Stances and Scheduled Stories · 6:09pm Feb 7th, 2018
So, now that I seem to have acquired a few more followers since "A Matter of Credit" was featured, I figure this is a good time to put up a blog post.
First off, upcoming stories and status updates on existing stories.
A Is For... is still being worked on, but the nature of the story and the chapter lengths necessary to do it right are kind of kicking my ass right now. It will be updated as each chapter is completed. In all likelihood, there will be seven chapters total. Possibly eight if I decide to do an interlude
The sequel to "Repercussions" is still percolating. However, I have had a few scenes and vignettes come to mind that will serve as "Repercussions 1.5," as well as another way to force myself to write as daily as possible (given my work schedule.) In the Days That Followed will begin later this week. I'm currently shooting for Thursday, but it might not be until Friday.
Do you like the circus? Do you like alternate universes? Then step right up and get your tickets for the greatest show beyond the mirror when teenage runaway Twilight Sparkle discovers an odd crown and an even odder traveling circus in Canterlot City. What secrets does it hold? Why do the performers and roustabouts all seem like they don't want to be there? And what is the circus's ringmaster, the enigmatic Sunset Shimmer, up to that involves the crown Twilight has found? Find out in the upcoming Twilight Sparkle and the Secret of the Sundown Circus!
And after all that? Sunset Shimmer and her friends have come to the attention of a shadowy government organization following the events of "Repercussions." A menacing agent of that organization is asking questions, getting strange answers, and is slowly finding herself drawn closer and closer to Canterlot High. Meanwhile, another magical menace has appeared at exactly the wrong time. The Mane 7 will find themselves pushed to the limit as they try to get this new magical threat under control, while trying to avoid drawing the attention of Tempest Shadow, Agent of STORM.
Because, when things like this happen, there are always Consequences.
So that's what's on the docket. Now onto a few things that often come up whenever I post stories:
1. I don't ship - Frankly, I regard shipping as a plague on fan fiction and fandom in general. There are too many fandoms where shipping is somehow considered the be-all, end-all of the media involved and it's gotten out of hand. I've seen rabid shippers tell the creators of a show that they are wrong because the show ended without their OTP being made canon. There are more stories to tell than just which two characters declare their undying love for each other and the trials and tribulations they have. I also don't care for how in so many shipping stories, regular friendship is tossed aside or made to seem lesser than the Purest Truest Romance Ever. This is especially egregious considering that both MLP series put the emphasis on said friendships over romance.
Which isn't to say I'm against others shipping. I like a well written romance story just as much as anyone. I'm just tired of it being front and center all the time, especially if it's a pairing that's been done to death. (Seriously, I can do without any more stories about Sunset Shimmer and Twilight Sparkle being a couple, thanks. Same goes for Applejack and Rainbow Dash.) So don't expect romance to show up in my stories. If it does, it will be as a subplot and only if the show itself has suggested the pairing (i.e. Sci-Twi and Timber Spruce).
2. I like Equestria Girls more than Friendship is Magic - I came to this realization a couple of years ago. I find the dynamic of EG more compelling for storytelling than FiM. I still like both, but I like EG a little bit more. So, expect my stuff to be more focused on EG than FiM.
3. Original Characters - I don't like OC's as main characters. It can work, but most of the time, it doesn't. If I read an MLP fic, I want to read about the established MLP characters, and I assume my audience does too. As such, while OCs may show up from time to time (Night Audit and Star Cluster in "Luna and the Moose," Tough Love in "Repercussions," and Miss Bookbinder in both of those stories), they will almost always be relegated to supporting or antagonistic roles in my stories.
Note that I do have a specific definition of OC. An OC, to me, is a character created whole cloth that does not appear in any of the My Little Pony shows, movies, toys, comics, or novels. So, to use an above example, Night Audit, Princess Luna's faithful clerk in "Luna and the Moose" is an OC, while Kibitz, Celestia's major domo, is not an OC to me, as he appears in Hasbro-sanctioned media.
This, however, brings up the subject of...
4. Canon and Headcanon - Unless specifically intended to be an AU, I try to make all my stories fit in with the main canon of the show. Sometimes I don't succeed, but I make the effort. I have little to no interest in debating the canonicity of the various media making up the MLP franchise, so let's run it down here.
As far as I'm concerned, FiM, MLP: The Movie, and EG are canon to each other. I've seen way too many people try to move the goalposts to separate the three for whatever reasons.
Anything that happens in either show can be considered canonical to my stories, until and unless something happens that invalidates something that happened in a completed story. Canonicity is determined by what happens on the shows, not by what happened in my story. it is entirely probable that something in my stories will be contradicted by as yet unproduced/unreleased episodes of either series.
Supplementary material, such as characters or events from the comics or books, are flexible, depending on how much a given character or story contradicts what is happening in the show. The early comics, especially, are almost impossible to reconcile with how the show is now. This is a common pitfall with licensed comics and has always happened. Nowadays, Hasbro and IDW are working closer to keep everything, if not completely seamless, then at least coherent between the comics and the show.
Anything stated to be canonical by the show staff is canon. Period. You would think this would be understood, but Jesus, are there a lot of whiny fans out there who keep stating that people working on the show can't declare things canon. If the people working on the show can't declare what is and isn't canon, who the hell can?
On a related note, yes, this means as far as I'm concerned, the MLP movie takes place between seasons 7 and 8, and I don't care about any arguments you want to make about how Twilight may or may not have been out of character. There's a point, especially in an animated movie, where the script has to be locked so you can actually produce the damn thing. Much like the perils of producing a licensed comic concurrently with an ongoing TV show, the same is true for major motion pictures produced at the same time. Not everything will be seamless, but it will be coherent.
No, I am not interested in debate on this point.
I have a few headcanons that I incorporate into my stories. For example, "A Is For..." has established that I believe Applejack is asexual and Rarity is an atheist. These are probably safe to assume the show won't contradict, since sexuality and religion are most likely off the table in terms of episode subject matter for Equestria Girls. I also have it stated that, for now, Pinkie Pie lives with Maud in Canterlot City while the rest of the Pie family lives on a farm in a different town.
In larger head canon issues, as far as I'm concerned, alicorns are not immortal. Twilight isn't immortal, Cadance isn't immortal, and Celestia and Luna aren't immortal. Nor are any of them goddesses in physical form. Nowhere in the show has it ever been said that Celestia and Luna are goddesses or that they have the power of same. All we know for certain about them is that they have the power to raise the sun and the moon (which has also been established were jobs performed by groups of unicorns in the past), and they are both over 1000 years old. They are long lived, but longevity does not equal immortality.
And the big one: My head canon only exists until and unless the show contradicts it. If the show says Celestia and Luna are immortal, okay, they're immortal. If it turns out the entire Pie family does live in Canterlot City, my mistake. If Rarity is shown going to church or Applejack seems to have had a wild time rolling in the hay, okay. I have no problem discarding a head canon if it's in conflict with current events. I probably won't bother changing any past stories, but stories in progress or going forward will reflect the change.
I think that pretty much covers everything. I'll be happy to answer any questions you have, just know I'm not here to debate or argue with you. All of the above applies to me and me alone. You can do whatever you want.
Welcome aboard!
Wow, this was like seeing my thoughts put into words. Cool, I’m glad some there are some people who are still reasonable on this site. I mean I do write shipping stories, but I realize that it’s not everyone’s cup of tea and I don’t try to shove it down people’s throats. Anyway I can’t wait to see what else you produce
I agree with you about Equestria Girls over FIM. I also find it easier to write Equestria Girls.