What erks you in fandom???

[alexajaye]

RIGHT! And I don't even have to say that I haven't read even the first word of this story. Why would I read a story when the author rights blablabla on their summary? Will it be like that seinfeld episode, where we never get to know what actually happens in the story George's girlfriend is telling?

My guess is gonna be no. It's like they don't expect others to be intelligent enough to know the difference between their story and a good one that has a good summary, or at least one that tries to give the reader a little more information than that.

[Longing for Edward]

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As soon as I see "I suck at summaries", I figure they must suck at writing too and skip right over the story.

I also skip the ones that misspell summary as summery.
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[alexajaye]

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As soon as I see "I suck at summaries", I figure they must suck at writing too and skip right over the story.

I also skip the ones that misspell summary as summery.
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Yeah, the first basic grammar mistake usually has me moving on. But like I said, sometimes, people feel kind of sorry because they "suck" at summaries, so they give them a chance.

I don't see the point.

[Sylvianna]

I also skip the ones that misspell summary as summery.

Lately I find myself looking at the author's profile to check the little flag next to the name and see where they come from. Because as I said once, I can forgive people who, like me, are not native in the language when they get mixed up with things like "divulge/indulge", "oppose /impose", "accept/ except" and some other mistakes that make you have to read a sentence twice or thrice in order to get what it means. But I cannot understand how authors writing in their mother tongue can make mistakes so obvious for people like me, who are not native.

At the beginning it was like the famous "Than/then" and "effect/ affect" (and there are still plenty of those) but lately it's like they cannot get it right with most words. I mean, really, what do they teach in schools nowadays? My two mother tongues have accents and maybe once or twice I might make a mistake with an accent when I'm writing something really fast and without proofreading. But I never make mistakes such as horrendous spelling mistakes or confusing words if I'm writing in my native languages. Not even in English I write things like "could of" , even though I make many more mistakes in English.

The other day I had to read a sentence 3 times because the author used a word (I don't remember exactly what) when Bella was trying to describe herself that was actually the opposite of what she was actually meaning. It's not this but it was similar to using "selfish" when you mean "selfless". I was like: what??? And in a recent story I was trying to read the author said "I'm going to divulge in ice cream". Again, I was like: sorry, what? Or "I don't want to oppose" instead of "impose". Seriously, that kind of mistakes can make you disconnect from the story because you have to take a pause in order to get what the author means and it takes you away from the flow of the story.

Since I was in primary school both school and my father always told me that I usually write for others, not just me, even if it is a simple note to say I'm leaving for a while and will be back soon. And so I should be careful about what I write (plus how I write it, meaning that it is legible). It's something that I was taught from an early age , so I really don't understand how there is people playing author out there who are completely fine with having their readers trying to decipher sentences like if they were trying to read an Egyptian hieroglyph.

So, to me, authors who don't proofread to make sure that mistakes as big as those mentioned above are not found in their writing are telling me loud and clear that they don't care about writing, that they like to call themselves authors but they're just basically doing it to get the high of being considered that, not because they actually love writing, love the language and want to use it to communicate whatever they need to express.

The worse thing of all is that it seems some of them get criticism in reviews for their grammar and spelling mistakes and instead of trying to get better they write this AN basically saying that they are not professionals so they don't see why they should care... Instead they tell readers to get used to it because they're not going to make the effort.

Actually it is quite sad when people get comfortable in doing things wrong, when they don't think that the advice they're getting might help them improve. In every aspect of my life I'm always keen to improve. I don't like doing things wrong when I know I'm doing them wrong. Yes, sometimes I have to battle with the embarrassment when someone tells me I've done something wrong but I listen nonetheless and try to avoid making the same mistake twice. So I really don't understand people leaving those ANs saying "I'm completely fine with making things wrong, why should I bother improving? If I'm not getting money out of this, what's the reason to improve?" As I said, it is really sad and I don't think they've actually thought about what those ANs actually tell about those authors as people.

[Longing for Edward]

I also skip the ones that misspell summary as summery.

Lately I find myself looking at the author's profile to check the little flag next to the name and see where they come from. Because as I said once, I can forgive people who, like me, are not native in the language when they get mixed up with things like "divulge/indulge", "oppose /impose", "accept/ except" and some other mistakes that make you have to read a sentence twice or thrice in order to get what it means. But I cannot understand how authors writing in their mother tongue can make mistakes so obvious for people like me, who are not native.

At the beginning it was like the famous "Than/then" and "effect/ affect" (and there are still plenty of those) but lately it's like they cannot get it right with most words. I mean, really, what do they teach in schools nowadays? My two mother tongues have accents and maybe once or twice I might make a mistake with an accent when I'm writing something really fast and without proofreading. But I never make mistakes such as horrendous spelling mistakes or confusing words if I'm writing in my native languages. Not even in English I write things like "could of" , even though I make many more mistakes in English.

The other day I had to read a sentence 3 times because the author used a word (I don't remember exactly what) when Bella was trying to describe herself that was actually the opposite of what she was actually meaning. It's not this but it was similar to using "selfish" when you mean "selfless". I was like: what??? And in a recent story I was trying to read the author said "I'm going to divulge in ice cream". Again, I was like: sorry, what? Or "I don't want to oppose" instead of "impose". Seriously, that kind of mistakes can make you disconnect from the story because you have to take a pause in order to get what the author means and it takes you away from the flow of the story.

Since I was in primary school both school and my father always told me that I usually write for others, not just me, even if it is a simple note to say I'm leaving for a while and will be back soon. And so I should be careful about what I write (plus how I write it, meaning that it is legible). It's something that I was taught from an early age , so I really don't understand how there is people playing author out there who are completely fine with having their readers trying to decipher sentences like if they were trying to read an Egyptian hieroglyph.

So, to me, authors who don't proofread to make sure that mistakes as big as those mentioned above are not found in their writing are telling me loud and clear that they don't care about writing, that they like to call themselves authors but they're just basically doing it to get the high of being considered that, not because they actually love writing, love the language and want to use it to communicate whatever they need to express.

The worse thing of all is that it seems some of them get criticism in reviews for their grammar and spelling mistakes and instead of trying to get better they write this AN basically saying that they are not professionals so they don't see why they should care... Instead they tell readers to get used to it because they're not going to make the effort.

Actually it is quite sad when people get comfortable in doing things wrong, when they don't think that the advice they're getting might help them improve. In every aspect of my life I'm always keen to improve. I don't like doing things wrong when I know I'm doing them wrong. Yes, sometimes I have to battle with the embarrassment when someone tells me I've done something wrong but I listen nonetheless and try to avoid making the same mistake twice. So I really don't understand people leaving those ANs saying "I'm completely fine with making things wrong, why should I bother improving? If I'm not getting money out of this, what's the reason to improve?" As I said, it is really sad and I don't think they've actually thought about what those ANs actually tell about those authors as people.

I think I started reading that fic too, I looked at the author's profile and while it says US, I am wondering if English isn't their first language. The cadence of some parts even had the feel of having been translated using a translator program.
.

[Sylvianna]

People introducing BDSM things in stories that are not BDSM and thus, the couple have not agreed on them. I.e. A man spanking a woman as punishment for disobeying him in a normal marriage in which neither of them is into BDSM or whatever other practices that use punishment, the spanking is non-consensual and where supposedly the woman has no obligation to obey the man (i.e. a marriage in modern times).

Either you set the story in a time where there were not the same values as today with regards to violence towards women or the obligation for women to obey their husbands, or I am sorry but I'm not buying it. If my husband placed me across his lap to give me a spanking he would get divorce papers the next day. I don't find it sexy to have a real life domineering asshole of a boyfriend/husband who thinks I have to obey everything he says or, otherwise, he is entitled to use physical violence against me (and it doesn't matter to me if no permanent marks are left). Even if he is justified in being mad at me for something, if he lays a hand on me he better run. I'm calling the police so fast...

Also, Esme slapping one of her adults sons on the face and said son taking it like if it's normal that a 30 odd year old person gets slapped by his/her parent. My parents have not laid a hand on me in years. If they were to do so now, after I have been an adult for quite a while, only because I did something they didn't agree with or that made them worry I can assure you that the least I would do is tell them to never touch me again.

And then Esme gets all emotional and gives him a hug (although she never apologizes) and he returns it like if he hasn't been slapped just a minute earlier... I really don't get people some times.

[alexajaye]

People introducing BDSM things in stories that are not BDSM and thus, the couple have not agreed on them. I.e. A man spanking a woman as punishment for disobeying him in a normal marriage in which neither of them is into BDSM or whatever other practices that use punishment, the spanking is non-consensual and where supposedly the woman has no obligation to obey the man (i.e. a marriage in modern times).

Either you set the story in a time where there were not the same values as today with regards to violence towards women or the obligation for women to obey their husbands, or I am sorry but I'm not buying it. If my husband placed me across his lap to give me a spanking he would get divorce papers the next day. I don't find it sexy to have a real life domineering asshole of a boyfriend/husband who thinks I have to obey everything he says or, otherwise, he is entitled to use physical violence against me (and it doesn't matter to me if no permanent marks are left). Even if he is justified in being mad at me for something, if he lays a hand on me he better run. I'm calling the police so fast...

I blame a lot of fics that feature their characters in BDSM relationships for this, and though I've read a few and understand that there are people who are in to those things, I've learned that I'm not one of them.

My cousin once said that I probably wanted a guy who was the opposite of whoever it was she liked - I can't remember exactly what said anymore because I was so offended that I didn't really pay attention to it - but I don't think it's right for a man to hit a woman. I've been witness to situations where it's not BDSM and it's not sexy. It's abuse.

And as far as calling the police, I'd do so much more than that. There are people who like it and people who don't, and I'd wager that any man who thought it was okay to hit his wife wouldn't like it being done back to him. There's a lot of damage you can do without it being considered criminal. It's self-defense.

I know how to use a belt just as well as they do.

And in all honesty, it doesn't matter if I don't think I'd like being tied up and dominated with my hair being pulled and then being as some would say, "fucked hard," I don't really know what I want in a man, but I would NOT tolerate that.

And that's all it's about for me. And I don't really like that people assume I should be attracted to it simply because everyone else is. I've now had two people tell me that I have to read the last two books in the 50 Shades series. Now I want to read it even less.

[Sylvianna]

I find most of the things a couple does in a BDSM fic unappealing in terms of wanting to experience them, though I have read several BDSM fics. However, both in fics and real life, as long as it is consensual I have no problems. If someone- an adult with all the information available to him/her- gets off by being spanked or hit with several items, that's their choice.

But as I said, I'm disturbed by the amount of fics that **are not** BDSM where they're showing abuse between a couple and treating it like a normal part of a romantic relationship in modern age fics. I have lost count of the amount of non-BDSM fics where you can read the man POV thinking "Well, if she behaves like a child she'll have to be punished like one". Does that mean that it is OK to place a child on your lap, expose his/her bottom and hit him/her 20 times with a paddle or even your hand? Because from where I come from that's enough to place a call to Social Services.

It's getting to a point that, as I said with Esme as an example I've recently read, it seems violence it's normal not only between couples- which is disturbing enough- but between other family members and they still want to sell how sweet, motherly Esme was so worried, or how prince charming Edward/Jasper/etc. is just doing what's best for his wife or girlfriend, since she won't know any better unless she's punished (forget about having a conversation like adults or even a verbal argument). It all ends with a hug and an "I love you" and you are supposed to swallow it all.

I don't know if these authors have families where it is normal that a mother slaps an adult son or daughter accross the face or a husband is allowed to hit his wife and for her to take it and even thank him for it. From where I come from it is not. And it certainly doesn't end with a hug and an "I love you". As I said, disturbing!

[alexajaye]

Yeah, if my mom smacked me, I'd never let her touch me again. Especially if it was across the face. I'd be calling a lawyer and getting myself out of there as soon as I possibly could.

It almost happened when I was fifteen, so when someone actually writes that a fight like that is going to end with a kiss and a hug, they're not only wrong, they're deluding themselves.

[WithMe92]

So some these authors that I'm following are online excessively, don't update their stories, and always come back to FF.net saying sorry my computer crashed and I lost everything. This excuse is becoming so popular. When you link your social network accounts to your FF.net page for readers to follow/friend you it's super easy for them to catch you lying to them. Just be honest that you had writers block or just flat out didn't feel like writing instead of lying.

And I hate when readers put authors on a pedestal. People can like a story but not like the direction it's going in without being a "hater".