This is a quickie version of a few things I really want you to learn from this site. If you do not follow even one of these rules, someone will flame you!
- Know the source. It's OK to work from the musical, but make sure you have a grasp of BASIC canon. Things like Fantine's relationship with Tholomyes and the extreme scruffiness of the REAL, non-musical Eponine.
- Know your characters. Enjolras does not crack jokes, much like Jean Valjean does not drink until he passes out. If you cannot or do not want to read the whole novel, at LEAST read the character descriptions.
- Have a specific plot. Random characters doing random things that don't relate to one another in the slightest makes for poor reading and worse reviews.
- Refrain from original characters. I know many OCs are beloved on ff.net, like La Pamplemousse's Noelle, but the truth is OCs are much too difficult for beginners to pull off. Take it from one who has learned the hard way.
- Use proper spelling and grammar. Even the best story will be flamed if you use "2" for "two" and "dat ain't write."
- Preview files before posting. If you story is hard to read, nobody will read it.
- Check your story against canon. Always. Not sure how Gavroche came to be? Look it up.
- Send your fics to a beta. They can check for things like plot inconsistencies, mischaracterization, grammar, and much more. Do not choose a person who gets a lot of bad reviews as a beta!
- Be original. It's very hard, I know, but a well written original fic will get you better reviews than a well-written "Eponine lives" fic.
- NEVER copy other fics! Plots and OCs are the property of the writers who created them. You cannot use them without permisson!!!