First Blog Post

I tend to abstain from blogs, but figured, why not. I am Fan of Fanfics, aka Deviantart's 'Tigershark94', aka Twitter's @Crossover_God. I've been writing Naruto-based Fanfiction since 2009, and started writing a few MLP crossovers in December of 2012. I apply myself to my writing based on a few, simple ideas.

Idea 1: Keep allowing for the Willing Suspension of Disbelief. Meaning as Fanfiction, it's important that while you can write anything you wish, it is important as the author that your story MAKES SENSE in the context of the series. Keeping the characters from going too OOC, making certain that a pairing has some form of basis in the story/series, and making sure that crossover elements meld properly.

Idea 2: Reject simple 'Update Soon' reviews/comments. So often I hear about how it shouldn't matter, that it just meant they liked my fics, but I always see it as remarkably rude. Here I am, taking my precious time to do what I can to write a plausible, interesting, engaging story, and all I get in response is a demand to give more? Now, I detest flames, but give me SOMETHING! Specifically tell me what you liked or disliked, let me improve as a writer (One reason it's irking me that I received no comments on my recent chapter of Shinobi of Equestria btw). If I can take my time to give a legitimate critique or inform you what I enjoyed or did not enjoy, then you can too. Not everyone is constantly on the run, there is no 'I don't have time for that.'

Idea 3: Strive for quality of work, regardless of your quantity. Do I have a ton of fics out there? Of course. Do I care more about the quality of some than the quality of others? Of course not. As Stated in idea 2, I'm trying to write Plausible, Interesting, and Engaging stories, and writing hundreds and hundreds of lemons just for the sake of lemons does nothing to further those goals. I have nothing wrong with lemons, and well written ones that aren't simply thrown in to sex up a story are rather interesting. When you write numerous lemons because your story is so weak you have to sex it up? You've failed as an author.

Idea 4: You are more important than your readers...ok, that sounds bad, but let me finish. It is better to write for yourself, to get your ideas out, than to simply pander to what your audience is expecting, or even wanting. If you are sacrificing your ideas for views, you are not writing for the right reasons. I would rather have an honest, quality story read by nobody than to pander to low-level-lemon-lovers, like some rather prolific authors tend to do.

And Idea 5: Avoid OCs/Self inserts. I know, lots of people like it, but it goes against Idea 1. Putting yourself into your story doesn't add realism to your fic, it shatters the suspension of disbelief. I may be a traditionalist when I say that I want my fanfiction to be about fictional characters, not real people made fictional.

Maybe we need to come up with a set of ten Fanfic Commandments...Self-challenge accepted.