DISCLAIMER: I do not own Alex Rider

A/N: So, I've decided to post this. I was scrolling through the archive, hoping to find something good that I already hadn't read. And I found none. With a sense of urgency and a bit of disappointment, I present to you this guide. Hopefully, some of you will draw some inspiration from this and write a well-written story that everyone will love.

This was inspired from the guide "How to Write an Alex Rider Fanfic that Doesn't Suck". However this guide will be different (content-wise) and will hopefully provide more information to people who want to start writing.


Guide: How to Write 01

As you know, the Alex Rider fandom has many works (about 3,600 some), but only a select few of these works are very well written. I have decided to write this guide purely on the fact that I am frustrated. There are many things that put me off as a reader, and unfortunately, some stories here make my brain boil.

Now, I know that 99.9% of you are not professional authors and are probably stabbing me in your mind, but there are a few things that could change your work dramatically. Nothing written here is meant to offend you, attack you, or make fun of you. I sincerely wish for your success as a writer.

This guide is meant for longer chapter works and not for drabbles or one-shots. This guide is also meant for serious works, not for works like humorous one-shots (which you all know I love, haha).

Let's begin.


Getting to Know the Basic Story

Yes, I'm starting here. Half of you are probably groaning, thinking, "not another English class!"

Sorry, guys! It is another English class. But look on the bright side: Professor Chung (or Doctor'sLittleDalek, take your pick) is in da house! Hm, I don't think I'll say that ever again…

Getting to know the story is very important. There are five main parts of a story: the exposition, the rising action, the climax, the falling action, and the resolution.

The exposition introduces important background information to the readers. Because we write fanfiction, intensive background information is not needed. However, it's still good to include some, especially if you decide to make an alternative ending to the last book and have Alex be in MI6 as an official agent.

Why he does this is included in the category of "important background information". Why does Alex not go to America with the Pleasures? Is it because civilian life is difficult for him to adapt to? Is it because he was too curious for his own good and was zapped back into the espionage world?

The exposition can be told through a flashback, dialogue, or a character's thoughts. I personally like to use the last method, a character's thoughts. I find that it's a lot smoother for me to transition back and forth from thoughts to actions.

I don't typically like to use a flashback, but I won't discourage it. If applied correctly, a flashback can be very enthralling. It's not enthralling to read about Alex sitting down with the Pleasures, telling them he can't handle it. It would capture your reader's attention to see Alex sneak away or something like that. Of course, if Alex does sit down with the Pleasures for a talk, something should happen. Maybe Sabina gets angry and throws a plate at Alex's head. Maybe scary ninja-assassins fly in through the window. Maybe Edward gets sniped.

Either way, just remember to use italics with flashbacks. This signals that it's either a dream or a flashback. I'm not sure if this is an actually rule, but if it isn't, it's an unspoken rule. I would get confused if you didn't properly italicize.

Dialogue is also a proper way to provide background information, but I find it a bit strange. If two characters have gone through something together, they wouldn't elaborate their experiences together. For example:

"Remember when I called you?" Alex asked the head of MI6, Mrs. Tulip Jones, tentatively.

The woman inclined her head slightly.

"Well," Alex paused for a moment before continuing, "I told you that I couldn't adapt to civilian life. I keep feeling like someone is watching me. Just the other day, I was attacked by five armed hitmen..."

Mrs. Jones already knows Alex was attacked by five armed hitmen. She knows why Alex returned. He shouldn't have to say it explicitly.

Hey, if you can make it work, you can make it work. It's just not exactly my preferred way of introducing the background.

The rising action is a series of events that leads up to the climax. It begins directly after the exposition. I will say this once, and you will always remember it:

THE RISING ACTION IS THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF THE STORY.

Wow, that was the first time I've ever used caps lock.

Seriously though, the rising action is the most important part of the story. Everything depends on the events in the rising action. The events lead up to the climax and if you don't write/do this properly, you'll find even yourself disappointed at the outcome.

In an Alex Rider fanfic, this is where you'll see Alex collecting information. He'll be trying to take down the enemy. Maybe he'll do a mission or two to rescue allies who potentially have the information he needs.

The rising action should be the longest part of your story. It should include different trials that Alex faces. Character relationships should develop. The plot should always work towards the climax.

This brings us to the climax! It's the turning point in the story and in the protagonist's life. It is a point with the highest tension and the greatest suspense.

With the definition in mind, the climax is not necessarily a big fight where Alex kills the bad guy. That actually qualifies as the falling action.

The falling action. This is where the actual conflict between the protagonist and antagonist finally unravels. Will the protagonist win? Will the antagonist win?

There's not much I can add onto this. Ultimately, the falling action leads to the resolution.

Yay! The resolution! Alex's story ends here (unless you want to do a sequel). He gets a happy ending and a well-deserved break. But knowing Alex…

Hopefully, the five parts of a general story has educated you. You can probably see that most of the time should be devoted to the rising action. The bulk of your story is there.

Next up, we'll be looking at characters!


If you have questions, concerns, or suggestions, please leave a note in the review box! I'll answer them in either a PM or in the next chapter. Please let me know if you agree or disagree with me (again, in the review box below).

-Alice (for behind the scenes, follow me on twitter at dalekchung)