Things you *hate* to see in fanfiction

[Frog]

Actually, the Japanese, especially girls, do have shortened pet names for each other. What annoys me about the ones in Ranma fan fiction, though, is that they are
a.) Not canon. The characters in Ranma never used pet names for each other. The closest anyone came was Nabiki and her deliberately insulting use of "Kuno-chan".
b.) The flippin' fan authors never even check to see if the pet names make sense. NO Japanese would ever call someone "Kas-chan", because that's impossible in the language. Her name breaks down into three characters, "ka", "su", and "mi", and the pet name would be made up of a combination of those phonemes. "Kasu-chan" might work, or maybe "Sumi-chan". You might even get away with "Su-chan". Never "Kas-chan". The same goes for "Nab-chan" or "Nabs". Those are impossible in Japanese. Having said that though, "Ak-chan" is possible... It sounds like you have something stuck in your throat and are trying to cough it out, but it's possible.

That's exactly what I meant. Maybe I wasn't clear enough but when I said 'For the love of God, if you're going to use nicknames for characters at least make sure that they make sense in the context of them being Japanese. No japanese person I've ever met has taken kindly to having their name chopped in mid-syllable' I meant that I found it ridiculous when the made up nickname chopped up the syllables in half. Kas-chan or Nabs-chan and a whole bunch of other nonesense are inappropriate to use as nicknames for a Japanese character. I don't mind people coming up with pet names for the characters. I just want them to make sense. If you are so lazy to write out Kasumi's name every single time then shorten it to Kasu-chan or Sumi-chan, like you said. Those names make sense in a Japanese context. Kas-chan certainly does NOT make sense in such a context. Call a Japanese person that and see the look they give you when you mutilate their name in an attempt to be 'cute'. That'd be like calling a man named Takato 'Tak'. He'd punch you in the face.

[MC80a Liberty]

Well, most of the more irritating clichés have already been posted, but one of the most annoying of all time is when nearly anyone crosses anything with Star Trek we end up with all the characters in the crossover universe(s) in awe of the Federation as they walk over any threats with their incredible tactics and overwhelmingly superior technology.
Afterwards the readers are treated to the Heroic Starfleet Captain OF The Day giving a stupid and self-righteous speech about the superiority of the Federation way.
It's reached the point where where ST ships are blowing up things like the Chobimaru from Tenchi in one shot.

[GenocideHeart]

Well, most of the more irritating clichés have already been posted, but one of the most annoying of all time is when nearly anyone crosses anything with Star Trek we end up with all the characters in the crossover universe(s) in awe of the Federation as they walk over any threats with their incredible tactics and overwhelmingly superior technology.
Afterwards the readers are treated to the Heroic Starfleet Captain OF The Day giving a stupid and self-righteous speech about the superiority of the Federation way.
It's reached the point where where ST ships are blowing up things like the Chobimaru from Tenchi in one shot.

Heh. I've actually seen a ST fic where the Enterprise defeats LAHARL, of all people.
Those of you who played Disgaea know how utterly ridiculous the very idea is...

[Drawde]

Although this mainly applies to Tenchi fics, I can't stand it when people don't try to keep continuities straight. I understand that there will be differences in a fic, especially when it's clearly intended to be an AU, but we still have certain expectancies on what's going on. I have a very difficult time following a fic when I can't tell if the characters are based off of the TM OVA or Universe setting. Especially when parts of BOTH continuities are used, such as a fic clearly based in the OVA setting, yet Kiyone is Mihoshi's partner, and the characters all act like the Universe characters.
Another thing that annoys me is an author deliberatly exaggerates the negative aspects of a character, just to get rid of them. This is most commonly used as a quick and easy method to get rid of Akane so someone else can get Ranma. I know there aren't too many ways (in a broad sense) to get Ranma with someone else, but it's WAY overused, and especially annoying when Psycho Akane is used with either A: all the other characters are really fleshed out in the fic, or B: the chosen fiancee has NO flaws in the fic.

[WG_Writer]

Ok, Here is my list these are not in order but rated instead 5 for hated to the point of not reading, 1 for annoying but I will give it a chance, 3 if its bad enough that over use will stop me from reading it.
Miss spelled names: 4 (There is no excuse for Nadoka or Nadoko or Nodaka or anything like that)
Script format: 5 (good for draft outlining, bad for reading)
Song Fic: 4.9 (it must have some really good reviews for me to even look at it)
Bad grammar: 3 (I have a pre reader, there are enough places to find pre readers out there, there is no reason for this period. A little bad grammar can be tollerated, but if it looks like it was written while drunk, it probably isn't worth it)
Bad spelling/miss used words: 4 (as above there is no excuse, there is enough free software with spell checking in it that it can not be justified)
present tense: 3 (You read my drafts you know I am bad for this, but I have people to help, and as above help can be found, so why?)
no character growth: 2 (annoying, but tollerable within reason)
cures/locks/sudden OOC: 4.5 (There are fics that it can be done, but generally I dislike anything like this, Ozzallos fics are the exception to this, as is Generation Lost. But I hate to say it but most of Sunny's other fics fall into this category)
Original Characters: 1.5 (depends on roll, if they are a first tier character then they better be devoloped well, if a back ground character that holds minimum meaning and are there to help move the plot, then great.)
Mary/Gary Sue: 7 (Fic destroyer)
Mind destroyers: 4.9 (Fics where something happens and Ranma isn't Ranma any more, because he is now: a girl, married, and has become a house wife or anything like this)
Generally if I have to say what will put me off a fic the fastist ignoring my rating system is:
Poor Writing and poor formating
Fics where Ranma was mis used and I had to ask, Why use Ranma at all?
Magic fixes to anything, I don't mean Ranma was cured 10 years later and I hate it, I mean Daisuke gave Ranma a wishing rod and he wished away his curse, within the opening 10 paragraphs.

[TerraEpon]

Wow, popular topic O_O
I for one don't mind script if done well (if it feels like an episode, for instance), or first person writing (thank god you never see second person in fics though, SHUDDER)
I could run off a list, but no time at the moment...I'll for now just give two things:
1) Recounting canon scenes exactly. What's the point? We do NOT need to read the "FIANCEE?!" scene every damn time unless there's something new to it.
2) Dark. Blah.
-Joshua

[antimatterenergy]

Things I hate to see.
-pairing everyone up
-solving most of the problems really quickly and unbelieveably - What would be better is to just start the fic a few years later and never tell us how the problems were solved. That's not a perfect solution but if you can't think of a decent reason as to why the fiancees aren't chasing Ranma and Ranma is now living in say Canada it's a lot better to just tell your story and let the reader make up their own reasons.
-mary sues
-extreme OOC. Really why even bother saying it's Ranma (or sailormoon, etc...) just make it an original fiction and borrow some ideas.
-massive plot holes

[Anime_Freak317]

What I hate is 1-3 scene chapters that move too quickly to be of any importance. If you are going to create a fic, don't make it so the issue have already happened going straight to the start of the reselution. Draw it out some and have some hidden plots to keep the reader guessing. Also, make the chapter at least 3000 words, bare minimum.
Another thing I hate: Too many crossovers. Four is pushing it, cause after that, you get into series that most have not read, nor have a real understanding of. Not to mention loosing your place in terms of events making the story that much more confusing.
Of course, RSE (Ranma Solves Everything). If everything is fixed, theres nothing more to picture in the future. I.E.--Shampoo marries Mi Su, she leaves Ranma alone. What if Shampoo dies, then Mi Su could return to the village, recruite some help and retaliate. Which sounds more enticing?
Bad Grammer.
Long stretches between chapters (sorry everyone).
Quitters on fics with no hopes of a finally.

[Alathon]

Things I absolutely loathe:
1. Authors using the names of popular characters to attract an audience for works that have nothing to do with them. This is above and beyond out of character behavior, where there is only a vestigial connection to the canon character, probably their name and physical description. Common symptoms include nonsensical yaoi pairings, characters looking back on their old life for two paragraphs before going on to something completely different, and immersion in a crossover that makes 90% of what the canon character was all about irrelevant. This applies to nonsensical yuri pairings as well, but I see those a lot less outside of PWP lemons in which there's no real dishonesty because the author is borrowing bodies, not characters.
2. Canonization of characters. Especially Nabiki, but it's just as bad for Kasumi, Ranma, or damned near anyone else who isn't actually supposed to be an omnibenevolent higher being. Characters which always do right, never make mistakes in judgement, always come out on top, and never fuck up, are pathetic parodies of humanity. Especially when they're entirely backwards from what they were in canon.
3. Misspelling of proper names. There's really no excuse for spellings like Nodaka and Nermia. They show that the author does not really care about their story and is lame. I have a hard time blaming people for poor English, because English is becoming a trade language and a lot of people who use it speak it as a second or third language. But there's no excuse for getting the names wrong.. especially where they're sounded wrong compared to the anime.
4. Blatant and unjustified OOC cliches. Whether it's Nodoka being rich and swooping in to save Ranma from the rest of the cast with her elite Hiten Mitsurugi Ryu swordskills, Nabiki being an emotionally scarred emochild who only screws with people to pay the bills, or Ranma being a machiavellian master of manipulation, it all sucks a fat one.

[Cyber_Skaarj]

Funny thing is, Finishing What You Start (which you mentioned later in the thread as an example of a good fic) is written almost entirely in present tense. It didn't seem unnatural to me... Just gives it a different kind of flavor, if you catch my drift.

Ah, guess I should have remembered the expection when it comes to that. First-person perspective when writing puts you behind one character's eyes as they experience things, so present tense is usually accpetable in that sort of situation. Remember there's always at least one exception to every rule, and FPP stories are it with the present tense one.

a.) Not canon. The characters in Ranma never used pet names for each other. The closest anyone came was Nabiki and her deliberately insulting use of "Kuno-chan".

So you are completely ignoring the whole Ranchan/Ucchan thing. Or completely forgetting it.

[camk4evr]

-I know this has been mentioned (many) times before but misspelled names is the top of my list (especially 'Nermia')
-Fics that use the character's names but don't make them resemble the character in any other way
-mixing continuities in the same fic., esp the american and japanese version of Sailor Moon (I just really hate the american version^_^).
-Ranma, Akane, Ryoga, or anyother character (the author's favorite) being super perfect while the rest are a bunch of jerks
-poor spelling in general. I know I can be bad at it but if you're going to post a fic then you should, at least, run it through a spellchecker first
-inconsistent romanization. I've seen a few fics that use both 'Ryoga' and 'Ryouga' in the same paragraph
-Ranma falling in love with a man. I don't think I've seen a single fic that has pulled it off believably
-fics that tell about a major event but never depict it. Takahashi didn't just say Genma threw Ranma into a pit of cats, she showed him doing it in a flashback
-too much repetition. I'm not tlaking about recapping a previous chapter (which isn't really necessary unless you write huge chapters) but saying things like 'Ranma used to love Akane until...' and then repeating that in each chapter (or multiple times a chapter) is really annoying
-repeating a scene from the manga/anime word for word

[Anime_Freak317]

-Ranma falling in love with a man. I don't think I've seen a single fic that has pulled it off believably

Actually, there is one, and it's with Kuno none the less. Bliss

[Eris]

Well, most of the more irritating clichés have already been posted, but one of the most annoying of all time is when nearly anyone crosses anything with Star Trek we end up with all the characters in the crossover universe(s) in awe of the Federation as they walk over any threats with their incredible tactics and overwhelmingly superior technology.
Afterwards the readers are treated to the Heroic Starfleet Captain OF The Day giving a stupid and self-righteous speech about the superiority of the Federation way.
It's reached the point where where ST ships are blowing up things like the Chobimaru from Tenchi in one shot.

Mmm, does this pet peeve have anything to do with your handle being a Mon Calamari warship?
I'd agree though. The damn communistas have some disturbingly good propaganda in place. Kind of vexing really.
Anywho, I have relatively few pet peeves as such. There are things that annoy me, but usually it's paired with bad or just uncreative writing. So the very notion of cliches I suppose. But the thing is that if an author is good enough, I can let them get away with almost anything--a good story is good story regardless of its specifics, and worth reading for that reason.
So I can forgive a lot. Vastly change all the characters, introduce weird elements, just do it well and I'll enjoy the piece. That does preclude things like bad grammar and misspelled names, but they hardly rate as something I dislike, just something I won't tolerate. Why bother reading if it's not coherent?
One thing that generally does get on my nerves is overuse of Japanese. I mean, the fic is in English, and adding in Japanese does not help the story in any way except to confuse the reader and break up the tone. I can understand terms that can't be translated well, or are loan words in English anyway (the honourifics, katana, futon, etc.) and even the shouted out attack names, but really, using hai and tadaima all over the place just grates on my nerves.
That's the only big thing that annoys me generally. That and the good guys always winning. I have a thing for evil, but that's more a thematic preference than anything else. I don't hold it against authors that they let the heroes win in the end.
EDIT: Actually, I can think of one other thing that really gets on my nerves. Two really, but they're related. One, the very notion of love as an ever enduring emotion or true love. Love is an emotion, and as such is is like any other emotion: it grows, it wanes, it dies, it carries on. There's nothing special about it that gives it privelaged status above any other emotion. Love at first sight is included. That's just stupid, and flies in the face of everything a realistic romance should be. Destined love is in this category as well, and it just really annoys me.
Related is the "They fight all the time, thus they must love each other" thing that seems to be quite popular. I blame Jane Austin for this one, but she probably didn't start it. Ranma and Akane have it big time, as do people in a tonne of 'romantic comedies'. And it drives me up the wall. Grr.

[Screwball]

Mmm, does this pet peeve have anything to do with your handle being a Mon Calamari warship?
I'd agree though. The damn communistas have some disturbingly good propaganda in place. Kind of vexing really.

But teh Ent3rpriz3 haz 999999999999999.9999999 Gig-ton Phazors!!!shift1!one!
Ahem. Star Trek crosses, This isn't just with anime fics, it's with anything. I've read maybe three decent Trek crosses, and they treat the Federation exactly like what it is- outclassed by lots of things out there. I also dislike the Space-Commie thing.
Present tense writing, especially if the authour keeps on doing it!. The only format present tense has a place in is script format, and I generally don't read fics written as script. It just isn't enjoyable, which is my next peeve, scripts.
I'm not fond as time travel as anything more than a plot device. I'm fine with it if it's only use is to stick a character where they need to be at the start of a story- the whole 'I've come from the future to warn you of a great danger' thing, ala Terminator. Actually making time travel a big, integral part of the story, and dealing with paradoxes and so on annoys me, unless it's done well. By this I mean, in a clear, easily understandable form. Anything else just makes the fic into some sort of twisted physics question.
Spelling that makes it blatantly obvious the author hasn't even tried. Same goes for grammar, and especially for leet. Stuff like 'mY speeling s god'. This brings me to my next point, people who can best be termed 'linguistic imperialists'. The people that blow up at people for using alternate, perfectly acceptable spellings. Normally, it's reviewers that do this, but I've been flamed by an author because I used British spellings in a review. Needles to say, I reduced her inbox to a charred mess...
Lack of internal consistancy. When the fic contradicts itself, something is terribly, terribly wrong.

[mondu_the_fat]

Heh. I've actually seen a ST fic where the Enterprise defeats LAHARL, of all people.
Those of you who played Disgaea know how utterly ridiculous the very idea is...

Heh. Laharl powering up wiped out a significant portion of earth's fleet...
I hate script format.
Present tense.
"Nermia".
Outrageous OOC (ie. Nodoka being indiana jones; Ranma being incredibly intelligent but only acts like a jock to hide it, etc)
half the dialogue in japanese
sound effects
oral repetition of plots and concept (ie Ranma's past; explaining "ki", etc)