Of course there are the typical things that I squick at sometimes- incest and chan being the biggest for me, but even then I can read them if the fic is from a capable author. (i.e. "lj user=dementordelta" )
But as for the quality of the writing, I'd have to say a major *gack* factor is the use of nick-names. Now, I can see them used SOMETIMES. Ron saying 'Mione I can deal with. But Sevvy? WTF? And at what point in any of the books does is give you the idea that Draco would stand for someone calling him Drake? or Dray? Yeah, those pretty much annoy the hell out of me.
Another thing is..well, this one is hard for me to describe. Its like when you can tell the person hasn't really paid attention to the books because they get small canon stuff wrong. Not AU, but just wrong. Hmm... maybe putting The Leaky Cauldron in Hogsmead or having Neville call his grandmother 'granny' instead of 'gran'. That kind of thing. Its just annoying. I don't see it a lot and I'm probably not giving good examples, but when I read these things I just get so bothered by it I usually have to stop reading. Almost like the person just wanted to write and cared nothing about the understanding the characters they were writing.
The last is the use of Snape. A lot of fics use 'Snape' for Severus Snape's name but will use everyone else's first name. Now, if it in speach that is fine because I can get that. Or if its say Harry thinking something like 'he checked the map one more time to make sure his path was clear. Running in to Filch or Snape tonight would not be a good thing.' I can see Harry thinking of Severus as 'Snape'. And if the author can make it feel normal that is fine too. For example, if he revers to himself as 'Snape' in his head because at some point its been shown that that is how he thinks of himself. (Rather like Hagrid, I would imagine). But for a fic to use Snape like this: Harry rolled over to find the warmth of his lover gone. Rubbing his eyes, he peered around the room to find Snape sitting in a chair in front of the fire. I think people use it because its quicker than typing out Severus and that is just lazy. The WORST is when they have Dumbledore thinking that way. He has been shown in canon to refer to him as 'Severus'.
Okay, probably much longer than you were expecting and not at all interesting, but there it is anyway. Things that make me go 'grrr'.
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Date: 2005-04-04 11:33 pm (UTC)But as for the quality of the writing, I'd have to say a major *gack* factor is the use of nick-names. Now, I can see them used SOMETIMES. Ron saying 'Mione I can deal with. But Sevvy? WTF? And at what point in any of the books does is give you the idea that Draco would stand for someone calling him Drake? or Dray? Yeah, those pretty much annoy the hell out of me.
Another thing is..well, this one is hard for me to describe. Its like when you can tell the person hasn't really paid attention to the books because they get small canon stuff wrong. Not AU, but just wrong. Hmm... maybe putting The Leaky Cauldron in Hogsmead or having Neville call his grandmother 'granny' instead of 'gran'. That kind of thing. Its just annoying. I don't see it a lot and I'm probably not giving good examples, but when I read these things I just get so bothered by it I usually have to stop reading. Almost like the person just wanted to write and cared nothing about the understanding the characters they were writing.
The last is the use of Snape. A lot of fics use 'Snape' for Severus Snape's name but will use everyone else's first name. Now, if it in speach that is fine because I can get that. Or if its say Harry thinking something like 'he checked the map one more time to make sure his path was clear. Running in to Filch or Snape tonight would not be a good thing.' I can see Harry thinking of Severus as 'Snape'. And if the author can make it feel normal that is fine too. For example, if he revers to himself as 'Snape' in his head because at some point its been shown that that is how he thinks of himself. (Rather like Hagrid, I would imagine). But for a fic to use Snape like this: Harry rolled over to find the warmth of his lover gone. Rubbing his eyes, he peered around the room to find Snape sitting in a chair in front of the fire. I think people use it because its quicker than typing out Severus and that is just lazy. The WORST is when they have Dumbledore thinking that way. He has been shown in canon to refer to him as 'Severus'.
Okay, probably much longer than you were expecting and not at all interesting, but there it is anyway. Things that make me go 'grrr'.
peachus