177 replies to this topic

[Mara=^.^=]

I wouldn't count on it, Em. She only read TOSOT (I imagine) because it was still technically about the kids...she doesn't have to read our aged-up fics if she doesn't want to.

 

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[Pigquet3]

Really? I love seeing kid characters scaled up into adults, as long as the fic doesn't suck horribly. Of course, this is coming from the girl who runs the "Aged-UP" club on deviantart, so...

 

It makes me sad. Its like a little reminder of, "Someday your favorite characters are gonna grow up, become boring, and die. Just as you too are gonna someday grow up, become boring, and DIE!"

 

You have no idea how many times I'm scrolling through fic summaries and be all, "Ooh! That one sounds interesting! I'll check it ou--oh, they're in high school/college now? Boring."

 

I know. It makes no sense. I'm a disgrace to the creative world.

 

 

 

 

 

  Pigquet

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

[Mara=^.^=]

Not everyone becomes boring when they grow up, Theenie. Some people become even weirder! First hand experience

I think a lot of fanfiction DOES stick to pretty boring, cliche grown-up scenarios. Like, "oh, the JN gang is in high school now? Cindy must be head cheerleader, and Jimmy's misunderstood, teen drinking ensues OK now aaaangstttt". In which case, I disapprove.

However, when a fic ages-up the characters in an interesting yet plausible manner, I get a huge thrill. I'm like "FINALLY SOMEONE HAS A SHRED OF CREATIVITY NOW WE CAN CHART UNKNOWN WATERS YEEHAW"

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =

[Pigquet3]

Somehow I can't picture a Teenage Cindy as a cheerleader that well. True that she loves athletics and showing off, but I always assumed she'd want to spend any extra curricular activity time in the lab.

 

 

 

 

 

  Pigquet

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

I just might include that in my main fic!!

[Pigquet3]

I'll try to look past my prejudice of "aged-up" fics if they have a really good premise. If you know of any really good ones to recommend, I might take you up on it.

 

 

 

 

 

  Pigquet

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

We'll see, I guess...

[TheKingInTheNorth]

Growing old is mandatory. Growing up is optional.

 

Personally, I don't mind "grown up" fics, as long as nobody is completely out of character.

[Pigquet3]

Thought of another one!

Bad summaries. I can't stand when people write "I suck at summaries, just read."

No. I will not just read. If you suck at summaries, you suck at writing. End of story.

If you can't think of a way to give a summary without revealing the entire plot, put a sentence or two from the actual story itself. Or song lyrics that fit it (they don't even have to be featured in the story at all) or a few lines of poetry. Just something that catches the eye.

And there's a story on fanfiction.net now with this summary: "it is what it is." What on earth is it?!?

 

LMAO!!! I've seen some pretty bad summaries, but I don't know if I've ever seen one as stupid (or hilarious) as just "it is what it is." Or maybe I have and just overlooked it, but your post really had me laughing.

 

But yeah, I'm very much with you on this. I hate when people put little to no effort in their summarires. It is just an indicator that they put little to no effort into their story, as well. Of course there are exceptions (I feel like we're always saying that), but a summary is a huge part of drawing the reader in. Don't just tell us it sucks. That's giving up. Put something of substance there and let us be the judge fo whether or not it sucks.

 

This happens way too often. Its become such a cliche its hard to go through one page of fics without seeing it.

 

Anyway, I was just rereading through almost this entire topic for fun, since I've been browsing through ff.net a lot lately, and its fun to see everyone bitch about the same stuff I hate constantly seeing.

 

 

 

 

 

  Pigquet

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

Well, what do you think of this summary on FF.net from my biggest fic EVER??:

 

"A series of adventures that gradually bring Jimmy and Cindy closer together, starting with her saving his life. LoV gradually gets involved... What do they have planned THIS time? ? Split into smaller chunks, Part 1, Part 2, etc..., due to its growing length. Big J/C, some S/L. Reviews are highly encouraged!"

 

It's "a series of adventures" for a reason. lol It's going to have a whopping FORTY-THREE chapters up pretty soon!!  Just as soon as I'm done writing and uploading it!

[Mouette]

Nth-ing the "I suck at summaries" thing. I mean, I admit I generally have a bit of trouble with summaries (though not as much as I do with finding titles), but 99 percent of the time it's used as a get out of jail free card for insecure writers, which = not cool.

 

Emily, I like your summary, but I'd try to add just a little more mystery and intrigue to it -- really try to draw the reader in and make them curious about what's happening. What kind of adventures are they having? Are they in danger? That kind of thing.

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

That's how I "draw them in", through the idea of not knowing what exactly is included in it.  But I'll try to tweak it just a bit... lol

 

Edit: Here it is, updated:

 

"A series of adventures that gradually bring Jimmy and Cindy closer together, starting with her saving his life. LoV gradually gets involved, endangering the group more and MORE as time passes...! ! WHAT do they have planned THIS time? ! Split into smaller chunks, Part 1, Part 2, etc..., due to its growing length. Big J/C, some S/L. Reviews are strongly encouraged!"

 

A bit better now?

[Mouette]

Looks good! That reminds me, I REALLY need to write up some very overdue reviews this weekend. Man, am I far behind on those.

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

Just out of curiosity, have you read my main fic, Emerging Compassions, yet??  One can never have too many reviews!!

[Pigquet3]

Ya know what else can be annoying in terms of summaries?

 

"[insert pairing name] fluff"

 

"[insert character name] angst"

 

"[insert friendship] drama then hurt/comfort fluff and stuff"

 

I don't always mind this. I don't mean to be picky. It doesn't infuriate me or anything, its just more of a fanfiction pet peeve.

 

Its nice knowing what the central character or relationship is, or what the tone is going to be, but...can't you also tell us what happens in the story? What its about, not just how its supposed to make us feel?

 

I've read fluff I love and fluff I hate. Saying its fluff doesn't mean its full proff on being adorable and in character and perfect. Sometimes a summary that actually summarizes the events of the story, without spoiling too much, is more helpful for a reader to decide whether or not they think they'll like it than just..."Its fluff and stuff." Maybe that's nice...but maybe its not. What are they doing?

 

What are they being comforted for? What happened? What are they doing that's cute? What makes it dramatic? Tell me what you wrote if you want me to read it, dammit!

 

Its like if Mara made the summary for TOSOT simply: "Its about an alternate, adult Cindy and evil Jimmy and drama and war and angst and Ultralord and stuff."

 

Like I said, more of a pet peeve, but you see it a lot, mostly when the author doesn't feel like explaining, so they think anyone who loves that character or ship will automatically be drawn in. Not exactly.

 

Okay, maybe when I'm really bored I'll click on it anyway out of curiosity, but its still not a great idea.

 

 

 

 

 

  Pigquet

[Katia11]

noted!  

[JimmyxxCindy4EVER]

I changed up my summary a bit for my biggest fic, so you, or anyone, really, should see how I vamped it up a bit to entice the (potential) reader more!

[BeaRizy]

I only had one reason to dislike a JN fic, when the story had a same sex love team (Sorry, if this offends anyone who liked this) It's just so annoying to read for me personally

 

But, it's still a fanfcition. Everyone has a right to write a story based on their own plot. I still have no right to judge them LOL

[Mara=^.^=]

It's like if Mara made the summary for TOSOT simply: "Its about an alternate, adult Cindy and evil Jimmy and drama and war and angst and Ultralord and stuff."

 

Pfft. I'm updating my summary

 

~*Mara*~ = ^.^ =