FAQ

~~~~

Read books.

~~~~

Fan-fiction usually refers to stories written using the characters, themes, ideas, setting or devices of an established genre. These stories will typically be authored by the fans of the series in question. Since these are usually fictional prose, we have the term fan-fiction.

Apparently it all hails from Greek mythology, but that's way too clever to go into here.

Fan-fiction is written and published not for profit but for the enjoyment of the fan community. It is also often targeted by the author at a group of his/her/its friends.

It's the ultimate marriage of the traditional scribe to the modern media age. Read: It can be of literary merit and populist at the same time. Read: You can get lots of people to read your mad wee stories about the Wombles, man.

Fan-fictions - also known as 'fanfics', or 'fics' - are published on many general fan sites and more dedicated resources such as this one here. Fanfics.org. Where you are now.

~~~~

The best answer is a question: which kind of fan-fiction would you like to read?

On the main page, down the left hand side, there is a listing of various different categories supported by fanfics.org. Horizontally near the top, you will find buttons such as 'A to Z', 'New In' and so forth.

To browse by category, click the relevant category on the left hand side. Once you've clicked that, you'll see a listing of the sub-categories contained within that category. For example, if you click 'Comics', you might find 'Spider-man' and 'X-Men'.

If you know the sub-category you are interested in but do not know which general category it falls under, click the A to Z button. This allows you to navigate the sub-categories alphabetically. For example, if you want 'Spider-man', you can find that under 'S'.

If you really don't care which category or sub-category you read, or just want the latest hot-off-the-press fan-fiction, then click 'new in'. This shows the pieces most recently submitted to fanfics.org.

And if we ever get that Top 100 button done…

~~~~

Slap a disclaimer at the top, before you write anything. Something along the lines of:

'Disclaimer: I do not own in part or full any aspect of the Star Trek franchise. This is the property of Paramount, its relevant partners and subsidiaries. I do own all original aspects of this fan-fiction including but not limited to original characters and plot. This fan-fiction has been published at no profit, purely for the enjoyment of the fans and the collective good of the franchise.'

Zah. Now you can start writing. Don't know what to write? There really is no constraint on what you may write. Start asking yourself 'What if…'

'What if Captain Kirk didn’t die at the end of Star Trek: Generations.'

'What if Captain Scarlet suddenly wasn't indestructible?'

'What if I was one of the X-Men?'

'What if the Green Goblin came back to life?'

And so forth.

For more technical advise on how to actually improve or establish your writing style, check the newspaper for a relevant column and/or heed the advice of the veterans at the forum.

~~~~

Register. Log in. (There are bits in here to help with that too.)

Now click 'members'. Then 'upload fic'. Take it from there.

~~~~

No hentai/slash/lemon/lime/Adult fan-fiction. I know there's an 18+ classification. At the moment. Its probably removed now, just to spite me.

No stuff abusive to folk living or dead. By posting, authors accept responsibility and liability for their own work. By posting, they agree to indemnify ff.org from any legal action that may result from the publication of their work.

Submitted stuff most not link or advertise stuff that's unsuitable or in violation of the rules.

No abuse.

Breakage of the rules results in DEATH. Or a ban.

Hey, don’t start on at me. I don't make the rules. Ok, I do…

~~~~

In the same bit as the 'Upload Fic' button, there's a 'Fic Management' button. Click that. That's where you wanna go.

~~~~

Who writes these…

~~~~

See how to add chapters to see how to get to 'Fic Management'. There's an Edit Chapter button there. If you don't have chapters, it just edits the single fic.

~~~~

Fic Management. See above. What a flimsy answer.

~~~~

Right. Concentrate here. You click register. On the front page. In bold letters.

If you have any problems, then use a non-free E-mail. Underscores in usernames are not necessary.

NO offensive usernames.

~~~~

Click log in.

Main page.

At the minute, we don't use cookies so you may find yourself having to re-log in sometimes.

~~~~

Only way is up. Click 'members' for access to most of the joy.

~~~~

It's a thing that people see if they click your name. It lists your activity on ff.org - such as fics posted - and it gives personal information that you choose to show. It's like those little bits about the Author at the front of books. Don't ask 'What are books?'.

Ten to one I get a million 'What are books?'s mailed to me now.

~~~~

Once logged in, click Members. Then click 'Edit Profile'.

~~~~

On the main page, click 'newspaper'. This is where we keep the columns.

~~~~

Click the logo.

~~~~

No. Cute little fella, isn't he?

~~~~

Should read 'I want to be a columnist. I need help.'

Oh, and if you need further assistance, send an E-mail to the above address.