One Direction Writing Guide

Dedicated to Maliked for the AMAZING cover :)

So, we've all been seeing a huge influx of stories about the boy band, One Direction. Don't get me wrong, some are amazing, but some need A LOT of work, and some are in the middle. Like poor plot, but great description. Or interesting plot and too much or too little description. Usually too much.

Before you read this, I would like to say that I am not exactly a Directioner. I think One Direction's music is pretty good and they are nice enough guys, but I am nowhere near being obsessed with them. However, several of my friends are obsessed, so I think I know the layout of One Direction quite well. I hope to be impartial, not mean, and I am not secretly targeting your story if it just so happens to exhibit many of these characteristics.

I want to try to be fair and make realistic judgements on things, but I also want to be thorough. If I've missed something, or was too harsh, please tell me. I will either add it in or make changes.

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Characterization

Alright, characterization is a huge problem in the One Direction community. Now, I'm not putting all the blame on you guys. After all, these guys aren't a book series nor are they figments of our imagination (though it would be pretty funny if they were). They are real people with real personalities. We can't read their minds like we can read Harry Potter's or Bella Swan's. It's almost impossible to capture their real character.

However, we can do one thing. We can save them from Gary Stu-dom. This terrible disease makes a character disgustingly perfect beyond all description, scaring away all possible readers. We can do this by adding flaws. Flaws are the saving grace of fanfiction. They can completely transform a Gary/Mary Stu/Sue and turn them into realistic, lovable characters. 

Example! Harry Styles:

His auburn tinted curls fell delicately over his perfectly shaped forehead, of the purest alabaster. His tantalizing green eyes with gold and amber flecks held a thoughtful expression, causing the slightest rifts to form between his perfectly shaped eyebrows, lying flat against his creamy skin. His muscular body was utterly flawless, with his six packs and glorious tan.

That actually hurt to write.

His curls fell over adorably against his forehead, as he grinned. His bewitching green eyes sparkled thoughtfully, causing rifts to form between his perfect eyebrows.

Getting there... I guess.

He had brown curls and green eyes.

Good enough.

His skin was papery and flaky, his mouth a twisted into a horrible grimace. His hunched back carried a monstrous lump, his body twisted and crippled. His face was gaunt and brutal, his mouth twisted into a murderous smile, green eyes wild.

Dude, you've reached the height of endophilism.

But seriously, Anti-Sues are almost as bad as full on Sues. Everyone has a talent and everyone has flaws.  

Now, the fictional characters. The Add-ons. Why are these people almost always Mary Sues? Their beautiful, talented, smart, and don't like One Direction. Making one of the guys fall head over heels in love the minute he sees her.

Look at it this way. This is not love. This is infatuation. True love doesn't care for beauty or shallow perfection. In the eyes of the lover, perfection is all the soul mate is. 

And "Love at First Sight." It can happen, but this "love" is usually infatuation. Make the process slow and natural. From enemies, to acquaintances, to friends, to lovers. It's hard, but it's beautiful.

And again ADD FLAWS. Don't make it all lovey-dovey. Eventually, it will get unbearable, though at the beginning, it's absolutely adorable. Slur the process. 

Here's an example of a Mary Sue:

My hair is thick and wavy, the colour of pure gold, falling in a waterfall down my back, swirling gently in the warm breeze. My eyes are the clearest violet, unique and mesmerizing. My body is tall, slim and athletic, with curves in all the right places. All the boys like me, even though I don't think so. Scarcely a day goes by without a date request, however much I deny it.

See what I mean?

Your stories are beautiful. Don't ruin them for this. It's not worth it.