Looking for OCs! · 5:38pm Oct 19th, 2021
Heya, Folks!
This blog contains spoilers for A Daughter and her Dragon, so if you haven't read at least up to chapter... I'd say 61, stop here.
I know, I know you're waiting for DaD to update again, I'm sorry. I'm picking at it piece by piece, not necessarily in order (which is the reason for this blog coming out now— I don't want to forget while the thought is in my head). I also need to finish the prequel first because it will affect the next chapter (chapter 65). Anyway...
You newer DaD readers out there likely weren't around for the first time I did this— it was way back in mid-2016. Long story short, I'm looking for some OCs! If you'd like an opportunity for yours to make an appearance in A Daughter and her Dragon, please send me a PM with the subject line "OC Submission: [Character's name]". Read on before you go jumping to submitting, though.
Compared to the last time I did this—those of you that were here the first time will know—the parameters are much narrower. I'm not limiting the submission number to three this time, but I can't really guarantee I'd be able to fit more than that. Any more than three really just becomes pure fluff (though I know some people—like me—like fluff, and sometimes it helps me with story transitions when I get stuck). The character can be any gender, but they must be one of the original pony tribes (Earth, unicorn, or pegasus—no alicorns, please). They also need to be able to be realistically portrayed at any age between 8–13 years old.
I'll need to be a bit spoiler-y this time compared to last time, since I don't think I can provide all the parameters that may determine if your character can be accepted without saying how they'll be used (it depends on how strictly 'originally in-character' you want your OC to be— like, if your OC is a doctor, maybe they're interested in the field but haven't committed to it).
I need some kids from Cotton's 'old family' to come and see her at the bakery, so your character will be portrayed as having been adopted. Their age will determine how they interact with her (bear in mind it's been 6 years since Cotton left the orphanage).
If they're on the younger end of the spectrum (8-10), they may only have some vague recollection of who Cotton is because they were too young (2–4) to really recall her when she left. They would be the kind of kid that didn't really have much personal connection with Cotton because she only really played partial caretaker for them— they wouldn't really remember all the details about what they did with Cotton, if anything at all, but they'd remember her enough that they'd know that they knew her (confusing, ain't it? 
). If they don't have any distinguishing physical traits, Cotton might recognize them again after an introduction, then depending on their personality, might have some closer, personal interaction over the counter.
If they're on the older end (11–13), they might be the kind of kid that was old enough (5–7) for Cotton to have actually played with and gotten to know (and likely known for longer). These are the kinds of kids that Cotton would recognize right away, and she might immediately walk around the counter and open her forelegs for a hug for them to run to (if they have that kind of personality). This upper range is the age(s) that I think really would have been the oldest the kids would have gotten while still in the orphanage before being adopted. Cotton was an exception because of obvious reasons, as was Aster Centauri because of his attitude— he was ten when you met him two years ago (in-story). Remember Ruby and Amber? They were seven and six, respectively.
Edit: If you'd like to submit a character that's Cotton's age or older, that's also welcome. Same parameters apply, but they can be up to four years older (19–22). And if you like, they can have had family pass away in the Great Fire, as they very well may have lost their parents also but just not gotten injured like she did (maybe they helped Mother Matron take care of Cotton before she was old enough to do it for others?). You're also welcome to submit other characters who may have lived in the orphanage at some point or another and just want to come and support Cotton, even if they didn't live there at the same time.
If you think you have a character you'd like to share that can fit these parameters (or if you'd even like to create one from scratch; Flicka Ring was one such OC— thanks again, Tats!), do me a favor and PM me your character's info like this:
— Name
— Age, Gender & Species
— Physical design, i.e. coat and mane/tail colors (please don't give me an OC whose colors are overly complicated to work into the narrative— I don't like writing "Their coat was [x color] and their mane and tail were [y color]").
- Tell me if they have other distinguishing characteristics that might help Cotton recognize them more quickly, i.e. a patch of their coat is a different color (like a birthmark), scars from an accident at the orphanage, etc (they don't have to have one of these, so don't just make one up unnecessarily if it doesn't conform to your character— they can have just a basic design). Before you get the idea, they can't have also been injured in the Great Fire— the chronology doesn't work.
— Basic personality: how do they act? Aloof? Peppy? Were they different back at the orphanage? Do they want to 'show off' their new parents?
— The kind of things they might have done with Cotton (or things she did for them) when they were still in the orphanage that might make them stand out from other kids. Bear in mind the orphanage was not as continuously funded back then as it is now.
— Things they like; if they're older, what's their cutie mark and talent? If they knew her well enough, did they bring something for her based on that talent? (they don't have to)
— Most importantly: what dessert do they order? 
— Edit: I should have specified Cotton's selection. She's got chocolate chip cookies (duh), snickerdoodles, and donuts (any coating is fine, nothing filled), and for pies she's got coconut creme, apple, key lime, blueberry, and chocolate.
— Anything else you want to tell me about them? (optional)
If you'd like to create some kind of background as to why they were in the orphanage (ran away to Canterlot from outside the city, doorstep baby, I dunno), you're welcome to do so. I can't guarantee I'd be able to work it in, especially if the character is younger, but you can certainly still do it. Don't write me a novel, though.
I keep track of all submissions, so if you submit a character and they don't appear right away (these bits may not be happening for a little while anyway), they may show up later, so don't be discouraged. Besides, the orphanage was pretty big; Cotton had plenty of siblings. We're looking forward to meeting her old brothers and sisters!
Until next time!
—LD
Oh oWO ill see what I can do after school