u/Inner_Jeweler_5661

I think its A Wolf Amongst Lions, with Kingdoms at War being close behind

I'm very much working on a fic, but this could genuinely be an amazing idea.

Balon spawns in before the War of the Ninepenny Kings and activates his neurones, causing the Ironborn to actually be rich by the beginning of Robert's Rebellion.

Then, given Balon knows Cersei's kids are bastards, he launches a pre-emptive strike on Lannisport, whilst the Iron Fleet are at its strongest, and secures Ironborn independence.

Could this be a good fic idea?

So at the Trident, the Rhaegar/Robert duel lasts far longer, allowing the Dornish force to get crushed.

So the rebels are about to win, but Rhaegar goes nuts and somehow kills Robert.

What happens next if Ned has 30,000 men against Rhaegar's 10?

What does Tywin do, and who do the rebels crown?

Title: The Epoch of Blood

Author: plottwists

Rating: M

Language: English

Length: 102,478

Status: Ongoing

Link: AO3

Summary: Cregan Stark died on the two and tenth day of the eleventh moon, 196 AC.

However, in an effort to save the North from the clutches of its foes, the Old Gods bring him back in the body of another Stark, Bran.

Their duelling personalities clash as they work together to help save the North from certain peril.

Chapter Summary: 

Mel burns some guys and Jon acts emo with Davos

A lot of people here will be fanfic READERS, but not fanfic WRITERS. My aim here is to turn you guys into writers, because let's be honest here, the more fanfic, the better.

Here's the way I do it, broken into 7 stages, for the Seven Faces of God.

Stage 1: Time and Location

I have 2 fics, one written during the main timeline, the other in HOTD's. Figuring out what era, and the location of your story, is crucial because GRRM probably has characterisations of characters in that era, and part of that location. If he doesn't, he almost definitely has names, and you should be willing and able to USE those names to make them into character in your fics.

Where is your fic set?

What time is your fic set?

Stage 2: Triggers.

Is your fic going to have smut or not? Or graphic violence, or rape, anything that could be a trigger warning. I've put this step so early because it's surprisingly important. Some people read only no-smut fics. Some people read fics for good smut. Figure out what you prefer, and do that.

What are you comfortable writing as an author?

Stage 3: The USP

This is going to be controversial, but no one wants to read a fic that is the exact same as 50 other fics. Something about your fic has to be different from what other fanfic authors write.

Do some research too, to see if you've thought of a USP someone else has already come up with. Making your fics unique makes it more likely for people to read them, most people don't want to read the same kind of fic again and again.

I'll use my fics as examples:

The Epoch of Blood: Cregan Stark, after death, wargs into Summer and as a result, Bran Stark.

People have written fics where Cregan becomes other people, but BRAN is unique.

The Beacon of the South: An Ormund Hightower SI where his main goal in life is to get Aegon 2 on the throne, AND to piss off Daemon.

People write SIs like people buy bread. What makes it unique is it being Ormund Hightower, and it being a fic where he has a particular vendetta with Daemon.

Spend a little time doing research. Trust me, its worth it.

What makes your fic unique in it's concept and direction?

Stage 4: Five-Word Summary.

Summarise the concept of your fic in 5 words, or just as succinctly as possible.

TEoB: Cregan Stark is now Summer

TBotS: Ormund Hightower SI despises Daemon.

There's no point overcomplicating your fic's key question. Have a main thesis, and then add supporting background to it.

What's your five word idea?

Stage 5: Characterisation.

Good news guys: you have your fic's main idea. Now get a concept in your head of what you want your main character to act like, and his key traits.

If you want your character to be a good guy, introduce a fatal flaw to contrast his general good traits.

For Bran in TEoB, it's his constant womanising, and that he's not truly loyal to his spouse, no matter how much he claims to be.

For Ormund in TBotS, it's his sense of arrogance and pride, hubris, put simply. Haven't come to it yet, but he thinks he's invincible, destined for success, and it will come back to bite him, by all means.

Once you've done that exercise, do the same with your supporting cast, and your villains.

Give your characters characterisation, PLEASE. I failed to do that originally in TEoB, and it's ruined a lot of the passion I used to have for that fic. After TBotS is finished, I'm going to go back and rewrite huge portions of the fic. They desperately need it.

A lack of characterisation of a character you aren't in the mind of can be a useful character tool too, if not overdone. GRRM does this with Aegon the Conqueror, and when he finally breaks character in the Dornish letter, it is oh so much more powerful.

Part of this stage is figuring out your POVs. GRRM writes his POVs one way, you may choose to write another. Just don't go back and forth with one character's perspective. If his first chapter is in 1st person, that's the perspective you should use for all of their chapters.

What character traits do your characters have?

Who are your POVs?

Stage 6: Plans.

You need to make a start point, and an end point, and figure the loops, twists and turns the plot will take to get there.

No one wants to read a fic where all your characters do is win. Make them face setbacks and trials, and when they eventually win, make it powerful, that this character improved themselves as a result of their journey.

Just a small bullet-point plan is enough, with major plot events, nothing too much. Give yourself leeway with your story, don't be completely rigid. Plan the garden's general structure, but don't write out exactly what hours you will plant each seed.

What's the plan for the fic?

Stage 7: Reflect.

Ask yourself the important questions.

Do you see yourself being able to write this fic?

If you can't, let someone else adopt it. It's annoying for everyone if a fic is abandoned. Fanfic is hard work, and you aren't going to get paid for it. Do it because you enjoy it, and ensure you have the time to do it.

Are there obvious plotholes you aren't seeing yet?

Fix those, NOW. If you see a leaky pipe, better to patch it up before the water starts flowing.

After that, get someone else to look through it. Ask around on this subreddit, or get a friend if you have one of those. The human eye is quite adept at not wanting to see it's own mistakes.

After that, draft a working title, and then start writing! The ASOIAF fic community will be glad to see another budding fic-writer join the fandom.

Just to clarify, this is all the stuff you do BEFORE writing your first chapter. Someone else can handle the rest.

I'll put the list of the important questions in bold in the comments, so those who aren't writing a fic, and those who are but are happy to see feedback, can take a look.

Alicent has only girls, and 4 children like canon.

What happens with the Strongs?

I think its Dolorous Edd, but Victarion is close for how boneheaded he is.

Honourable mention to this guy:

>“The silver queen is gone,” the ketch’s master told him. “She flew away upon her dragon, beyond the Dothraki sea.”

>“Where is this Dothraki sea?” he demanded.

>“I will sail the Iron Fleet across it and find the queen wherever she may be.” The fisherman laughed aloud. “That would be a sight worth seeing. The Dothraki sea is made of grass, fool.”

>He should not have said that. Victarion took him around the throat with his burned hand and lifted him bodily into the air. Slamming him back against the mast, he squeezed till the Yunkishman’s face turned as black as the fingers digging into his flesh. The man kicked and writhed for a while, trying fruitlessly to pry loose the captain’s grip. “No man calls Victarion Greyjoy a fool and lives to boast of it.”

No fics where Jon claims the 7 Kingdoms, but one where he just helps Robb fight the WoT5K

I'm not interested in Jon becoming King from the beginning, I just want Jon to be loyal to Robb whilst helping the North

SI of a canon dragonseed, ideally where they aren't loathsome drunks but still either betray Rhaenyra or join TG.

I read the Smith and the Dragon on SB and want that style of fic

So Rhaenyra has trueborn Velaryons with Laenor, but they're all girls.

Laenor dies, and Rhaenyra marries Daemon.

However, in Otto's infinite wisdom, he makes a deal with Rhaenyra that Aegon and DAERON marry the first two Velaryon girls, and in return Otto wouldn't contest the Throne for Aegon, to consolidate claims to the Throne, and fem! Jace is declared heir to the Throne.

But NOW, Rhaenyra has the two canon boys with Daemon, and Daemon tries to undo the deal, saying Aegon the Younger is the rightful heir.

What the HELL happens in this nightmare of a Dance?

Daemon and Laena marry and have the canon children btw, and Aemond marries Helaena, to produce Aegon the Elder's canon children

So Rhaenyra has trueborn Velaryons with Laenor, but they're all girls.

Laenor dies, and Rhaenyra marries Daemon.

However, in Otto's infinite wisdom, he makes a deal with Rhaenyra that Aegon and DAERON marry the first two Velaryon girls, and in return Otto wouldn't contest the Throne for Aegon, to consolidate claims to the Throne, and fem! Jace is declared heir to the Throne.

But NOW, Rhaenyra has the two canon boys with Daemon, and Daemon tries to undo the deal, saying Aegon the Younger is the rightful heir.

What the HELL happens in this nightmare of a Dance?

Daemon and Laena marry and have the canon children btw, who are betrothed to Aegon and Viserys and Aemond marries Helaena, to produce Aegon the Elder's canon children

I want my next fic to be a slow burn, given my previous fic's main romance was them instantly hitting it off and I'm honestly so confused on how to write that style of romance properly because I've never done it before.

Does anyone have tips?