Pharynx Attempts to Get on EqD, Mission Debriefing. · 8:21am Sep 11th, 2018
Quick update.
You may know I tried to submit Pharynx Goes Monster Hunting to Equestria Daily. Well, after a month or so, as expected, I got a response.
It was pretty much what I anticipated in terms of their feedback on the content, a little bit better, actually. They only had one major problem with it, and that problem wasn't the major thing I was trying to get practice in, so that's nice. But along with that came a lot of editing goofs I thought I'd fixed before submitting, but apparently hadn't.
So that's that done, then. That was the first story I've actually been told should be tried to get to EqD, it did not go through. Even my best work (so far, and allegedly) is not up to snuff.
I might go back and fix it, I'm already doing some of the minor edits the pre-reader pointed out, but the major problem they had with it will require a more extensive rewrite. Bottom line: I got what I wanted out of it, I got an answer, I'm not sure if there's any real point to putting more effort into it. The main thing I wanted to know was whether or not I was decent enough at self-editing. Now I know. Maybe I'll try to submit something a little fluffier and simpler next time, maybe I'll try the re-write. I'm not sure what the proper procedure is here: do I thank the pre-reader via e-mail, or do I do it here in case they're tracking blogs? I get the impression they're a little busy to be taking random reply e-mails just like that...
Anyway, now you know. I've got two first draft scenes done on the CMCMap thing, ditto on the third interview for the Bastion fic (Twilight and Spike, this time). Other than that, today I am outlining yet another version of my personal project. Deer Lords, give me strength.
Cracker out.
What sort of editing does EqD actually need? Is it small things like spelling, or grammar, or plot points requiring more substantial work?
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What I got as feedback was first a short paragraph saying 'It only has one major problem, but it's a recurring one, so it'll get brought up a few times.' In my case, it was the repeated shifting of perspectives in the same scene. That's the sort of thing that requires a major overhaul.
Below that, it was a longer list (20-odd remarks) of small things, like missing words, semi-colon use, comma splices, capitalising 'Earth' in 'Earth pony,' (you're not supposed to capitalise it unless you capitalise Pegasus and Unicorn, too) or italicising the exclamation mark if you're adding emphasis to a sentence, that sort of thing.
They didn't tell me I needed to fix any plot points, but there was maybe one small remark that made sense in context. I can't say whether that'd be true for everyone. It's the first time I've tried it, I have no experience beyond that.