Advice from MJ Tsukino
Well first off, I think that before you actually start the writing itself,
you should get some idea of what you wanna write about... Maybe list a
couple of possible scenarios you have in mind. Then pick the idea that
appeals to you the most and, if necessary, narrow it further. (Note: I've
always thought that you should keep the other ideas you listed, just in
case you ever wanna explore any of them later. I highly recommend you
don't throw them away... you never know what you could develop them into!)
From here, there are several paths you can choose from (or at least, that's
how I look at it when I write my fanfics)...
1) Write out just a basic overview of the entire plot and start writing the
first part of the fanfic from there.
2) Write out a short description of each scene you want to implement in the
first part of the fanfic.
3) Write out a short description of each scene in the entire fanfic itself
(takes a lot of time if the plot is long and should only be used for short
stories)
You don't necessarily have to follow the guidelines of any of the three
options above; in fact you can make up you own option. The main point of
number two is to organize your thoughts, which is usually the hardest part
of writing a fanfic (or at least for me it is). To write effectively, I
have always believed that you should have a clear outline to keep in
mind... not that you should kill yourself with keeping things so strict
that there's no creativity, but just enough balance of a form. You know
what I mean, right Sue?
You should be able to know as you get ready to write...
a) What you want to accomplish with the story. Is there any goal you had
in mind? Is there a moral to the story? A point?
b) The basic parameters of the story. What does the beginning start out
with? What is the climax? What is the ending result? Who are the main
characters? What are their roles?
c) What kind of story this fanfic is going to be. Romantic, Action, Drama,
yada, yada, yada... Who is your audience? What kind of audience are you
aiming for?
Once you got the organization part done, you should think about how you
want to open the story... in other words, how the opening scene is to be
designed. It should be made to immediately catch the readers interest; if
it doesn't do so from the very beginning, some of your audience will have
already left you. So in a way, the first part is always the most crucial.
When you got all of the above done... it's time to start writing. Again,
keep in mind all the organization you have done so far but remember that
you can still be dynamic and imaginative. Whatever you do, don't sway one
way, then another, and then another... stick what you choose; if you don't,
it can come across as a bunch of mixed up potato salad in your writing. Be
rested and relaxed as you approach typing on the keyboard. Don't be
up-tight, angry, or so tired your eyes are drooping and you can't think
straight. If anything, try to be inspired and positive! Your own mood
will affect how you write.
Setting the Mood Scenes In Your Writing
Mood is a very important
component in your writing; you have to convince the reader of the kind of
setting you are trying to draw. This is where words become your tools...
For example, you are describing a beautiful moonlit night that is very
calm and serene. You aren't going to say "the overwhelmingly powerful
light of the moon struck the ground like roaring thunder from the heavens."
You would say something more like "the soft light of the moon eerily
drifted from the heavens like a wandering vagabond." Words are very
descriptive and can be your friends when used properly. Mood is only one
example of their usefulness.
Describing Your Setting
Describing your setting is very important, but,
unfortunately, it is also very difficult. Words are also used here as a
tool and most beginner writers end up having one of two dilemmas when they
start their fanfic: being too descriptive with words, or not being
descriptive enough. Both end up boring your reader. You have to
creatively paint a picture in the mind of the person reading your fanfic
without killing the interest they have in what you have to write.
Making Your Characters Come Alive
Making the characters of your story
seem realistic is yet another key component important to success. There
are always three short words to keep in mind when trying to do this:
People. Have. Feelings. In a fanfic, beginner writers will sometimes
just say he did this, she did that, and maybe occasionally give a minute
sentance about how the character(s) feel. I'll tell ya right now that it
doesn't work like that. To get the reader involved in the story itself,
you have to emphasize feeling and the humanity of the person in the fanfic.
If the person in the story is crying, make the reader see the characters'
point of view so s/he cry along with him/her. Otherwise it's just a boring
account of what's happening.
Don't Go On Tangents
This is a fairly common error for some beginner
authors who get caught up in the moment of writing. DON'T let it happen.
If you do, and you don't have a intermedial "link" to the next scene, your
fanfic writing will come out as jumbled thoughts like peices of a puzzle
that don't fit together; writing should flow almost like a river. Usually
writers that go on tangents fit into one of two categories: they recognize
their problem and get so frustrated on how to link the scenes, they end up
barely publishing anything or they quit. My advice to these people are to
keep at it, practice, and every once go back and read over their work.
There is no quick cure to this dilemma that works faster than this.
The other type of tangent writer are those that don't recognize their
problem... needless to say that this is *very* dangerous. The best way to
find out if you fit in this category is to have someone else edit your
fanfic (see next paragraph). If the editor(s) say that you do have a
problem, start watching yourself and occasionally go back and read your own
work. But whatever you do DON'T give up your fanfic writing!! Your skills
will progress as you practice at it.
Editing Your Work
Editing your work for spelling and grammer errors is a
must in the writing process. If you have a spell/grammer check on the
program you are using, all the better. The readers, to be able to read,
have to understand what you wrote. Now keep in mind that it is always a
good idea to have someone else edit your work also. People other than
youself recognize errors in your fanfic more easily and can usually suggest
solutions or ideas.
The Infamous Writers Block
This is a disease, literally, that almost all
writers get at one time or another. It has several different causes but
always the same effect of giving the writer a *very* hard time writing...
The best thing to do when this happens to you it to take a step back from
your writing; get a little distance. Maybe go take a nap (tiredness can
effect flow of creativity), read a book or another fanfic (this can help
inspire you if you're out of ideas), try working on another fanfic you're
writing (sometimes working on one all the time can be undoing), or -if your
cause is stress related- go outside, off the computer, and exercise with
one of your favorite sports. Exercising is scientifically proven to be one
of the best ways to relieve stress or anger (and I've tested this theory
myself - it works!! ^_^).
Now that I've mentioned some of the real problems and main components,
you're probably wondering why I didn't instruct you exactly *how* to write
your fanfic. I'll tell you right now that from what I've learned as a
fanfic writer and from what all other books about writing have said, there
is no certified way to write a fanfic. There are precautions you can take
to try and make your fanfic better, such as organization skills. But in
the end, the process of writing is all between you, a keyboard, and your
text program. If you're looking for the easy way out stop right here.
Fanfic isn't about the fame or glory that you see other fanfic writers
getting; it's about doing something you love to do - creating new worlds of
imagination in the Sailor Moon anime. And if you love what you do, you'll
take the time to do it just like the rest of us, one tedious page at a
time.
That's when you can be proud of all your hard work and effort ^_^
Page created by and © of Angelmiko aka Sue Mei. Advice © of MJ Tsukino.