Fanfic help

[longislanditalian2]

I need some of you to help me write better fanfics... Give me some idea, I would really appreciate it a lot ..

[toddsmitts]

I've come up with some ideas, more than i have tome to write so I'll give some to you:

-What about a case set during the Orson Welles/War of the Worlds radio scare? Here's some info on that:

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_War_of_the_Worlds_%28radio%29

-What about a high profile kidnapping like John Paul Getty III or Patty Hearst?

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patty_Hearst
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Paul_Getty_III

-Speaking of Patty Hearst, what about reopening a case involving a 60's or 70's radical group like the SLA? This is actually plausible since after 9/11 there was a renewed interest in old terrorist activity and former members of the SLA were charged for murder and other crimes they committed years earlier.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Symbionese_Liberation_Army

[The Reverend Bizarre]

although my advice is differant from toddsmitts' advice, I hope it will help.

1. Never write about a subject that you have no passion about. For example, if you hate football, but decide to write a story centered around it, "Football player is killed. Bla bla" chances are the audience can tell.

2. If you're using music (song titles, lyrics, or samples) make sure they fit the context. If you're writing about a wannabe pop princess, it's probaly best not to use Putrid Gore's "I vomit Blood." etc.

3. Real life experiences, can "sometimes" make for something good. (although be cautious lest it turn mary stu-ish.

4. Eat more pizza.

5. Jager is your friend.


Now as far as ideas go. Again, I've only written three fics (not counting ad absurdum). The story St. Aatos is actually inspired by two suicides in the metal scene. Find whatever inspires you. Do research.

Hope this helps.

[longislanditalian2]

thanks for the suggestions, I will take that into conderation . But can someone review some of my stories and give me some pointers what I can do to improve my writing

[michelle]

LII
North Carolina is full of GREAT resources for writers. I'd suggest you look up the North Carolina writer's network. www.ncwriters.org/

Not only do they offer classes and seminars, but they can also direct you to writing groups in your area.

Also, there are great colleges in Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Durham. . all over near you. See what kind of classes they offer.

I've done many seminars and retreats with NCWN as well as participating in a writer's group in my area and gone to seminars at UNC Greensboro. It's been a huge benefit to me and has been a great way to meet friends with the same interests.

[longislanditalian2]

michelle- Thanks for the info, I am planning to go back to community college next year I am going to take some writing classes.


I am writing more fanfics but they alwasy seem to come out not the way I planned it. Maybe someone could look them over and suggest things before I post here or on FF.net

[r2k]

L2, here are some things I always keep in mind when writing.

1. Make it feel like a Cold Case episode.
2. Use a script format with just enough description. I avoid overdescribing because I want my readers to picture the characters.
3. Include a soundtrack for the flashbacks.
4. Write the type of episode you want. I write the types of episodes I would want to see on the show.
5. Decide if you want to use the real Cold Case storyline. I have often followed what personal issues went on with Lilly but I have learned it is hard so from now on, most of my fan fics will not include too much of that.
6. Look at other people's fan fics. There is nothing wrong with using someone's style. Look at some of our fan fics and decide what ideas you liked. I use a script format but someone else may not. It's all up to you. But in the end, have something in your fan fic that tells us it is from you.

[longislanditalian2]

@r2k- Thanks

But how do I write something that's extremely dramatic and sad and keep to the plot, I have a lot of trouble with that

[michelle]

LII Please use PM to ask specific details questions to a particular person to avoid continuous back and forth and follow up clarification inquiries in the thread.

IMO, writing is like singing. No one can tell you how to do it. Everyone has their own level of talent and needs to develop it individually. I could have the best singers in the world TELL me how to sing, but I'd still make everyone's ears withing a one mile radius bleed within the first three notes.

[r2k]

That's a good question. Okay, think back to some real Cold Case episodes that have gotten pretty dramatic. Study the scenes. Remember the episode, Rampage? That scene at the end is a good one to study. Lilly was excellent in that scene. "Sherry Darlin' is also a good episode to look at. When writing a dramatic scene, you need to know how Lilly would act and how would the guest character you create react. It takes a bit of time to figure it out but when you do it works very well. Having a killer who feels guilty is a great way to create a dramatic scene. As you're writing your fan fic, you need to think of things about the characters that will determine their actions.

[tillace]

I think if you want to write, you need to read. Not just fanfic but *all* fiction, as much as you can. Short stories are probably more relevant to what you're trying to write, but novels would be useful too. While you're reading it, study it. If you're enjoying it, what is it you like about it? If not, why not? Be specific. Look at the way the author has used description & dialogue to move the story forward, the way they craft the story & how they pace it. Compare it to what you're writing. Spot the differences and see where you can improve your story. Obviously I'm not suggesting you copy other people's work, but you can use the ideas the work gives you.
Next - you're writing about a created universe. Not one that you've thought up yourself but one with characters and locations thought up by somebody else. People are reading your fics because they love the Cold Case universe & want to experience more of it than what they get off the tv. With that in mind, it's important to stay in character. Whatever happens to the characters in the stories you've written, they need to react in a way that's in keeping with the show. Otherwise your readers are going to go "well, that's not the Lilly I know. I wonder what Jambled has written lately?" For example. When you've written a scene, play it back in your head like you're watching an episode of the show. Listen to the dialogue you've written. You should be able to really *hear* it coming out of your character's mouths. If you can't, it needs to be changed. If you can't picture the show's characters in the way you've got them acting, it needs to be changed. You need to be *brutally* honest with yourself. Be mean. Speaking of Jambled, read her fics. She's spot on for characterisation.
Also pay attention to the speech patterns of your characters. Make sure your Scotty says ain't and drops his g's, for example (maybe you do that already, I can't remember ) It's all part of characterisation.
Michelle's suggestion of a writing group is a good one. There are also many how-to-write websites out there. There's probably some specifically geared towards fanfic. Also your local library.
Lastly, watch the show. Duh, Tillace, I hear you say. I wouldn't be writing fanfic if I didn't watch it. Yes. But I mean *watch* the show. Tape it perhaps, and then watch it again later. Study the characters, the way they move, the way they speak, the way they act, how they react to situations. Look at the way the writers of the show craft the murder mystery at its heart. Look at the locations. Could you describe the PPD headquarters or Lilly's townhouse right now, without looking at a picture? You can use whatever you learn from studying the show in your fanfics.
Extra last bit - a beta reader, someone who can read it over and say "this is good" or "this is total rubbish and here's how you fix it" before you post it would be invaluable. Perhaps someone with experience at writing or writing fanfics in particular?
Whew, I'm exhausted. That's the longest message I ever wrote! Hopefully that helps a bit.

[The Reverend Bizarre]

here's another piece of advice, and at first it will sound odd. Also, only do this if you can handle it.

Ask someone to MST one of your stories. (MST referring to Mystery Science Theatre 3000) MST is when a single person or a group take a story and add non-sequitor commentary in between the story.)

It is reccommended that you have a thick skin as some of the comments can get "mean".

I give this advice, because the comments can help. While most critiquers will get onto someone for mistaking "you're" with "your" a MSTer will actually explain why it's bad. (in a humorous way.) They'll also make it known when you're being out of character.

I give this advice because it's helped me in the past too.

[r2k]

L2, I sent you a PM with some more help and advice. I'm just letting you know so you can read it.

[longislanditalian2]

I need some more help, I'm stumped. Got so many stories but cannot finish them at all and just had created a new one but it's a CC/X-files crossover without any L/S love just friendship.

[toddsmitts]

Well I'm not a fan of shipper fics or crossover ones at all so I can't really help you with that, but if you're thinking of one based on a case, just pick an era that you like (i.e. the 70's) and think of something that went on back then.

Also, often I work backwards, thinking of the ending, then deciding how best to get there. Imagining an end montage complete with music is usually one of the first things I do.

Heck, you could even just pick a song you like for the end, find out when it was released, and build from that.

[jambled]

Otherwise your readers are going to go "well, that's not the Lilly I know. I wonder what Jambled has written lately?"

Speaking of Jambled, read her fics. She's spot on for characterisation.

Just so everyone is clear on it, Tillace is my new favourite person! Thanks so much for mentioning me, it's really terribly flattering!

I was just coming over to put my 2 cents in but got waylaid by my head swelling... So back onto the topic...

I'm a writer who is much more interested in what's going on with the character's than what's happening externally; same with when I watch cold case. So my fics are less dialogue and more internal character stuff; which can sometimes end up terribly boring if you're not careful. They also don't move the plot along terribly far. I'm just saying, having someone talk can move the plot along if they say something about where they are, or if they talk while on the way to somewhere. In the world of fic-ness, a conversation can move people to a different location. So use conversation well!

Also pick a tense and stick to it; past or present. And choose first or third person right at the beginning. If you're going to change between, make it clear to the reader that a change has been made, either to the timeline or the person. Otherwise it gets confusing and whatever mood you were trying to strike with the story could be lost.

Thirdly, decide on how you write best. I usually have half a sentence, or maybe a look on someone's face I want to get to or even a song in my head and I just go from there. I can't plan for the life of me; I start with one sentence and go from there. I have no idea what's going to happen until it's typed out on the screen in front of me.
Under the Grey was meant to be a one-shot and started with me wanting to use Lily's lined jackets in a fic and just kept going. Blood on the Stairs was me going hold on, what if Joseph died.... So it takes a tiny idea and you can build it into a huge thing that people want to read.

Lastly... Choose a good title. Would you read a book called 'the one where someone dies and someone else saves the day'?

@ LII2: with your crossover fic have you chosen which character you're going to use or are you going to alternate? Or tell it from third person? It could be nice to do a comparison between friendships as a light aside from the case; M&S and L&S. You could have a lot of fun with that fic!

[tillace]

Everything Jambled just said...I'll also add the need to edit your stories before you post them. Not just spellchecking, but read and reread them with a specific eye to the bones of the piece. Check the spelling manually (a spellchecker won't know the difference between see/sea, your/you're etc etc), punctuation, that you've put a space between paragraphs, italics where you want them and not where you don't, stuff like that. Then you need to reread it with an eye to the story. Does it make sense? Are the characters in character? Are people going to want to read it? Are you consistent with tense/narration (1st or 3rd person)/descriptions (don't have your murder victim a redhead at the start & a brunette at the end, for example). You need to read your stories so many times before they're posted that you just about know them by heart!
Are you not able to finish your stories because you lack inspiration, or because you've got too many on the go at once? If it's the former, then don't worry about it. Who wants to read a story that the author obviously doesn't care about, after all? Not me. I'd just leave them as they are and finish them in the future sometime if you get inspired. If it's the latter, I'd first of all avoid starting any new stories, and then I'd just work through the ones you've got one at a time. Finish one, edit, post, move on to the next.
An X-Files crossover could be good...you'd need to solve the 'where have M&S been for the past six years?' problem first, of course, and everything I said in my first post about characterisation would apply to them as well as the Cold Case squad. But a lot of fun could be had with the idea.
Oh, @ Jambled...you're welcome!

[longislanditalian2]

Thank guys, right now I am trying to finish " Fire and Darkness' but cannot think of anything good as of right now.

@jambled- It's going to be in 3rd person's POV due to the fact that I have troubel writing in 1st person's POV


If anyone has any ideas for the CC/X-files crossover please suggest

[jambled]

@jambled- It's going to be in 3rd person's POV due to the fact that I have troubel writing in 1st person's POV

Great, third person is fun. Personally I prefer it because you can describe places so much better and move between locations without having to move your character.

If anyone has any ideas for the CC/X-files crossover please suggest

Hmm... Well, there's always William... Wasn't he adopted out at the end of the X-Files? His parents could have been murdered years ago, and now he's old enough (because he's far too smart for his own good) to go into the police station and ask for help to find out who murdered his adoptive parents and who his real parents are. Bringing in M&S as L&S track them down... Could always lead to a sequel where you then have Mulder and Scully there.
Or just take the easy route and set it as an alternative universe crossover where M&S are still doing the FBI thing.

I'll also add the need to edit your stories before you post them.

Slight confession... Although editing is an absolute must (especially spelling and grammar checking) and everything Tillace said was right about this, I've never edited or read back over anything I've written before posting it. In one fic I put Mexico above California (and got flamed about it). Geography isn't my strong point at all and I didn't bother checking over it so yes, editing is good! Do it!

[longislanditalian2]

Right now I'm using a notebook to jot things down to prepare for my fanfic; but I've managed to update my current fanfic" Fire and Darkness".