When does a fanfiction stop being a fanfiction? · 12:36am Aug 18th, 2014
At what point has one gone too far with a story concept for a fanfiction? Hm, I guess a better way to phrase that would be: at what point is a story better suited to go full original fiction as opposed to staying in its original concept? When does a story pull a full on Fifty Shades of Gray and break away from the source?
I find myself asking that because I believe that I very well may have just hit my original story vs fanfiction threshold. It was supposed to be a new 'reap what you've sewn' one-shot story that was concepted with my two favorite little filly-witches in mind, but now that I've over thought the idea and found how it could work as a series, it just doesn't seem to work as a pony clopfic anymore. Too gritty. Too many realistic struggles and concerns. It hardly works in the fantastical setting it was born in, though it still could.
Even if I were to pluck it from it's Equestria grounded universe and plant in a world of my own design, it would still have the same soul as the original idea; a story grounded in the ideals that love, loyalty and friendship will persevere in the face of poverty and circumstance and that with hard work, humility and perseverance, one can take charge and change their fate regardless of what life throws at them. That said, where's the line? What is too far? What's the threshold?
It's really all up to choice now, but which choice is the right choice to make? Do I follow through with this punch and hope that I knock it out, or do I take this story to the ground, lock it into submission and make it fit this new form? Decisions, decisions...
Dear readers and writers, I'd love to see your views on this- not my issues, but the whole concept of this threshold between a fanfic and original literature. I'm sure-- Eh, you don't care. Here's a gif of Diamond Tiara caressing the shit out of an uncomfortable looking Apple Bloom. 
Oh, yeah, baby. It's Business Time
Loathe,
Your Antagonist
I'd say that if you think you can pull off a "Fifty Shades" deal...
Do it. What's the worst that could go wrong?
~Skeeter The Lurker
While toning down the grittiness could help given the source material, keep the realistic struggles and concerns. Such elements are very important for almost any story, including MLP fanfiction. It helps readers like me identify and sympathize with the main characters in an emotional way. As long as you don't go Warhammer 40K levels of grimdark, I think you'll be fine. That's how I see it at any rate, but do what you feel most comfortable with, as it is your story.
2378333 It could get a dramatic reading done by Gilbert Gottfried?
@YA: As for what makes a story branch off from a fanfiction? I'd have to say there really isn't many fanfics where you honestly couldn't just replace the names and locations and not be seen as a standalone idea.
The only ones who would delude themselves into thinking there is one way to write story and it's world only tricks themselves into believing it because then they wouldn't have anything to defend their works to be one of the 'prime examples' of pony literature.
Just as much as you can bend a story that could have perfectly characterized characters of how the ponies would, have, and could act, into a standalone original work, you too can take an original work and replace its names and locations to work with pony.
So, I'm pretty sure you can turn your work into some big seller on Amazon's Kindle or a work of ponyfiction that could only serve to create jealousy in your sexy delivery of a cute heartwarming tale with the two little witches as you say. To craft something that sets a bar in fiction that could serve to let others know that there are clear lines between writing what you want to write for the sake of forcing a biased point of view such as "Trust me, I AM the Element of ____ so who best to listen to?" Diamond Tiara calling someone a blank flank regardless of whether a creature can even acquire one as if it's all Diamond's sole characteristic.
So, keep daring to be different. People love reading new and interesting perspectives. Even the sheltered ones with no idea of what hardships mean could learn to feel for a character whose gone through stuff they'd imagine would be only seen in a fantasy.
Write your heart out, sir. Write for all its worth!
@DT: Hug her as awkwardly as you can Diamond. Hug her still she lets go of all her negative feelings and the awkwardness of the most adorable almost choke-hold of a hug is all but forgotten and only that warm sensation of being hugged by someone adorable and pink is left inside her!
Why not? If all it does is get on FictionPress.com, or if you decide to self-publish, or even aim for a big-label publisher, it can still get out there. You never know until you try.
Aside: DT looks like she's humping AB.
Is it something you could get published though?
You don't seem like the kind of man who shys away from taking a chance. Do it and see what happens. Then post a link so we can read!