Animation Source Forums

Ok, this really peeves me off. Like everything else, lack of creativity is one of the MOST INCREDIBLY ANNOYING things I ever come across. And I come across it in the fanart and the fanfics section, but since there's already a ranting topic about the fanart section (black shimmer beat me to it XD) I shall rant on the fanfic section, which is just as bad.

Now, let me point out that I do not think it's a bad thing if fans admire another fan's writing and want to write like them. Learning from other writers (and artists) is how all creators work. They learn from others so that they can give themselves a little push towards creativity. I also don't mind if people want to make their own "re-make" or "sequel" to another's fic.

But what I can't stand is when people will like another's idea, and then make "their" version of it, WHICH COVERS the dumbing down of grammer, using the same basic idea, and changing of character names to make it seem less obvious they copied.

Bad grammer in fics. I CAN'T STAND bad grammer. I understand that most of the population on this site consists of children, but if they're going to write a fic, they should use this as an opportunity to try their hardest to use proper English and punctuation (using periods, exclaimation points, and question marks, in other words) If they don't speak very good English, WRITE IN THE LANGUAGE YOU'RE FLUENT IN. If its their first fic, I can understand. But when I continuously see zero improvement, it drives me (and other people) nuts.

It's also annoying when people do not take advantage of PARAGRAPHS. Using PARAGRAPHS (you know, the little space in between two groups of sentences) makes it alot EASIER (and more enjoyable) to read. And yes, I mean TO READ (not write) because the only point of WRITING something is to have OTHERS READ it.

But when bad grammer is combined with a stolen idea, that is far worse than just "Engrish". When people read a fic and say "I like that idea! I feel like writing it too!" And write out the basic plot (which basically includes ZERO thought from the writer) of the story they read, and dumbed down the language it was originally written in. Its REALLY pitiful when it's obvious they took anothers' idea, writing out similar poetic sentences used in the fic it was so-called "inspired" from (mind you, they ALSO give out zero credit to other writers from which their "ideas" came from, which is also bull crap)

Why people HAVE to make fics like everyone else's, I have no idea. But it seems to me that EVERYIONE has their version of how "Balto met Boris" how "Aniu met Balto's father" how "Aleu was AFTER Wolf Quest" how "KODI AND DUSTY FALL IN LOVE" (that one REALLY irritates me) how "Dingo and Saba form a bond stronger than love" and how "Jenna cheats on Balto with Steele." And for some ODD reason, ALL OF THEM SOUND ALIKE. PEOPLE. For the sake of everything cute and fluffy, USE YOUR BRAINS AND COME UP WITH SOMETHING ORIGINAL, PLEASE! I am sick and tired of reading someone's lame version of Jenna and Balto's fourteenth litter! I want to read some fanfics with DECENT ideas, with twists that make me go "Wow! I was totally not expecting that!" Like with my fic about Miksa and Aniu! Were you execting Miksa to go away? I didn't! It's stuff like that that makes the fic all the more interesting! If you hafta give it a sad ending, so be it! All the more room for a happy sequel! Just PLEASE make DIFFERENT ideas!

Ok. Now. Combine bad grammer and idea theft with the ever-so-clever change in character names to make it seem less obvious that their story idea is NOT original. (Now, keep in mind, I know that there are a kajillion and a half versions of Balto's father and Balto's offspring, but I am including these character names WITH idea theft.) It is even more annoying when they use YOUR idea with SOMEONE ELSE'S character (or vice versa).

So this rant was basically about the creativity I am reading (or rather, NOT reading) in fanfics. People NEED to think and BE ORIGINAL! Where's the fun in expressing your idea when it's not even YOUR idea??? You write fanfics based off other peoples' ideas and you wonder why nobody likes your work! It's because its BORING and UNORIGINAL. If you come up with something new that no one else has ever thought up, you'll be getting comments left and right! And a little recognition is really all we want, isn't it?

I thought my fanfic is a new and fresh idea,although it's written in book chapter form.

This made me laugh xD It would be same if I send Finnish written fanfic in...and mark under it. "Made by suggestion of Catwhohas14tails"

I can see that you don't like from fanfics which are 'copied' nor inspirated by the others...well some make same kind of but often those are very different ones...basic idea...is still kind of same...oh well...stay in same level like Togo xD

I agree Cat! It has become annoying that some people just can't seem to get their own ideas and instead copy off of others. Like all of the fics with Saba that fetures incest. Jucchan17's are very good and orginal, but people decided to pretty much steal his/her idea. It is hard to come up with something that no one has done before, but some ideas are waayy over used.

And for people who don't have perfect English have someone who has spoke english all their life and knows most of the rules proof read it and help you revise it. Not that hard. And it will make the fic more enjoyable for others to read.

I think you need to re-read what I wrote, because you said the exact opposite of what I stated. I CLEARLY said that I didn't mind fics that were inspired from others, meaning its ANOTHER'S idea, but not butchered. I DO mind it when people take another's idea, use NO references (even though there WERE) Its possible for people to write the same idea, but STILL make it different. It may be hard to come up with a COMPLETELY original idea anymore, but it's not hard to make something "your own" I suggest you re-read THIS as well. But naturally I wouldn't expect you of all people to understand where I'm coming from, so I suggest you keep your mouth shut until you know what's going on.

We have so far managed to keep flame wars off of this board, Cat. If you have a disagreement with what Togo said, can you please take it to PM (like everyone else says whenever there's a fight, well, ANYWHERE ELSE in the forums)? Thanks.

Ok, let's all stay CIVIAL with eachother. Not sit there and start a wonderful flame war like a lot of other topics.

Too Cat:Okay cat your totally right in some points, yes its annoying when people copy others idea and make them so simialr that its just a joke, and I agree with a lot of your points, not all but a lot.

Too Togo: threating people is just as bad as snapping at someone Togo, and you did make a bit of a mockery out of cats post which had some very much needed too be said information

Too Seppala: yes your point is correct, though I can understand cats frustration

Too Sarafina: your getting off-topic....again...

To Roxas:my post isn't there anymore.

Both were off topic the second was just more so.

I must've deleted it before you posted about it.

Just for the heck of it I looked at a lot of summeries of fics from fanfic writters that have a lot of people that faved them and then some that didn't have as much and yeah, there are a lot of people that have very very simialar ideas. Half of wich are more than likely not a conincidence.

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Roxas wrote:

Both were off topic the second was just more so.

Because this is totaly not off topic.

I'm not going to explain anything to people who don't know what's going on. If you don't know who you are, just stay as confused as always. As for everyone else, don't get this topic locked. It needs to be said and people need to read it and UNDERSTAND it.