Here are some more tips for FanFicFriday. Many of these tips are based on the first batch of winners and some of the positive things they've done in general. Others are based on the criteria for the latest contest that is coming up. Some are tips that are for readers that want to get more readers reading their fics as well.

The first thing I wish to cover is fandom tags. In my previous chapter I said that stories were “very likely going to be disqualified” if one didn't properly label their stories. I'm glad to say that the people judging the contest won't disqualify entries if they aren't properly labeled, but they will ask you to label your stories so that people know what fandom it is from if you do win. You won't be disqualified for not having a summary either it seems, something I am glad for.. This also said, if the people judging the contest can't identify the fandom then there is still a chance you won't get picked. That, or they'll ask for what fandom it is in.

If you want your entries for FanFicFriday to be read... then be sure to add tags to your story as well relating to your fandom. This way people have a higher chance to read and enjoy your story. One of the downsides when looking through the entries was that I could type in the tag fanficfriday and get a ton of stuff, but when I added in fandom based tags for fandoms I like to read for it had dismal results. This is despite the fact I knew very well there were stories for these various fandoms.

The second thing is grammar. As far as I can tell the entries had really good grammar. I say as far as I can tell because grammar is my own weak point when it comes to writing. The prose on the stories is also very good and the writers were all careful with how they choose to use their words. Each of the stories conveyed emotions of some kind within the story and they're the kind of story that draws the reader in even if they don't know about the fandom. This right here seems to be one of the most import pieces of criteria the judges are looking for, but there is another.

One of the other criteria the judges are looking for are writers who think outside of the box and they can easily stand on their own without the readers knowing the canon. The first part I think is going to be easier then the second part. Even I have a problem with the second part. There were some stories I read that were really good that were very successful at doing one of these two things, but not as successful with the other. Perhaps though its better to say that these did it the best.

There is also the issue of characterization. It doesn't matter whether the characters are in character or out of character. This may surprise some people because one of the pieces of advice people normally give people when it comes to fanfiction is to keep the characters in character. This isn't to say the writer can throw characterization to the window. Nope. What the judges are looking for is good, strong characterization.

This is because the judges will not know every single fandom out there. However... be in mind that if a judge is familiar with the fandom they may very well find themselves unintentionally biased towards your work if the characters are out of character. How much of a factor that is I do not know though.

Now for the places I think some writers will slip up for this contest.

The fandom you use for this particular contest must be a fandom that has been featured at Comic-Con. If it hasn't been featured, you can't use it. Well... you can use it, but you won't win. A good way to find out is to do a Google search. If though a series happens to be published in graphic format you're likely good to go. The people judging the contest have also given their thumb up for Anime fandoms as Comic-Con is one of the places that is used to market such works.

I also highly suggest not using an OC as a main character unless you have to. The people running the contest have said over and over in the comments that they want these stories to be about the canon characters and for people not to use canon characters. Unless you have to in this particular case means the characters have very minor roles within the story. For example... the barkeep at the bar can be an OC. Whether he is named or not depends on the barkeeps role within said story.

On a last note... if your goal is to get people to read your story... use fandom tags to tag your story so people can read the stories without having to go digging. Not everyone wants to do that.