more pet peeves: writing

Mar 25, 2006 15:39

On slow days when I'm online, I usually cruise Fanfiction.net to keep me entertained. Harry Potter fics, Ranma 1/2 fics, and recently, Danny Phantom fics are the ones that I usually read. I'd go for a few days reading several interesting stories, then it'll be a few more days (or weeks) before I go back and read some more again.

(Note: Some people don't really think of fanfics as "real writing", because the characters and the situations are pre-dictated by the original writer. But that's not the point of this entry anyway, so let's save that argument for later.)

I therefore conclude:
- There are alot of good writers out there. Their works are grammatically correct (usage, etc), and their stories are quite imaginative and engaging given the fact that they're "borrowing" from someone else. Many of these fanfics fit quite well with the original voice of the author. Some out of character (or "OoC", when a character in a fanfic acts differently from how he/she was originally created) portrayals are also good, and it isn't as bad as I would have thought they would be.

- There are also alot of AWFUL writers. Often, it's not about the storyline, because alot of the ideas are pretty interesting. What's bad is that after I read the summary and click the link to read it, it just makes me want to cry. Sure they were able to write something while I'm still here wondering what to write about, pero naman! Ayusin nyo nga yung sinusulat nyo!

1) Writing in text speak. I thought this habit was a Filipino thing, and that it happened in blogs or email only, but even in stories posted for public reading? Granted the character's aren't original, but the idea for this particular story is. Its so hrd 2 rid a stori wen its wri10 n txtspk esp if its 5 chptrs or mre! Den agen, y bthr 2 rid it @ ol?

2) The grammar is deplorable! The subject-verb agreement doesn't agree. A male character is referred to as 'she' and vice versa. Similar sounding words are mixed up (there for their, here for hear, wait for weight, etc); plural becomes singular and vice versa; and conjugation is just a mess.

3) Have you ever read a sentence that's longer than a regular paragraph? Or did they just forget the punctuation marks? Do they even know what punctuation marks are?

4) How about those writers who keep putting their thoughts about their story within the story? You know the type that has all these sentences enclosed in parenthesis that have nothing whatsoever to do with the story itself? It makes me crazy because I have a hard time following the story flow. If you must include your comments, may I suggest footnotes?

5) Stories that don't have a transition between events or scenes.

6) Using words that don't exist but seem to sound good. Awful spelling. Use the dictionary people! Or, if you don't have one, check out Merriam-Webster Online.

I can understand the occassional mispelled words, or minor grammatical errors (heck, I commit them too, even with my blog entries), but seeing those errors all over an entire story makes me really irritated. I know I don't write as good as Sean or Dean Alfar, pero naman...

rants

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