Keep Holding On
Author: Kay_Baby
Rate: 9

Note: I kind of wrote this oddly because when I started it I was half asleep, so excuse my weird theory and questions about clichés or whatever it was that I did…

I’ve long since classified cancer stories (aka stories where one of the main love interests is diagnosed and dying with cancer) as cliché. However, I do still believe that if you really put a story behind the storyline, you can reclassify your story from “cliché cancer story” to simply “cancer story”. It’s all a matter of originality and making it your own, so I believe the question is, is your story classified as a “cliché cancer story” or just “cancer story”?

In your version of the so-called “cliché cancer story”, Liam works for the hospital, tending to her as a patient. His introduction in the story results in her improving, doing better than she had been – for someone with cancer that is.

But, in non-relation to that paragraph actually, what kind of cancer does Charity have? Cancer is a generalization for a disease with many different variations, so to just say that she has cancer makes your story weak. If the type of cancer is not classified, true symptoms cannot be appointed and it makes the cancer sound fake, therefore making your story weak. Focus on one type of cancer (e.g.: prostate cancer, breast cancer, leukemia, etc.) and use proven symptoms (explaining why she threw up blood and passed out at the dance) and further information to better your story.

Back to Liam though, I really like how a part (and future parts, possibly?) corresponds to the prologue. In the introduction, she says, “My scars are a reminder of where I came from. I didn't always feel this way.” Then later, Liam tells her, “Scars are what makes us who we are,” and I just love how you put the relation in there. It really starts to up some ends of the story.

So if you were to ask me if Keep Holding On is a “cliché cancer story,” I would say no. Keep Holding On isn’t a cliché. Sure, it could use some more research information to back up the cancer itself, but this type of set up is one that I have never read before and I absolutely adore it.

Keep Holding On is, hands down, the second best (sorry, there is one more that I really enjoyed, though I can’t remember the name of it…) cancer fanfic I have read – but it’s a really close second and the story isn’t even completed. I would definitely recommend this story, and I look forward to reading more, whether you decide to do some research on the various cancers that exist, or not.

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If you find your review to be disappointing, I cannot honestly tell you that I’m sorry. Do not let what I say in any way discourage you from writing or anything for that matter. I am just one person with strongly opinionated views on everything. If I made it clear that I strongly dislike your story, do not think that other people won’t enjoy it. There are many other readers with different views than me who will find interest in your story where I may not have. I hope you do take something out of this and improve on and continue your writing, but if you don’t, that’s fine too.

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