First thing I'd say to any author who wants to write is don't do it until you've read at least 25 SM fanfics by a number of different authors. This gives you a chance to see various styles and ideas. You can see what they do right and what they do wrong. Next, come up with an original unique idea. There are certain concepts that have been driven into the ground by their excessive use. That's not to say there may not be something interesting left but think long and hard before you do ANY of the following concepts:
1) Resurrect the Generals They're dead believe it or not. There must be 75 fics at least where they get resurrected and either seek out revenge or SM turns them good and they fight with Mamoru/Usagi against a new threat. Jadeite seems especially likely for resurrection.
2) Long lost siblings of Usagi/Mamoru Twins are popular. Sometimes new exchange students. Normally if female they become a new Senshi like Sailor Earth/Sun. Males become some type of knight with Senshi powers.
3) Self-insertions The author places themselves or fantasies of themselves in. These are SUPERego fests. Don't do it! We aren't interested in your fantasies how you become a flawless all-powerful character and save the world. Male self-insertions always have their favorite Senshi fall madly in love with them. Female self-insertions become new Senshi and the girls all highly respect her and some male character falls for her.
4) Exchange students from author's home country It happens a lot. They show up in Usagi's class, speak perfect Japanese, the girls befriend them, and they turn out to be a new Senshi or villain.
5) Senshi head for author's home country One or more of the girls go to a foreign country on vacation, or to runaway, or pursue an enemy. The US and Canada are popular destinations. Again all the Senshi speak perfect English, have unlimited money, no problems being away from family for weeks, and no immigration problems.
6) Author's version of the Silver Millennium Popular to have Queen Serenity's husband and show the girls growing up in the Silver Millennium.
7) Usagi/Mamoru Michiru/Haruka Usagi/Seiya Amy/Greg Lita/Ken relationship fics Many many of them and little difference between most.
8) 6th season fics Author creates new enemy for the girls to take on after Galaxia is destroyed. Usually a few years later when the girls are 18-21.
9) Create your own Senshi team An entire group of new Senshi/Knights/whatever show up. Usually with new crystals and powers and save the world. Sometimes are male with that it guarantees they fall in love with their opposite numbers. Sometimes it's the children of the Senshi and a new generation fights evil while the old one basically kicks back.
10) Evil Senshi One or more of the Senshi or Mamoru turn evil and cause mayhem for awhile before the others heal or destroy them. This includes the category of evil Senshi clones.
11) Killing a major character Normally Usagi or Mamoru. Normally used as a vehicle for a new love interest or leader to show. For example, kill Usagi to get Rei with Mamoru or kill Mamoru to get Usagi with Seiya.
12) Your own ending to SMR at episode 72 where DiC left off in the US.
13) Crossovers Mixing SM with another universe. Difficult to pull off well and normally just doesn't work. It is requires the reader to have to like the series you are using for the crossover. This dilutes readership at a minimum.
There are more overused concepts but this is a good start of ones to avoid unless you are sure you've really got a jewel of an idea.
Keep the girls in character!!! Often there are unexplained and/or sudden shifts in personalities of the major characters. Keep them in character unless there's a plot device which makes it necessary to change thier personality.
Read the SM FAQ and episode scripts/synposis!!! Don't even attempt a fanfic until you research the period you are writing the fanfic about fully. Technical details are important and the SM FAQ is a good resource. Episode scripts or synopsis are invaluable to research the period you are doing.
Have a definite start and ending in mind before you begin to write. There are a bunch of fanfics that have great starts. The author has a real good idea but has no idea where to go after about 3 or 4 chapters. The story then meanders about for awhile and usually is not finished.
Use a spellchecker and editor. I can't beleive how many authors release stories with misspelled words. Yeah you can't catch them all. I'm talking about dozens and dozens of spelling/grammar errors where it's obvious the author never even proofread the story. Use a spellchecker. Get another person to edit the fanfic. Get proofreaders/betareaders. Think of it this way, if you don't care enough to go to this trouble, then why should we take the trouble to read it?
Rate your story. Tell the reader beforehand if you are going to have graphic violence or a lemon scent or objectable language. MPAA or equivalent movie ratings are a good idea.
Don't get discouraged. Authors write fanfics and expect a hundred comments to flow in the next day. It won't happen. 99% of the readers don't comment. Even if they like it. It's not unusual for a new author to get no comments. Usually a fanfic has to truly be something special to drum up a comment.
Good luck on your story. When you have it done, submit it for candidancy to join "Tuxedo" Will's SM Fanfic Archive.
Ja ne,
"Tuxedo" Will
Keeper of "Tuxedo" Will's SM Fanfics/Scripts Archives