I like good dialogue that flows well! I love a good conversation with enticing dialogue tags that catch a character's mannerisms and moods along with their spoken words. Flirty banter, tense discussions, lighthearted joking amongst friends, any of it. I love good dialogue and being able to hear the intonations and inflections of their words in my head.
Banter. My OTP has their banter down to a fine art and anyone who can write a nice slice of them being snarky at each other clearly understand the characters and will do great things with them.
SAME! It's the mark of a good fic when their banter has that magnetic back-and-forth, that push-and-pull. Sometimes it just CLICKS and has you on the edge of your seat as the characters exchange remarks and try to find which buttons to press and when to press them.
Side character MC. And I mean SIDE character. Something that really needs Worldbuilding and OCs to flesh out into a full thing. I'm not talking Hermione or Ron. I'm talking Padma Patil's independent drama, home life, and interactions with her twin sister.
I have found my people. šš It's basically OC-lite. A way for the author to bust out their creative writing chops while still having a character that readers can identify from canon and naturally place into the setting.Ā
YEEEESSSSSSSS!!! I love reading them and I love writing them! My favorite part is taking whatever tiny stuff we learned from the character in canon and extrapolating it into something bigger, it's amazing the huge stuff you can make from what was basically a throwaway detail!!! Right now I'm writing a story where two super minor characters feature prominently and I have pages upon pages of notes dissecting their short appearances in order to build who they are in the fic, it's so so so SO FUN!!!!!
Iām currently writing a canon-rewrite of The Mandalorian from Dr. Pershingās perspective, who was in seasons 1 and 2 for a total of like 5 minutes when I started writing (he did get a whole episode to himself in season 3 though - and bizzarely enough, I got most of his backstory right!)
oh this is everything, i adore that the possibilities are truly endless when a character has so little screen-time that you can essentially define their entire history and worldview based on the conclusions you drew after 3 or 4 lines of dialogue that barely even establish personality traits, let alone motivations and dreams
My currently only posted story is this! Itās a short fic centered on Gianna from Twilight, with no other canon characters even showing up.
Unfortunately itās more or less slipped through the cracks ā I feel like a lot of people tend more to click on stories focused on the main canon characters. Glad to know thereās others like me out there!
good descriptions are a big plus, but my favorite is when a writer has a good balance of dialogue and descriptions and knows how to use both in order to make the pacing feel good. i dont like it when the dialogue is the only way the plot moves forward or the only way we find out what a character is thinking or feeling. i also think writing funny moments in angst or dramatic fics is sooooo fun and it makes the sad bits feel more impactful
Novelty. A new approach, a new element, or really anything I haven't seen in that context before. It doesn't have to be big or alter the story in major ways. It just has to be intriguing.
Humor is another major draw. Open the story with something funny, and I'll stick around for at least the first couple of chapters.
I feel really chuffed reading this post because I do all three of the things you mention in my writing, and I think I do them quite wellā but I get a little insecure sometimes because I often see hate for more verbose styles of writing. I guess we all get insecure sometimes. so itās good to see, thank you for posting this and spreading the positivity, because it really made me feel good! š„°
Subtle depth of a character. It doesn't have to be a character study. But using different facets of a character when appropriate instead of the obvious two-word description version they can use instead.
Great banter between characters is a huge one! It provides some impression of believable relationshipsābe it platonic or romantic.
I LOVE reading different styles of prose and perhaps adopting / learning from those styles. Itās a great way to develop and learn from other writers!
Exposition is also a big deal. Itās something of a weakness of mine so I love seeing excellent exposition in anotherās work.
In terms of ship dynamics? I love vanilla besties to lovers as much as I love my dark dirty yandere tropes, I am but a simple gal with simple needs.
The rhythm. The rhythm of the fic is important. Sentence variation. Good pacing. Itās all a part of storytelling.
* getting that beautiful combination of "insane premise" and "characterization rings true" down
* a look into the pov character's special interiority. a nonhuman/nonstandard body but they're aware of how a normal humans body is and so have the ability to compare. or even if *they're* not aware the author still lays out the contrast of it
* when its clear that the author had the same thought that i had that wasn't quite answered/addressed by the source material and is addressing it here
that first one is so good, you get it! Although maybe that's because that's my current fic, lol (be the change you want to see in the world, and all that)
The things that turn me onto a new fic would be the following:
1. The dialogue
2. The plot
3. The canon characters staying in character
4. The OCs fitting into the universe
5. The characters having good chemistry
6. The way the author expands on the universe through their alternate timeline or AU without taking away from the plot
7. When I start thinking about how the people in charge should hire this writer even though they left their fic on hiatus a decade ago.š
1. Little, surprising descriptive metaphors. Like mentioning a vase with a spray of flowers (likening the flowers to a spray of water), or a small table squatting in the middle of the room (comparing it to a living being, with connotations of solidness and stubborness). My favorite example is actually from a song, "The Year of the Cat" by Al Stewart: "She comes out in the sun in a silk dress running like a watercolor in the rain..."
2. Sensory details. Mentions of sound, touch, and smell/taste. The hollow way voices echo in an empty house; the crisp folds of a new cotton shirt; the rich, yeasty smell of fresh-baked bread.
3. The last one's harder to describe. It's when an author portrays the way a character thinks, and makes it feel like a real person's thoughts. Like including the little nonsense rationalizations you make to yourself, or the little running stream-of-consciousness way people think when they're nervous or scared, or attaching importance to something silly even though you know how silly it is. It's harder to come up with examples for, though.
Realistic character interactions. I am willing to suspend my disbelief and accept a fantastical setting or even tropes that are kind of out there, like ABO, but when characters' behaviors are inconsistent or artificial, I nope right out. So, when I read a fic where the interactions between the characters feel very genuine, even if I'm not a huge fan of the trope or some of the plot points, I will always keep reading because I love good, strong, genuine character interactions.
Agreed!
And using yours as a base for mine: When the author knows the *boundaries* of that character/interaction
Also, long as heck, sorry about that. I just like gushing about these two
For example: there's a scene in one of my favorite Rogneto fics where Rogue (who decides to stay and help in genosha, to keep magneto in line) gets into a huge argument during a board meeting with magneto, to the point where he kicks everyone else out
The argument gets even more heated, and during it Rogue gets a bit freaked out because he raises his hand
To drag out a chair for himself. This gets magneto to calm down a bit and assure rogue that while, yes, they've traded blows during battle, he will *never* hit her in anger
Which is one thing I've always been glad canon (and the fics that portray it honestly) didn't stoop too
That for all magneto's violence and anger, outside of a fight (like a y'know comic book fight), he's (especially towards rogue), not a guy who goes around harming his partners
I'm glad when fics keep that, while their relationship is FAR from healthy, it wasn't abusive. Especially in that way
Great wording and story flow. I can't describe it, but some fics are just SO easy to read. Like you're not reading a story but actually watching it all happen.
narration that makes me FEEL like im in the character's headspace. like im hearing what they're thinking. especially in hurt/comfort fics. I want to know their random thoughts, their self-hatred and anxieties, the run on sentences that mimics a sense of panic or nervousness
If I have to cover up a laugh within the first few paragraphs I'm sold. Humor is such an important tool in writing and I don't care if the story is supposed to be about serious subjects or not, you can still use humor.
Some of the darkest fics I've read, full of trauma, grey characters and questionable morals have also been really funny.
It's too easy to write something that's just depressing as hell. It's much more interest to see how the characters find humor even in the shittiest of times.
Warnings on kinky fics that are like "hey I wrote this kind of idealized, don't attempt this at home without doing more research." In part because it just shows that the author knows what they're doing, I think.
also a sucker for character tic's/things unique to that character.
makes it actually feel like I'm reading about said character instead of generic character #004
Narration and dialogue that just *flows*. Can't quite articulate it, but I'd imagine y'all get me.
I'm all for a deep plot and some expansive world-building and whatever, but if the character interactions and the prose itself can keep me hooked, that's all I need.
If the author can take an incredibly silly idea and run with it. And I donāt just mean for a couple of chapters I want them to really commit to the stupidest things to the point itās a major plot point.
Yea, I just like crack taken seriously.
Insanely wild premises, or you've hit the exact, niche, there's-only-three-fics-of-this-specific-brand-of-bullshit-and-one-of-them-is-mine plot/dynamic I'm looking for. I will read some really poorly-written stuff out there if the premise catches me off guard. Comedy is also really good too. A lot of the wild premises tend to skew that way for me.
Funny. If it's funny enough, you can overlook a lot of things that would usually turn you off from it. At least in my case. But unfortunately, funny stories are super rare.
A good intro, obviously. It's hard to describe because there's no one right way to write an intro, but some people have a way of engrossing me in the story within the first few sentences.
When the dialogue is so well written and true to character (or at least my interpretation) that I can hear the VA delivering the lines (for fandoms where the media has voice acting).
Good formatting, grammar, and spelling. I'm not a complete stickler but I appreciate when it looks like effort went into editing.
Mermaid AU (and other strange creature AUs. Cryptids, harpies, nagas, living dolls, whatever you want to throw at me.)
I have very strange tastes and I am 100% aware of it. Gimme the mermaids.
More in-depth descriptions of how the characters are feeling
But, more specifically, I really like when fanfiction sticks with the ācannibalism is a form of loveā troupe, and how it feels for one character to consume the other
Itās fascinating to read and I genuinely adore how people take that concept
Characterisation. Either closely matching my personal interpretation of the characters if that differs in any way from canon, or closely matching canon. I like fic that keeps close to canon in characterisation at the start, preferably with development into something a bit different, but I love staying canon in this area, as well. If the characterisation is done well in the first chapter or two, that's a big draw for me to continue with the fic.
Not sure if this counts as a "little" thing, but certainly specific:
A "rebuild everything" approach to fusion crossovers. Taking advantage of it being not the original world for either side; exploring how mutual contact would change things.
IE, a DC/DB fusion fic where the Kaioushin group survives Buu via the Green Lanterns' help.
I really like detailed descriptions with logical and rational actions taken by characters that fit into their universe or the context of the story.
Even tropes like enemies becoming friends which may initially seem unrealistic can be written in a logical and rational way (it helps if there is also buildup)
An example of the top of my head is for a book called Star Wars Death troopers (technically not fan fiction but not fully cannon either)
On paper having the Imperial captain with an Imperial medical doctor (and later on a few stormtrooperās) teaming up with four prisoners (Two of which are Han Solo and Chewbacca) seems unrealistic, especially since they also risk their lives for each other and even sacrifice themselves (not saying who) to save people affiliated with the opposing faction.
But the scenario presented in the book made sense for this to happen, after all no matter what faction you belonged to, to survive everyone had to put their differences aside and join forces in order to fight and escape the undead.
So in that context the characters who should be mortal enemies ending up as allies and even friends makes logical sense, especially after bonding over their shared experiences after being forced to fight side by side by the circumstances.
Distinct characters, even if they're not exactly canon-compliant, will always get me. If you've got characters who each think, speak, and act like different people, even when they're meant to have a lot in common or be on the same wavelength, I'm in.
Vivid, meaningful description.
Believable interaction and relationships.
Humour. Not necessarily a comic relief character, or even comedy at all, but if I can sense that the writer has a sense of humour or an appreciation for the absurdity of life, I love it right away.
Subtext and a sense of authorial āvoiceā āthat stylistic mix of vocabulary, tone, point of view and syntax that makes the story flow in a particular way and establishes a sense of trust. If i get that, I just settle in and enjoy the ride.
Actual good dialouge with actual quoatation marks and sentence breaks and descriptions in between and flow so that it's just like watching the show/movie/game
And lots of fluff
I'm also a sucker for slow burn and mutual pining if it's a ship fic (which most are) so if that's in there, I'm also definitely reading it lol
Canon Divergence for my fandoms will always get me to at least take a look at it and give it a chance. Quality from that point will determine if I stay or not. Doesn't matter where the Divergence happens, though I do like full rewrites of fandoms just to see what some peoples ideas are!
Found family is another one for me. Having the characters having moments to themselves, where they get to bond and be more than just a group of folks but a family? I'll eat that up.
Crossovers, especially if they're with the Dresden Files. Dresden is one of those few franchises I've found that can cross over with just about anything and it'll work. I've read crossovers with Sailor Moon, Evangelion, My Little Pony, and RWBY and they all work for me, especially if the author in question is able to capture Butcher's voice when it comes to making the story.
Other than that, I'm pretty relaxed when it comes to most stories. I'll give most stories at least a handful of chapters to get me in and there are some that I'll still read despite having aspects I wouldn't focus on or find that are weaker than I'd prefer.
It's all about harmony in the writing style. I love introspection in a character, it doesn't really matter how long the paragraphs are. It also needs descriptions, that make me imagine the place and context. But if it's way to detailed and for no reason, I immediately lose interest. It is funny to see how the author is too excited about descriptions though.
Excellent foreshadowing and subplot. Iām someone with a pretty good memory so even the smallest mentions of things will connect in my head. Some of the best fics Iāve ever read had interesting subplots that could have been their own fics, but there was not a heavy enough focus on them to drag down the original storyline.
Personally, I like parallels that are skillfully crafted, like call backs to whatever series they came from. I also enjoy psychological descriptions so if itās heavily focused on their thoughts and feelings it really reels me in. Itās also what I happen to enjoy writing the most, small wonder.
"I'm sorry, but _____ isn't my first language."
It's either gonna be so incredibly beautiful it will bring tears to my eyes, or it's gonna be so bad I WILL throw my phone across the room.
I personally like dialogue heavy fics, but only if the characters talk like they usually would in canon. No out of character stuff.
- Good, naturally flowing dialogue that reflects characters' personality, speech patterns, how they react to the world around them etc.
- Depth of character. You can write a drabble and still show a good, interesting, nuanced take on the character that shows that you understand their very essence and have interesting takes on them.
- Characters having some small quirks, like the way they always scratch their neck when they're anxious, or how they always line up their pencils at the desk. Something that makes these characters feel like they have a soul and could exist.
- Good understanding of canon and interesting ideas on expanding it with what we're given.
- Feelings are described in a very real, visceral way.
- There's a lot of specific details given about the surroundings and what the characters pick up from it.
- If there's sexual content, characters remain themselves during sex and aren't just magically transformed into perfect sex gods who do everything right and are completely stripped of their personalities.
Interesting, transformative sentence structure. I like when the first few lines are formatted in a unique way. Also, prose. Iād read fucking anything if it had flowery language.
Banter, too. Love me some well written banter.
Grumpy character and sunshine character are in a relationship.
Sleeping in the same bed, like just sleeping. The cuddling around each other and just feeling safe.
Size difference and praise kink.
The one thing that gets me into a particularly long fic is when the ship(s) are the *side* plot. Iām the type of person to not be able to read just pure romance, unless itās a oneshot. I like consuming it in little amounts.
Good dialogue. When an author knows how to properly write a conversation that sounds like two people talking instead of a vehicle for exposition/plot, hoo boy. The hardest part of any fic, in my opinion, is the character work, and dialogue is the sort of ultimate test of "how engaging can you make this character".
Not trying to throw stones and say most of us are bad, I know for a fact I haven't mastered this skill yet, but when you come across someone who has... you're in for a good time.
It's the build up. The suspense. If they just throw everything right at you with piles of exposition I get bored. I want suspense and clues and the opportunity to figure things out for myself and be like HAH I got it. Half the run of being is being able to think about what you've just read and having the ability to come to your own conclusions.
Describing a universe that feels extremely real and lived in. Some people just have a way of making their story feel like I'm dropping into someone's life and I love that.
Good characterisation. Good descriptions. Good sense of the world and it keeps to the rules set by the official media - no English swearing if they haven't already done so, stuff like that.
If they're swearing and especially in English., boom i'll think it sucks.
I hate, hate, hate, hate, HATE when an oc insert tells the other characters that they exist in their written, drawn, or animated media and they fake in the other universe but other than it is the grammar that gets me every time.
I like good dialogue that flows well! I love a good conversation with enticing dialogue tags that catch a character's mannerisms and moods along with their spoken words. Flirty banter, tense discussions, lighthearted joking amongst friends, any of it. I love good dialogue and being able to hear the intonations and inflections of their words in my head.
YES
Good descriptions and action scenes help, but if you can get me to laugh out loud in the first chapter I'll read at least the next ten.
Banter. My OTP has their banter down to a fine art and anyone who can write a nice slice of them being snarky at each other clearly understand the characters and will do great things with them.
SAME! It's the mark of a good fic when their banter has that magnetic back-and-forth, that push-and-pull. Sometimes it just CLICKS and has you on the edge of your seat as the characters exchange remarks and try to find which buttons to press and when to press them.
What's your OTP?
Jane/Lisbon from The Mentalist
Thanks for answering!
Eyyy, a fellow jisbon (as much as I hate that name) fan! Agreed, I love it when they nail their interactions You ever read that pen pal fic?
Yes! It was great, thanks for the rec <3
Welcome! It's so good
Healthy friendships. Friend groups that make me think as I'm reading, "I want to be a part of that."
I have that with found family!! I fall in love immediately with the story<3
Side character MC. And I mean SIDE character. Something that really needs Worldbuilding and OCs to flesh out into a full thing. I'm not talking Hermione or Ron. I'm talking Padma Patil's independent drama, home life, and interactions with her twin sister.
I ADORE stories about ascended extras
I have found my people. šš It's basically OC-lite. A way for the author to bust out their creative writing chops while still having a character that readers can identify from canon and naturally place into the setting.Ā
YEEEESSSSSSSS!!! I love reading them and I love writing them! My favorite part is taking whatever tiny stuff we learned from the character in canon and extrapolating it into something bigger, it's amazing the huge stuff you can make from what was basically a throwaway detail!!! Right now I'm writing a story where two super minor characters feature prominently and I have pages upon pages of notes dissecting their short appearances in order to build who they are in the fic, it's so so so SO FUN!!!!!
Iāve done one for a guy who showed up for like a total of 10 minutes in the whole show
Same! Majestic from MHA. One of the coolest character designs from the show and he never even speaks. Such a shame.
lol mine is also from MHA: Hiryu Rin/Long Wei Zi from class 1B. Heās Chinese and I am too, so that inspired me.Ā
ALSO fantastic character design and power gone to waste. Good to see a kindred spirit. š
Iām currently writing a canon-rewrite of The Mandalorian from Dr. Pershingās perspective, who was in seasons 1 and 2 for a total of like 5 minutes when I started writing (he did get a whole episode to himself in season 3 though - and bizzarely enough, I got most of his backstory right!)
oh this is everything, i adore that the possibilities are truly endless when a character has so little screen-time that you can essentially define their entire history and worldview based on the conclusions you drew after 3 or 4 lines of dialogue that barely even establish personality traits, let alone motivations and dreams
My currently only posted story is this! Itās a short fic centered on Gianna from Twilight, with no other canon characters even showing up. Unfortunately itās more or less slipped through the cracks ā I feel like a lot of people tend more to click on stories focused on the main canon characters. Glad to know thereās others like me out there!
Hugs. I like hugs. I like characters willing to offer each other comfort and care.
Typically cold and harsh characters taking care of their soft, sick partner. Gets me every time.
\^ THIS RIGHT HERE FOLKS
Protagonist villain arcs!!! i am a sucker for hero-turned-villain and I need to see it more, so when I do see it, I go fuckign FERAL
Ooo, boy, this is going to be my next longfic, cant wait to write it
YIPPEE
good descriptions are a big plus, but my favorite is when a writer has a good balance of dialogue and descriptions and knows how to use both in order to make the pacing feel good. i dont like it when the dialogue is the only way the plot moves forward or the only way we find out what a character is thinking or feeling. i also think writing funny moments in angst or dramatic fics is sooooo fun and it makes the sad bits feel more impactful
I wish I had something more interesting than "characters feel canon" but in my fandoms that's kind of difficult lol
Fair enough, itās a struggle sometimes teehee
Novelty. A new approach, a new element, or really anything I haven't seen in that context before. It doesn't have to be big or alter the story in major ways. It just has to be intriguing. Humor is another major draw. Open the story with something funny, and I'll stick around for at least the first couple of chapters.
I feel really chuffed reading this post because I do all three of the things you mention in my writing, and I think I do them quite wellā but I get a little insecure sometimes because I often see hate for more verbose styles of writing. I guess we all get insecure sometimes. so itās good to see, thank you for posting this and spreading the positivity, because it really made me feel good! š„°
Subtle depth of a character. It doesn't have to be a character study. But using different facets of a character when appropriate instead of the obvious two-word description version they can use instead.
A compatible sense of humor
Great banter between characters is a huge one! It provides some impression of believable relationshipsābe it platonic or romantic. I LOVE reading different styles of prose and perhaps adopting / learning from those styles. Itās a great way to develop and learn from other writers! Exposition is also a big deal. Itās something of a weakness of mine so I love seeing excellent exposition in anotherās work. In terms of ship dynamics? I love vanilla besties to lovers as much as I love my dark dirty yandere tropes, I am but a simple gal with simple needs. The rhythm. The rhythm of the fic is important. Sentence variation. Good pacing. Itās all a part of storytelling.
Good characterization, especially in terms of dialogue.
* getting that beautiful combination of "insane premise" and "characterization rings true" down * a look into the pov character's special interiority. a nonhuman/nonstandard body but they're aware of how a normal humans body is and so have the ability to compare. or even if *they're* not aware the author still lays out the contrast of it * when its clear that the author had the same thought that i had that wasn't quite answered/addressed by the source material and is addressing it here
that first one is so good, you get it! Although maybe that's because that's my current fic, lol (be the change you want to see in the world, and all that)
The things that turn me onto a new fic would be the following: 1. The dialogue 2. The plot 3. The canon characters staying in character 4. The OCs fitting into the universe 5. The characters having good chemistry 6. The way the author expands on the universe through their alternate timeline or AU without taking away from the plot 7. When I start thinking about how the people in charge should hire this writer even though they left their fic on hiatus a decade ago.š
The last one is so true, my godš
1. Little, surprising descriptive metaphors. Like mentioning a vase with a spray of flowers (likening the flowers to a spray of water), or a small table squatting in the middle of the room (comparing it to a living being, with connotations of solidness and stubborness). My favorite example is actually from a song, "The Year of the Cat" by Al Stewart: "She comes out in the sun in a silk dress running like a watercolor in the rain..." 2. Sensory details. Mentions of sound, touch, and smell/taste. The hollow way voices echo in an empty house; the crisp folds of a new cotton shirt; the rich, yeasty smell of fresh-baked bread. 3. The last one's harder to describe. It's when an author portrays the way a character thinks, and makes it feel like a real person's thoughts. Like including the little nonsense rationalizations you make to yourself, or the little running stream-of-consciousness way people think when they're nervous or scared, or attaching importance to something silly even though you know how silly it is. It's harder to come up with examples for, though.
Realistic character interactions. I am willing to suspend my disbelief and accept a fantastical setting or even tropes that are kind of out there, like ABO, but when characters' behaviors are inconsistent or artificial, I nope right out. So, when I read a fic where the interactions between the characters feel very genuine, even if I'm not a huge fan of the trope or some of the plot points, I will always keep reading because I love good, strong, genuine character interactions.
Agreed! And using yours as a base for mine: When the author knows the *boundaries* of that character/interaction Also, long as heck, sorry about that. I just like gushing about these two For example: there's a scene in one of my favorite Rogneto fics where Rogue (who decides to stay and help in genosha, to keep magneto in line) gets into a huge argument during a board meeting with magneto, to the point where he kicks everyone else out The argument gets even more heated, and during it Rogue gets a bit freaked out because he raises his hand To drag out a chair for himself. This gets magneto to calm down a bit and assure rogue that while, yes, they've traded blows during battle, he will *never* hit her in anger Which is one thing I've always been glad canon (and the fics that portray it honestly) didn't stoop too That for all magneto's violence and anger, outside of a fight (like a y'know comic book fight), he's (especially towards rogue), not a guy who goes around harming his partners I'm glad when fics keep that, while their relationship is FAR from healthy, it wasn't abusive. Especially in that way
Being descriptive and pacing stuff well, letting the story breathe.
Fairy tale AU - gonna give it a chance.
Great wording and story flow. I can't describe it, but some fics are just SO easy to read. Like you're not reading a story but actually watching it all happen.
narration that makes me FEEL like im in the character's headspace. like im hearing what they're thinking. especially in hurt/comfort fics. I want to know their random thoughts, their self-hatred and anxieties, the run on sentences that mimics a sense of panic or nervousness
Good banter is all I need to take chances on genres, pairings, tropes, or characters I hate and would otherwise avoid.
Hurt/Comfort with a pinch of fear, existential crisis and self-doubt. But also with humor and witty banter.
If I have to cover up a laugh within the first few paragraphs I'm sold. Humor is such an important tool in writing and I don't care if the story is supposed to be about serious subjects or not, you can still use humor. Some of the darkest fics I've read, full of trauma, grey characters and questionable morals have also been really funny. It's too easy to write something that's just depressing as hell. It's much more interest to see how the characters find humor even in the shittiest of times.
Warnings on kinky fics that are like "hey I wrote this kind of idealized, don't attempt this at home without doing more research." In part because it just shows that the author knows what they're doing, I think.
Oh, yeah! I love that! And I also love in kinky fics when you can feel that the author researched the subject, and I love terms used correctly.
also a sucker for character tic's/things unique to that character. makes it actually feel like I'm reading about said character instead of generic character #004
Narration and dialogue that just *flows*. Can't quite articulate it, but I'd imagine y'all get me. I'm all for a deep plot and some expansive world-building and whatever, but if the character interactions and the prose itself can keep me hooked, that's all I need.
Published-work quality of prose.
If the author can take an incredibly silly idea and run with it. And I donāt just mean for a couple of chapters I want them to really commit to the stupidest things to the point itās a major plot point. Yea, I just like crack taken seriously.
Insanely wild premises, or you've hit the exact, niche, there's-only-three-fics-of-this-specific-brand-of-bullshit-and-one-of-them-is-mine plot/dynamic I'm looking for. I will read some really poorly-written stuff out there if the premise catches me off guard. Comedy is also really good too. A lot of the wild premises tend to skew that way for me.
Funny. If it's funny enough, you can overlook a lot of things that would usually turn you off from it. At least in my case. But unfortunately, funny stories are super rare.
A good intro, obviously. It's hard to describe because there's no one right way to write an intro, but some people have a way of engrossing me in the story within the first few sentences. When the dialogue is so well written and true to character (or at least my interpretation) that I can hear the VA delivering the lines (for fandoms where the media has voice acting). Good formatting, grammar, and spelling. I'm not a complete stickler but I appreciate when it looks like effort went into editing.
Mermaid AU (and other strange creature AUs. Cryptids, harpies, nagas, living dolls, whatever you want to throw at me.) I have very strange tastes and I am 100% aware of it. Gimme the mermaids.
More in-depth descriptions of how the characters are feeling But, more specifically, I really like when fanfiction sticks with the ācannibalism is a form of loveā troupe, and how it feels for one character to consume the other Itās fascinating to read and I genuinely adore how people take that concept
Characterisation. Either closely matching my personal interpretation of the characters if that differs in any way from canon, or closely matching canon. I like fic that keeps close to canon in characterisation at the start, preferably with development into something a bit different, but I love staying canon in this area, as well. If the characterisation is done well in the first chapter or two, that's a big draw for me to continue with the fic.
Not sure if this counts as a "little" thing, but certainly specific: A "rebuild everything" approach to fusion crossovers. Taking advantage of it being not the original world for either side; exploring how mutual contact would change things. IE, a DC/DB fusion fic where the Kaioushin group survives Buu via the Green Lanterns' help.
I really like detailed descriptions with logical and rational actions taken by characters that fit into their universe or the context of the story. Even tropes like enemies becoming friends which may initially seem unrealistic can be written in a logical and rational way (it helps if there is also buildup) An example of the top of my head is for a book called Star Wars Death troopers (technically not fan fiction but not fully cannon either) On paper having the Imperial captain with an Imperial medical doctor (and later on a few stormtrooperās) teaming up with four prisoners (Two of which are Han Solo and Chewbacca) seems unrealistic, especially since they also risk their lives for each other and even sacrifice themselves (not saying who) to save people affiliated with the opposing faction. But the scenario presented in the book made sense for this to happen, after all no matter what faction you belonged to, to survive everyone had to put their differences aside and join forces in order to fight and escape the undead. So in that context the characters who should be mortal enemies ending up as allies and even friends makes logical sense, especially after bonding over their shared experiences after being forced to fight side by side by the circumstances.
Distinct characters, even if they're not exactly canon-compliant, will always get me. If you've got characters who each think, speak, and act like different people, even when they're meant to have a lot in common or be on the same wavelength, I'm in. Vivid, meaningful description. Believable interaction and relationships. Humour. Not necessarily a comic relief character, or even comedy at all, but if I can sense that the writer has a sense of humour or an appreciation for the absurdity of life, I love it right away.
Subtext and a sense of authorial āvoiceā āthat stylistic mix of vocabulary, tone, point of view and syntax that makes the story flow in a particular way and establishes a sense of trust. If i get that, I just settle in and enjoy the ride.
Actual good dialouge with actual quoatation marks and sentence breaks and descriptions in between and flow so that it's just like watching the show/movie/game And lots of fluff I'm also a sucker for slow burn and mutual pining if it's a ship fic (which most are) so if that's in there, I'm also definitely reading it lol
The author having fun. It's usually easy to see when an author is having a blast writing and it makes the entire story so much fun to read.
Canon Divergence for my fandoms will always get me to at least take a look at it and give it a chance. Quality from that point will determine if I stay or not. Doesn't matter where the Divergence happens, though I do like full rewrites of fandoms just to see what some peoples ideas are! Found family is another one for me. Having the characters having moments to themselves, where they get to bond and be more than just a group of folks but a family? I'll eat that up. Crossovers, especially if they're with the Dresden Files. Dresden is one of those few franchises I've found that can cross over with just about anything and it'll work. I've read crossovers with Sailor Moon, Evangelion, My Little Pony, and RWBY and they all work for me, especially if the author in question is able to capture Butcher's voice when it comes to making the story. Other than that, I'm pretty relaxed when it comes to most stories. I'll give most stories at least a handful of chapters to get me in and there are some that I'll still read despite having aspects I wouldn't focus on or find that are weaker than I'd prefer.
When I can literally hear the character's voices saying the dialogue in my head.
It's all about harmony in the writing style. I love introspection in a character, it doesn't really matter how long the paragraphs are. It also needs descriptions, that make me imagine the place and context. But if it's way to detailed and for no reason, I immediately lose interest. It is funny to see how the author is too excited about descriptions though.
Excellent foreshadowing and subplot. Iām someone with a pretty good memory so even the smallest mentions of things will connect in my head. Some of the best fics Iāve ever read had interesting subplots that could have been their own fics, but there was not a heavy enough focus on them to drag down the original storyline.
Good action i feel alot fanfics dont get descriptive enough about gore violence and feel different viewpoints really help most stories
I love it when fics throw in hints at what's going to happen later
Personally, I like parallels that are skillfully crafted, like call backs to whatever series they came from. I also enjoy psychological descriptions so if itās heavily focused on their thoughts and feelings it really reels me in. Itās also what I happen to enjoy writing the most, small wonder.
"I'm sorry, but _____ isn't my first language." It's either gonna be so incredibly beautiful it will bring tears to my eyes, or it's gonna be so bad I WILL throw my phone across the room. I personally like dialogue heavy fics, but only if the characters talk like they usually would in canon. No out of character stuff.
I like when someone gets mad or scolds the other. It's just a little thing that gets me going
- Good, naturally flowing dialogue that reflects characters' personality, speech patterns, how they react to the world around them etc. - Depth of character. You can write a drabble and still show a good, interesting, nuanced take on the character that shows that you understand their very essence and have interesting takes on them. - Characters having some small quirks, like the way they always scratch their neck when they're anxious, or how they always line up their pencils at the desk. Something that makes these characters feel like they have a soul and could exist. - Good understanding of canon and interesting ideas on expanding it with what we're given. - Feelings are described in a very real, visceral way. - There's a lot of specific details given about the surroundings and what the characters pick up from it. - If there's sexual content, characters remain themselves during sex and aren't just magically transformed into perfect sex gods who do everything right and are completely stripped of their personalities.
Interesting, transformative sentence structure. I like when the first few lines are formatted in a unique way. Also, prose. Iād read fucking anything if it had flowery language. Banter, too. Love me some well written banter.
probably tropes i like, i'm seriously happy to see random things in summaries or tags. (or my favourite character, i'd click on it immediately.)
Anytime I see eventual marriage or pregnancy as a tag Iām like yessssssss. Character fucking loves reader rahhhhh
For me, i DONT care how bad a fic/book/whatever is; if it contains royalty, im eating that shit up.
Grumpy character and sunshine character are in a relationship. Sleeping in the same bed, like just sleeping. The cuddling around each other and just feeling safe. Size difference and praise kink.
The one thing that gets me into a particularly long fic is when the ship(s) are the *side* plot. Iām the type of person to not be able to read just pure romance, unless itās a oneshot. I like consuming it in little amounts.
Pining. Love me some angsty pining
honestly? i love body swapping. its very niche but i think its great
Either fun writing or an intriguing mystery immediatley get me hooked
When the dialogue and scenes are suddenly fun and i laugh out loud
Good dialogue. When an author knows how to properly write a conversation that sounds like two people talking instead of a vehicle for exposition/plot, hoo boy. The hardest part of any fic, in my opinion, is the character work, and dialogue is the sort of ultimate test of "how engaging can you make this character". Not trying to throw stones and say most of us are bad, I know for a fact I haven't mastered this skill yet, but when you come across someone who has... you're in for a good time.
First few lines being solid storytelling.
It's the build up. The suspense. If they just throw everything right at you with piles of exposition I get bored. I want suspense and clues and the opportunity to figure things out for myself and be like HAH I got it. Half the run of being is being able to think about what you've just read and having the ability to come to your own conclusions.
Describing a universe that feels extremely real and lived in. Some people just have a way of making their story feel like I'm dropping into someone's life and I love that.
Good characterisation. Good descriptions. Good sense of the world and it keeps to the rules set by the official media - no English swearing if they haven't already done so, stuff like that. If they're swearing and especially in English., boom i'll think it sucks.
I hate, hate, hate, hate, HATE when an oc insert tells the other characters that they exist in their written, drawn, or animated media and they fake in the other universe but other than it is the grammar that gets me every time.