If you don't like my criticism, and you refuse to listen to it, you're not going to get very far as a writer.

Something of importance to know about me and my reviews:

I am a critic of literature, both virtual and physical. When I leave my reviews, know that I know what I'm talking about. I've written for magazines and online articles before, and have experience both as a reader and a writer. I know what I criticize and what I praise.

If you get offended by the reviews I leave, you're just going to have to tough it out, and use them to better yourself as a writer. If not, then you're not fit to make the cut as an Author, and that's the harsh truth.

I can be harsh with my criticism at times, but unless your fanfic is overtly bad, and I've seen evidence that you refuse to change, or if you write bad fanfics on purpose, I will not be malicious with my reviews. If your story is outright bad, I will rip into it brutally, and be quite blunt about it. I will not cuddle you or mince words with my reviews. They will be straight to the point, harsh, and long if need be. Learn from them, or quit.

YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

"What defines a bad fic?"

Well, for starters, it's not always one with bad grammar or Mary Sues. The plot itself can also be bad and uninspired, as can the characters. They sometimes don't have a coherent plot, or leave the readers unsatisfied or confused. The characters may be dull and uninteresting, or overpowered.

A bad fic can also be one that has a similar plot as an already existing fanfic. Even worse is if you decide to make your "own" version of a fanfic that already exists but hasn't been updated in forever. That's outright plagiarism and if you do this, you should be deeply ashamed for stealing someone else's original idea.

Saw this list on Tumblr, decided to spread it to here, as it's VERY true, and should be followed:

Tips for creating Original Characters:

1. Look at your character and ask yourself “Will people want to read about this person? Will they seem interesting to my readers? Will they be able to relate to them?” If the answer might be no, work on it.

2. If your character has no impact on the story, makes no difference in it, and anything they’ve done could have been achieved without them, do not add them in.

3. Do not make your character some “edgy” brooding lone wolf who refuses any and all help and interaction and goes it alone. That is not original, and it is not something readers want to suffer through.

4. Overpowered does NOT equal badass. It shows a lack of care given to your character and laziness. Nobody wants to see a character stomp through enemies and canon characters with ease, as that defeats the purpose of the struggle and destroys any semblance of tension that could have been had.

5. Your character is not a special snowflake. There is no reason to place them on a pedestal over others, or put emphasis on any special traits they may have. They are not better than the canon characters of the fanfic you’re writing about.

6. If your character is a teenager, they’re not going to have fifteen different skills that they’ve mastered and an unparalleled mastery of a weapon or multiple weapons. Mastering even one skillset or weapon takes years of practice, more than one would take an entire lifetime.

7. Think about the situations you throw your character in, and ask yourself how you would react in those situations. Honesty lends credibility.

8. Do not give your character a “troubled” history unless it’s going to come into play as a major plot point. If you do something like killing off their parents or family to make them have a dark backstory, either follow up on it and have them affected by this traumatizing event, or drop it entirely. Treat the event for what it is, and make it affect your character properly.

9. Give your character a goal, something they’re trying to reach. If your character is just there for the ride, get rid of them, it’ll no different without them. Have them work towards something so your readers can root for them and hope they succeed, or fail.

10. Give your characters personality. Give them likes, dislikes, hopes, dreams, emotions, opinions, make them hate one thing, and love another. Make them feel like an actual person, so we’re not just reading about some emotionless doll.

The Seven Beats of Romance.

If you're like me, you love a good romance story. It gives us that warm feeling in our heart when we see two people fall in love, puts us on edge when it seems like their relationship isn't working out, and makes us cheer when they finally get together. Or cry if one dies.

So if you're going to have a go at writing a romance story, follow the Seven Beats of Romance. They are a guideline to a successful and satisfying romance story, and come highly recommended.

Beat 1 - The Hook: Why the protagonist needs/wants romance.

Beat 2 - The Meeting: The two characters meet and an attraction, or reason for one, is established.

Beat 3 - Conflict Point 1: Wherein the protagonist realizes they should not be together, as it conflicts with their goal/dream/beliefs.

Beat 4 - Raising The Stakes: Wherein the two characters are bound together, despite the conflict. They accept their love/relationship/attraction.

Beat 5 - Conflict Point 2: The relationship looks good, all is working, but there is niggling doubt. The conflict continues to gnaw away at them, it's a false happiness.

Beat 6 - The Black Hour: It all goes wrong, all hope is lost. The relationship seems doomed.

Beat 7 - Resolution: Obstacles overcome, romance achieved, or tragic ending.

Information about me:

I am an adult of intermediate age. I would rather not reveal it on a website such as this one, as it's not important. What is important is that I am a critic of literature. I have criticized real novels, magazines, comic books, and poems before. This is my job in reality, and I have decided to take it to the internet as well, as there are countless aspiring Authors on the web, and it is a good place to start, and for critics like me to give out advice.

I have also written stories, magazine articles, (which is my actual paying job) short novels, and even some poems before. I know what to look for in a story. I won't write any fanfics on here, as that's not my interest, and I do enough writing around the clock as it is.

My username comes from a joke between my friends and colleagues. I can be seen as very irate if I read something bad, and it's become a fond username that I enjoy using on occasion.

The fanfics I put on my favorites list are not always novel worthy. Some may be, but for the most part, they are personal favorites of mine that I could immerse myself in.