Maybe I just plain don't get it. Maybe I'm a terrible writer. Maybe I 
don't have a taste in writing. 
  But what is it that makes a good fanfic? 
  And I'll slap you if you point to 'that other' piece of work by the 
name of 'How to Write Good Fanfiction.'
  All over the place I see loads of praise for stuff like Hearts of Ice 
or DnR; is the time precedent working here? Is the number of pre-readers 
proportional to the success of the story? 
  Or are long, descriptive passages describing the minute details of a 
Stephen King novel, that grabs people? 
  Or does my writing just plain suck? Am I destined for 2/5 when 
reaching for a 3/5? Why is it that people notice me for my bad works and 
not my (IMO) good works? 
  Back to point: what makes a fanfic good? 
  And so far I've come up with the following critera:

1. The author feels it's good (the easiest part)
2. Readers tell the author and others it's good
3. More than five people read the story and think it's good 
4. Pre-readers catch all the little glitches in the story
5. Long descriptive passages describing minute details of a Stephen King 
novel
6. Said fic must exist for an extended period of time 
7. Said fic must be recognized by established reviewers as good 
8. Said author mustn't be overly desparate for C&C or MSTs 
9. Said author must've written about something that makes sense 


"That's my story and I'm sticking to it."--JMS, creator of Babylon 5. 
"If you go to Z'ha'dum, you will die."--Kosh, Babylon 5.
"Jump. Jump now!"--Kosh, "Z'ha'dum," Babylon 5, making some sense. 

--Razorclaw X

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com