Vani is back a.k.a. she thinks she knows english and talks about fics
I am back~ and it seems I keep posting in this journal -__-|||
Oh well. I guess this is my home after all ;__;
I missed you all lots. Life sucks, I think I failed both my exams. I'm affraid of even looking at the correction and cry over it D: there's always the 2nd phase but...I wanted to be free *sighs*
*As most of you must have noticed, I haven't been around like at all. Now, I have free time in my hands but I don't feel like doing anything. I feel like writing but at the same time, I don't -__- to sum it up, I'm laaazy D:
*Fic-wise, I have what...8 to 10 new plots D: maybe it's because I have so many that I don't know from where I should start *headdesks*
I have a new plot that I told a friend I'd write it with her. It's awesome imo, but then I feel lazy and haven't even started. Maybe I should ask her to start and then I'll catch up and be willing to write X3
I have seriously considered entering the contest, but in the end, I always give up *headdesks* AH I FEEL LOST D:
*Now, real life-ish - I have a new kitty. I called her Michiru (Paddy's suggestion - sis, I miss you), but I settle for calling the kitty everything but that XD Once in a while, I call her Michi, but that's it. Yuya doesn't get along with her (it's another female, yes) so it's kind of sad. But the kitty is the cutest thing, ever. I should take a pic of it when it's standing just on its two legs X33
I should shut up now >__<
When I leave my new LJ address here (10 days from now, maybe), I'll post a pic of the kitty X3
*As for those that asked me to read their fics and leave my opinion. I'm sorry for not keeping my word. First, because I only read Akame, and some of that people wrote another pairings :/
But I will leave here my general opinion about writing/reading fics, if anyone still wants to know. Some are really important for everyone, others are just personal preferences.
Don't take what I'm saying to heart, but I have to say I'm right in some things, at least.
I'm not perfect and I do not intend to sound so. I make some of those mistakes myself, that's why I try correcting them and hope all of you care enough to correct them as well.
1) First of all, if you don't know English, then don't even start writing.
Attention: I don't mean that if your mother-tongue isn't english, not to write.
My native language isn't English either and I do make mistakes, even people whose mother-tongue is english makes them, that's not the point. Minor mistakes can be corrected by a beta (I should get one myself) or even yourself when you read or re-read what you've written.
Microssoft Office corrects some mistakes, but it doesn't do miracles.
But if you can't write a whole sentence without a grammatical error, just quit, fanfic writing is not for you. At least, not english fanfic writing :/
1.1) Most common errors are homonyms. You know, those words which sound alike but have totally different meanings. Watch out for those. I make that mistake, but I try to correct one or another when I re-read my fics.
(ex: plain/plane; stairs/stares) (those are mine, actually...but I've seen a lot worse D:)
1.2) Another thing I've seen in like 40% of the fics I read is the jump between the past tense and the present D:
I don't do that, I guess, unless I'm reading from old notes and writing in a different tense, then, sometimes, I screw up. But then correct them.
I don't know what are the other's situations for that happening, but I'm sure it could be avoided. Some people even write awesome plots, but it could be improved if they didn't do that.
If you're writing on the past tense, you can't jump to the present tense :/
ex: You can't write: "Kame was making diner and Jin arrives home" :/ that's so wrong
but don't be fooled. You can mix both tenses. That is, if you're writing from the present tense, like: "Kame didn't use to like tomatoes, but he loves them now" or "Yesterday, it rained a lot, but it is sunny now" (or something like that XD Actually, those sentences have time references like 'now' or 'yesterday')
But if don't know enough to make these corrections yourself, get a beta (like I said, if your english is
understandable) or quit writing.
Also, your beta should know english grammar better than you, else, there is no point. I see beta-ed fics that are the same of even worse than if they weren't corrected at all.
1.3) Then, there are those worse mistakes, which just make a a sentence ununderstandable D:
2) Using japanese in a fic won't do. (this is mostly personal but I've seen more people complaining).
Lyrics are fine, of course, or simple characteristically japanese words like "ano", "baka", "mou" or whatever, but not whole sentences with a translation at the end of the fic or something alike. It's like "wtf?". If you're writing it in English, you should use english.
3) Keep a fanfic clean, meaning (all these points are important, I think):
3.1) This is important! A rainbow in a community just ruins everything! a.k.a. when you x-post your fic, use the community's/whatever default font/color, got it? In your own journal, use whatever colors you want: pink, neon green, yellow, whatever. Paint the rainbow for all I care! But in a damn community, keep the font of a normal size and the default color.
3.2) This is also important! If you copy a text from Microssoft word to rich text:
it will keep the format it had on the word document, meaning, the colors, the font, etc. So you you shouldn't do it! Copy it to a .txt file first or something, and just then, paste on the post.
If you use html (like I do):
you don't have to worry about that. It's much easier, if you know the codes, that is X3
3.3) When posting a fic, you should post a short intro, in which you should defenitely include these: title, genre, pairing (if it has any), disclaimer, and probably a short summary of the story.
Don't just past a link to your journal or even saying you have it in your journal and don't leave a link at all D:
*Also, when posting the link, it should be something like this (for html users, of course):
text that should appear on the link
*For rich text users, the someting like this:
Highlight the text that you want to appear as your link and click the planet with a clip in the bar like here
Easy, right? Do it!
4) The plot: I'm sure all of you have read a couple of fics in your fandom, right? So you'll know not to write the same things as x or y. Try not to be repetitive or write pretty much the same thing as 345678 other people. No one will read it :/
I think that sums up everything I meant to pass up.
Now, finally, to the readers:
If you like someone's fic(s), comment. It's a rare species, those who are not motivated by the comments.
I can't really complain when it comes to that field, though, comparing with the zillions of people who friended me (which I'm sure 99% was because of my fics), I get a meager number of comments.
And if you don't like it, obviously, don't comment. (duh!)
Correct me if I'm wrong in something. Says me, who wants to be an english teacher. I fail so much DDDDD:
You could say I'm picky with fics. One of the reasons for that is because it's not hard to find those things I pointed above, and now I'm kind of afraid of clicking on a fic from someone I don't know and be faced with those things :/
Only those who can't see the errors in the writing because they don't have the capacity to, will like such fics.
I'll give mine a new light from now on, or I might as well give up if I start stressing.
I have some more things to say. Many people, in the last months, have been asking me how to do lj-cuts, etc, through PM's and so. I'll give everyone who doesn't know yet, the opportunity to learn now.
1) Let's start with lj-cuts. This is how you do it.
*Html:
(everything you want to put under the cut)
It has never been easier :D
*Rich text: highlight the text you want under the cut and press that whatever button like the image shows
Then you write whatever text you want in your cut when a box pops up and you're done :D
2) As I've already taught how to do real cuts, I'll explain how to credit someone for icons, etc.
Easy. Just type credit to or something alike.
Pretty simple. If for icons, type this out on the comment box when uploading a userpic ^^
This also works if you're looking for the *html code to write a username/community. (yes, it's exactly the same. Just type the community's name in the space)
*For rich text, writing a username is easy. You just have to click the little-white-head-with-a-blue-shirt-and-clip button in the bar (yes, I'm to lazy to make another screencap, but if you don't know what I'm talking about, just hover with your mouse over the button 'livejournal user' will appear) and type the username.
I think I started using html because whenever I typed more than a username using the rich text mode, lj acted crazy and drove me nuts -_-;;
3) Other basic things of the html code, I'm not going to bother explaining. There is a easy way to learn them all. Just do the thing(s) you want while using rich text mode and then switch to html :D you'll learn, eventually XD
I know I did learn all these by myself ^^
I think that's all now D:
I vented my frustrations a little, here -__-||
OH WAIT! *headdesks*
Is there someone who wants something from Japan? (I bet there is ^-^;; even though I'm only going in a month). I'll bring it for you, if you're a good friend XD
If you're not, I'll think about it XD j/k
No, I'm not in a bad mood. And I go watch Last Friends' final episode now :D
Also Gokusen 3 :D
*hears some beatbox coming from the other room*
*
Oh well. I guess this is my home after all ;__;
I missed you all lots. Life sucks, I think I failed both my exams. I'm affraid of even looking at the correction and cry over it D: there's always the 2nd phase but...I wanted to be free *sighs*
*As most of you must have noticed, I haven't been around like at all. Now, I have free time in my hands but I don't feel like doing anything. I feel like writing but at the same time, I don't -__- to sum it up, I'm laaazy D:
*Fic-wise, I have what...8 to 10 new plots D: maybe it's because I have so many that I don't know from where I should start *headdesks*
I have a new plot that I told a friend I'd write it with her. It's awesome imo, but then I feel lazy and haven't even started. Maybe I should ask her to start and then I'll catch up and be willing to write X3
I have seriously considered entering the contest, but in the end, I always give up *headdesks* AH I FEEL LOST D:
*Now, real life-ish - I have a new kitty. I called her Michiru (Paddy's suggestion - sis, I miss you), but I settle for calling the kitty everything but that XD Once in a while, I call her Michi, but that's it. Yuya doesn't get along with her (it's another female, yes) so it's kind of sad. But the kitty is the cutest thing, ever. I should take a pic of it when it's standing just on its two legs X33
I should shut up now >__<
When I leave my new LJ address here (10 days from now, maybe), I'll post a pic of the kitty X3
*As for those that asked me to read their fics and leave my opinion. I'm sorry for not keeping my word. First, because I only read Akame, and some of that people wrote another pairings :/
But I will leave here my general opinion about writing/reading fics, if anyone still wants to know. Some are really important for everyone, others are just personal preferences.
Don't take what I'm saying to heart, but I have to say I'm right in some things, at least.
I'm not perfect and I do not intend to sound so. I make some of those mistakes myself, that's why I try correcting them and hope all of you care enough to correct them as well.
1) First of all, if you don't know English, then don't even start writing.
Attention: I don't mean that if your mother-tongue isn't english, not to write.
My native language isn't English either and I do make mistakes, even people whose mother-tongue is english makes them, that's not the point. Minor mistakes can be corrected by a beta (I should get one myself) or even yourself when you read or re-read what you've written.
Microssoft Office corrects some mistakes, but it doesn't do miracles.
But if you can't write a whole sentence without a grammatical error, just quit, fanfic writing is not for you. At least, not english fanfic writing :/
1.1) Most common errors are homonyms. You know, those words which sound alike but have totally different meanings. Watch out for those. I make that mistake, but I try to correct one or another when I re-read my fics.
(ex: plain/plane; stairs/stares) (those are mine, actually...but I've seen a lot worse D:)
1.2) Another thing I've seen in like 40% of the fics I read is the jump between the past tense and the present D:
I don't do that, I guess, unless I'm reading from old notes and writing in a different tense, then, sometimes, I screw up. But then correct them.
I don't know what are the other's situations for that happening, but I'm sure it could be avoided. Some people even write awesome plots, but it could be improved if they didn't do that.
If you're writing on the past tense, you can't jump to the present tense :/
ex: You can't write: "Kame was making diner and Jin arrives home" :/ that's so wrong
but don't be fooled. You can mix both tenses. That is, if you're writing from the present tense, like: "Kame didn't use to like tomatoes, but he loves them now" or "Yesterday, it rained a lot, but it is sunny now" (or something like that XD Actually, those sentences have time references like 'now' or 'yesterday')
But if don't know enough to make these corrections yourself, get a beta (like I said, if your english is
understandable) or quit writing.
Also, your beta should know english grammar better than you, else, there is no point. I see beta-ed fics that are the same of even worse than if they weren't corrected at all.
1.3) Then, there are those worse mistakes, which just make a a sentence ununderstandable D:
2) Using japanese in a fic won't do. (this is mostly personal but I've seen more people complaining).
Lyrics are fine, of course, or simple characteristically japanese words like "ano", "baka", "mou" or whatever, but not whole sentences with a translation at the end of the fic or something alike. It's like "wtf?". If you're writing it in English, you should use english.
3) Keep a fanfic clean, meaning (all these points are important, I think):
3.1) This is important! A rainbow in a community just ruins everything! a.k.a. when you x-post your fic, use the community's/whatever default font/color, got it? In your own journal, use whatever colors you want: pink, neon green, yellow, whatever. Paint the rainbow for all I care! But in a damn community, keep the font of a normal size and the default color.
3.2) This is also important! If you copy a text from Microssoft word to rich text:
it will keep the format it had on the word document, meaning, the colors, the font, etc. So you you shouldn't do it! Copy it to a .txt file first or something, and just then, paste on the post.
If you use html (like I do):
you don't have to worry about that. It's much easier, if you know the codes, that is X3
3.3) When posting a fic, you should post a short intro, in which you should defenitely include these: title, genre, pairing (if it has any), disclaimer, and probably a short summary of the story.
Don't just past a link to your journal or even saying you have it in your journal and don't leave a link at all D:
*Also, when posting the link, it should be something like this (for html users, of course):
text that should appear on the link
*For rich text users, the someting like this:
Highlight the text that you want to appear as your link and click the planet with a clip in the bar like here
Easy, right? Do it!
4) The plot: I'm sure all of you have read a couple of fics in your fandom, right? So you'll know not to write the same things as x or y. Try not to be repetitive or write pretty much the same thing as 345678 other people. No one will read it :/
I think that sums up everything I meant to pass up.
Now, finally, to the readers:
If you like someone's fic(s), comment. It's a rare species, those who are not motivated by the comments.
I can't really complain when it comes to that field, though, comparing with the zillions of people who friended me (which I'm sure 99% was because of my fics), I get a meager number of comments.
And if you don't like it, obviously, don't comment. (duh!)
Correct me if I'm wrong in something. Says me, who wants to be an english teacher. I fail so much DDDDD:
You could say I'm picky with fics. One of the reasons for that is because it's not hard to find those things I pointed above, and now I'm kind of afraid of clicking on a fic from someone I don't know and be faced with those things :/
Only those who can't see the errors in the writing because they don't have the capacity to, will like such fics.
I'll give mine a new light from now on, or I might as well give up if I start stressing.
I have some more things to say. Many people, in the last months, have been asking me how to do lj-cuts, etc, through PM's and so. I'll give everyone who doesn't know yet, the opportunity to learn now.
1) Let's start with lj-cuts. This is how you do it.
*Html:
It has never been easier :D
*Rich text: highlight the text you want under the cut and press that whatever button like the image shows
Then you write whatever text you want in your cut when a box pops up and you're done :D
2) As I've already taught how to do real cuts, I'll explain how to credit someone for icons, etc.
Easy. Just type credit to
Pretty simple. If for icons, type this out on the comment box when uploading a userpic ^^
This also works if you're looking for the *html code to write a username/community. (yes, it's exactly the same. Just type the community's name in the space)
*For rich text, writing a username is easy. You just have to click the little-white-head-with-a-blue-shirt-and-clip button in the bar (yes, I'm to lazy to make another screencap, but if you don't know what I'm talking about, just hover with your mouse over the button 'livejournal user' will appear) and type the username.
I think I started using html because whenever I typed more than a username using the rich text mode, lj acted crazy and drove me nuts -_-;;
3) Other basic things of the html code, I'm not going to bother explaining. There is a easy way to learn them all. Just do the thing(s) you want while using rich text mode and then switch to html :D you'll learn, eventually XD
I know I did learn all these by myself ^^
I think that's all now D:
I vented my frustrations a little, here -__-||
OH WAIT! *headdesks*
Is there someone who wants something from Japan? (I bet there is ^-^;; even though I'm only going in a month). I'll bring it for you, if you're a good friend XD
If you're not, I'll think about it XD j/k
No, I'm not in a bad mood. And I go watch Last Friends' final episode now :D
Also Gokusen 3 :D
*hears some beatbox coming from the other room*
*