New rules for fanfic writers. Certain Stargate writers in particular.

[icarus]

After reading a certain fanfic, which no doubt is excellent despite its flaws but I couldn't continue:

1 - Never, ever tell us the obvious. No one reads fanfiction without at least a rudimentary knowledge of the show. Yes, we know Jack is a colonel. Yes, we know the general is crusty but friendly. If you absolutely must tell us these things, please, for the love of God, don't do it in exposition, which is dry, dry, dry. *hacks up exposition*

2 - You are allowed the occasional dash. You are not permitted to use it in your first paragraph, nor are you permitted to use more than one per paragraph. If you have dull, unimportant information to convey (see previous point), don't shout it with a dash - a dash is not a parenthesis, it emphasizes - instead please try another technique. Perhaps two sentences? Pretend you have a lifetime limit on the number of dashes you use and must save them for important occasions.

Thank you for your consideration.

Comments

[kres.livejournal.com]

What is a dash?

*is puzzled*

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Oh, it's this: --

Or do you mean "what is a dash?" and just intend to say that you never use them?

Icarus

[kres.livejournal.com]

Hehehe. No, I really didn't know.

And heh. 'Cause I use them. I use them a lot. I use them to cut sentences.

a dash is not a parenthesis

Well...um... no. It isn't. Can you give an example of how one should NOT use the dash? 'Cause I'm really puzzled :>

[icarusancalion.livejournal.com]

Well what this person did was use two sets of dashes in the same paragraph.

Blah blah blah blah blah blah blah -- blah blah blah blah blah blah -- blah blah blah blah blah . Then, blah blah blah blah blah . And blah blah blah blah -- blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah -- blah blah blah blah blah blah blah .

Very confusing for the reader because you start losing track of which dashed section belongs to which sentence. You want to use dashes to set off important, sudden information -- so people will pay attention to it.

If you can avoid the double-dash sticking information in the middle of a sentence and use either parenthesis or commas, do it. Better yet, find a way to say it in two sentences, or a sentence with a subordinate clause. I hate to over-generalize, but generally, two sets of dashes in one sentence means you're over-burdening that sentence.

Icarus

[kres.livejournal.com]

Ah, I see. And I agree.

But that's, like, um, basic know-how :)=

If the sentence makes sense - well, that's a different story :>

Thank you for the example.