Feb 20th updates (no new chapter) · 4:25am Feb 21st, 2013
No new chapter this update. Got a response from EqD, which was the standard rejection. Their problem was and is the prologue, which I'm told is dull. Nothing else, just dull. *shrug* I disagree, but I'm hearing it from multiple sources so I'm going to have to take their word on it. I'm disappointed with this, but not devastated. I want readership to grow, so I can share this tale with as many people as possible, but I'm not obsessed with it. This is strike two, I get one more swing at this before this particular story gets benched (from being submitted. I'm not going to stop writing it because it didn't get on EqD. I love Harmony Theory too much to do that). I don't know if I'll even submit it again, it depends on what I can do with the prologue that might in any way make it less 'dull' without changing its contents in any major way.
I'm open to suggestions if anyone has them.
In other news: I am 2/3 of the way through writing The Heart Thief, a new story in the same world as The Archer and The Smith. Once I'm done first draft in the next couple of days it'll go into editing, which might take another week. Once it's been polished a bit I'll upload it for everyone's reading pleasure.
Oooooo, really looking forward to The Heart Thief!
I've noticed EqD tends to get really stuck on certain points, and they don't really look past the first few chapters. This is a real shame, though understandable considering the work load, because the beauty of Harmony Theory is in its world building. World building that occurs right from the very start. If it's seriously just that, I'd be tempted to say just remove it and put it back once it gets accepted, but that would be a huge disservice and somewhat unethical. C'est la vie.
Have you tried ponychan.net's /fic/? I think there's a new chan now, too, that's doing fic review work. Some of the EqD pre-readers are also on FimFic, might be worth trying to reach out to them to get a set of victory conditions.
Looking forward to the updates!
As for ideas on how to improve the prologue... IDK I guess I'll take a look and see what comes to mind. Generally I never expect prologues to be terribly exiting.
If it failed twice at that level, I would say stop worrying about it. Every time you post a new chapter you get new people here and it is EQD's loss for not having this fine fic on their website. This is one of the top fics on the site, whether it is acknowledged as such or not.
Trash the prologue. EqD is never going to look past the prologue, so hit them with the first chapter and see how things go. You can always put the prologue back in later.
I'm sorry. That really sucks that they didn't accept Harmony Theory. I can't wait to see The Heart Thief though!
The folks over at EqD are overly picky. I don't think the prologue is boring, and what the hell are they expecting, anyway? It's a frickin' prologue, an introduction, not the opening to an action flick or something.
I am looking forward to The Heart Thief. The Archer and The Smith was utterly amazing, so another story in that world promises to be very interesting!
Maybe you should consider asking the people in the tvtropes pony fanfiction thread for help. That's where I go with writing problems. The people there are usually really busy, so be prepared to do a lot of reviewing in exchange for eyes, but I've found that when you can get their help, their advice is worlds better than what you'll find in most places on the internet. And they're nicer about it too.
I think by "dull" they might mean that the conversation between the two princesses is too long. I for one love the the long conversations, but I don't know what else could it possibly be
I liked your prologue just fine, it's a completly subjective opinion on the pre-reader's part
Hahaha. Your story trounces easily over half of the fiction they post over there. Talk about judging a story too early.... I would say don't get discouraged, but it's obvious you're made of sterner stuff and this is less than a bump in the road. Oh well, your story's quality will eventually earn itself recognition, bet on that.