Let's get started. You know those Warrior Cats fanfictions out there? You know how they decide to get too creative? That's my rant subject for today. Now, I won't point fingers because not all fanfictions are like this. I also don't want to discourage imagination, but I just want to let people know when they pushed the creative boundaries.
First up, the names. Honestly, naming a ton of cats for four (maybe five) Clans can be hard, but that doesn't mean you should start naming cats after zombies and whales. First of all, if the fanfiction is about zombie cats, then fine. But that doesn't mean you can name a cat in ShadowClan Zombieshriek or something like that. Why would a warrior be named after a flesh-eating monster? Second of all, if a cat is named after an exotic animal (monkey, dragon, etc.), then it should be an animal they know (fox, squirrel, etc.). The only exception is if the Clan you make up lives near the place where that animal lives. For example, if you're Clan is called OceanClan and lives near the ocean, then you can call a warrior Whalesong or Dolphinsplash. But not if they're a warrior in one of the original Clans. The journeying cats did go to the ocean (sun-drown place), but they didn't see a whale or anything.
Second, the betrayers. Almost every single fanfiction has a deputy who breaks the warrior code and tries to kill their leader so they could become leader. Not that many fanfictions have a loyal deputy who dedicates his/her life to their Clan. This incident obviously was picked up from Tigerclaw and Brokentail. It happened only twice and almost a third time in the Warriors series, and now everyone decided to make their deputies turn into the next Tigerclaw to add drama. How about adding drama in a different way? Why not put dogs into the territory or a fox? Make them have pups to cause more drama! Let at least one deputy be loyal.
Next up, bullies. Of course, Sandpaw and Dustpaw teased Firepaw at first for being a kittypet, but now all cats are being teased for being either too weak or too slow. It's getting kind of annoying, don't you think? Why not have a cat that's taken pity on and everyone feels bad for? That way the protagonist can prove them wrong and become a great warrior, even maybe a queen or leader. This would've been a cool plot in the first Warriors arc, but it makes sense why they chose to have Firepaw mocked instead: he didn't have warrior blood. But for other fanfictions about cats who're Clan blood, it's kind of stupid. If the cat has kittypet blood and he/she never had a clue, then how could any other cat know?
Lastly, the medicine cats. Almost every single medicine cat breaks the medicine code and falls in love with a tom/she-cat from another Clan or within their own Clan. I'm not exaggerating; literally every fanfiction does this. It bugs me because most of them just become the next LeafXCrow love story: they fall in love without knowing each other and break up. Even some medicine cats have kits and either give them to the father or give them to a close Clanmate or kin. Seeing a medicine cat who dedicates their service to their Clan and their Clan only would be nice. Come to think of it . . . every ThunderClan medicine cat starting with Spottedleaf fell in love: Spottedleaf and Firestar, Yellowfang and Raggedstar, Cinderpelt and Firestar, Leafpool and Crowfeather, and Jayfeather and Half Moon. Come on, Erins! This is ridiculous and you know it!
I hope this rant will help you with your writing in the future. You can't learn anything from a compliment. Please vote and follow for more! Also, comment what I should rant about next!
