Below you'll find a comprehensive list of
help essays, written to assist in our authors' writing
process. From terms of service and punctuation, all the
way to grammar and dialogue, the staff of MuggleNet Fan
Fiction have put this section together specifically for
your use. We urge that everyone (even seasoned veterans)
take a few minutes to at least browse through.
In
addition to these essays, we also encourage all authors
to find a beta reader. Beta readers are experienced
experts who help you proofread a story/chapter before
you submit it to the queue. Beta readers can be helpful
in spotting more than just grammar or spelling errors--
they can also be useful in finding plot holes or OOC
(Out of Character) behavior.
While anyone can be
a beta reader, we highly discourage choosing a friend
simply because he/she is a friend. Make sure whoever you
pick is someone you trust not only with your story, but
also with the English language and the necessary
knowledge of Harry Potter. To learn more, and to find a
professional beta reader, visit Perfect
Imagination, MuggleNet Fan Fiction's trusted
affiliate.
Terms of Service
Here you'll find the rules and standards
of MuggleNet Fan Fiction. Please read carefully, as
failure to comply with the terms of service could quite
potentially result in a termination of your account and
subsequent deletion of your stories.
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FAQ Frequently Asked Questions– the name says it
all. Please look here for an answer to a question before
contacting a moderator.
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Formatting
Submissions
A
quick guide to help ensure your submissions are formated
properly; this includes some standard html help, as a
base knowledge of html is required to submit to
MuggleNet Fan Fiction.
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Beta Forums
A message board
with a plethora of resources for writers of all skill
levels. These forums include writing challenges, a
sorting quiz which sorts you into Houses, which you then
become a member of, as well as help with
characterization, writers' block, and much more. It's
also another excellent place (aside from Perfect
Imagination) to locate a trusted beta
reader.
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Attaching
Warnings
How does
the warnings system work? What do they mean? When should
you use them?
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Terms
Dictionary
A quick
reference of acronyms and other specialized terms that
you are likely to encounter on this site.
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Plot
Development
Here you'll find an essay on plot bunnies, plot
holes, plot development, and more. It's a good reference
if you're unsure about an idea or need help sorting one
out.
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Characterizat
ion
A helpful angle
on properly characterizing the Harry Potter characters,
as well as any OCs (Original Characters) you might dream
up. Characterization is usually fairly subjective, but
is judged at the discretion of the moderators' expertise
so is fair game for a basis of rejection. A beta reader
is highly recommended.
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Grammar
This is a collection of common
grammatical errors and how to avoid them. It serves as a
great refresher for grammar in general, and is
especially useful seeing as how MuggleNet Fan Fiction
often rejects on the basis of poor grammar.
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Setting
This essay focuses on the setting
of your fan fiction-- why is setting important? How do
you create an effective one? What cliches and mistakes
should you avoid?
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Punctuation
b>
This help essay reviews
your basic punctuation marks and demonstrates their
respective usages. Like the grammar essay, it serves as
an excellent crash-course for refreshing your
memory.
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Dialogue
Dialogue errors be gone! This
essay covers the fundamentals of dialogue: how it's
used, what to avoid, what purposes it serves, and how to
create effective, gripping dialogue, as well. It also
skims characterization in your characters'
speech.
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Professors vs NC-
17
What defines
"graphic content"? Is your story MuggleNet Fan Fiction
acceptable? This guide will help you determine the fine
line between stories for mature readers (Professors) and
stories too graphic for MNFF.
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Original
Characters
A
helpful approach to character creation. What makes a
good OC? What makes a cliche one? What questions should
you ask yourself as you attempt to build an original
character? Read to learn.
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Out of
Character
How
writing Out of Character can make a horrible,
unrealistic story, or a creative, explorative one. This
essay explores the issue and helps explain what
not to do.
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Summaries
Here you'll find the basics of
writing an outstanding summary. Remember, your summary
is all your potential readers have to determine whether
your fic is up their alley-- make it count! (Not to
mention, decent summaries are required for validation.)
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Titles
Some creative ideas for finding the
perfect title for your story or chapter. Titles can
speak volumes and, like your summary, can either work
for or against your fan fic.
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Clichés
This essay includes some helpful
tips for avoiding fandom cliches and keeping your story
fresh. Original plots and ideas are held on high here at
MuggleNet Fan Fiction, so browsing this essay is an
especially good idea.
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Writer's
Block
Writer's
Block-- an author's worst enemy. And yet, a largely
unavoidable one. This essay offers a few ideas for how
to escape this sticky snare, and what to do if it comes
dangerously close to being the end of your
story.
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Rejected
Submissions
Here is
a proactive guide to making it through the queue-- which
can sometimes be a feat in and of itself. Luckily, there
are several steps any author can take to solidify your
chances, as well as steps to take if your story is
rejected despite your efforts.
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Alternate
Universe
What is an
alternate universe? When does it stop being a warning
and start being a category? How are AU submissions
evaluated for characterization? This essay details it
all.
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