by Mayv 'SpearBourne' Amaia

Created on: September 23, 2010   Last Updated: February 05, 2011

I love good fan fiction. It might adhere closely to canon or it could be only loosely based on the source material; to me, what matters is how well the story is written.

If you want to attract more readers to your fan fiction story, the first thing you may want to do is provide a brief but descriptive summary. Often, readers will decide whether or not to go any further solely on the basis of the summary you provide.

When is your story set in relation to the source material? Who are your main characters? Are they all established characters or have you included your own original characters? Is it part of a series you intend to write or a stand-alone story? Do you adhere to canon or do you use it as inspiration and go in new directions?

Try to answer some of those questions in your summary to whet the appetite of your audience.

Once you have their attention, you might want to provide some background before beginning the story. This is called an author's note, usually abbreviated as A/N or AN.

You can tell your readers what inspired this particular story, why you have written it, or explain from whose point of view it is told. You could also provide a more detailed summary of the plot or explain why you have given your story a particular rating, such as T for teenagers or M for mature.

A rating does matter. Let your audience know if there is mature material located in the story, whether it's explicit or implied, so that those not comfortable with such literature can make an informed decision.

Now that a reader has made the choice to read your story, ensure that you used correct grammar consistently. Nothing turns me off a story more quickly than seeing sentences full of spelling errors, mistakes in word choices, and misplaced punctuation. It wouldn't matter how interesting the plot was, poor grammar and writing skills would be far too distracting for me to enjoy it.

Use descriptive words judiciously. Make your readers see what happens; don't just tell them what happens. A few colourful metaphors can let your audience experience the action instead of simply reading the words you've written.

Remember to use the proper words when describing a setting. Say "forearm," not "that part between the wrist and elbow," as I saw one writer put it. Make sure you know what you're saying and that your audience will understand what you mean.

Don't be afraid or embarrassed to ask for help. Plenty of fan fiction writers work with beta readers who review the story before it is published. A beta can check for typos, spelling errors, and mistakes in grammar; they can also simply provide feedback so you can make any changes you agree are necessary.

If, once you've published your story, you receive a harsh or unfavourable review, try not to take it personally. Granted, there are some reviewers who are only out to anger or insult other people. These "trolls," as they are called, are best ignored when all they've done is flame, or leave searing insults rather than an actual review.

Then there are those who liked your story but have a few tips or advice on how you could improve it. Whether you take such advice is, of course, up to you, but such reviews can prove helpful.

Being at least receptive to constructive criticism without becoming petulant will show those who read and review your stories that you are approachable.

These are just some of the factors that will have readers coming back for more. Bear in mind, though, that whatever you write, there will be those who love it and those who hate it. Don't try to please everyone, but look at your story with an impartial eye so you'll attract as wide an audience as you desire.

Learn more about this author, Mayv 'SpearBourne' Amaia.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.