How To Create a Successful Fanfiction.

[Ashen Key]

Never write a story/chapter under 1,000 words. <- It's the baseline for anything enjoyable.

*wry* I cannot disagree more, and am feeling a bit 'well, thanks' - I have a lot of trouble writing things over 1,000 words, but you know, I would like to think that the majority of my work is still enjoyable and worthwhile. I have also read ficlets that have suckerpunched me with awesome, while longer things leave me feeling bored and impatient.

Writing stories like this...we aren't writing a paper for school. There shouldn't be a word limit for fanfic. We are writing STORIES, and honestly, I feel the pressure to write long things can ruin otherwise quite lovely fics.

Not to mention, there is a lovely freedom to be had in just going 'I am writing for as long as the scene carries me', and not having any pressure is wonderful.

I also tend to agree with the rest of your points, although I'd also point out that a) there are no hard and fast rules (beyond being in character, but there is still a freedom for different VIEWS of characters) and b) practice, practice, practice. God knows I'm a much better writer now at 22 than I was at 13.