "Popular" yeah that might be nice, but what I focus on is writing what pleases me. The advice I give to anybody is something I like to call the The Three W's.
Write what you like
Write what you know
Write the way you want the story to go
If a good portion of a group loves your story, then keep working to please them. Only change your story or re-write it if you personally feel that you don't like the way it's going and it could be better. That's what I'm doing with Upon Wings of Sacrifice. Take the advice you think is good, but be sure to listen to it first and think about it. Don't change your story just so you want it to appear on Equestria Daily or compete with another fanfic. Keep pleasing the group that already loves your work for what it is.
That is not to say don't take advice. People can always improve their craft and get better. There is no shame in asking for help or getting an editor.
Yet at the same time, writers should be proud of the work they make and be happy that their are readers who do read and like it. Sure, most of us will never be as highly acclaimed as the authors of the fanfics I mentioned earlier. But we don't need Equestria Daily approval or 1000 reviews on this site to be writers. We are writers and readers and we should love to do what we want to do.
For me? There are a couple factors.
It needs a good story.That's obvious. It also needs to flow nicely and be coherent.
Spelling and grammar aren't huge with me, but they help.
Good characters are important. And in fanfiction, I tend to judge based on canon characters' adherence to the source material, though having them develop over the course of the story is more than encouraged.
The best stories, in my opinion, are the ones that get an emotional response out of me. That can include stories that get chuckles out of me, ones that make me involuntarily d'awwwww at them, and ones that can bring me to the verge of tears over a character's despair or even death. The reason I hold Eternal in higher regard than other stories is because not only does it make me give a damn about what Twilight and Celestia are going through, but it makes me feel what the characters are feeling, to an extent. If I can have that sort of empathy for the cast, the story's kicking some serious ass.
WOW that looks lopsided. Eh, not fixing it.
143510
I actually don't remember if I read Eternal or not. Hmmm, put it on me list.
It's very subjective in some cases, but I do agree with what Fallen Prime says.
We all know it's hard to come up with an original idea. Everything has been done. But the point of what to do with whatever kind of plotline is to make it work and bring something interesting and new to the table. Characters, that too can be tricky, since sometimes there are stories that have them go against what they have said or done in the original source material. However, with the right writing and development throughout the story, it can be very nicely done.
An emotional response is always a good thing. But at the same time, there are times it's just fun to write something quick and silly, like a parody. I think that's always fun to do, to make a fun little parody for the readers to have something to laugh with.
Grammar, spelling, and a good flow is always very much encouraged. Now yes, I know there are some writers who may have a tough time writing in English if it's not their first language, that's where I let it slide.
Most of all, effort. That's what comes to help make a good story.
Well you got it right what you said about a good ending, but also a good beginning!
It has to be well written and kind have something to do with the show it's based on. Also, splled right, no grammar mistakes and that's all I can think of right now.
I must at this point only comment on one tangential aspect of your post - I would also refrain from reading crossovers with universes that I don't think will work or which don't interest me - but some will surprise you. The only long Dresden Files crossover I've read, for example, actually succeeds very well in using the disparity between the worlds to highlight and play on those differences in a decent way without turning everything to heck for the sake of it.
First of all, I can see why some people would say Upon Wings of Sacrifice is sadder than MLD. I'd have to disagree with them myself though, however I can say I am enjoying Upon Wings of Sacrifice more than I enjoyed MLD, so take that for what you will.
Secondly, I have to disagree with you on the whole "best writer" bit, I think ShortSkirtsAndExplosions is the best writer in the fandom at the moment, but of course that's just my opinion. Since I think that though, that makes the best writer in the fandom part of this site, at least for me.
Third, thanks for following me, I think I can say you're the most famous follower I have so far
Fluency, plain and simple.
Cupcakes and Sweet Apple Massacre stand as living proof where sick, twisted ideas, if written well enough, will convey a monumental emotuion within its readers. On a similar not, I've pre-read many stories with really good ideas, but the fluency was so terrible, that it literally made the story hard to finish for me.
Basically, if you can make it flow correctly, you'll earn my vote/follow/favourite/whatever the fuck they choose to call it now.
i have aids
they help me make my stories
Those are very wise words.
Though I prefer adventures like "It Dangerous Going Out Your Door", I pretty much read anything that catches my fancy as long as the grammar is some what decent and I like the idea or find it curious. Really the only stories I don't read are gore or stories where the author tries to use past and present tense all in the same sentence.
I completely agree... Except for favorite fic. That has to go to "The Sound of Sunlight" for me.