First, you have an error in word usage in the paragraph naming names. It should be "rein in their impulses", not "reign in their impulses" - like using reins on a horse, not the reign of a monarch. Also, you misspelled misspell - two s's, not one - and I only caught it because my spell-checker caught it when I was typing this up.
Second, naming names is gauche, and horribly rude in what amounts to a third-party post. Talk to them directly, mention general problems with stories (and not just theirs), but don't do this. It's really not going to win you any brownie points.
Third, let's go down your list - some it I will agree with, some I will not.
1. Spelling errors - well, yes, I'll agree with that, if it's errors, not error. One is acceptable, and reasonable, more than that is forgetting spell-check.
2. Not beta'd - if you're posting without sending it to a beta reader, don't advertise it, and do your editing before you post it to a community or archive. It's more the mention of lack-of-beta, I would hope, that's the problem here?
3. Character names misspelled - or place names, or other words specific to canon. If it's a show, and there's more than one acceptable spelling of the name, I can grit my teeth and read it, and then leave con-crit with links for researching canon-appropriate spellings. If the author won't learn, then I avoid.
4. BDSM/Dark/Rape - see below, this needs separated out.
4a. BDSM - Know the author before-hand, or the person recommending the story. Otherwise, I'm leery, because, as you said, it can be difficult to pull off. On the other hand, I know some authors who can pull it off, and damned well, at that. I'll read them. And recommend their stories. And if someone doesn't know me, I don't expect them to necessarily listen to me on that.
4b. Dark - It's too broad a category/warning. Like "general". It gives no actual idea what's there. I tend to ignore it, and base my thought on clicking on more specific stuff.
4c. Rape - This is a subject that has to be treated carefully and well-written, and preferably non-graphic (for me; I won't speak to the opinions/reactions of others). And there's as much emotional to it as there is physical, and it's the emotional that makes or breaks the story. But it can be done, and often the author will have a specific (one hopes!) reason for including it in the plot.
5. OFC/OMC - name them. In the summary, in the character listing, in the pairing listing. It's a fault I have to get over. And, I don't care if there's an original character, so long as it's well written. I know of a number of people who write/read fanfic with original characters. Just. I get worked up about this one, and it's a hot-button, and we'll leave it at that for now, yes?
6. Ditto #5. And don't say they're not a Mary Sue, because you'll convince people that they are, without giving the character a chance to speak for him/herself.
7. "and they meet a strange girl" - not automatically a Mary Sue. Often, yes, but not always. Though if that's about all the summary is, I might not click because the summary isn't enough to catch my attention. Different reason.
8. "high on pixie sticks!" - Um. I don't want to know what your state of mind was while writing it unless I'm your beta-reader, and need to know so I don't actually go "what the *expletive* were you thinking?"
9. lol, giggle, excessive punctuation - well, yeah. It is a distinct turn-off on a story for me, as well.
*continued in reply, as this is too long to post as one*
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2008-03-04 03:25 pm (UTC)First, you have an error in word usage in the paragraph naming names. It should be "rein in their impulses", not "reign in their impulses" - like using reins on a horse, not the reign of a monarch. Also, you misspelled misspell - two s's, not one - and I only caught it because my spell-checker caught it when I was typing this up.
Second, naming names is gauche, and horribly rude in what amounts to a third-party post. Talk to them directly, mention general problems with stories (and not just theirs), but don't do this. It's really not going to win you any brownie points.
Third, let's go down your list - some it I will agree with, some I will not.
1. Spelling errors - well, yes, I'll agree with that, if it's errors, not error. One is acceptable, and reasonable, more than that is forgetting spell-check.
2. Not beta'd - if you're posting without sending it to a beta reader, don't advertise it, and do your editing before you post it to a community or archive. It's more the mention of lack-of-beta, I would hope, that's the problem here?
3. Character names misspelled - or place names, or other words specific to canon. If it's a show, and there's more than one acceptable spelling of the name, I can grit my teeth and read it, and then leave con-crit with links for researching canon-appropriate spellings. If the author won't learn, then I avoid.
4. BDSM/Dark/Rape - see below, this needs separated out.
4a. BDSM - Know the author before-hand, or the person recommending the story. Otherwise, I'm leery, because, as you said, it can be difficult to pull off. On the other hand, I know some authors who can pull it off, and damned well, at that. I'll read them. And recommend their stories. And if someone doesn't know me, I don't expect them to necessarily listen to me on that.
4b. Dark - It's too broad a category/warning. Like "general". It gives no actual idea what's there. I tend to ignore it, and base my thought on clicking on more specific stuff.
4c. Rape - This is a subject that has to be treated carefully and well-written, and preferably non-graphic (for me; I won't speak to the opinions/reactions of others). And there's as much emotional to it as there is physical, and it's the emotional that makes or breaks the story. But it can be done, and often the author will have a specific (one hopes!) reason for including it in the plot.
5. OFC/OMC - name them. In the summary, in the character listing, in the pairing listing. It's a fault I have to get over. And, I don't care if there's an original character, so long as it's well written. I know of a number of people who write/read fanfic with original characters. Just. I get worked up about this one, and it's a hot-button, and we'll leave it at that for now, yes?
6. Ditto #5. And don't say they're not a Mary Sue, because you'll convince people that they are, without giving the character a chance to speak for him/herself.
7. "and they meet a strange girl" - not automatically a Mary Sue. Often, yes, but not always. Though if that's about all the summary is, I might not click because the summary isn't enough to catch my attention. Different reason.
8. "high on pixie sticks!" - Um. I don't want to know what your state of mind was while writing it unless I'm your beta-reader, and need to know so I don't actually go "what the *expletive* were you thinking?"
9. lol, giggle, excessive punctuation - well, yeah. It is a distinct turn-off on a story for me, as well.
*continued in reply, as this is too long to post as one*