You did read the name of the forum right?

Are there actually any? Aside from disguise purposes, of course. I've seen too much fics where everyone and their dog recognized Lily Evans Potter's eyes, but I can't remember any fanfiction where he hasn't green eyes.
Except the movies, but I've been told they aren't fanfiction...

 

I enjoy a good story where Harry Potter is a Dark Lord or practices Black Magic.

But most of the stories that say Dark Harry are just a pitiful excuse for angsty teenagers to relieve their frustrations on the world. Oh, and don't forget the proverbial Harry/Draco -- Good!Mentor!Snape -- Evil!Dumbledore that usually goes along with it.

Would love to read a story about a charming Harry Read: Charming, not "Smirking" or "Eye-Fucking" that is publicly adored, but is a criminal lord behind the scenes. But instead, we get Blank Face!Cold!Harry -- Harem!Harry -- Meanie!Harry -- Tell Everyone I'm A Dark Lord!Harry

When I think of a Dark Harry, I think of Lex Luthor, not the venereal disease that so many fanfiction writers create.

 

TLDR: a good summary is harder to write than it seems.

All those Exclamation Point Descriptors, Dark!Character, Evil!Character, Whatever!Whoever and so on, are a minor peeve of mine. I much prefer summaries that don't assume I'm an idiot or so hyperactive that I can't focus long enough to read and find out myself. On the other hand, purposefully vague summaries ("will Harry prevail against Dark forces blah blah) tell me even less. I like summaries that reference something in the story, but nothing too spoilerific. Like, say, something in the beginning arc, which tells me of the point of divergence, maybe hinting at possible future events. Of course, that last kind requires the author to know where the hell they're going with the plot.

I'm sure I don't have to give an example of the X!Y summary.

Here's an almost perfect one:

That Harry/Tonks at the end keeps this from being my favorite kind of summary. It's interesting. It doesn't tell me exactly when the divergence happens, but I know that it's a situation where a few minutes change a lot and blood is involved. That's a good hook.

This is one of the best summaries I've seen in HP fanfic. It's pretty easy to figure out what night is "that night" and I know it's 4th year. There's even a mystery in there.

 

Summaries aren't difficult to come up with, as long as the writer knows what their story is about, but I have a feeling 99% of fanfiction is written by the seat of their pants.

 

Glorification of Neville - No just no I don't want to read a fic where the sidekick is better than the hero.

Weak Voldemort - Make Voldemort the evil villain he should be.

Weak Harry - Have Harry grow some balls.

Perfect Hermione - No I don't want to read a perfect Hermione lead Harry through the nose.

 

When characters in stories turn down offers of [Power -- Sex -- Wealth -- Fame] because "OMG I'm just too humble, pure, and good!"

I hate such things with a passion. Especially because, most stories with that theme are children's stories, and the author is actually under some kind of delusion that teaching children that kind of lesson is a good thing.

But it's not a good thing. Teaching children to turn down genuine opportunities to improve their life, is not, and will never be, a good thing.

You might as well turn down a genuine promotion or raise, because "OMG I'm just so humble!"

 

Well, unless there's a demon involved.

 

I wasn't referring to that, though.

Sure, if a demon is involved, or some creepy pedophile -- turn down the offer and run away.

But if you're being offered a reward for your service, take the damn offer, and be done with it.

 

Never try out Dresden Files. xD

 

1) - everyone who sees your post will understand what you were referring to

2) - I made a joke, Christ

3) - quality of new members has been going down for a while now

 

New members were never good.

 

That's an excellent hook for a great story but I'd argue that it isn't a good summary. It tells us nothing about the story's point of departure or where it's headed and in fact mis-construes how uninvolved the Dark Lord is in Harry's decisions. When I first saw it I was thinking that this was about Harry becoming Voldemort's apprentice and how that screws him in the end. Without the Harry/Tonks at the end, I might have assumed it'd be slash, possibly BDSM.

 

Yes, I am aware of that fact.

Do continue pointing out the obvious.

 

I don't know man, it looked to me like you needed the obvious pointed out to you.

 

Thank you for volunteering to hold my hand.

Perhaps you'd be willing to wipe my ass also?

 

Wait until it crusts, then break it off.

 

Self inserts, can't stand them, something about it just weird me out. maybe it is the blatant fantasy escapism.

 

Evil Dumbledore. With his power, intelligence, and the Elder Wand, who is going to be able to stop him if he's evil? Not Voldemort, and certainly not Harry with a few weeks of training in his Time Dialation Bubble™. That said, I'm fine with a manipulative Dumbledore, as long as he doesn't suddenly become an idiot.

 

General Pet Peeve: Being a visual thinker and reading something like this.

 

Same here; I mean, even when I was 13 years old, I had enough pride not to write self-inserts.

Incompetent Dumbledore can be summed up pretty easily:

Most of them are created by angsty teenagers

Harry Potter is an avatar for them to project themselves onto

Dumbledore is an avatar that represents authority (Parents, Teacher, etc.)

"Magical Bindings" are the result of the writer projecting their subconscious belief that authority is keeping them from reaching their full potential.

"Everyone Betrays Me" is the result of writers projecting their belief that the world is against them.

"Neville Uplifting" is the result of writers desire for underdogs and losers to succeed.

"Harem -- no boys in the story" is the result of a male writer projecting their base desire to impregnate women (notice how so many harem stories actually do have Harry impregnating all the women), and the absence of men in the story is the writer's attempt to rid himself of competition.

"Ron Bashing" is the result of writers projecting self-hatred, as Ron is an incredibly normal person.

"Beautiful Hermione" is the result of plain girls projecting their fantasy to be beautiful.

"Good Draco" is the result of horny girls who don't even realize they have no like for the character of Draco or the kind of person he is.

"Good Snape" is the result of compassionate, to the point of deluded, writers.

"Male Pregnancy" is the result of writers whose minds are comparable to Jeffrey Dahmer's refrigerator.