Updates

November 18, 2014

University is a pain, and my blocks are monstrous.

That's the gist of my update, but I owe my readers much more than just this one line explanation so…

Know that I am trying. Really trying.

I kind of realized that one major problem I have with updating is that I always try to update with long chapters. Like 15-16 pages worth per chapter. So while I know this is seriously going to disappoint my readers, I think I might be sticking with about 9-10 pages per chapter in future.

Of course, this is not yet set in stone. But I'll be trying to change the way I update for a while to see what would be most comfortable for me. I'm sorry but this is the only way for me to continue updating here on a somewhat regular schedule. And to be honest, it's definitely a better option than just throwing in the towel without trying every other alternative first.

Trust me, I am NEVER going to give up on any of my stories.

Seriously though, thank you for all the support so far. I really appreciate it :)

Tumblr Links

From 6 Feet Under

For Sketches, Doodlings and Works-in-Progress.

Regnium de Arcana

For drabbles, and excerpts from unfinished chapters of my fan-fictions and original stories.

Writing Pet Peeves

1. Author's Notes

When I write a note, I expect it to be read and not ignored. So read it. Seriously.
I might end up rambling a little though, no guarantees I won't do that just for my own amusement, but still, you can always skip my obvious ramblings.

2. “Please Update Soon!” Reviews

Frankly, I do not mind these two-word or three-word reviews much... But is it really that difficult for anyone to just put in a line or two of their opinions (what you like, what you don't like) on the latest chapter?
Think about being in the shoes of a writer on FFNet, you spend half the night slogging away to get out a decent and long chapter for your eager readers but at the end of the day, more than half of the reviews you receive are just one-or-two-words requesting for quicker updates. How would you feel?
If you understand, please—try to make it a good practice to voice your opinions out more, so the writers could feel more comforted knowing which parts of their fan-fictions are appealing compared to other parts.

3. Flames/ Obnoxious Reviews

If I get any reviewers flaming or just being downright obnoxious, be forewarned—you're just giving me a reason to make a laughing stock out of you to my RL friends as well as my other readers.
Don't think for a second that you've managed to knock me down a notch by trying to humiliate me through your reviews in the face of other readers. And know what's better? Your flaming/ obnoxious review will be publicized in the next chapters at the very top and posted on my FaceBook wall as well.
How about it? Becoming famous for your laughable reviews, wouldn't it be such a lovely thing?

4. Original Characters (OCs)

If you think there's still something to improve on with the Original Characters I created, feel free to speak up. Or if your worried that you'll get slammed by others, send me a PM. I'd gladly welcome some constructive criticism.
But if you're someone who dislike OCs in general? Close the tab or window, do whatever it takes to get you FAR AWAY from my OC fan-fiction. Because honestly, I don't care if you don't like him/her just because he/she is an OC.
Its MY fan-fiction, I can do whatever the hell I want and I am certainly not obligated to cater to your preferences.
Oh, and one more thing to such OC-haters who feel their opinions matter the most, if you think you're doing me a favor by writing a biased review, telling me how much you dislike OC(s) in general—I apologize for my bluntness beforehand—just GET THE FUCK OUTTA MY STORY.
You're not gonna be able to convince me to get rid of my OC(s) or my stories, so don't waste everyone's time and energy with your biased and conceited opinions.

5. Recommendations of other Fan-Fictions via PMs

Okay, I won't mention names, and I am asking this nicely.
My readers and or reviewers who occasionally send me PMs now and then, please.
Please stop recommending fan-fictions to me.
You can write me a long message of how good the plot is, how much you're awestruck by how its written, but has it ever occurred to you why I did not even know of it's existence?
Its because I am not interested in that particular anime or manga.
I know you have good intentions of wanting to share a fan-fiction that you enjoy reading, but please remember.
I have a pair of eyes and a pair of hands like you guys too, so I can look for those rare gems myself—I am not handicapped in any way to need an extra pair of eyes and or hands to help me do so.

6. Advertising in Reviews

Everyone has the freedom to do what they want—if you want to advertise mine or another's fan-fiction, feel free to do so.
But don't go advertising on another user's story in their reviews, its in bad taste if you're a reader who does such things.
While you may have good intentions in doing that, the author or other readers might think otherwise—that you're implying that the fan-fictions you're advertising are better than the one they had been reading.
You might even end up sowing discord between the authors and readers so please, don't do that anymore if you're a reader who often does this in your reviews.

Reading Pet Peeves

1. Summaries

The only thing I dislike seeing in summaries... is how the writer claims that they're terrible at summarizing and yet promises a good story despite their poor skill in summaries.
You can't expect someone to read your story if the confidence that you're supposed to put into your summary is not there.
So for goodness sake, in your free time, LEARN AND PRACTICE how to write a good summary if you think you're terrible at it!

2. Role-playing in Author's Notes

To writers who often do a one-man role-play with an OC or a character.
I suggest you do your role-play with friends rather than with your readers. Its uncomfortable and at times, distasteful because you portray your OC or a canon character as having a soft spot (in many different ways) for yourself. And whether you realize it or not, its still not something everyone would like to see.

3. OOCness

Seriously.
If you're writing a fan-fiction, then get the characters' personality straight—even with 50% of their original self intact is still way better than an entirely different personality implanted in a fixed character's body.
Just what's the point of giving a fixed character the opposite of his original personality? Do you really believe that by doing so, readers will like it more? I—for one—would certainly not like it.
You might as well create an OC, bringing me to my next pet peeve as a reader...

4. Missing or Forgotten OCs

Please. Be more original.
I have read more than enough of my fair share of fan-fictions whereby the OC is someone who had been missing for years or had been forgotten over the years only to pop up like a jack-in-a-box again. And no, none of that missing, or forgotten, or long lost sibling plot device too.
I've seen it, read it, tolerated it, I had even USED it once. And I had enough of it.
These plot devices had been repeatedly used so much, its scary when I wonder how such horrors became conventional in fan-fictions.
OC fan-fictions should NEVER be how the story would just somehow bend its own logic around the character and make it ALL about him/her being the key to world domination or something.
The first and foremost BASIC thing about putting an OC into a fan-fiction is how you intend for them to fit into the story and how they influence it in their own unique way before you can even touch on the corresponding plots intended for them. This is what we call development, people—DEVELOPMENT. No shortcuts, no jumping the gun. Seriously.

4. OCs in General

No, I do not despise ALL OCs like some others do.
My OC fan-fiction and plans for more to come should be proof enough, but that's beside my point.
Certain users on FFNet, I've noticed, would often comment on how some OCs are complete Mary-Sues, and how they are totally inappropriate because they can tell whether the authors derived that character from themselves. I'll have to agree with them, because such OCs are a major turn-off for me—because its unbearable just trying to read without rolling your eyes at the not-so-subtle attempt to make your favorite character hook up with you instead of another potential love interest (if there is one, that is).
Although, while there are some OC fan-fictions that would simply irk me out, there are OC fan-fictions out there that are actually—surprisingly—worthy of praise.
But whether I like OCs and OC fan-fictions in general or not?
Yes and no, depending on the origins of the OC and the content of the fan-fictions.

5. Crossovers

Two animes or mangas mixing together is the limit.
Overshoot that limit, with the number of characters you would have to incorporate into the plot and such—everything will go to hell when your readers try to read and understand what the heck is going on.
End of story.

Fan-Fictions

1. Fragility - Vampire Knight

Ookami Riel. An enigma, an outcast. A monster in human skin. The Harbinger of Death.

She is the prized property of the Hunter Society—a Vampire Hunter of great value, in more ways than one. Yet an individual with the most secrets to hide behind her sweet smiles.

When Kaien welcomes her enrollment into Cross Academy, all hell breaks loose in the form of an enraged Zero... Their bitter reunion bringing to surface the hatchet they had wanted no more than to bury until the end of time...

Warning(s): OCs, Violence and Gore, Coarse Language.

Pairing(s): Zero x OC (main)

Note(s): Title changed--previous title was 'Selfless Mask of Pride'. Rewritten story (changing of some OCs' names too) and combined together with the sequel.

2. My Dear Butler, Now and Forever - Vampire Knight and Kuroshitsuji Crossover

A night of blood and death.

The night that led a dying Zero to be turned by Kaname in order to survive and live on as a Vampire. It had been five years since, and now Zero is serving as Kaname's butler—albeit a little begrudgingly due to... his savior's daily harassments.

Simply charming and mischievous, yet cold and indifferent at times, Zero has had enough headaches trying to figure out what is his value to Kaname. Why did Kaname decide to save him? He couldn't fathom it. But there was one thing that he understood better than anyone else.

He was unwittingly falling for his infuriating young master—and he was falling hard.

To top it all off?

A certain demon is determined to snatch Zero away from Kaname's side at any cost.

Warning(s): Yaoi, Guy on Guy Action. Violence, Gore, and OCs.

Pairing(s): Kaname x Zero and Sebastian x Ciel (main)

Note(s): Rewriting in Progress—Chapter One (10%). Changed the previous approach to the pairings as well as the plot.

3. Crossing Boundaries - Zetsuen no Tempest

Between a pair of unlikely friends, where should the line be drawn? Was there even a line to begin with?

Yoshino ponders his odd affinity with Mahiro, belatedly realizing that they had long trampled passed the delicate boundary of their innocent friendship… and perhaps into something more complicated and illogical than they could handle.

There is no reason. There is no logic. There is simply just the tight and bittersweet bond they shared.

And whether Yoshino liked it or not, Mahiro is determined to keep it that way.

Warning(s): Yaoi, and some Angst.

Pairing(s): Mahiro x Yoshino (main)

Note(s): A two-shot.