Supernatural Fanfic Nitpics and Pet Peeves

[RodneyIsGodney]

Something else that irritates me, not necessarily about the stories, but about the writers; Begging for reviews. Or insinuating that if a story gets more reviews, then updates will be released faster. I have nothing against authors interacting with their audiences, but I dislike the review-whoring that often goes on. Personally, I update to a fixed schedule, so that readers know when the next update is coming -- if they want to review, that's great, but they can do so knowing that the story is something more than a review-farming piece of work.

Oh, I hate that too! It's just so wrong! It's a big turn off for me. When I see that in a summary I just walk away.

I have read this particular one in a few now and it bugs me inordinately. I think the writers are pretty young, so maybe they just don't realize that if the Impala were to get wrecked, airbags would not go off because in 1967 airbags had not been invented yet. It amazes me that kids nowadays wouldn't know that a car exists that doesn't have them built in.
The thought that they would get put into Baby makes me cringe.

*cringes with Freckles* Yeah, that's another type of thing I hate seeing in stories. And, it's the kind of thing I'd just have to tell the author about because I wouldn't be able to read anymore until I have done so. I'd just be to irked!

Along those lines, I'm reading a story where the author has Dean's 9 year old daughter comparing the sight of the dead bodies in the house (as well as the house) in "The Magnificent Seven" to the pilot episode of The Walking Dead. I mean, come on! I how dense to you have to be not know that TWD was not on tv back when season 3 of SPN was airing???

[The Urban Spaceman]

I have read this particular one in a few now and it bugs me inordinately. I think the writers are pretty young, so maybe they just don't realize that if the Impala were to get wrecked, airbags would not go off because in 1967 airbags had not been invented yet. It amazes me that kids nowadays wouldn't know that a car exists that doesn't have them built in.
The thought that they would get put into Baby makes me cringe.

I was driving some friends around in my car, and one of said friends (nearly a decade younger than me) pointed to my car's choke and asked "What's that?" I told him it was the choke and he gave me the blankest look ever.

I died a little inside. -__-

That said, my latest car (2001 reg) and my bike (2010-built, 2011-reg) don't have choke, it's all computer-controlled fuel injection or whatever. I think it's sad that advances in motoring lead to a dumbing down of knowledge, but I guess if you stuck me in front of one of the old manual-crank cars, I'd look at it with a similarly blank expression (though having seen plenty of old films, I'd have a rough idea of how to work it).

Totally agree with you RiG. I have anachronisms like that as it totally ruins the continuity for me.

[RodneyIsGodney]

I was driving some friends around in my car, and one of said friends (nearly a decade younger than me) pointed to my car's choke and asked "What's that?" I told him it was the choke and he gave me the blankest look ever.

I died a little inside. -__-

That said, my latest car (2001 reg) and my bike (2010-built, 2011-reg) don't have choke, it's all computer-controlled fuel injection or whatever. I think it's sad that advances in motoring lead to a dumbing down of knowledge, but I guess if you stuck me in front of one of the old manual-crank cars, I'd look at it with a similarly blank expression (though having seen plenty of old films, I'd have a rough idea of how to work it).

Um... I (think) have no idea what a choke is other than that boat engines (Johnsons) have them. Thanks to an Alan Jackson song. Didn't know cars had them. Certainly not in the US. That I know of.

Totally agree with you RiG. I have anachronisms like that as it totally ruins the continuity for me.

Have Anachronisms??? ...Oh, wait, think that's supposed to be hate. Sorry, I was confused there for minute. I blame it on not feeling well tonight. Also, on being too dense to know what anachronism means. Guess I was absent from school that day.

[Sparky She-Demon]

What's the current opinion on OC fics?

[The Urban Spaceman]

Um... I (think) have no idea what a choke is other than that boat engines (Johnsons) have them. Thanks to an Alan Jackson song. Didn't know cars had them. Certainly not in the US. That I know of.

Maybe not in the US, but you guys don't really have manual clutch either, so there are some differences. I've had one car with choke, one without, one bike with choke, one without. Just really controls the fuel mixture that goes into the engine, can help to start a 'cold' engine more easily.

Never had a kick-start bike though.

Have Anachronisms??? ...Oh, wait, think that's supposed to be hate. Sorry, I was confused there for minute. I blame it on not feeling well tonight. Also, on being too dense to know what anachronism means. Guess I was absent from school that day.

Anachronism: Noun. 1.Something located at a time when it could not have existed or occurred. 2.An artifact that belongs to another time. 3.A person who seems to be displaced in time; who belongs to another age.

Too fancy a word for my school-days as well, but just 'cos school stops doesn't mean the learnin' does!

What's the current opinion on OC fics?

I really don't mind them. All of my short stories so far have been about established characters (Arch-angels, Bobby, Meg) but I'm writing a novel+ length story involving an OC with plenty of established-character cameos and interactions. I think it can work well as long as the audience isn't asked to suspend belief too far. And I'd rather not read about a Mary-Sue OC, or an OC who's clearly a stand-in for the author's self, and mostly only in the story to fall in love with Sam/Dean/Cas/any other character and follow said love-interest around like a lost puppy. Fantasy is all well and good, and people are well within their rights to write about their fantasies... I just don't particularly want to read them.

So... THUMBS UP FOR A COOL OC!

(In my novel+ story, my OC also meets other OC and has lots of OC adventures, as well as having interactions with established characters, and that's one thing that I love about fanfiction; writing not just one OC, but a whole bunch of OCs who develop their own friendships and relationships and may interact with established cannon characters and events but are not necessarily governed by them.)

[Sparky She-Demon]

Okay, thanks. I've created an OC angel.

[The Urban Spaceman]

Ditto! Angels are so cool Except the ones that are douchebags.

[Sparky She-Demon]

Ditto! Angels are so cool Except the ones that are douchebags.

Naomi comes to mind. This angel actively doesn't like Naomi, who doesn't like her much either, but needs her.

[RodneyIsGodney]

Maybe not in the US, but you guys don't really have manual clutch either, so there are some differences. I've had one car with choke, one without, one bike with choke, one without. Just really controls the fuel mixture that goes into the engine, can help to start a 'cold' engine more easily.

Never had a kick-start bike though.

Ah. Got it.

Anachronism: Noun. 1.Something located at a time when it could not have existed or occurred. 2.An artifact that belongs to another time. 3.A person who seems to be displaced in time; who belongs to another age.

I know what the word means thanks to Google. It was the fact that you typed "have" instead of "hate" that through me. As I had stated. I know I also said I didn't know what anachronism meant but I did look it up before I posted so I knew what it meant when...OH, THIS IS SO CONFUSING RIGHT NOW! I can't make my thoughts make sense when I type them up so I'm just gonna go ahead and stop trying now. Besides, I'm tired. Sorry.

Too fancy a word for my school-days as well, but just 'cos school stops doesn't mean the learnin' does!

Aint that the truth!



I don't mind OC's if they're written well. And most of the ones I've met are very well written. So, go for it Sparky!

[The Urban Spaceman]

Yeah sorry, I was rushing to get to work and didn't noticed I'd typo'd 'hate' to 'have.' Glad you got it in the end though

[Sparky She-Demon]

Thanks for the help guys!

[Sparky She-Demon]

The story is up! It's titled, "From the Darkness".

[The Urban Spaceman]

Interesting start. A little too much 'tell' and not enough 'show' for my tastes, but otherwise easy, uncomplicated introduction to your OC. Your sentences are a little fractured (disassociating action from dialogue) but that can be easily rectified by your inner-editor.

I would mention, though, that it might be better for you to put a link directly to the story in your signature. Otherwise readers getting there from this forum will have to click one of your other stories, then your profile, then scroll through a massive amount of generic chain-letter style "put this in your profile if XYZ" and unrelated chaos just to get to what you want them to read. Otherwise it essentially tramples all over the Three Click Rule.

[Sparky She-Demon]

Interesting start. A little too much 'tell' and not enough 'show' for my tastes, but otherwise easy, uncomplicated introduction to your OC. Your sentences are a little fractured (disassociating action from dialogue) but that can be easily rectified by your inner-editor.

I would mention, though, that it might be better for you to put a link directly to the story in your signature. Otherwise readers getting there from this forum will have to click one of your other stories, then your profile, then scroll through a massive amount of generic chain-letter style "put this in your profile if XYZ" and unrelated chaos just to get to what you want them to read. Otherwise it essentially tramples all over the Three Click Rule.

I put a link to From the Darkness in my sigline. It is the last one.

What do you think of Vasilisa?

[The Urban Spaceman]

What do you think of Vasilisa?

I can't form an opinion about an OC in 800 words, a single character interaction, and a few paragraphs of narrative.

8000 words, maybe.

80,0000 words, definitely.