Razorclaw X wrote:

  Maybe I just plain don't get it. Maybe I'm a terrible writer. Maybe I 
don't have a taste in writing. 
  But what is it that makes a good fanfic? 

It's a fair question, if a little silly.  There isn't really any
objective standard of "good," outside of the technical details.
People like what they like.

A few comments:

<snip>

  And so far I've come up with the following critera:

1. The author feels it's good (the easiest part)

I'd say this is irrelevant.  I've written a number of things that I
didn't feel were all that good, but that other people seem to have
liked.  (The most relevant example for this list being my Ranma fic,
"Soulmates.")  Obviously, the writer has to feel it's worth writing,
but there are many reasons why he might choose to write other than
"this is good."

2. Readers tell the author and others it's good

This is a little tricky, but I disagree here, as well.  Obviously, if
everyone you show the story to hates it, it's probably not the
pinnacle of literature.  But there are two caveats.

First, don't take a lukewarm or apathetic reception to mean the fic
isn't good.  Certain series have a -lot- out there... so much that
even those who like the work and would continue to read it wouldn't
necessarily rave about it, or even take the time to comment to the
author (much less to others).

Second, you can't necessarily take an enthusiastic reception to mean
that the fic is good.  It's very possible to like something in spite
of its (perceived or real) flaws.  You can take it as an indication
that the fic is popular, however. ^_^

3. More than five people read the story and think it's good 

Some series have very few readers compared to others, and not all
readers will give feedback.  Personally, I feel that as long as one
person reads and enjoys a story, and as long as I enjoyed writing it,
it was a success.

4. Pre-readers catch all the little glitches in the story

This definitely can help with those technical aspects I mentioned
earlier.  (Grammar, spelling, punctuation, characterization mistakes.)
But again... not all fanfics have pre-readers, and some of the ones
that don't have been quite good, I would say.  So this isn't really a
requirement, either.

(I've never used a pre-reader, although I do sometimes post finished
drafts and later revise, taking comments into account.  That can work
well, too.)

5. Long descriptive passages describing minute details of a Stephen
King novel

For some people, this adds.  For others, it may detract.

It's definitely not necessary; look at some of the fics written in
script format (Kimagure Orange College comes to mind here), or some of
the shortfics that are posted to the list.

6. Said fic must exist for an extended period of time 

No.  A fic can be good without being a "classic."  Again, look at some
of the one-shot shortfics that have been posted.

7. Said fic must be recognized by established reviewers as good 

Well, it would definitely help the fic's popularity.  Doesn't
necessarily say anything about the fic's quality, though; reviewers,
like the rest of us, like what they like, for thir own reasons.

8. Said author mustn't be overly desparate for C&C or MSTs

This has nothing to do with the piece itself, though I'll admit I find
excessive begging for C&C a little off-putting.  A few lines saying
something to the effect of "Comments and criticism welcome; email
<insert email address>" should be plenty.  I suspect that putting more
than that doesn't really increase your chances of receiving comments,
anyway.

9. Said author must've written about something that makes sense

Well, it often helps.  But if you can pull off a surrealistic fanfic,
it can work very well.  The most important thing here is that the fic
must be internally consistent -- unless the reader is given a good
reason for the (apparent) inconsistency.  ("It was only a dream," or
what have you.)  Barring such special occasions, then if you say that
"X is so" in chapter 1, then that should still be true in chapter 23.


My advice for writing a "good" fanfic?  First, check those technical
details before posting; it's okay if one or two slip by, but if the
story is filled with them, it becomes difficult to follow.  Second,
keep internal consistency, as above.  Third, don't worry about writing
a "good" fanfic; just make sure you're having fun writing -a- fanfic.
Your audience will make up their minds anyway. ^_^  As long as you
-want- to write, write, and the rest will take care of itself.

IMO,


Scott Schimmel                http://www.seas.upenn.edu/~schimmel/
Ex ignorantia ad sapientium;  "You really aren't normal, are you?"
ex luce ad tenebras.              -- Miki Koishikawa