Just like all the other chapters in this book, this contains my personal opinion! Just because I do not like something doesn't make it necessarily bad. But still, here are some things I consider good or bad to do while writing a fanfic for Shadow and Bone
starrsluvjad3 , here it is! I hope you find it helpful
THE DON'TS
1. Overpowered ocs
I think we've all read at least one fic where the oc was super powerful and could defeat everyone with the flick of their wrists.
These kinds of ocs are not fun to read about, especially if they don't need to work to get to that point. It just kinda gets handed to them. No. Don't. Please. For my sanity.
By all means, make your oc a powerful grisha, but don't make them too overpowered and show that they actually worked towards achieving such a good level of skill with their powers.
This also counts for making grisha powers that don't exist in canon. You have to be very careful with how you make these types of ocs because you don't want to overdue it and you want to make sure it makes sense.
2. Make the oc overthrow the Darkling
I promise you that your oc does not have enough support inside or outside of the little palace to accomplish such a task.
The Darkling has a literal cult like following amongst his grisha. He established his role very well and very thoroughly and all of the grisha admire him. He's their general, the reason why they get to keep the little palace and he's the only one of his kind.
There's a reason why so many grisha sided with him over Alina in the books.
Even if your oc has friends in the little palace, very few of them would be willing to stand against their general. In the books, the few grisha that sided with Alina did so because they had no where else to go and she used a similar tactic to get them to follow her (aka throwing the Cut at the roof and stuff). And even then, most of them died when it came down to a battle, because the Darkling didn't hesitate to kill them. They lasted maybe 20 minutes.
Your oc wouldn't do much better.
3. Insta-love
I doubt I have to explain this one that much but if your oc and their love interest get together in chapter 3, I am dropping your book. Romance this early on is only acceptable if they were in a relationship before the timeline of your books starts. If they aren't, I would recommend to have at least 10 chapters before any full on romance happens.
No kissing before you establish their trust and care for one another.
4. Make Kaz Brekker kiss your oc
This boy has so much trauma that he can barely stand the contact of someone touching him THROUGH CLOTHES let alone skin to skin. He will not kiss your oc.
He couldn't even kiss Inej. He was head over heels in love with that girl in his way and he could barely say that he wanted her to stay in Ketterdam with her.
Your ocs relationship with Kaz should be the slowest burn in the history of slow burns. Do not disregard his trauma for the sake of you wanting him to smack lips with your oc.
