Three pieces of advice
I've seen a lot of people either about to post feedback for the first time and asking advice, or posting fic and asking for feedback in the same breath. Well, I haven't read a lot of these fics, because of spoilers, mainly, or because from a lot of header info, I've decided that a lot of the fics aren't for me, and I always seem to see the request for advice after the fic has been posted.
But I do have advice to give (because I'm bumptious like that). So, here are some strong suggestions for when you think you're done with your story and ready to post, and know where you want to post. This is especially if it's your first fanfic, but not only then.
1. Get a beta. (More than one if you can and your piece is long.) Another, fresher pair of eyes looking over work is always good. Ask where you have seen other requests made, or ask people who are active in the fandom where you could ask. Or just ask for one. Maybe it'll be someone who you consider a friend, maybe it's better if it isn't - they'll be more objective about how to make the story stronger.
You might have to wait a bit for your answer. In the meantime:
2. Reread and be willing to redraft your story. (I hope that you're thinking that I'm being condescending and redundant here, because obviously, every fic author rereads her story.).
- Are all your paragraphs formatted the same way? Are you sure? It's generally accepted that for online reading a new paragraph should start with a one-line space between it and the last. So press that enter button twice. Or at least be consistent, and remember that the idea is to make the difference between paragraphs clear. A new paragraph should start when you're discussing a new topic, or more often in fanfic, when a new speaker is speaking.
- All new sentences and characters' names or place names should start with a capital letter. Yes, you know that, but quickly typing fingers don't. Those characters' names and place names should be the same as in the reliable sources for the show - show's credits, show's websites - official or fan, or, if you must, the internet movie database. They should be spelled correctly every time they appear. Find and replace is your friend.
- You had better have an ironclad reason for changing that tense. 'Style' isn't always it. If you're not sure what I'm talking about, ask your beta to check the tenses for you and to let you know if there's a problem. If she doesn't sound like she knows what you're asking about, get a new beta.
- THIS is how you write out dialogue: Dr Who friendly examples here (it's a more comprehensive piece.)/X-men friendly examples here.
- Spell check - which you will have done, obviously - isn't enough. Remember that a spell check will pass words that exist but aren't the words you mean - hat when you mean that, meat for meet etc. So look out for that. If you aren't a strong speller - ask your beta.
- Author's notes belong either at the beginning or the end of the fic, probably not inside.
- When you get them, take your beta's suggestions seriously, they're someone who is trying to help you make your story the best it can be. You don't have to take every suggestion on board, but you should have a good reason not to, and if you ignore a lot of their suggestions, when you thank them say something like 'any mistakes are mine'. You may not get the right beta for you at the first go.
3. Triple check your header information. That's what's selling your fic. Make sure that there aren't any mistakes, and that you put in the info that the community or archive asks for, or the fandom standard, and that that info is correct.
Does all this seem like too much work? Well, if it is, fine, but you'll be making the reader work if you aren't using accepted rules of grammar and spelling. And most of us are reading for lesiure, and a certain amount of readers will skedaddle from your fic (and definitely will not be sending you feedback saying how much we liked it). You're competing for a reader's time and attention with other fics in this pairing/genre/fandom/universe. Making sure that your fic is readable is a good start to draw them in to read yours instead.
But I do have advice to give (because I'm bumptious like that). So, here are some strong suggestions for when you think you're done with your story and ready to post, and know where you want to post. This is especially if it's your first fanfic, but not only then.
1. Get a beta. (More than one if you can and your piece is long.) Another, fresher pair of eyes looking over work is always good. Ask where you have seen other requests made, or ask people who are active in the fandom where you could ask. Or just ask for one. Maybe it'll be someone who you consider a friend, maybe it's better if it isn't - they'll be more objective about how to make the story stronger.
You might have to wait a bit for your answer. In the meantime:
2. Reread and be willing to redraft your story. (I hope that you're thinking that I'm being condescending and redundant here, because obviously, every fic author rereads her story.).
- Are all your paragraphs formatted the same way? Are you sure? It's generally accepted that for online reading a new paragraph should start with a one-line space between it and the last. So press that enter button twice. Or at least be consistent, and remember that the idea is to make the difference between paragraphs clear. A new paragraph should start when you're discussing a new topic, or more often in fanfic, when a new speaker is speaking.
- All new sentences and characters' names or place names should start with a capital letter. Yes, you know that, but quickly typing fingers don't. Those characters' names and place names should be the same as in the reliable sources for the show - show's credits, show's websites - official or fan, or, if you must, the internet movie database. They should be spelled correctly every time they appear. Find and replace is your friend.
- You had better have an ironclad reason for changing that tense. 'Style' isn't always it. If you're not sure what I'm talking about, ask your beta to check the tenses for you and to let you know if there's a problem. If she doesn't sound like she knows what you're asking about, get a new beta.
- THIS is how you write out dialogue: Dr Who friendly examples here (it's a more comprehensive piece.)/X-men friendly examples here.
- Spell check - which you will have done, obviously - isn't enough. Remember that a spell check will pass words that exist but aren't the words you mean - hat when you mean that, meat for meet etc. So look out for that. If you aren't a strong speller - ask your beta.
- Author's notes belong either at the beginning or the end of the fic, probably not inside.
- When you get them, take your beta's suggestions seriously, they're someone who is trying to help you make your story the best it can be. You don't have to take every suggestion on board, but you should have a good reason not to, and if you ignore a lot of their suggestions, when you thank them say something like 'any mistakes are mine'. You may not get the right beta for you at the first go.
3. Triple check your header information. That's what's selling your fic. Make sure that there aren't any mistakes, and that you put in the info that the community or archive asks for, or the fandom standard, and that that info is correct.
Does all this seem like too much work? Well, if it is, fine, but you'll be making the reader work if you aren't using accepted rules of grammar and spelling. And most of us are reading for lesiure, and a certain amount of readers will skedaddle from your fic (and definitely will not be sending you feedback saying how much we liked it). You're competing for a reader's time and attention with other fics in this pairing/genre/fandom/universe. Making sure that your fic is readable is a good start to draw them in to read yours instead.