Male OCs

Is there some kind of spray we can use to keep male pony OCs from springing up like weeds? Just asking.

Comments

[Lunatia]

What's wrong with male OCs?

[The Fanfic Crusader]

1273678
While there's nothing wrong with male OCs themselves, they are a symptom/warning sign of poor writing.

In good fanfiction, an occasional OC will be male. In bad fanfiction, male OCs are everywhere.

There's a lot of different reasons for this. Male OCs are often self-insert Gary Stus. They are added to the story so the author can have an avatar in Equestria that shares their gender, or as a non-homosexual partner for one (or more!) of the Mane Six to become involved with. In these cases, the character has to be male, so they can fulfill their role as plot crowbar, cudgeling the universe to produce the outcome the author wants and fulfilling their fantasies in the simplest and most direct way possible.

In addition, there is a subtle, yet pervasive, tendency in western storytelling to make male be the default gender for a character, unless they have a reason to be otherwise. As a result, novice writers tend to make characters male regardless of how well they fit into the MLP universe (which usually focuses on female characters, even assuming the story isn't set in one of those AUs where Equestria really does have a 1-6 male-to-female ratio! ).

As authors improve their skills, the need for male OCs tends to lesson. Characters stop being tools for wish fulfillment and develop nuances, and authors get better at matching the feel of the universe they are writing in. Characters can still be male, but by that point they are just a character that is male.

Unfortunately, until then they churn out stories with lots of male OCs. I cringe when I see a male OC mentioned in a story summary. There's nothing wrong with them by themselves, but I associate the presence of such with a bad fic, full of spelling errors, painful dialogue, forced storytelling, and all the other traits of an author who is still in their larval stage.

Luckily, it's temporary. With practice and constructive criticism, these green authors will eventually blossom into beautiful, mature pony-fanfic-writer-butterfly-pegasister-bronies. And the world will be a better place.

[Lord Destrustor]

1274754
I promise that I will not ship Silver Spring with one of the mane six.

Quite an interesting analysis you wrote there. I'd never thought about that.
I was slightly surprised to see this blog post from someone who just favorited my male-OC-centered story and had to investigate further. ( I tend to at least glance at everyone who favorites my stuff)
I'm glad to have read those fine points of yours.

[The Fanfic Crusader]

1302712

I promise that I will not ship Silver Spring with one of the mane six.

What?! But then how will Silver Spring, Dave, and Lemony all become involved in a doomed love-hexagon with Fluttershy, Fancy Pants, Zecora, and Bloomberg?!

Quite an interesting analysis you wrote there. I'd never thought about that.

I enjoy provoking new thoughts. I also do parties!

I was slightly surprised to see this blog post from someone who just favorited my male-OC-centered story and had to investigate further.

Curiosity is good. Also, while your story is still young and it does feature an entirely OC cast, none of them have (so far) become author self-insert wish-fulfillment avatars, and your grammar doesn't make me wince when I look at it. These are both major points in it's favor.

( I tend to at least glance at everyone who favorites my stuff)

That's a good policy. I approve.

I'm glad to have read those fine points of yours.

You're most welcome. Now go write more of that story of yours.

[Lord Destrustor]

1302956
Ahaha!
Wait, hexagon? But technically there'd be seven of them.
"-Okay, the ponies are one thing, but what the holy fucking hell are you doing with that tree?!?"

The fact that I personally wouldn't want to be in either of their positions probably helps in the not-being-a-wish-fulfilment-mary-sue department.

[The Fanfic Crusader]

1303406

Wait, hexagon? But technically there'd be seven of them.

You're right! I misspoke (miswrote?). It should be a septagon.

"-Okay, the ponies are one thing, but what the holy fucking hell are you doing with that tree?!?"

Nothing will stand in the way of their love!

The fact that I personally wouldn't want to be in either of their positions probably helps in the not-being-a-wish-fulfilment-mary-sue department.

You mean you don't secretly long to be an alien symbiont in the brain of a brightly colored pony? Weird.

[Lord Destrustor]

1303828
I know, right?

[The Fanfic Crusader]

1304701
Indeed. Still, with a little therapy, I'm sure you'll be right as rain. I'd recommend a Mare in the Moon / K-PAX double-feature movie marathon.

[steel soul]

Hmm...interesting...I'll have to think about what was said here..