 Just Passing Through 2002-02-12 . chapter 1Okay, I don't know you, and I don't know how well you handle critisim, but you're going to get it from me, so beware. No, this is not a flame. Flaming would be saying 'YOUR FIC SUCKS YOU SUCK YOU HAVE NO TALENT.' So now that that's out of the way, I'll move on. This is going to be mostly telling you what to fix, so it might come off as harsh. Read at your own risk.
I believe what your reviewer was insinuating was that this stranger was probably your avatar, that is to say, she's Mary-Sue, who is the self-created person you'd like to be in the Zim world. There are a lot of people who have hypersensitive Mary-Sue sense, and when some 'mysterious' girl appears out of nowhere and helps out (well, actually, I'm not sure you could call her all that helpful, but more on that in a minute), and when there is so much time dedicated to describing her, the klaxon alarms go off.
It's very hard to write about an original character without making her Mary Sue. That's because writers find it difficult to not center the story around her, they find it difficult to not have the main character(s) fall head over heels in love with her, the character is almost invariably mysterious and helpful and super-powerful and saves the day. Now she hasn't been in the story long enough to tell yet one way or the other, but your other reviewer has probably been exposed to one too many poorly-written Mary Sue fics and is trying to head this one off before it goes any farther.
Okay, now let's head to the actual story. First of all, if Zim had ambushed Dib at the end of the school day, it would have been broad daylight. They live in the suburbs and Dib's house is walking distance from the school. There would have been people around unless Dib took a massive detour through the woods, and a green kid wielding some kind of weapon against another kid (ambush is a very vauge term, what was Zim doing exactly?), it would have attracted attention.
Moving along, what the heck is up with this deal? They'll be stranded FOREVER? For a month? Until Zim dies? If it's forever, it sounds like Dib would die pretty quickly even if he did outlive Zim. Kind of a bad trade-off, especially since he has a choice in the matter, and Zim's not the only threat to the earth. Sure Zim's out of the way, but now there's no one left to defend against the planet jackers and whatnot.
I assume you're going to explain in future chapters why Dib had to go along with Zim at all, so I won't mention that.
and that's.... all. If you hate me, email me. Don't leave spam in my review section. That schtick is getting old fast (although it is admittedly entertaining). |
 hoheehum 2002-02-09 . chapter 1Cool idea.
I know that was a flashback, but if you made it in the present tense, it might make your story more effective.
Other than that, my insatiable curiosity leavs me asking you for more, more, more. |