Sunday, January 23, 2005
How many mistakes makes a record?
Title: Duo's Surprise
Fandom: Gundam Wing
Author: Oree
Location: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1677936/1/
Feedback given:
Spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, form and structure are all important elements to writing. They are just as important, if not more, than the plot and/or characterizations. Readers, ones with at least half a brain, will abandon your story if they have to spend time deciphering your words.
There is no excuse for not proofreading your work at least twice before posting it. You say you do not have a spell-checker. Okay, but did you think to go online and look for one there? Open your browser, go to Google and type the words spell check into the search bar. The first link to show is a wonderful place called spellcheck.net - use it!
Now, here are some specifics about your story:
Proper names are capitalized at all times; first AND last names, without exception.
'heero' - Heero.
'duo' - Duo.
'quatre' - Quatre.
'Sally po' - Sally Po.
When writing speech, each speaker should be on a separate line. Cramming more than one speaker into a line or paragraph is incorrect and difficult to read.
Learn the difference between their, there and they're. More than once you've used the wrong form.
Spelling a character's name incorrectly - in the title of a chapter no less - is inexcusable. This is a prime example why you should a) proofread your work before posting and b) use a spell-checker.
Author notes within the body of the story are tacky, unnecessary and distracting. If you, the author, absolutely must say something, use a footnote (look it up if you don't know what it is).
' "Uh duo I have some interesting news." Sally po said. " What kind of news." Duo asked a little scared.
This example, drawn right from chapter 1, is riddled with errors.
1) Duo's speech should be on a new line.
2) After 'Uh' a comma is needed.
3) 'duo' is a proper name and requires capitalization.
4) '...news." ' Wrong punctuation used - the period should be a comma.
5) 'po' is a proper name and requires capitalization.
6) ' " What...' There should be no space between the opening quotation mark and the start of the word.
7) '...of news." Duo asked...' If Duo 'asked' then there should be a question mark, not a period, at the end of news.
If this is a good example of your work, do the fan fiction world a huge favor and stop posting. If you cannot, or will not, take the time to ensure your work is as error free as possible then no fandom needs your contribution.
Your author note at the beginning of chapter four is stupid and childish. This may be YOUR fic, but YOU have chosen to post it in a PUBLIC archive. As soon as you did that, you opened yourself up to reviews - good AND bad. If you cannot handle bad reviews in a mature manner, then there's another reason to stop posting.
Fandom: Gundam Wing
Author: Oree
Location: http://www.fanfiction.net/s/1677936/1/
Feedback given:
Spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, form and structure are all important elements to writing. They are just as important, if not more, than the plot and/or characterizations. Readers, ones with at least half a brain, will abandon your story if they have to spend time deciphering your words.
There is no excuse for not proofreading your work at least twice before posting it. You say you do not have a spell-checker. Okay, but did you think to go online and look for one there? Open your browser, go to Google and type the words spell check into the search bar. The first link to show is a wonderful place called spellcheck.net - use it!
Now, here are some specifics about your story:
Proper names are capitalized at all times; first AND last names, without exception.
'heero' - Heero.
'duo' - Duo.
'quatre' - Quatre.
'Sally po' - Sally Po.
When writing speech, each speaker should be on a separate line. Cramming more than one speaker into a line or paragraph is incorrect and difficult to read.
Learn the difference between their, there and they're. More than once you've used the wrong form.
Spelling a character's name incorrectly - in the title of a chapter no less - is inexcusable. This is a prime example why you should a) proofread your work before posting and b) use a spell-checker.
Author notes within the body of the story are tacky, unnecessary and distracting. If you, the author, absolutely must say something, use a footnote (look it up if you don't know what it is).
' "Uh duo I have some interesting news." Sally po said. " What kind of news." Duo asked a little scared.
This example, drawn right from chapter 1, is riddled with errors.
1) Duo's speech should be on a new line.
2) After 'Uh' a comma is needed.
3) 'duo' is a proper name and requires capitalization.
4) '...news." ' Wrong punctuation used - the period should be a comma.
5) 'po' is a proper name and requires capitalization.
6) ' " What...' There should be no space between the opening quotation mark and the start of the word.
7) '...of news." Duo asked...' If Duo 'asked' then there should be a question mark, not a period, at the end of news.
If this is a good example of your work, do the fan fiction world a huge favor and stop posting. If you cannot, or will not, take the time to ensure your work is as error free as possible then no fandom needs your contribution.
Your author note at the beginning of chapter four is stupid and childish. This may be YOUR fic, but YOU have chosen to post it in a PUBLIC archive. As soon as you did that, you opened yourself up to reviews - good AND bad. If you cannot handle bad reviews in a mature manner, then there's another reason to stop posting.
# posted by hellsbit_ch @ 7:52 PM 
