Tips n hints, Seasoned writers who can help

Basically fanfic for me is an unexplored genre - because not that much gets published - outside foums. i have 0 experience writing and so i was wandering if anyones got some tips

here some questions to start off

How long is your average peice
How long does it take to write an average peice
Any suggestions on where to start
any traps to avoid

How long is your average peice

Depends.

Some people like to write Vignettes (aka Short Fics). These are usually only a few pages long, ove just one page. My Mara/Lando Date Fics in New Republic are a good example of these.

But some people like to write long fics. These are fics that have several chapters, but the chapters themselves aren't very long, maybe just the length of a Vig.

Then there are the novel length ones, such as my Emperor's Shadow. These are written just like a novel would be, with very long chapters, multiple storylines, etc.

From there it can branch out into Trilogies and Epics.

How long does it take to write an average peice

That depends on the writer. Some writers can whip something out in a matter of minutes. When I get going I can write a heck of a lot at once.

However, I recommend always giving yourself some time away from a piece (say a few hours up to a few days) then coming back and re-reading and editing and making changes. You'd be surprised what you might notice that you didn't before.

Now I reread the older first chapters of Shadow, I notice a few things.

Any suggestions on where to start

With what you know.

If it's a fanfic, then write the characters or timeframes you know well. That's why I write a lot of Mara and working my way to others.

If you feel uncomfortable with writing a full length story, then start with a short fic. That's basically just one scene, one instance in the life of the characters.

any traps to avoid

One thing I truely hate when writers do it.. it's putting all the dialouge into one paragraph. Seperate paragraphs for when each person speaks!!

Try not to use the same descriptive words more then once near each other.

When putting online, put spaces between paragraphs because there is no "indent" function.

Lastly, don't reiterate yourself. If the character "thinks" something - then don't make them say it.

Example: Luke watched as the holovid ended. Sure, it could have been faked but his instinct told him it was real. "I don't think this was faked, it must be real," he said.

Would be better: Luke watched as the holovid ended. Sure, it could have been faked but his instinct told him it was real. "The first thing we have to do is find out who dropped this off, then hopefully trace it back to whoever did this," he said.

Or stating the obvious like the reader is a two year old.

Example: Luke watched as Jacen tried a fancy move with his lightsaber. Suddenly Jacen's grip faltered and the blade went down and grazed his leg. Since the lightsaber is so hot it started to burn his skin. Of course Jacen started to scream in the pain that was surely erupting forth.

Better: Luke watched as Jacen practiced a new fancy move with his lightsaber. Suddenly Jacen's grip faltered and the blade tipped down and grazed against his leg. Luke rushed forward to the boy who had fallen, screaming in pain.

Well, that's all for now. If I think of more later I'll pop them in.

ok sweet

Here's my advice:

I don't think you need to think out the whole story ahead of time, But before you start writing a chapter figure out where you want to end. The rest is just filler and the ride that takes us to that end.

For The Tide of Change, i set up what i want to accomplish in the chapter then i start typing, and whatever comes of it, is almost a surprise to me as it is to you. I can type and type and suddenly be at five pages, without realizing it.

With The Destiny's End we all knew Barriss had to die, it was why she had to die and why she had to face Vader that took us through a ride throughout the story. It was her trials of her last days that told the story and Vader that told the story.

For Shattered World, I am frustrated because I don't know where I want to take the story, so I stepped away from it to do The Tide of Change which is really fun for me to do. I'll get back to it later

When I use internal dialogue, I usually use italics. Most of my writings have actually been centered around my GE character, but I've done a couple others. Ooh, that reminds me, I gotta go look for my Ew*k Hunt story

Ew*k Hunt story

Okay, I'm curious now...

excellant point - you'd get a mod if there were any

well i'm off to start my own piece - wish me luck