Saturday, January 22, 2005
Poor, poor fandom
Title: The story of a princess
Fandom: Gundam Wing
Author: silverlining on a darkcloud
Location: http://www.mediaminer.org/fanfic/view_st.php/85482
Feedback given:
Do the reading public a huge favor and learn to spell, how to use capital letters and punctuation.
Most word-processing programs come with a spell-check option these days. If yours does not have one, an on-line version is available at http://www.spellcheck.net. Proofreading your own work is also a wise thing to do. You may have caught some of the most blatant errors simply be re-reading your story before posting it.
Your summary is not encouraging. Ten mistakes for a forty-eight word summary is deplorable.
'step-sister' - You are referring to more than one person so this word should be 'step-sisters'.
'gundam-pilots' - This is not a hyphenated word and 'gundam' should be capitalized.
'cant' - This word is the contracted form of can not and an apostrophe is required. Can you figure out where?
'some swear...' The start of a new sentence is always capitalized.
'sensored' - Correct spelling of this word is 'censored'.
'truth or dare gundam wing style' - Except for the 'or', all other words should be capitalized and a period is required after 'style' since that is the end of a sentence.
The first chapter, or prologue, is not much better.
'...students.Seeing her...' - A space, preferably two, is required after a period and before a new sentence begins.
'monthes' - This word does not have an 'e' in it.
'gundam' - Capitalize this word.
'monthes' - (see above)
' "gawd...' - The start of a sentence required capitalization.
'twomarrow' - No such word could be found. Try 'tomorrow'.
'...twomarrow?" Noor answered,...' No, Noor did not 'answer' her sister. A question mark implies a question was asked.
'somthing' - There is a letter missing from this word. Can you figure out which one and where it goes?
'board' - Right spelling of this word, but it is the wrong word. 'Board' means "a flat thin piece of sawn timber" whereas 'bored' is defined as "weary, tired".
'...with him.putting it...' Spacing issue after the period (again) and no capital letter at the beginning of a new sentence.
'Suddenly the doorbell rang.' A comma is needed after 'suddenly'.
The next chapter is just as bad, if not a little worse.
Spelling, grammar, punctuation, form and structure are all part of story writing. Errors in these areas will turn more potential readers off your work than poor characterizations or plots. If a person has to work at figuring out where a sentence stops/starts or what a word is supposed to be, then they will probably leave before the story is finished. Driving readers away is not what an author normally desires.
If it takes a little extra time to ensure your work is as error-free as possible, then so be it. If the next chapter takes an extra hour, day or week to be posted who cares? You will gain more readers, and positive reviews, by posting a chapter that is readable and coherent.
Books on grammar, punctuation and general writing are available at your local library. A number of resources can also be found on-line. Dictionaries are available almost everywhere, including on-line. Always run your work through a spell-check program, proofread it yourself and, if possible, use a beta-reader or ask a friend to look it over.
Fandom: Gundam Wing
Author: silverlining on a darkcloud
Location: http://www.mediaminer.org/fanfic/view_st.php/85482
Feedback given:
Do the reading public a huge favor and learn to spell, how to use capital letters and punctuation.
Most word-processing programs come with a spell-check option these days. If yours does not have one, an on-line version is available at http://www.spellcheck.net. Proofreading your own work is also a wise thing to do. You may have caught some of the most blatant errors simply be re-reading your story before posting it.
Your summary is not encouraging. Ten mistakes for a forty-eight word summary is deplorable.
'step-sister' - You are referring to more than one person so this word should be 'step-sisters'.
'gundam-pilots' - This is not a hyphenated word and 'gundam' should be capitalized.
'cant' - This word is the contracted form of can not and an apostrophe is required. Can you figure out where?
'some swear...' The start of a new sentence is always capitalized.
'sensored' - Correct spelling of this word is 'censored'.
'truth or dare gundam wing style' - Except for the 'or', all other words should be capitalized and a period is required after 'style' since that is the end of a sentence.
The first chapter, or prologue, is not much better.
'...students.Seeing her...' - A space, preferably two, is required after a period and before a new sentence begins.
'monthes' - This word does not have an 'e' in it.
'gundam' - Capitalize this word.
'monthes' - (see above)
' "gawd...' - The start of a sentence required capitalization.
'twomarrow' - No such word could be found. Try 'tomorrow'.
'...twomarrow?" Noor answered,...' No, Noor did not 'answer' her sister. A question mark implies a question was asked.
'somthing' - There is a letter missing from this word. Can you figure out which one and where it goes?
'board' - Right spelling of this word, but it is the wrong word. 'Board' means "a flat thin piece of sawn timber" whereas 'bored' is defined as "weary, tired".
'...with him.putting it...' Spacing issue after the period (again) and no capital letter at the beginning of a new sentence.
'Suddenly the doorbell rang.' A comma is needed after 'suddenly'.
The next chapter is just as bad, if not a little worse.
Spelling, grammar, punctuation, form and structure are all part of story writing. Errors in these areas will turn more potential readers off your work than poor characterizations or plots. If a person has to work at figuring out where a sentence stops/starts or what a word is supposed to be, then they will probably leave before the story is finished. Driving readers away is not what an author normally desires.
If it takes a little extra time to ensure your work is as error-free as possible, then so be it. If the next chapter takes an extra hour, day or week to be posted who cares? You will gain more readers, and positive reviews, by posting a chapter that is readable and coherent.
Books on grammar, punctuation and general writing are available at your local library. A number of resources can also be found on-line. Dictionaries are available almost everywhere, including on-line. Always run your work through a spell-check program, proofread it yourself and, if possible, use a beta-reader or ask a friend to look it over.
# posted by hellsbit_ch @ 11:58 AM 
