Fic Talk > General Discussion

Fanfic cliches

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Teri:
Well said, it's hard everyone starts with the cliched stuff cuz honestly it's the EASIEST to think of. It's usually one of the first ideas that comes to mind. Therefore it's not bad to write it at all, they wouldn't be cliched if they didn't have a popular following. But after you've written it go back and be very objective with yourself and say "will someone I don't even know understand what I'm trying to do here?" If that answer is no, then I suggest a re-write, if that answer is yes (first check with your beta reader if you have one) then be like ok it has potential.

Another thing with beta reading although I must admit both stories I beta for I LOVE. It's not always a good idea to have someone who is a huge fan of your story to be your beta. I feel though it's my duty to the authors whom I beta to be objective, (but overall nice about it LOL) and give them my honest opinion about where they're going with their writing. And personally I like knowing that one of my most trusted beta's (Mel!) really wasn't a "fan" of my work like say my friend Anita from Denmark or Crystal here at home are. Though I adore both Anita and Crys, I know that no matter what I do to my story (aside from killing off all five boys LMAO) that they'll love it simply because they like the story. With Mel it's more like okay Teri is this crucial to your plot? If not axe it. And I love that about her being my beta because usually I have this feeling that the scene or idea isn't really going to go anywhere so I'll bounce it off her to see if it may have potential and if she's like "well do you think it will important later in the story?" and I can't come up with a solid answer, I know it wasn't a good idea in the first place.

RokofAges75:
^ Good points.  I don't really have a "beta reader," but I know what you mean - it's hard to get valid, critical feedback from people who are fans of your work, or at least it seems that way.  They'll say everything's great whether it is or not, and maybe they really think it is, but others would probably disagree.

Do a lot of you have an actual beta reader who isn't just a friend of yours or a fan of your story?

nicksgal:
Hmmm...  Well, I asked Kelly to be my beta, and I love her feedback to pieces, but she seems to like the story too much to be overly critical with it.

I wish I had a very critical beta. *nod*

mare:
I dont really have a beta reader at all. I just let Mersey and Maria read my stuff before anyone else does and they are the ones that tell me if it makes sense or not, and I do the same for them lol I edit my own stories. I have betaed for other people in the past but it got to be too much.

RokofAges75:
^ That's the arrangement I have too.  I always have somebody who will read my chapters first and offer their opinions, and I do the same for them.

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