How to Write a Good Fanfic

By yemihikari

19.5K 376 169

The journey to become a better writer is not an easy one, but it is a journey well worth the task. This is ev... More

Intro
1.0 ~ What is Fanfic?
1.0.1 - Getting Noticed
1. The Dreaded Subject of Grammar
1.1 Say What You Mean to Say
1.1.0.0 - Forcing One's Definition of Words onto Others
1.1.0 - Poor Wording IS the Writer's Issue, NOT the Reader's
1.1.1 - Show, Don't Tell
2. Plagiarism vs. Inspiration
2.1 Recolors, Tracing, Edits and Bases
2.2 - Copyright vs. Plagiarism
2.3 - How to Properly Paraphrase and Write an Introspective
2.4 - 3-Rs: The Remix, Responsefic and Recursive Fanfiction
3. Critique - How Not to Respond to a Review
3.1 Responding to Critique
3.2 - The Sandwich Method - Doesn't Work
3.2.1 - Crossing the Line in a Review/Comment
3.1.1 - The Young Writer
3.1.1.1 - Stop Playing the Nicety Game
3.1.2 - Emotions
3.1.2.1 - Critique Isn't Yucking on Your Yum
4. Writing Style
5. Elements of a Story
5.1 - Plot and Why Plotlessness is Bad
5.1.1 - What is Fluff
5.1.2 - Slice-of-Life - What is It?
5.2 - Importance of Setting
6. Canon Facts and Canon Interpretations
7. AU - Not Actually Infinite
7.0.0 - Bad Writing Ideas Do Exist
7.0 - Importance of Cause and Effect
7.1 No Author's Version, No OoCness, No Possession Sues
7.1.1 - Fixfic - Aye or Nay
7.2 AU's Need Canon - No Canon, No Fanfic
7.2.1 - Questions to Ask When Writing an AU
8. The Dreaded Mary Sue
8.0 - Traits Don't Make a Sue
8.1 OC's Need to be Needed
8.1.1 - Making Relatable Characters and What That ACTUALLY Means
9. Romance - What is it?
9.0 - Myth: All Ships are Valid
9.1 What is an OTP?
9.1.1 - No Facts, No OTP
9.1.2 - Subtext vs. Context... Subtext Isn't Context
10. Sensitive Subject Matter - The Importance of Not Mishandling
10.0 - Personal Kink Isn't an Excuse
10.1 - Slash Fic
10.1.1 - Bury Your Gays
10.2 - Internet Safety (A Rare Subject)
10.3 - Bullying/Cyber Bullying
10.4.1 - PTSD
10.4.2 - Depression
10.5 - Character Death
10.6 - Transgender Characters
10.7 - Self-Esteem, Insecurity/Confidence Issues
10.8 - Rape

10.4 - Mental Illness

94 1 0
By yemihikari

One of the topics I see trivialized a lot in fanfiction is mental illness.

I think part of the problem comes from not actually understanding mental illness, but the fact there is still a stigma which goes with it. On the flip side as those with mental illness have tried to erase the stigma, I've also seen a trend of kids proclaiming on their profiles as if it were some kind of badge of honor that they are some kind of mental illness without actually getting diagnosed. Certain things, such as having two diagnoses which contradicted each other clued me into the fact the person was lying.

Of course, a few sides with giving the benefit of the doubt, yet the answer shouldn't be to let them treat their mental illness as an excuse but encourage them to actually get the help they need. Plus, I don't think we should give the benefit of the doubt to someone who thinks they suffer from depression simply because they feel sad. Everybody feels sad, so by that logic everyone suffers from depression when this isn't true.

Not doing one's research is a major issue which in turn typically results in not portraying the illness correctly. Another issue is the illness turns on and off conveniently when the writer wants, yet those suffering from mental illness – even with coping methods and medicine – can't turn it on and off like it is portrayed. There's also the fact the cause and effect doesn't add up.

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