Do your research, kids.
There's nothing more important than that. Okay, I know, I know - you want to bring that character you don't know much about for just one chapter. You don't have the time to look up if they're a synth or a former raider or whatever. But... (There's always a 'but'!) But doing your research seriously pays off.
Let me take a simple example: Marcy and Jun Long from Fallout 4. How many times have I read in fanfics that they're brother and sister, that they're cousins, that they're unrelated... Guys. They're married. It's as simple as that. Okay, I know the game doesn't state that very explicitly, but you can look them up on Fallout wiki.
Or another thing. I once planned to bring Butch deLoria into my fanfic... Without knowing a thing about him other than what I knew from other fanfics. (Hey, don't blame me - I'm a good girl and so's my Karma!) Needless to say, I failed miserably at capturing his character.
So here's for the future: do your research.
I know this was a bit chaotic, but I hope I got the message across. I'm just learning how to write a how-to book. Ironic, isn't it?
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DOs and DON'Ts of a Fallout fanfiction
Non-FictionA guide for the Fallout fandom on how to keep your fanfics lore-friendly and consistent with the games. Also includes general writing advice specifically targeted at this fandom. Basically how to make your fanfiction even better - and more realistic...
