MilesKingford wrote:I thought that I might make my own fanfiction but there were some questions that I would like to ask before I create anything
The storyline of Rick's comic does not have to be perfectly followed (only Rick could do that). It is up to you how canon you want your story to be. So taking a point in time and spinning an alternate reality from that point is totally cool.
As for drama: just don't put drama inducing subjects into your work. (See homosexuality reference above)
Another example: Your characters can follow a religion, they can practice their religion; however, if it starts becoming a focal point of the story or the story becomes a soapbox from which to preach, it will alienate readers who do not follow this religion (and even some who do). When people feel alienated, bad emotions start flowing around and the drama begins.
So while your characters might go to church and some scenes might take place there, don't start "preaching" to your readers.
Also note: if your characters do a lot of religious practices "on screen", you might want to question if the religion truly is not a focal point.
Really the rules can be boiled down to: "Always Do What's Right!" with the sub rule: "If you're not sure, it's probably not right."
But then people start looking for loopholes and hitting all the moral grey areas just cause they can.
So we have rules.