Fanfiction Friday

[Stephen Hawking]

Arousal is a good word.

[Queenfisher]

I just worried about length in my first story, I always tried to have something between 3,500 and 4,500 words, because I thought that shorter chapters would be weird... But in fact it's not, and it will really depend on how you need to break your story into pieces. I worked much better when I started a story with shorter chapters, around 2,000. It helped me to write it faster, and also finish faster. With the stories I wrote long chapters, I'm suffering to have it done. Especially because I tend to write much more than I initially plan. My first story was meant to have 12 chapters, I'm in the 15th and still have a couple more to finish it... Feels like it never ends!

I believe that when I'm able to finish all my pending stories, I'll just work on one-shots, at least for a while. 

I can totally relate to this. This is one of the reasons why I can't seem to get a chapter out. I might consider remaking my story and dividing them into smaller chapters.

[mphs95]

When I write, my long stories I write as one long document.  When it comes to a chapter, I have a goal of about 5 pages, which is about 2500 - 3000 words.  However, I have had some chapters where it was only 1000 - 2000 words and some chapters that topped 7000 words (about 10 pages in Word.).  I use those rules as a guideline, but in the end, the plot always drives the chapter.  I don't separate my chapters because for me, I like it easier as reference and I find it more cohesive.  When I post a chapter, I highlight the words in a different color in the main document.  Others I know have separate documents for each chapter, but one needs to do the system that works for them.

 

SH is right about a Beta.  When I beta, I can do grammar, ideas, or both, but I always ask when I am requested ahead of time so you don't have miscommunication.  The key is in whatever capacity you use the beta, give their thoughts serious consideration because for some, it takes time out of their day that they could do other things, but they like helping another writer.  However, don't let the beta dictate what you write.  If you truly don't agree with a suggestion, then don't use it, but still thank them for their time.  In the end, you have to stick to your vision.

 

If you need more than one beta, by all means use them, but be careful because they could have totally different views on suggestions.

 

When I'm truly stuck, I find that if I put the story aside for a few weeks, it helps because when you are not constantly thinking about the perfect thing to say, it usually comes out of thin air out of any situation.  Readers usually prefer quality over quantity, at least I do.  I would rather read a story that is slower to update, but the quality is bar none due to multiple edits, time, etc, than one that is constantly edited to mainly keep it flowing.

 

Hope this helps.

[DrWackaDoodle]

Thanks for the advice! I've bumped it up to M. I'll probably go M-light but it gives me a little bit of leeway to play.

[Stephen Hawking]

However, don't let the beta dictate what you write.

 

I agree 100%.

 

While a beta can give you ideas and suggestions, it's your story, so write it how you want it to be.

 

Ultimately, it's your name going on it, and it is you (not the beta) who will be judged on the final product.

Edited April 27, 2015 by Stephen Hawking

[kelliluvtbbt]

i have a question for you experienced writers of fan fiction.... how do we know how many people have read your  story? is it where it says " views" ? ( stats? ) 

 

and what's the difference between 'views' and 'visitors' ????? 

 

thanks 

Edited May 1, 2015 by tbbtluv

[Stephen Hawking]

Go to Traffic Stats, then select Story Stats.

 

You can choose from the stats for all your stories, or for individual stories, and for which month.

[karyshamy]

i have a question for you experienced writers of fan fiction.... how do we know how many people have read your  story? is it where it says " views" ? ( stats? ) 

 

and what's the difference between 'views' and 'visitors' ????? 

 

thanks 

 

Visitors are counted once. Views are counted for example if a visitor opened your chapter more than once. If he opened it three times it will count as 3 views. So you may have 1 visitor a day and 3 views, for example.

[Stephen Hawking]

Does anyone know the date, when Sheldon and Amy met in the coffee shop?

[phantagrae]

Does anyone know the date, when Sheldon and Amy met in the coffee shop?

 

Do you mean the date the episode aired or the supposed date of the encounter?

 

I don't think they ever made any hint about the calendar date, though they generally try to keep with the real world calendar, so it would be sometime in May for the characters.

 

Also, what's interesting is that when the show was originally airing on Monday nights, very often they would make reference to it being Monday--Sheldon wearing his Monday pajamas, for instance.  Now that they air on Thursdays, they often use that as their reference point, which is why, I believe, that the Shamy date night is Thursday night.

 

As for the airdate of The Lunar Excitation, it was Monday night, May 24th, 2010.  (They had only one episode in April that year--on the 22nd--and then had 4 episodes in May, and only 23 episodes that season, I believe.)

[kelliluvtbbt]

Visitors are counted once. Views are counted for example if a visitor opened your chapter more than once. If he opened it three times it will count as 3 views. So you may have 1 visitor a day and 3 views, for example.

thank you  

[Stephen Hawking]

Do you mean the date the episode aired or the supposed date of the encounter?

 

I actually meant the date of their encounter but, since it isn't listed, I'll use the date of the episode broadcast.

 

I just didn't want to go with the episode date, then have someone point out I'd used the wrong date, because there was an actual date in the script.

[phantagrae]

I actually meant the date of their encounter but, since it isn't listed, I'll use the date of the episode broadcast.

 

I just didn't want to go with the episode date, then have someone point out I'd used the wrong date, because there was an actual date in the script.

 

I don't think they ever reference actual dates in an episode except when they did the Star Wars day thing, talking about May 4th.

[Stephen Hawking]

I'll go with May 24th.

 

Thanks.

Another question.

 

Can you get married on a Sunday, in Pasadena?

And another question.

 

Does Mary Cooper use Skype?

[DrWackaDoodle]

I'll go with May 24th.

 

Thanks.

Another question.

 

Can you get married on a Sunday, in Pasadena?

And another question.

 

Does Mary Cooper use Skype?

The only information I can find on marriage license requirements is here.http://www.cityapplications.com/marriage-licenses/CA-California/mrg-Pasadena.html

I believe that there are no laws restricting marriage on Sunday, but I'm at work and will get fired for using Westlaw to research unauthorized case law.

I don't believe we have ever seen Mary Cooper Skype but I also don't remember it being said that she doesn't. It's your story, do what you want. Don't let the reviews force you to change anything.

[phantagrae]

I'll go with May 24th.

 

Thanks.

Another question.

 

Can you get married on a Sunday, in Pasadena?

And another question.

 

Does Mary Cooper use Skype?

 

I think people can get married on whatever day they want unless they're getting married at the courthouse by a judge or justice of the peace.  I think that a courthouse marriage would have to be on a M-F.

But if you get married in a church or wherever, by a minister, you can do it whenever you want.  Apparently some people think it's bad luck to marry on Sunday, but I don't know where that came from or if people still think that way.

Most people seem to get married on a Friday or Saturday, though.  Probably so that friends and family can more easily attend and also because that's when churches are more likely to be available.

 

I think that Mary Cooper can Skype if you need her to.  She certainly reads emails, so she knows how to use a computer.

[Stephen Hawking]

Thanks for that guys.

 

Sunday it is, given that the 24th May this year, is a Sunday.

Edited May 2, 2015 by Stephen Hawking

[kelliluvtbbt]

still kind of spoilers... but i wrote a continuation to my first story if anyone is interested....

Edited May 1, 2015 by tbbtluv

[DrWackaDoodle]

still kind of spoilers... but i wrote a continuation to my first story if anyone is interested....

Could you provide a link please?

[kelliluvtbbt]

Could you provide a link please?

 

 

https://www.fanfiction.net/s/11221500/1/The-Declaration-Affirmation-Continuation

Edited May 1, 2015 by tbbtluv

[DrWackaDoodle]

Random question: did Sheldon supposedly "fall out of" Mary at the Wal-Mart or Kmart? I feel like it's the Kmart.I'm writing between Seahawks draft picks and can't be bothered to get my DVD set out right now.

Somewhat OT but I really love how much this fandom supports its fanfiction writers.

[kimbee73]

Kmart...I just looked it up for you.

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[DrWackaDoodle]

Thanks so much!

[notchinc]

I come home from the Avengers expecting some updated chapters...............and nothing.  I did read your continuation tbbtluv

[DrWackaDoodle]

I come home from the Avengers expecting some updated chapters...............and nothing.  I did read your continuation tbbtluv

I expect a whole slew of new stories to hit in exactly one week from today as it sets in that we are in hiatus. This is a spoiler free thread, correct?