The Fan Fiction Rules - Please Read

[Umbreon Ruler]

I'm unable to edit the first post of my fic, and I have been since I first posted it. I really want to add a chapter and PM list, give the fic a rating, and edit the typos.

I remember a few months ago I read that certain words prevented posts from being made. Is that still a problem? If so, do I have to find every instance of these common words (I think the examples included things in the same vein as "from") and put bold tags in the middle of them?

[Walcott]

^Lol I decide to come here and post this to help people and look what I see right above where my post will go.

Words that cause errors when editing.
(credit for this list comes from RL's post in the RPG forum)

Select

–verb
to choose in preference to another or others; pick out.

choose, cull, decide, elect, make, make a choice, mark, name, opt, opt for, peg, pick, pin down, say so, single out, slot, sort out, tab, tag, take, tap, winnow

–adjective
chosen in preference to another or others; selected.

best, blue-chip, boss, choice, chosen, cool, cream, culled, delicate, discriminating, eclectic, elect, elegant, exclusive, exquisite, favored, first-class, first-rate, handpicked, limited, number one, pick, picked, posh, preferred, prime, privileged, rare, recherché, screened, special, superior, top, topnotch, tops, weeded, winner, winnowed, world-class

Create

-verb
to cause to come into being, as something unique that would not naturally evolve or that is not made by ordinary processes.

actualize, author, beget, bring into being, bring into existence, bring to pass, build, cause to be, coin, compose, conceive, concoct, constitute, construct, contrive, design, devise, discover, dream up, effect, erect, establish, fabricate, fashion, father, forge, form, formulate, found, generate, give birth to, give life to, hatch, imagine, initiate, institute, invent, invest, make, occasion, organize, originate, parent, perform, plan, produce, rear, set up, shape, sire, spawn, start

Insert

–verb
to put or place in.

admit, drag in, embed, enter, fill in, imbed, implant, include, infix, infuse, inject, inlay, insinuate, instill, intercalate, interject, interlope, interpolate, interpose, introduce, intrude, lug in, obtrude, place, pop in, root, set, shoehorn, shove in, squeeze in, stick, work in

Delete

–verb
to strike out or remove.

X-out, annul, black out, bleep, blot out, blue-pencil, cancel, clean, clean up, cross out, cut, cut out, decontaminate, destroy, drop, edit, efface, eliminate, exclude, expunge, obliterate, omit, pass up, rub, rub out, rule out, sanitize, snip, squash, squelch, sterilize, strike out, trim, wipe out

Update

–verb
to bring up to date, as by adding new information or making corrections

amend, modernize, refresh, refurbish, rejuvenate, renew, renovate, restore, revise

Modify

-verb
to change somewhat the form or qualities of; alter partially; amend:

adapt, adjust, become, convert, correct, customize, doctor, mutate, recast, redo, refashion, reform, remodel, reorganize, repair, reshape, revise, rework, shift gears, switch over, transfigure, transform, transmogrify, transmute, turn, turn one around, turn over new leaf, turn the corner, turn the tables, tweak, vary

~*~*~


BA~

[pokedexfiller]

My friend and I want to post a story that's not really a fan fic but just a fic. Can we still do that?

[D-World]

is it possible to writea fic with more than one main character, like three-four people/pokemon

[Zephyr Flare]

Of course, otherwise the anime would likely explode as the camera tails Ash and nothing else all day.

[D-World]

thank god i can, my story would be ruined otherwise.

[supernoob]

soo many rules..
now heres my questions:
i dont think i have microsoft words.what to do?
can you do a chapter drabble or something?,because i dont think that i can write so long chapters(sad face).
i might have some more questions but i will post them later.

[Manaphy123]

What if I were to make a fan fiction that had three series of anime? Would that be allowed?

[Dragonfree]

What if I were to make a fan fiction that had three series of anime? Would that be allowed?

As in a crossover between three series? Sure. If one of them is Pokémon, put it in the main Fan Fiction forum; otherwise, put it in Non-Pokémon Fanfiction.

[848]

I have a question. Pokemon isn't in the dictionary, so spellcheck.net said it was wrong. What should I do?

[JX Valentine]

I have a question. Pokemon isn't in the dictionary, so spellcheck.net said it was wrong. What should I do?

Side note: I ran "Pokemon" through Spellcheck.net, and it gave me the notice that there were no incorrectly spelled words. So... you should have been fine. O_o

Beyond that, er, ignore it? The thing is about spellcheckers of any kind are that they're only tools to help you, not the Bible of spelling. They'll weed out things that are most definitely errors, but from there, you'll have to do some proofreading on your own. This includes correcting errors that the spellchecker doesn't catch or, in this case, working around things that the spellchecker thinks are errors. If a program flags something as incorrectly spelled, take a close look at it and decide for yourself whether or not it's the word you want.

[NinjaScepSneasel]

I have a few questions.
1. If your story is really bad, will the thread be closed?
2. My story contains a bit of violence (People being attacked by pokemon moves, fights), a bit of romance, however, there is no bad language or nudity. What rating would it be?
3. I might of missed this, but how big should the prologue be?
Thanks

[D. Scott]

- The following sections of the rules should be enough of an answer to all but question two.

If the spelling and grammar is simply atrocious, it will be locked immediately. However, if it is readable but still below an average quality level, you will be warned and told to make improvements and be shown how, then you must incorporate this into your next chapter. Otherwise it will be locked.

All fics MUST be written on Microsoft Word or a similar word processing program, or at least run through http://www.spellcheck.net/ if you have no such program (Notepad isn’t very reliable). This will help you find and fix most, if not all of the silly spelling or grammar mistakes you may make without realizing it (you’d be surprised how often this happens to even the best writers). There is no tolerance for making mistakes the above programs can easily fix, and fics riddled with many silly mistakes will be closed upon sight.

While there is no maximum on length for One-Shots and prologues, all chapters must be an absolute minimum of TWO PAGES long on Microsoft Word, Arial font, size 12. Exceptions may be made if the chapter is exceptionally well-written and gets the job done.

Chapters are generally recommended to be at least three or four pages long or more because otherwise very little tends to happen in it, so four is a better number to aim for. If your fic was a television show, each chapter would be like a half hour-long episode: long enough that something actually happens and short enough that it’s not tediously long or boring. (Of course, going longer is encouraged.)




As for question two, I'd say around PG-14/15.

[NinjaScepSneasel]

Thanks for the help

[848]

What if you are making a special episode for your fic? Would it be okay to use script then? I've seen script format used by several authors during special episodes

[[Imaginative]:[Clockwork]]

What if you are making a special episode for your fic? Would it be okay to use script then? I've seen script format used by several authors during special episodes

The way plays and screenplays are written. No scripted fics are allowed unless they are properly written scripts (meaning they include setting and stage direction). “Properly written” means I could give it to two idiots who can read and aside from probably not having the costumes or props, they would know how to act it out without a problem.

Scripts are generally discouraged here, but if you want to go for it, it would be wise to have it checked with a Mod before posting; these are one of the hardest types of stories to pull off well (scripts are better seen as actual performances), and a lot of people just use them to be lazy. Fics can not be written half in script form and half normal, however in cases such as Instant Messenger conversations in the story, briefly using basic script is tolerable.

Here is a quick, random, short example of how they basically should look that I wrote up (no stealing):

    Spoiler:- Example:

Show Spoiler

 
A dark city street late at night, devoid of cars or passers-by. The street lights illuminate the sidewalk dimly. One flickers on and off sporadically, causing the shadows to appear as is if moving and dancing. A man with grey, dishevelled hair and a wrinkled face in a long brown coat appears, walking quickly down the street, but with a proud air about him, a Breloom with weary eyes and wrinkled skin by his side. There is a slight chill and the man pulls his jacket closer to his body. He is holding a small paper bag in one hand.

Alexander: (To the Breloom.) Come on, Brin, hurry it up. The food’s gonna be cold by the time we get home at this rate!

Brin: Breloom, bre?

Alexander: Yes, we could have taken the car had somebody not released a Poisonpowder in it last week! Who did you say we the one getting senile, again?

Brin: Bre-loom! Bre-bre loom! (Crossing his arms.)

Alexander: Oh, put a sock in it, you overgrown mushroom, and just concentrate on walking!

(A woman dressed in black, ice-blue hair twisted into two braids with a cap casting a shadow over her face appears at the end of the block. A Glaceon stands firmly by her side. Both appear motionless.)

Alexander: Hm? What’s this?

Team Rocket Agent: Hold it right there, old man.

Brin: Loom?

Alexander: (Stopping, staring.) Who are you?

Team Rocket Agent: (Without emotion.) That is none of your concern. All you need know is that if you don’t hand over your wallet and all your Pokémon, you’ll regret it for the rest of your life!

Alexander: (Enraged.) Do you have any idea who you’re talking to?! I am the former Gym Leader of Dewford Town!

Team Rocket Agent: Exactly.

Alexander: (Smirks.) Fine. You have no idea what you just got yourself into, missy! Brin, get in there with a Mach Punch!

(Brin leaps forward to face the woman. Without even issuing a command, the Glaceon by her side walks forward, grinning maliciously. Immediately, the Breloom jumps forward, red claws curled in preparation for a punch…)

Team Rocket Agent: Exactly.

Alexander: (Smirks.) Fine. You have no idea what you just got yourself into, missy! Brin, get in there with a Mach Punch!

(Brin leaps forward to face the woman. Without even issuing a command, the Glaceon by her side walks forward, grinning maliciously. Immediately, the Breloom jumps forward, red claws curled in preparation for a punch…)
 

Basically, if it's properly written, then it's fine.

[Inukie]

I have some questions before I post my fic;
Does it count as a prologue if you have some explainations that may need to be read before the story, and their leanth is just over a half page, single spaced in Word? I'm using an obscure theme.
Also, do Mods still approve threads before they are posted, or could I post the thread+notprologue and first chapter quickly one after the other?

I just wanted to make sure it was clear I read the rules before doing something silly/strange. Especially if I can't edit my post like an earlier question on here.

[Breezy]

I have some questions before I post my fic;
Does it count as a prologue if you have some explainations that may need to be read before the story, and their leanth is just over a half page, single spaced in Word? I'm using an obscure theme.
Also, do Mods still approve threads before they are posted, or could I post the thread+notprologue and first chapter quickly one after the other?

What do you mean by "explanations"? Generally, a prologue is used to establish the setting and give some background information before the main story starts.

That being said, you can post your prologue and first chapter in one post if your prologue is really, really short.

You also don't need approval before posting your story. However, if you are concerned about your prologue's length, try PMing one of the mods and getting their opinion.

[[Imaginative]:[Clockwork]]

If I'm writing five one-shots that all intentionally have something in common, am I allowed to post them in the same thread?

[Breezy]

Yeah. A few authors here do that, actually (Ysarvvyl comes to mind, and I think Dramatic Melody had one as well).