Random Rant #2 · 5:11am Apr 30th, 2013
You know what I hate? Unoriginality. 'But Solecism!' you might say. 'What about your own stories? One of them started off as a parody of a popular story and grew into something else, and the other is a trollfic riffing on a popular universe! How can you claim originality when both of your own works were inspired by someone else?'
That's not the type of originality I mean. Technically speaking, there are no original ideas left anymore: pretty much anything that isn't completely and utterly absurd has already been written. What I'm talking about it 'copy and paste' ideas: self-inserts, Pony Verbs a Noun, another Fallout: Equestria story that adds absolutely nothing to anything; you weren't inspired by Kkat, you insipid twit—you just want your OC (oh, I'll get into OCs later) to walk in a much more prominent, interesting character's shoes!
Yes, I know there are some good Fallout: Equestria stories, along with a few self-inserts that'll make you chuckle out of actual comedy and not from piss-poor everything—I'm not saying there isn't. There are almost always exceptions... except for Past Sins or MLD spinoffs/sequels/kissassery—those can all go shrivel up in a corner and die.
What happened to creativity, to writing an entrancing and just plain awesome story that takes your breath away? Instead of stories like that, we're mostly left with a sea of crap with only a few sparkling gems rising to the top. (I don't claim to be a good author, nor do I claim that any of my stories are original and worthy of praise—they aren't.)
Now, onward to the dreaded 'Original Characters'... *shudders*
Blaze, Knight and Night, Flame, Ice, Shadow, Sword (and all variations—this includes: Rapier, Saber, Claymore, etc.)... jeez, I've probably seen at least three different stories for each and every one of these names! That's not an original character you have there: that's a copy-pasted skeleton of a character that you wish you were! Seriously! A story following an OC with the author's attributes is almost as bad, if not downright worse than a regular old self-insert.
Ugh... now I want to write an actual story just to prove that there's some creativity left here -_-
I'm considering making these a nightly thing, alongside updating 'A Pokemon Problem.' It feels strangely relieving just to this kind of stuff down, even if nobody ends up reading that. Humans are weird. 0.o
Hmm... story idea!
First off, what's wrong with Past Sins? It was a very original piece of work that a lot of people, including myself, actually enjoyed.
Second, how is Blaze a copy and pasted name? As far as I have seen, I'm the first one to have named my fire elemental in Equestria Blaze.
Hey, c'mon, not all OC stories are bad...
(But for the most part I agree)
1043933
Oh, I didn't call Past Sins bad: I called the spinoffs bad.
And secondly... how is it not?
But in regards to fire elementals... I think that's a pretty niche group that you've got covered nicely
1043941Ah. The way you worded it made it seem lie you hated Past Sins.
And those are all ponies. Like you said, my guy's a fire elemental. Basically human turned fire elemental forced to choose a new name lest he arouse suspicion from the local populace. (I probly made that sound a lot cooler than it actually is. And since that sentence wasn't that cool, that's saying something.) So yeah, no fire ponies. Just a guy with ivory bone claws that have so far: melted through the bars of his cage, melted off a diamond dog's lower jaw and a portion of his throat, and caused him to commit his first kill as an act of mercy.
Okay, no more self promotion. That's just lame of me.
I like these rant posts, they open up areas for discussion. Now I don't proclaim to be any sort of authority but here's my two cents.
One of the problems for originality and all of the spinoffs/sequels/parodies etc. is that it's simply what people want to write about or read. I'm not saying that some authors are lazy, or are incapable of being original, but simply want to add their own spin on a tried and tested tale because they enjoy the idea.
As for things that are absurd, well they're polarizing. Sometimes, sticking to what you know reduces the risks that you'll have unfavourable reviews, even if it turns out not to be the case thinking outside the box can be daunting to some. And isn't one of the most common quotes to new authors "write what you know?" Yes it's good advice, but it sadly limits imaginations.
OC's are always a thorny issue. All the names you typed up there are common, but that's probbly because they're all meant to sound cool. If someone is writing an OC you're not likely going to see them named Garbage, Clutter, Mould, Dust or anything else with a negative connotation. Every character has some kind of connection to their creator, otherwise the author won't care about that characters fate and if the author dosen't care neither will the reader. What better way to start then making that character sound cool or interesting?
This is getting pretty long, but for the most part I agree with you. Creativity isn't dead, it's sadly just not favoured.
Also, you're one of the few people who uses the word soapbox so +1 to you.
This is my fetish.
Lol I was about to jump at you for hating on Past Sins
You do raise some good points... but nothing I haven't heard before, thus your rant is unoriginal
Please keep ranting. I enjoy it.
Also, you don't like Past Sins? Join da club.
That's why I make OCs background characters or side-characters. Unless I need to make up a character for the pro/antagonist (Thanatos' Creed). OCs are useful if they're done right.
As for creativity, I spin-off already done ideas. I actually check to see if it's been done before. No one wants to read the same Fallout crossover where the protagonist for the pony is a "good guy". We need some evil now and again. I think I'm one of the only author's of a Fallout crossover to use an evil pro/antagonist. I never saw a Fallout story with one.
Kinda behind the times I guess. Meh, I browse peoples blogs when bored so sue me.
I agree, there needs to be a new idea. MLD was/is good, Past Sins is good, F:E is good.
OC's? I only got one from the brony stage (yes, I broke out of it. Impossible, you say? Drop me in Equestria with a katana and I'll show ya (Amazingly, yes. I know the basics of kendo. I also know how to sharpen, clean and generally care for a katana as well as some of the parts (English, not Japanese - not that good (Holy crap look at the paranthesis')))) and, I ain't afraid to admit it, he's based off me but with a few differences. Such as mostly being a sarcastic asshole around crowds, hates parties and doesn't give a shit about marks.