I have read a lot of fanfiction.
There are some really promising authors out there that are writing full length novels and trilogies on some of their favorite works and I commend you all. That kind of work is just insane to comprehend- insane to do. The creativity is awesome. 

One pet peeve though: RESEARCH-specifically about one thing this time: Starvation

I read a fanfic recently that reminded me of this and how often I see it. Starvation- the concept of someone not having enough food for a long enough period of time that they are weak and or dying from it. 

The scene was a really intense emotional one, in fact I would say it was the climax. However I kept being distracted by the fact that the character was essentially dying after being without food for 7 days. (nope)

Actually- they had eaten occasionally,(nope nope) not much but some in the 7 days. And in that period of time they were drawn and thin, their cheeks were sunken in their skin was yellow. (nope nope nope)

No. No. Nopers. 

We can survive without WATER for 7 days. Without FOOD though- that’s another ball game. 

I’ve done fasts for 14, 18, and 23 days respectively on nothing but water. NOTHING BUT WATER. 

It’s not pleasant the first three days, but after that you’re mostly just a little tired and the pangs of hunger actually subside.

You don’t have a lot of energy, for sure. You lose a good chunk of muscle mass.(and it can affect your heart, mineral levels lower rapidly. The fasts I did were supervised. Quitting eating is never a good idea without some back up. Seriously.) You get headaches if you don’t rest enough or drink enough water. 

I have met people who start looking starved after doing 40 day fasts. They were originally rather slim so I think that’s why they looked so skeletal. But they were still moving around, talking, going to things. (these fasts are done for religious reasons so it’s possible that they are being sustained by something greater than themselves at this point, but let’s not go there that’s not the point of this post.) 

40 days though, guys. 

So, if you’re going to starve a character, if you want them to look on the brink of death consider a some things: 

a)have they had access to water and would they have drank it? 
(if they are depressed and therefore shutting down, maybe not. Maybe 7 days is a real time frame for their decline because it’s an emotional starvation as well as a water and food one. 7 days is long enough for a person to start looking pretty close to kicking the bucket without any water)

b) has someone been forcing them to eat a little here and there? 
(example: someone depressed has a caretaker forcing them to eat occasionally, and drink often enough. 7 days is NOT long enough for them to be gaunt, yellow or dying. These people can likely stand on their own, walk on their own, and argue with some energy if angered.)

c)is this person trying to survive, actively searching for a way to remedy their starvation and thirst? 
(this person could potentially over tax their body if they have not had water or have had water and no food for an extended period of time while they search for food. but they can last pretty well with water only and rest for a period of over 2 weeks, easy. If they are for instance fasting in protest to something and are relatively relaxed then longer.)

There’s a lot of info on starvation. It’s not a new concept. A quick google search will help remedy issues with time frames. If you wanna starve a character though- remember it takes longer than a week with water. 

If you really want to speed it up- take their water away. You evil god of your universe. Strike them with drought!

Just saying:)