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Your Own Special Mark |
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What makes your fanfiction special? What stands it out from all others? I'm not talking about plot, that's for another time; nonetheless, I speak of something quite important. I mean to say you need to add something to your fic that makes it absolutely yours. Okay, so it may not be needed, per say, but it will no doubt help you to develop your own sense of originality. I believe every good writer needs their own special mark. The Problem: How many fanfictions have you read begin with the author laying out a large spiel of authors notes followed by an inconsequential conversation with their 'muses,' who happen to be only characters they wish to meet someday in real life? There are quite a few, neh? This is all because they want to add something special to their fanfictions. The sad truth is, however, they are doing nothing but copy what others have done many times over before them. They thought it would make their fanfictions more 'fun' to read. Let me tell you this, it does not impress experienced fanfiction writers and readers alike. It is a good idea to make your fic special but at least be original about it. The Solution: Simply do something to make it uniquely yours. I can't tell you how to do this specifically because every individual writer is different. I can give you some examples though and I hope you will be able to see what I mean. For my own fanfictions sometimes I like to make chapters with titles that seem to be completely unrelated to what they're about. My titles, though, actually are tied to the chapter in a bizarre, twisted way but one has to have a deep (or maybe just an insane) mind to realize the tie. I'm sure other people have done this before, but there is no vast majority out there who does. I am being original this way and making my stories special. You should try many things to add that special something to your fanfictions. Maybe you'll create an original character who shows up briefly at least once in every one of your fanfictions. Maybe you'll always use acronyms to name your stories. Maybe you just have a special color that changes meaning throughout your stories. Whatever you choose to do, just do it to make your story your own. Don't think this step is all that important? Take a lesson from the small poems and rhymes littered throughout Kaori Yuki's manga series Godchild or search for the symbolisms hidden all throughout J. K. Rowling's Harry Potter series. Clever little snips here and there can really add that hidden element to making a story enjoyable. |