What makes a good fanfic?

[kpjam]

There's not a good place for this, but I thought I'd try and illicit responses in many places because I'm extremely curious.


I'm bery curious to the views of people who might read this.
I've seen some extremely intersesting discussions about the topic, including some from the FFML in its infancy.
So what's your answer.

For me, it's the scenes. I've been around the fanfic scene for years, writing has only made up a minority of the time I've been on the FFML.  I read fanfics for years before I subscribed to that.  I've decided it's the individual scenes.  If they're believeable and compelling(I use those words but it could be humourous and silly); I like the fic.  

For me that's it.  I can dissemble, tear apart, and/or beat up any fic, but I forgive ton's if the scenes catch my interest.  

What makes a READABLE fanfic for you?!

[Carthrat]

First and foremost, good grammar and paragraphing. Nothing puts one off a fic worse than these things.

Secondly, how much effort has been put into it. It's usually quite clear when it's a halfassed job or not. If I see in the Authors notes something like: "Don't bother sending C&C" or "I change this detail so ok you know", that's another bad problem with the fic.

The rest is really down to personal preference. I've read more than a few fics other people love but I dislike..

[thepanda]

What makes a good fanfic? Simply put, it has to have good imagery and emotion. If a fic doesn't have these two things I can't get into it. Internal consistency is also pretty good, but not as necessary.

   Without adequate description I have no idea how to imagine the scene. If I can't immerse myself in the world being represented it kills the story for me. Heh, my teachers used to hate my reviews of some so-called classics because quite frankly, they were crap as for as I was concerned.

   There can be too much imagery, however. Ralf Ellison's "invisible Man" comes to mind. This was the first book I ever hated and I made sure they understood that. Up until that point there were only books I didn't really like. He had too much imagery. There is no need to go into metaphors about similes about every blade of grass on the road. It killed the story telling and made the book trite. There are times when you describe every piece of furniture, and there are times when a simple description works best. It's up to the author to realize this. He failed miserably.

   Also, I need to feel something when I'm reading. Hell, I get a kick out of reading history text books when they're well written. If I'm reading a comedy, I should laugh out loud. If it's a suspense novel, I shouldn't be able to put the book down. If its angst, I should want to cry. When a writer can make me pissed that character x is cheating on character y, when I can feel their pain, when I root for my favorites and despise those I don't like, that is when fiction is at its highest form. I can forgive internal inconstancies and plot holes when the story manages to draw me in to such a degree.

   You might note that these are not mutually exclusive. I've found that if one of these criteria isn't met the other won't be. Spelling and formatting are a must, as well

[Anastasia]

First, it must possess decent grammar and spelling.  It doesn't need to be perfect as long as the errors don't detract from the readability,  but it should be good.

A good idea and plot are what do it for me...Yes, some fics with tepid ideas work because of the author's superior writing skills, but I feel the majority of fics need a strong story to be good.  A great story draws the reader in and doesn't let go, it envelops him into it's unique world.

[Dracos]

(Reposting)
A 'readable' fanfic requires only a few things:
The grammar be passable.
The spelling be overall correct.
The internal plot makes sense.

Will I read most fics that just make that?  Probably not.  I'm rather elitest these days.  If I read it, it better be something good.  There is a sizable amount of author's who try not merely to write a story but to create art.  Many of them are on this board.  I recall reading a C&C response by Brian Randall to Allyn Yonge noting how what he was doing in a given fic wasn't meant to appeal to everyone, it was meant to stand as art (paraphrasing here) on it's own.  And there's a difference between trying to make your story a masterpiece (The types of authors I most prefer reading) and simply telling a tale.  Not everything is designed to appeal to all audiences, nor should it be.  I love a well done serious/dark fic.  This is notably not everyone's type of tea, but I am more likely to read a fic that genuinely tries to be the best serious/dark fic it can be then a fic that tries to appeal to all fronts.  Some authors here can honestly think of themselves when I talk of those who try and create the best stories they can, in fact I hope everyone here can.  Who cares if it's been out for months if someone shows us a way to improve things even more and make the story more powerful.  A good fic is a living entity and it shows when you read it.  So...  to really get back to answering the question, a fic I read must be ALIVE.  It must appeal to me, but that isn't a qualification for being a good fic.  I'll respect any fic that is truly attempting to be artwork.  Whether it's trying to be the best comedy it can be or the best dark fic or whatever.  That the force of life can be vividly seen through the text.  That's what I look for in a fic and my idea of what makes a good fic.

I also have insanely high standards though ^_~.

Fearless Leader

[Naatz]

A good fanfic?...

Since my grammar isn't the best in the world and I don't think it's really good, my standarts for that are pretty.. short?... But I still have standarts. The grammar should be passable and the spelling should be somewhat correct.

The plot- I don't really care about the general lines of it. What I care about is what doo writer do with it and where he takes it.

Paragraphs.  Absolutely.

As Drac{-onii-chan} said, it HAS to be alive. It has to suck me into the story {I feel like I have to say a warning here.. :/ WARNING!!!}, I have to feel part of it.

The writer - he needs to write for himself, not because of others... And when you read something, you can notice.

I don't care if it's angst/drama or comedy.

{Just a secret- I'm also a person who likes to criticise. Spelling? >.>}

|Meduza|

[Vahnman]

Hell, I'll throw in my two cents too. Heh i know i should be the LAST person to comment on this but... why not?

I think what make a good fanfic for me is believable characters. Human characters, not those "God-like" characters, who are perfect in every way. It the little quirks of the character i read about that let me be able to feel immerse in their world. That let me either sympathize with them or hate their guts. Character development, It's a MUST!

-Vahn

Gammars and spelling is a natural of course ^_^

[Bean Bandit]

I've read this thread...and while I find it amusing...my point of view is slightly different...but at the same time, similar.

I want the same things that some of you have mentioned. But, in my view... it all boils down to one thing.

Entertaining. I MUST...no, I Demand to be entertained.

I can read the fics that are 'art', and be bored to tears, and quit 2 paragraphs in. I can read terribly formatted stories or ones with glaring errors, or continuty flaws and be riveted for hours.

But, I realize this is a little vague, so I'll attempt to break it down.

1) Characters I like. I want to be able to empathize with these people. Feel bad for their problems, and genuinely rejoice when they solve them. I want a villian I can utterly loathe...or in some cases, feel pity for.

2) Interesting situations. I really don't care about a fic if they rehash something already overdone in the anime/manga. Either give it a new twist, or invent a new situation. Hell, rehash if you MUST, but breathe new life into it. Have someone else come out on top...or solve the problem in an unexpected way... I can get reruns on tv, I DON'T need them in fan-fics.

Anyway, this sounds a little less grandiose then some of the stuff you guys mentioned...but, sue me. ^_^

I don't participate in the community to create art, lift my conciousness, or whatever. I participate to have my imagination switched on, to escape, Or to just plain get excited about certain anime again.

Thus ends the rant. ^^;;

[Naatz]

Entertaining. I MUST...no, I Demand to be entertained.

Well... the things we {or at least *I*} wrote was to say what, in our {mine} opinion make a fanfic entertaining. I can't read a fanfic that its fomat is bad. Of course that an interesting plot is needed. People don't read what they don't like {unless it's for homework or something like that. -_-;}...

People read things because it's entretainment. If you can read a fanfic that others find it less atractive, it's good. You can find it easily. For you it's a good fanfic, but maybe for others it isn't. The thing that's important is what YOU think of it when you read it.

I agree with B-nii-chan. A good fanfic is a fanfic I enjoy reading it.

|Meduza|

[Anastasia]

I've noticed something in my last few C and Cs that is relevent to this.  One thing that has begun to make more and more of a difference in how I see a fic is descriptions.  I want to read vivid, trancendent prose that lifts me from my seat and into the world forged by the author.  I want to be shown what happens, not told what did happen.

[kpjam]

I've noticed something in my last few C and Cs that is relevent to this.  One thing that has begun to make more and more of a difference in how I see a fic is descriptions.  I want to read vivid, trancendent prose that lifts me from my seat and into the world forged by the author.  I want to be shown what happens, not told what did happen.

Can we say... good SCENES!!!!!

heh. ~_^