Things that turn you off in fan-fiction

[Sky]

Yet somehow Ranma is fighting at his best. How the heck can the author even accept that themselves to write it?

Not to be snide, but the author (Gray in "The Truth about Kasumi") said very explicitly that he was new to writing fan-fiction at the time and likely made mistakes. In this case, he had probably never even thought about this from that angle. When authors make this kind of admission, I'm more likely to give them a bit of a pass on some things.

Besides, I'm sure there's something at TV Tropes about "light after the darkest hour" that could be used here.

In my opinion, your complaints boils down to a lack of editing, a lack of proof-reading, and inexperience, which is really true for the wall of text you quoted.

[Comartemis]

A very minor issue I have with fanfiction in general is the idea that most authors seem to have that the pairing is set in stone the moment they get a character into a relationship. Maybe I'm reading the wrong things, but really, people date around. It happens. True soul mate sort of stuff might happen and I don't mind reading it, but I wish that more than 5-10% of the fics took a more realistic stance on love. Unless it involves Negi Springfield, everyone loves him.

I actually find it extremely irritating when an author doesn't do this. If I'm reading a story for a pairing -- or even if I'm not and I happen to like the first relationship to take form -- I don't want that relationship to suddenly get derailed in the middle of the story. This is probably the only thing I don't like about The Titans and the Lost Boy by Lathis, for instance; Ryouga develops a very nice relationship with Raven in the first few chapters, gets derailed into a relationship with Jinx after he gets brainwashed, and then accidentally does some serious damage to his relationship with both of them near the end of the story. When Dark Titans rolled around, the whole situation turned into an Unwanted Harem plot with Terra and briefly Starfire gunning for him as well. Raven still has a chance at him as of the latest chapter, but the sudden backpedaling in their relationship and the sudden addition several other girls made me feel extremely cheated.

In short; is it realistic that couples date around? Yes. Is it entertaining to watch relationships get built up and then torn down for no apparent purpose save "realism"? No. Not in the slightest.

[Spokavriel]

Yet somehow Ranma is fighting at his best. How the heck can the author even accept that themselves to write it?

Not to be snide, but the author (Gray in "The Truth about Kasumi") said very explicitly that he was new to writing fan-fiction at the time and likely made mistakes. In this case, he had probably never even thought about this from that angle. When authors make this kind of admission, I'm more likely to give them a bit of a pass on some things.

Besides, I'm sure there's something at TV Tropes about "light after the darkest hour" that could be used here.

In my opinion, your complaints boils down to a lack of editing, a lack of proof-reading, and inexperience, which is really true for the wall of text you quoted.

I know and the main reason I used it was because I was re-reading the fic at the moment and didn't want to hunt down the more painful examples. Didn't mean to make it look like I was ranting about the author or that particular story as opposed to the two things in that one story which make it harder for me to enjoy.

Edit: Actually there is a third thing with that fic which also makes it difficult for me. Using the names of a few set pieces and 1 character name from a series doesn't exactly make it a Crossover. In The Truth About Kasumi the name Beldandy gets used along with Nifflehiem. It doesn't even really use some of her known character traits. Like falling asleep or having Tea for a pick me up. Just about everything else that wasn't original came from Ranma or generic theology. If the author ever decides to do a remake with more A!MG! in it I'd like to see where it goes but as it is I don't really think of it as a true crossover.

[three headed dog]

I was reading a few fics earlier today and something that really annoyed me was the massive amount of fanon. I do not mind fanon that supplements/compliments the story such as background for a character that was not given in the source or the age of a character being given for a character whose age was never told to us. What bothers me is when it is fanon that directly counters the source material. Basically when I see something like character A does not do this but if I look at the source material I can find examples of that character doing that. Ex. Ranma doesn't use weapons - source materials he does frequently. Ranma doesn't lie - yeah he does. Akane is guileless - while she is one of the least deceitful and one of the most honest characters she has been deceitful (for example to Ranma's mom about Ranma's identity, when she pretended that she really was married to Ranma to convince Ukyo to leave, or the time she convinced Ranma's mom to take Ranko shopping for a new bra, etc), Nabiki always honoring her business deals (when it is shown in the manga that she'll take the money and run).

[Shanami]

In short; is it realistic that couples date around? Yes. Is it entertaining to watch relationships get built up and then torn down for no apparent purpose save "realism"? No. Not in the slightest.

I think you're taking my point and making it a bit more extreme than I meant. I don't actually mind the fact that a lot of fanfics have a "ship" and stick to it. I'm not saying that authors should rip apart the relationship just because they can. I was more directly referring to the destined couple thing that a lot of people write, specifically when it is implied that the first person that a character starts dating is going to be "the one."

If it is even implied that they've looked elsewhere beforehand, I have no issues with single couple pairings. In fact, I probably prefer them to wasting the time on multi well developed relationships (unless there are good reasons for the breakups and they are written well. But I'm really not huge on the fated couple thing.

I'll admit that most fics I read and like only have one major relationship for the protagonist. I'm completely okay with that. I don't like the: 11 year old, love at first sight, together forever thing that happens a lot. I'll admit I decided to add that to my list of turnoffs after reading an unfortunate bout of Harry Potter-verse fiction. Excuse me, but a 12 year old deciding to give an engagement ring to anyone is really really creepy.

[Konsaki]

"NEVER!!!!" Ranma roared as his aura exploded around him and blew Brahm away from him. So intense was the manifestation of the pig-tailed boy's anger and strength, that power began to roll off of him in waves. Brahm barely managed to right himself before Ranma was upon him. With speed that shot past inhuman, and strength to match, the pigtailed one unleashed hundreds upon hundreds of ki-powered punches and strikes that caused the air to become displaced from around them. Roaring in fury from all the punishment his body was taking, Brahm exuded his own aura, made entirely of flame and demonic power. The two auras, one sky blue, the other blood red, clashed in a massive display of power as the two combatants exchanged attacks that created shockwaves from the sheer force generated in their wake. Truly, it seemed that for once, Ranma wasn't holding back. The other members of Nerima could only watch in awe as a display of fighting prowess was demonstrated that they doubted even Happousai or Cologne could hope to match. Of course, the only reason Ranma was even holding his own was because, simply put, he was by far the better fighter in this battle. Brahm, for all his incredible unholy power and strength, barely knew how to throw a punch or kick effectively, while Ranma was a flowing, spinning, whirlwind of martial arts maneuvers that defied description. The living embodiment of the martial arts. Ranma wasn't even bothering to call out attacks any more. Simply intermixing amagurikens with ki blasts, miniature Hiryu Shoten Ha's and even Saotome forbidden attacks. Dozens of wounds were ripped into Brahm's body, but he seemed to barely feel them, instead simply taking the hits and retaliating with his own more powerful attacks powered by magic and his own demonic rage. Then, like a candle flame, Ranma's aura began to flicker, and slowly dwindle in its brightness, as he started to lose strength. The only thing keeping him going this far was his determination and unwillingness to let anything happen to those he cared for. But it simply wasn't enough. Brahm smirked cruelly as he slammed his fist into Ranma's solar plexus, driving the wind from him, and then driving a punishing double-handed hammer blow into the back of Ranma's neck with crushing force. Ranma was slammed into the ground from the sheer power, and as he struggled to get up, Brahm delivered a brutal kick to his ribs, causing him to cry out in pain. Then with an almost gleeful expression on his face, Brahm pointed a finger at Ranma and the youth erupted in flames. Everyone watching gasped at the sight and Kasumi sobbed even louder than the other girls, as they all heard Ranma's terrible screams of agony. Brahm simply laughed and watched with delight as his nemesis slowly burned to death.

Couldn't they have even included a line break somewhere in this bullshit? Ranma should have already been dead from exhaustion by this point!

tl;dr

Cant remember if I posted this already, but it came up again if I did: I absolutely hate it when people update their story summary to only reflect the latest chapter of the story... How the hell am I supposed to know what they damned story is about if all I read is 'Chapter #- Ranma vs Mousse; Akane trains for fight with Shampoo' or some other bullshit!? Gah!

And what is up with all the freaking Yaoi!? Thank god most of the authors post it in their summaries but a lot of good story ideas are wasted to me because of all the man love...

[CRBWildcat]

Cant remember if I posted this already, but it came up again if I did: I absolutely hate it when people update their story summary to only reflect the latest chapter of the story... How the ^!#l am I supposed to know what they damned story is about if all I read is 'Chapter #- Ranma vs Mousse; Akane trains for fight with Shampoo' or some other @#%&&&2!? Gah!

I can't speak for everyone else who does it, but my rationale behind this is that saying "Inuyasha and a self-inserted character get stuck in a mazoku's head, life gets turned upside down" and leaving it at that doesn't really cut it (well, it tries, but it's a really dull knife). Besides, if anyone wants to see how a story gets up to that particular point, all the more reason to start from the beginning, I figure.

Sure, it's annoying to some people (and my reasoning isn't the greatest, either), but I don't have much going for me.

And what is up with all the freaking Yaoi!?

Don't even get me started.

[kurushi]

Hmm, a chance to rant and whine? Count me in!

I hate spelling errors, homophones, and attempts to sound more formal in language that fail terribly.

I hate porn that defies the laws of physics and/or reason (twisting, unnaturally flexible for a lazy character, coming in gushing spurts in unison every time)

I hate "comedy" as a genre, because it seems to attract a lot of lazy idiots, and I'm just not prepared to wade through that much swill. (I love well written comedic scenes, though. Just haven't run across many yet.)

I hate that when things are crossed over, it's always handled poorly. I'm counting my own crossovers here too. >.<

I hate a lot of heterosexual romance fics because they lean more towards Americanisms (in dating conventions etc), and tend to either end in really unrealistic sex, or marriage and babies. (In fact, I hate some Yaoi/slashfics because of this too)

I hate Mpreg. I've never found it handled well, and there's NO reason the characters can't adopt or find a surrogate mother. None. I'd rather gender-bent than Mpreg.

I hate a lot of Yuri AND Yaoi romance fics because they seem to be written more by members of the opposite sex (respectively), and focus on visual rather than sensual aspects of sex. In non-sexually-explicit romances, I find they portray exaggerated female characteristics (both). Also, I dislike when everyone in the cast is suddenly gay. Really I hate the degradation of character that I associate with a lot of sexually themed fics. It is possible to do this well, people!

I also dislike the culture of hate that surrounds pairing choices in general. I used to keep my gay, lesbian and het fics separate and participated in communities under several handles merely because there seemed to be a lot of dislike and ostracism towards anyone who wrote in variable sexual orientations/pairings.

And what is up with all the freaking Yaoi!?

Don't even get me started.

It has put me off of a lot of forums, discussions and threads, people blaming a sexual orientation label rather than the general low quality of writing online or a personal dislike/apathy towards GBLT or het romance for their reactions to any given fic. I'm not saying everyone should go out and read gay/lesbian/het fics when they dislike them. But I am saying that if "Yaoi" is shit, then it's all shit really, and singling out a particular sexual preference for vilification disgusts me. Surely we left that shit behind a decade or so ago.

Ah, and I've championed the cause of het/gen/yuri to friends who have made similar nasty comments about those IRL, so I'm not reacting only to the above quoted comments about Yaoi here, but to all gender-preference bashing that I've encountered.

[Ellen Kuhfeld]

One thing that especially bothers me in Ranmafics is the Olde Englysshe some writers have Kuno spouting. It's SHAKESPEARE, folks! It's the King James Bible! When people don't know the difference between thee and thou, they shouldn't play with it!

[Spokavriel]

What prithee doth vex thee so about yon authors abominable phrasing?

[Ellen Kuhfeld]

What prithee doth vex thee so about yon authors abominable phrasing?

Durst thou ask?

[Spokavriel]

The dearth of skill in their loquacity is clear yet hath Kuno the verve even in thine own mind?

I find him more formal with Japanese but not quite poetic by any measure.

[three headed dog]

One thing that especially bothers me in Ranmafics is the Olde Englysshe some writers have Kuno spouting. It's SHAKESPEARE, folks! It's the King James Bible! When people don't know the difference between thee and thou, they shouldn't play with it!

I've never actually read the King James version of the bible. Instead I always read the Douay-Rheims translation of the Latin Vulgate (both contained in the same book side by side one page Latin the opposite page in English).

[Konsaki]

Methinks you lot be straying from thine path... (Yes, I suck at olde English; hence why I don't use it. XD )

It has put me off of a lot of forums, discussions and threads, people blaming a sexual orientation label rather than the general low quality of writing online or a personal dislike/apathy towards GBLT or het romance for their reactions to any given fic. I'm not saying everyone should go out and read gay/lesbian/het fics when they dislike them. But I am saying that if "Yaoi" is shit, then it's all shit really, and singling out a particular sexual preference for vilification disgusts me. Surely we left that shit behind a decade or so ago.

Ah, and I've championed the cause of het/gen/yuri to friends who have made similar nasty comments about those IRL, so I'm not reacting only to the above quoted comments about Yaoi here, but to all gender-preference bashing that I've encountered.

The major problem I have with yaoi has already been addressed by you; any time I see the yaoi 'tag' I can expect the quality of the story to drop at least a few points on a 1-10 scale. It's not always the case but you eat enough bad tasting food and you tend to shy away from trying it again.
Even the ones of good quality are a put off to me, on varying levels based off the... classiness, i guess, of the relationship. Background relationship characteristics which don't interfere with the story as a whole, don't take the spotlight over the story and don't seem to... 'damage' the character's original personality are easier to overlook. On the other end of the spectrum, the overt yaoi is definitely a story killer for me; mainly because the author seems to want to shove it in my face while yelling "It's Yaoi, bitch! I'm being creative!"
Don't get me wrong though, all the things I brought up in the last section also apply to yuri and straight pairings as well; though I do give a lot more leeway to these types of pairings due to my sexual orientation. Yes, I'm biased; who isn't? Anyways, I have read many a 'straight' pairing story, which wasn't a relationship plot, and had the relationship overpower the story so badly that I had to 'put the book down and walk way'.

[camk4evr]

One thing that bugs me is when an author makes an error in the canon facts of a series and, when I actually point this out, they reply with something to the effect of "it's AU so I'm going to have it this way" or "It doesn't say anything against/for it in the canon". While I enjoy AU fanfiction I prefer for it to make sense or for the author to actually spend the time to do a bit of research and/or not mix the original series with an American mauling of the series (for example, too many Macross fanfics use Robotech for their basis).

I won't name any specific examples (and for those who are curious: Yes, this is prompted by a certain fic. No, it hasn't been posted to the fic C&C board as the author isn't, to my knowledge, a member of fukufics) because, lets face it, we can all, probably, name a few examples.