FanFiction.Net - unleash your imagination| OughtaKnowBetter |
Author has written 51 stories for Stargate: SG-1, Hercules, Mutant X, Numb3rs, Unit, and NCIS. OughtaKnowBetter is an author who ought to know better than to waste time writing fan fiction when there's a science fiction trilogy waiting to be finished. Look for The Haban Chronicles at your favorite bookstore. Update: Who would have thought it? Wizard in Blue Jeans got out first. Just goes to show... Some of you have asked where I come up with the ideas--you can do the same thing, too. I usually start with a single feeling or a situation, and then build from there (consider adding an interesting sub-plot; it's an easy way to make the story feel like an episode of the show). How did insert name get there, and how do they get out of it? This is the most frustrating time: once I know that, the story is ready to be written. If I don't know how the story approximately ends before I start writing, it never ends properly and I get bored with it. Those pieces that I don't spend enough upfront time on (and yes, I have them sitting in a dead file waiting to be re-written or erased all together) waste valuable ideas and energy and time. So I sit and think and muse over possible scenes until the general outline is clear, and then I can begin working on the keyboard, but not before. One of my pet peeves is a story that doesn't end; the writer is too lazy to write a complete story. Stories, by definition, have beginnings, middles, and ends. No end, no story. End of discussion. You've also wondered how I can post so quickly. Again, easy answer: the first draft is completed before the postings begin. That way I know that the story can be completed. Then it's just a matter of the editing to make the words flow and be clear, making sure that the characterization rings as true as I can make it,and to insert a certain amount of the acerbic humor that I like. It also gives me time to use spell-check (hint, hint! I despise a story with misspellings and poor grammar. Take some pride in your work, people! Why should I bother to read your work when you don't care enough to proof read it?) and fine-tune the grammar. I make exceptions for when the site itself crunches the editing and I realize that none of us are perfect, but at least try! And last--I really enjoy the feedback, and I listen to it. Some stories have been altered mid-way because someone asks for something that works better than what I had planned, or another chapter gets added when I really intended to finish the story a chapter earlier. Thanks, guys! Update: I've gotten a lot of mail from people over the last few months about timely posting and finishing stories, and most have come down squarely on one side or the other. A lot of people agree with me: failure to post regularly and in a timely fashion until the story is complete is poor writing at best and discourteous to the reader at worst. My detractors have accused me of being arrogant and self-righteous toward those who do not adhere to my point of view. Perhaps I am arrogant, but not with regard to posting stories. The dictionary defines courtesy as 'being considerate of others'. Those who disagree with my position cite real world concerns that interfere with their writing: schoolwork, jobs, family pressures, all the very real priorities that prevent completion of stories. I don't disagree that real world issues should come before writing for pleasure, but what some people conveniently ignore is that while the writing needs to go at the author's pace, the posting should serve the readers. In other words, to be considerate of your audience you must complete enough of your story before beginning to post so that a) you are certain that you can complete it and b) you don't leave months to years in between postings. The writer can't always control how quickly the story is written but they can control the timing of the posting/publishing. That is being courteous to your audience. It is extraordinarily self-centered to assume that readers exist for the sole purpose of giving you compliments in the form of feedback, that they should hang on your every phrase merely because you took the few minutes to post it. Your posting exists for the purpose of giving pleasure to both you, the author, and more importantly: your audience. Treat them nicely! I'd also like to acknowledge all the writers of those private emails who have thanked me for 'having the courage' to stand up for good writing. It is frightening to think that there are readers and writers out in cyberspace who have been jeered into silence by those who cannot accept responsibility for their thoughtlessness toward their audience. No one should have to apologize for holding themselves to reasonable standards. If you are going to post, then do it to the best of your ability and that means putting in the effort to make certain that both grammar and spelling are as correct as can be before the site munches it. Think about continuity: if your character's hair color changes from chapter to chapter, put in a small comment about hair dye. Read a book or two on writing techniques! Develop the technique that will draw your readers back to your work over and over. I appreciate critiques, even when I disagree with the content, but I dismiss insults and flames because they do nothing to improve my writing skills. Comments on plot development are useful; comments on my personality flaws say more about the email-er's character than my own. Thanks, guys! | |||||||||
1. Twist » reviewsAn old friend of Ducky's comes to town with more than one thing on his mind. Complete story.NCIS - Rated: K+ - English - General - Chapters: 20 - Words: 58,848 - Reviews: 21 - Updated: 10-3-09 - Published: 9-12-09 - Complete2. Each Other's Back » reviewsThere's a missing code, and a missing mathematician, and a missing agent. Can the NCIS and FBI find them before it's too late? Story complete.Crossover - NCIS & Numb3rs - Rated: T - English - Adventure/General - Chapters: 16 - Words: 66,911 - Reviews: 146 - Updated: 8-25-09 - Published: 7-27-09 - Complete3. Wrong Road » reviewsThe team tracks down the killer of a young seaman, but the pieces don't add up. Warning: references to disturbing themes. Story complete.NCIS - Rated: T - English - General - Chapters: 12 - Words: 45,408 - Reviews: 103 - Updated: 3-2-09 - Published: 2-7-09 - Complete4. Secrets » reviewsThe team goes on a mission in the Aegean. Story complete.Unit - Rated: K+ - English - Adventure - Chapters: 10 - Words: 29,121 - Reviews: 29 - Updated: 10-13-08 - Published: 10-2-08 - Complete5. The Out of Towners » reviewsA funny thing happened on the way home from a seminar. Story complete.NCIS - Rated: K+ - English - Adventure - Chapters: 12 - Words: 54,244 - Reviews: 110 - Updated: 9-23-08 - Published: 9-1-086. Hide and Seek » reviewsA body in the woods. Who done it? The unfaithful wife? A disgruntled soldier? Or a grizzly bear with an attitude? Gibbs and team run into more than they bargained for. Story complete.NCIS - Rated: K+ - English - General - Chapters: 14 - Words: 40,835 - Reviews: 121 - Updated: 7-7-08 - Published: 6-11-08 - Complete7. Shining Light » reviewsHundreds at the seminar. Several 'suicides'. Four FBI agents. One brother. Story complete.Numb3rs - Rated: T - English - General - Chapters: 8 - Words: 32,483 - Reviews: 116 - Updated: 6-6-08 - Published: 5-23-08 - Complete8. Brightest Crayon » reviewsWhy was Charlie's business card found in a murdered man's hand? Complete story.Numb3rs - Rated: K+ - English - Crime - Chapters: 24 - Words: 68,604 - Reviews: 158 - Updated: 5-22-08 - Published: 4-29-08 - Complete9. Flaming for Trolls reviewsThousands of readers. Three fanfic writers. Two Eppes brothers. One little spoof.Numb3rs - Rated: K+ - English - Humor - Chapters: 1 - Words: 3,089 - Reviews: 25 - Published: 4-11-08 - Complete10. Brothers » reviews2.3 billion dollars. Four brothers. One big mess. Crossover with Simon & Simon. Story complete.Numb3rs - Rated: T - English - Adventure - Chapters: 9 - Words: 26,472 - Reviews: 75 - Updated: 3-13-08 - Published: 2-26-08 - Complete11. The Case of the Missing Bodice Ripper reviewsOne shot, written with tongue firmly in cheek!Numb3rs - Rated: K+ - English - Parody - Chapters: 1 - Words: 1,688 - Reviews: 19 - Published: 3-10-08 - Complete12. Come in from the Cold: Numb3rs » reviewsOne thousand terrorist cells. Twenty soldiers. Two government agencies. One encrypted message. Plenty of paranoia. This story is as complete as it's going to get.Numb3rs - Rated: T - English - Adventure - Chapters: 21 - Words: 61,985 - Reviews: 232 - Updated: 2-7-08 - Published: 1-1-08 - Complete13. Come in from the Cold: The Unit » reviews“Let me make myself clear,” Ryan said. “I was told point blank that we would attend this farce or we would be cleaning the latrines. I'm still considering latrine duty." This piece of fiction is as complete as it's going to get.Unit - Rated: T - English - Adventure - Chapters: 19 - Words: 50,034 - Reviews: 82 - Updated: 2-7-08 - Published: 1-4-08 - Complete14. A Cup of Joe » reviewsTwo SG teams. Two archeologists. One retrograde civilization. Some really big problems. Story complete.Stargate: SG-1 - Rated: K+ - English - Adventure - Chapters: 8 - Words: 30,357 - Reviews: 32 - Updated: 11-5-07 - Published: 10-25-07 - Complete15. Whizbang reviewsA short little fic with a short little plot. Just a small feel good piece for the team.Stargate: SG-1 - Rated: K+ - English - General - Chapters: 1 - Words: 4,612 - Reviews: 8 - Published: 10-7-07 - Complete16. Planes, Trains, and Bullies » reviewsBullies these days come with their own surface to air missiles. Story complete.Numb3rs - Rated: K+ - English - Adventure - Chapters: 14 - Words: 63,919 - Reviews: 122 - Updated: 10-4-07 - Published: 9-8-07 - Complete17. Teknet Trilogy Three: Teknet's Treasure » reviewsThird of a loosely woven series. Daniel translates Teknet's list. Warning: mature subject matter. Complete story.Stargate: SG-1 - Rated: M - English - Adventure/Hurt/Comfort - Chapters: 10 - Words: 26,191 - Reviews: 37 - Updated: 7-27-07 - Published: 7-18-07 - Complete18. A Vacation at Jack's Cabin » reviewsAs General Hammond said: only Jack O'Neill could find a Goa'uld in Minnesota. Previously published elsewhere. Complete story.Stargate: SG-1 - Rated: T - English - Adventure - Chapters: 7 - Words: 30,751 - Reviews: 41 - Updated: 7-17-07 - Published: 7-11-07 - Complete19. Teknet Trilogy Two: Can You Hear Me Now? » reviewsSecond of a trio of loosely connected stand alone stories. Someone wants to replace Daniel in SG1. Previously published elsewhere. Story complete.Stargate: SG-1 - Rated: M - English - Adventure - Chapters: 6 - Words: 24,822 - Reviews: 18 - Updated: 7-8-07 - Published: 7-2-07 - Complete20. Teknet Trilogy One: Out of the Pack » reviewsFirst of three loosely connected stories. Why has the SGC turned on Daniel Jackson? Story completeStargate: SG-1 - Rated: T - English - Adventure - Chapters: 2 - Words: 7,377 - Reviews: 12 - Updated: 7-1-07 - Published: 6-30-07 - Complete21. Broad Shoulders » reviewsSet immediately following The Curse. Osiris's use of the hand device has some unexpected consequences, and the Tok'ra need to take advantage of it. Previously published elsewhere. Story complete.Stargate: SG-1 - Rated: K+ - English - Adventure - Chapters: 3 - Words: 19,336 - Reviews: 6 - Updated: 6-30-07 - Published: 6-27-07 - Complete22. The Weakest Link » reviewsDon't go after a Black Ops colonel if you don't know what you're doing. Previously published elsewhere.Stargate: SG-1 - Rated: K+ - English - Adventure - Chapters: 3 - Words: 12,412 - Reviews: 31 - Updated: 6-25-07 - Published: 6-23-07 - Complete23. Twas a Dark and Stormy Night » reviewsThe title says it all. Set in season three, before Janus List. Waaaay before Janus List. Got a little bit of humor, and a few Fleinhardtisms in it. Complete story.Numb3rs - Rated: K+ - English - Adventure/Mystery - Chapters: 12 - Words: 40,300 - Reviews: 50 - Updated: 6-22-07 - Published: 6-1-07 - Complete24. Tug of War » reviewsSeveral million people in LA, a hundred different criminal elements, two FBI agents battling over one mathematician. Complete story.Numb3rs - Rated: T - English - Adventure - Chapters: 14 - Words: 50,189 - Reviews: 122 - Updated: 3-1-07 - Published: 2-3-07 - Complete25. Down » reviewsOn a mercy of mission, the plane goes down with Col. Ryan on board. Story complete. Does it work?Unit - Rated: K+ - English - Adventure - Chapters: 6 - Words: 14,742 - Reviews: 20 - Updated: 12-22-06 - Published: 12-10-06 - Complete26. Cipher » reviews10 million people in L.A. Three government enforcement agencies. One coded message. Zero answers. Complete story.Numb3rs - Rated: K+ - English - Adventure/Mystery - Chapters: 12 - Words: 40,355 - Reviews: 82 - Updated: 10-18-06 - Published: 10-1-0627. Tall Order » reviewsComplete story. The Unit is sent to deal with a cult with too many weapons for their own good. Did the story work? Should I write another one?Unit - Rated: T - English - Adventure - Chapters: 7 - Words: 25,164 - Reviews: 33 - Updated: 9-7-06 - Published: 8-26-06 - Complete28. Mind of the Beholder » reviewsTwo thousand black sedans. Four FBI agents. Two kidnapped kids. One fight between a mathematician and a psychic. Story now complete. Was it good enough? Should I write another one?Numb3rs - Rated: K+ - English - Adventure - Chapters: 7 - Words: 34,517 - Reviews: 51 - Updated: 8-24-06 - Published: 8-11-06 - Complete29. Anything for Charity » reviewsBaseball, city planning, numbers, and a crime lord: keeps all three Eppes men active. Conclusion is posted. Does the ending work?Numb3rs - Rated: M - English - Adventure/Mystery - Chapters: 5 - Words: 35,854 - Reviews: 30 - Updated: 6-13-06 - Published: 6-4-06 - Complete30. Plague » reviewsTen million bacteria. One FBI Headquarters. One bioterrorism plot. Two CalSci professors. 'Nuff said? Complete story.Numb3rs - Rated: T - English - Adventure/Angst - Chapters: 8 - Words: 30,169 - Reviews: 120 - Updated: 3-29-06 - Published: 3-15-06 - Complete31. Yield » reviewsDon and his team are called out to investigate a murder of a not so prominent researcher. Who's the real target? Story complete.Numb3rs - Rated: T - English - Adventure - Chapters: 9 - Words: 34,552 - Reviews: 88 - Updated: 3-8-06 - Published: 2-22-06 - Complete32. Failure » reviewsMy first Numb3rs fic. Don and his team run up against a mastermind who wants to make the FBI look bad. Story complete. Was it good enough? Should I try writing another?Numb3rs - Rated: T - English - Adventure - Chapters: 12 - Words: 38,633 - Reviews: 133 - Updated: 2-17-06 - Published: 1-25-06 - Complete33. Roses For Algernon » reviewsPost Season Three. Mutant X, on the run and desperate, meet up with an old friend and lots of mutant whumping ensues. It's complete!Mutant X - Rated: T - English - Adventure/Angst - Chapters: 12 - Words: 34,555 - Reviews: 49 - Updated: 1-24-06 - Published: 12-31-05 - Complete34. Swimming With Sharks » reviewsMutant X meets shark mutants, and it ain't all fun in the sun on the island, folks. Set in season two. Complete story.Mutant X - Rated: M - English - Adventure - Chapters: 14 - Words: 39,114 - Reviews: 48 - Updated: 12-19-05 - Published: 11-12-05 - Complete35. Desires and Deceptions » reviewsMutant X, a computer mutant, and a sixteen year old psionic who doesn't seem to have any powers. Set in season two. Conclusion now up. Any good? Answer all the questions?Mutant X - Rated: T - English - Adventure - Chapters: 8 - Words: 32,576 - Reviews: 63 - Updated: 9-10-05 - Published: 8-25-05 - Complete36. More Deadly Than » reviewsOn their way back home, the Helix goes down with Adam, Brennan, and Jesse on board. Can Shalimar and Emma find them before it's too late? Story now complete. Does it work?Mutant X - Rated: T - English - Adventure/General - Chapters: 10 - Words: 39,299 - Reviews: 102 - Updated: 8-22-05 - Published: 7-31-05 - Complete37. Walk on the Wild Side » reviewsShalimar's mutant genes drive her crazy and endanger the entire team. But is that the whole story? Set in season two. CONCLUSION now posted. Does the ending work?Mutant X - Rated: T - English - Adventure - Chapters: 5 - Words: 25,669 - Reviews: 32 - Updated: 7-22-05 - Published: 7-3-05 - Complete38. After In Between » reviewsAnybody else think that In Between ought to have been a two parter? Why is Brennan the only one to go tromping through Jesse's mind? Lots of angst and Jessewhumping and major spoilers for In Between. Okay, one last chapter. This really is the end.Mutant X - Rated: K+ - English - Adventure/Angst - Chapters: 6 - Words: 18,688 - Reviews: 48 - Updated: 12-24-04 - Published: 12-10-04 - Complete39. Short Circuit » reviewsAdam is marked for death, and Brennan's out of control. Set in season two. Final installment has arrived, and the story is complete!Mutant X - Rated: K+ - English - Adventure - Chapters: 6 - Words: 19,794 - Reviews: 37 - Updated: 12-8-04 - Published: 11-5-04 - Complete40. Flowers on Algernon's Grave » reviewsMutant X copes with a mutant super-soldier, with a few surprises along the way. (Season two) Last chapters posted, and the story's complete.Mutant X - Rated: K+ - English - Adventure - Chapters: 21 - Words: 16,946 - Reviews: 29 - Updated: 11-1-04 - Published: 10-16-04 - Complete41. Nightmares » reviewsMutant X visits Tess and Ernest one last time. Thanks again to everyone who's been so enthusiastic.Mutant X - Rated: T - English - Adventure - Chapters: 6 - Words: 30,069 - Reviews: 26 - Updated: 5-13-04 - Published: 4-23-04 - Complete42. Hatchling reviewsThis is different from my usual story. Does it work?Mutant X - Rated: K+ - English - Adventure - Chapters: 1 - Words: 1,707 - Reviews: 13 - Published: 4-21-04 - Complete43. Ever Think of Asking Politely? reviewsWherein our heroes learn the value of courteous questions. Speaking of which, anybody like it?Hercules - Rated: K+ - English - Adventure - Chapters: 1 - Words: 6,977 - Reviews: 5 - Published: 4-20-0444. Flying Off the Handle, Jumping to Conclusions » reviewsChapter 4 posted, and story's complete. Good enough ending?Mutant X - Rated: T - English - Adventure - Chapters: 4 - Words: 15,761 - Reviews: 36 - Updated: 4-15-04 - Published: 3-24-04 - Complete45. The Continuing Importance of Staying with Ernest » reviewsChapter 3 has arrived. Please, please review!Mutant X - Rated: T - English - Adventure - Chapters: 3 - Words: 15,149 - Reviews: 17 - Updated: 3-18-04 - Published: 3-7-04 - Complete46. Surf and Turf » reviewsFinal chapter posted! Many many thanks to everyone who was kind enough to review.Mutant X - Rated: T - English - Adventure - Chapters: 4 - Words: 19,195 - Reviews: 21 - Updated: 3-3-04 - Published: 2-25-04 - Complete47. The Importance of Staying Ernest reviewsComplete story. Is it any good? Anybody want more?Mutant X - Rated: K - English - Adventure - Chapters: 1 - Words: 16,134 - Reviews: 9 - Published: 2-12-04 - Complete48. Tag Along reviewsComplete story. Does anybody like it?Hercules - Rated: K+ - English - Adventure - Chapters: 1 - Words: 7,094 - Reviews: 5 - Published: 2-8-04 - Complete49. Red Fields » reviewsComplete story! SG-1 and a couple of Tok'ra! Bonus: a Readers ChallengeStargate: SG-1 - Rated: K - English - General - Chapters: 2 - Words: 10,380 - Reviews: 1 - Published: 9-3-03 - Complete50. Trouble Magnet reviewsComplete story! Wherein Daniel brings home some artifacts...Stargate: SG-1 - Rated: K+ - English - Adventure - Chapters: 1 - Words: 21,520 - Reviews: 7 - Published: 8-3-03 - Complete51. Fertile Ground reviewsSG1 finally meets a technologically race that wants to be friends as much as Earth does. Is it a match made in heaven?Stargate: SG-1 - Rated: T - English - Adventure - Chapters: 1 - Words: 22,284 - Reviews: 4 - Published: 6-26-03 - Complete
United States