How to write fanfiction

4 ✽ Criticism, Spoilers & Time skipping

Criticism comes in all kinds but fall into different categories. 

You have constructive criticism where your readers give you feedback on something they found in that paragraph. This could be a typo, a content mistake because they ask for clarification, or it's a question. Your reader is interested in your story and wants to see you improve so there is no need in getting mean to them. They mean it in a positive way. 

Another one is non-constructive criticism and these comment on the things that are said and done within that section. Say someone pranks another person, and you'll find smiling emoji's or saying hilarious things. Even from what happened from their experience because something similar happened to them. I often find myself smiling reading these kind of comments.

Along with the forementioned form, you also have the -what I like to call- spammers, they are the type of readers who will throw you notification full with all kinds of comment on almost every part of a chapter. Now, some I understand because a lot can happen but if the reader only leaves an emoji, I would say think again before you post it. If you want to comment on it make it worth it. 

As last you have the bullies, I haven't encountered them myself, but they are straight up bullying you and with the intention of being mean. If this happens to you I have a few things to say; 

1 don't reply immediately! You're angry and want to react but think thrice. Once you respond to them it's there for others to read. Do not give in into negative and mean comments. Tempting as it is, vent to a friend or your mother or father, your dog or cat but not online. 

2 they're are jealous. They don't have the guts to write an entire story and post it online for everyone to find. Let alone if you are also a published author with paperbacks and hardbacks. 

The only thing you do with mean comments is delete them. Nothing else. Just do something to take your mind off of it. So either vent to a friend, sibling, parent, pet, or take walk. If you do respond and don't take it down, you'll damage your story and yourself as a writer. Don't give in, delete it, and smile when you read things as: "OMG, this happened to me", "LMAO" or anything else that is positive. 

Moving on to spoilers. 

A spoiler is information about the plot of a TV series, film, or book that could spoil the enjoyment of someone who has not yet seen or read it.

Yes, I googled it. Deal with it. But it's spot on and most of us don't want any spoilers. So here's the question. Why oh why do you give character names away in titles? Don't you think that it gives away who the OC or Reader will end up with? Think of a better title for your story, and you are better than the others. If you can't think of a title, look on Pinterest, Tumblr, or straight up Google title books. Many generators exist and ready to use. However be careful and don't just use the serie, movie or anything in the title. That's just lazy writing.

The same goes for the cover of your story. If the name of said character is on the cover it will say something about the story. I'm sure that the anime, serie, movie, or book has more than one character. Pick something from your story that stands out and create a cover (I would recommend Canva) and done.

Honestly, it's double when you have a character name in the title and that guy or girl on the cover for your story. But you can go overboard by naming the character in your description. The description box is to say something what your story is about. Not a full out written information or profile. You want to attract readers, not chase them away.

Ask yourself; do I want spoilers in a book? If the answer is no then why have the ending spoiled before you start reading? Whether you see it in the title, on the cover, and in the description box, just edit it.

If you want to stand out a little with all those stories out there on Wattpad then pick a title that suits your story. Make a cover with Canva, there is a free and paid version but even the free version has so many options. The last is for your description box, try to summarize your story. Heck, if you use Grammarly, you can click on the light bulb and change the tonation and word usage. 

Now, the time skips. 

Time skips is exactly what the word says. It is a jump over a period of time but it can be done for several hours, days, weeks, months, or years.

I don't know who invented the infamous time jumps/skips as I've seen on Wattpad because there is a variety of how writers use these words: 

*time skip to the next...(morning, afternoon, evening, night)* 

*time skip brought to you by (insert character)* 

*the next morning...* 

*waking up from... (insert alarm/dream/ sibling jumping on bed, parent calling)*  

Do you read these words in the books you read? Whether that be on Wattpad or the books on your shelf? No, then skip another line or use symbols and continue from thereon out. It's how you use the next line from the next paragraph. A simple and short summary from the previous scene will be enough. You can show this by someone eating breakfast while having a conversation over some recent events. What about starting the next scene at school and skip the morning routine? Or how the father/mother found them sleeping on top of a book by their desk. Use only what's important to keep the plot and sub plot going.