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Fan Fic Review Peeves

That Really Get on My Nerves

By Chloe GilholyPublished 7 years ago 6 min read
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Cover created on Canvas.com

I've been writing and reading fan fiction for years. I love it, it gives me a strong nostalgic feeling. I love exploring different territories and a plethora of paths with my favourite characters. Even though they're fictional characters, they feel like your best friends that you grew up with.

As much as I love fan fiction, there are several things, that many of you will agree with that truly does get on my nerves. I also hope that this little rant doesn't come off as a personal attack on anybody.

I am writing this, mainly as an encouragement for writers to carry on writing fan fiction, and that there should be no shame in writing it. We should all be proud of what we've written. Even if our old works aren't very good, we can always look back on them and reflect on how much we've improved since then.

I'm also calling out things in reviews that have annoyed me, and others over the years. Sadly, there are many people on the site that will do anything to sabotage other readers to increase their own self-worth. I want to call out on this culture and discourage flamers and trolls in general. You have to have a thick skin as a writer, but that does not give others the right to be horrible.

The screenshots are all taking from Fanfiction.net. I love the site, but I think this rant is long overdue.

CAP LOCK RAGE

Calm the fuck down!

In a lot of the examples I've shown, it's very clear to me that some of them didn't actually read the story. Citylover96, had the balls to tell me that I don't stand a chance and that I don't belong here. I never laughed so hard.

First of all, I've been a member of FF.net for over ten years. He's joined the site a mere few years ago. This guy doesn't even have a story on his site, just a non-story that violates the site's TOS.

At least I've been able to sell books and earn extra income through this site and Ciao. PS. If you want to be the best writer with the best stories, you should actually write a story yourself instead of bashing others who are already miles ahead of you.

Reviews That Tell Me Nothing

It actually was in the right category. Did you even read the story?

I do believe that St Elmo's Fire and Farla are the same person. They have a reputation of copying and pasting stuff in their reviews. They have similar writing styles. And even though their heart is in the right place, they're going the wrong way about it.

First of all, reviews should contain information about the story, (preferably without spoilers) and also full of opinions on what you think was good about the story and what can be improved upon. It should also be personal as no story is exactly the same.

This review tells me nothing about what the person thought of the story. As far as I'm concerned, it's nothing more than useless spam. I see some people complain about spelling and grammar, and this isn't always helpful. I can't fix it if you don't tell me what they are.

One Word Reviews

wtf to you too

Honestly, if all you're going to say is one word, you needn't bother posting a review.

Bad Mouthing Other Authors

And you posted this on my fic because?

This was posted on one of my fics. First of all, nobody cares about your stupid drama with other people. Spamming a story's review section makes you no better than the person you are bad mouthing about. This also comes back to my other point in reviews that say nothing about the story. This can really make an author's heart sink, finding that they have a review notification, only to find out that it says nothing about the story.

Closed-Minded Hatred

Why the hell are you reading?

Just because Miyu isn't gay in canon, doesn't mean those fan fic writers can't write about her being gay. This is what makes fan fiction so popular, the ability to explore different possible outcomes: even if it's a change in sexual orientation. If you don't like the gay content, don't read it!

"Hi, I'm Anon, and I'm a Coward."

Your review is also kind of stupid too.

You may have noticed a lot of the reviews posted here are anonymous reviews. Sadly a lot of authors hide behind anonymous to preserve their reputation as they try to destroy others. This can be a huge disserve to people too lazy to log in or people without a FF.net account.

Shipping Hate

Not in this story!

This is one that I will never truly understand. If you hate a particular pairing? Then why the hell would you go and read fics with a ship that you intensely dislike?

Shipping really brings out the best and worst in a fandom. Fan work of characters in romantic situations really brings the community together in harmony. But if someone likes another ship or dislikes a popular ship, then they're at risk of being ganged up on. Some people are afraid to share the ships that they like in fear of being bullied over shippings and romantic pairings of fictional characters!

Which brings me over to my next point!

Rudeness

Some writers are fortunate to be able to create chapters or short stories in a few days or a few hours. Some are not so lucky. Many can take months or even years to get their material out in the open. Regardless of how quick you are as a writer, you would have no doubt put a lot of effort into your work. Being rude or snouty to writers is a no-go.

Assumptions About the Author

Of course I'm not!

So if a writer writes about sex, people assume that the writer is a pervert? How does that even work? Game Of Thrones has plenty of incest, murders, war and sex! Does that make George R.R. Martin a sexual assaulting murderer? Of course, it doesn't. Does writing about murders make all the detective authors out there brutal murderers?

The bottom line is: don't make baseless assumptions on the author based on the details in the book.

Holier Than Thou

How aragant!

Just because you follow the terms of services like the Holy Bible, does it give you the right to swear at those who don't and call them a retard, a dumbass or a moron?

No! It does not!

You do not have the right to be rude or put doesn't other author's work. Even if they do violate the terms of service, at least give them suggestions to where the story can be. What this guy is doing is called mini-modding, and most of the staff hate it. If you see a story that violates the terms of services just report it and move on.

Then you get these so-called "grammar nazis" who freak out over the most minor of typos and yet fail to see their own.

That's my rant over. Now we can end on a positive note, I've created a poster to give you some reviewing tips. They might also help you when reviewing original works as well.

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About the Creator

Chloe Gilholy

Former healthcare worker and lab worker from Oxfordshire. Author of ten books including Drinking Poetry and Game of Mass Destruction. Travelled to over 20 countries.

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