That being said, let us plod onward.SUGGESTIONS:
Always run a spell-check/grammar-check on your document prior to posting. This is a cinch to do, and it makes readers not want to abandon your story right off the bat. Perhaps you’ve got a brilliant story to tell, but if you’re too lazy to use the correct form of “there/their/they’re” or you haven’t a clue how to spell the word “teh” (it’s “the,” by the way), you may lose your readership pretty early on. I understand that boo-boos will inevitably occur. Don’t worry. I won’t be marking your fics with red ink and handing out detentions.
But do try to be conscious about what you’re posting on our board. Readers probably won’t want to bother reading an error-filled fic.Finding a beta-reader is extremely advantageous for writers of fan fiction. I highly recommend finding one if you don’t have someone already. Betas can usually find mistakes writers have missed themselves, even after several times reading through a story. They also can offer good advice when you’ve hit a dead end or have gotten yourself stuck on a certain gummy part in your story! (We’ve all been there as writers, right?!) Perhaps you’re thinking that you don’t know how to get yourself a beta, so you’ll just do without. Let me suggest, as a substitute for an “official” beta, enlisting a good friend to go over your story before posting it. Ask that friend to be as honest as possible when giving you feedback, and take your friend’s advice, whenever possible.
Canon - It’s a complicated area, when referring to fan fiction. My suggestion to writers in this fandom is this: Please, please, please don’t completely disregard the writings of Jo Rowling. If you are going to deviate from canon, please make sure it has a legitimate purpose for your story. If your story does deviate from canon, please do readers a favor and label your story as AU, or alternate universe. Bear in mind that some deviations may not work. Voldemort as a ballet instructor in Paris is probably not the way you want to go. I’m just saying.
Here’s a great site for canon-checking: The Harry Potter Lexicon Even JKR has been known to delve into the Lexicon’s archives, so don't hesitate to do so yourself!
British-isms and Such – I will be the first to admit, writing a story set in Great Britain can be damn tricky sometimes. I myself have a beta-reader who has slapped me on the wrist many a times for being too “American” when I write. This, my friends, is because I choose to slot British-isms into my writing. For the most part, I am successful, with lots of assistance from my beta. If you are British, or you truly have a knack for writing like you were in another life, swell. Go for it! You’ll probably be more successful than me, but if you’re new at it, please take some time to familiarize yourself with a little Brit culture prior to attempting it, or else just avoid trying to be blatantly British altogether. But if you’re going to slog on and attempt it, first watch a few BBC specials, some Brit flicks, read a couple British novels (the American version of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone does NOT count!
)…all of these things have helped me out immensely. Also, may I suggest some mighty helpful websites? Yes? Good! Here they are:British Slang Dictionary 1
British Slang Dictionary 2
US to UK Dictionary
Here are some other websites that are helpful to writers of HP fan fiction:
HP Currency Converter from CNN
Latin Dictionary & Grammar Aid (This is useful when concocting new spells!)
Metric Converter
Phases of the Moon (A must for anyone writing a Lupin fic!)
Time Zone Converter
I hope you’ll take time to take my suggestions to heart.
Mwa!Happy writing,
Bisty