My fic

I can't get past one chapter of my fic. I can write others, but for some reason, this one does not want to close.

It doesn't help that I don't think it's even good. It's PoA in the POV's of Tonks and Remus's sister Artemis, a sequel to a post-first Voldemort war fic I did with the mentioned characters.

Except Mythological Friendship wasn't written around a canon book, so it was 100 times easier. And there were so many different plots. This one's plot is Sirius, and yet, I can't even seem to work with that without making them angsty, so I tried to add in some comic and some romantic relief, and almost feel like those aren't making it flow as well.

In other words, Prisoners of Deceit has a severe case of sequelitis.

20 things for fanfic authors to keep in mind

1. Hagrid is very important to Harry; don't keep him out of the fic just because you don't like him, unless there's a real reason for his absence.

2. Remus is Remus to us, Lupin to Harry. Unless they have become closer or something.

3. Sirius's death has to have done *something* to Tonks. Even if she wasn't close with him, she's going to feel funny.

4. Being klutzy and cheerful do not amount to someone being stupid. Tonks is an Auror, guys. She has to have brains in there somewhere.

5. Remus likely did not spend half of his life crying over James and Lily every night. The events of PoA and Sirius's death probably triggered unpleasant memories, but believe it or not, people do move on. Sometimes it's harder for some people than others, and I'm sure Sirius thought of James and Lily before PoA, but crying every night over it?

6. From what we know of Remus's parents, it is very unlikely that they kept him in a small cage every day and night until Dumbledore sent them to Azkaban.

7. Hermione loves both Ron and Harry. Ron loves both Harry and Hermione. Harry loves both Hermione and Ron. Even if two of the trio get together, they will be distraught if something happens to the other, and won't forget about it a chapter later.

8. England is very far away from the states. Therefore, field trips to Disney World are probably not going to happen.

9. People don't start snogging the second they find out a family member/friend/other loved one is dead or near death. Trust me.

10. Parvati and Lavender are not the ultra-snooty girls out of teen movies. That's Pansy.

11. Want Draco redeemed? Fine; but please don't let it be because Hermione shows up in a tank top and he's aroused.

12. Neville is not stupid. Nervous? Yes. Clumsy streak? Yes. But he's not an idiot.

13. Trelawney forbids me to write anything for this one.

14. They wear robes at Hogwarts. Don't have them going to Potions wearing jeans, a shirt and flip flops.

15. If you want romantic drama in a "sixth year fic" to dominate, as opposed to the war, don't call it as such. Because then it isn't.

16. Romance is not superior to every other form of love. If Draco kills Ron, Ginny's not going to fall in love with him, even if he does redeem himsef afterwards.

17. Rape, doses of cruciatus and other forms of torture will be traumatic enough that it's not too likely the victim will fall in love with the person who was doing all that.

18. Rape is not romantic.


19. There is always an exception - don't let cliche lists (well, okay, like this) scare you.

20. Let the fic write itself.