Site Post » The Royal Guard Recruiting · 9:33pm Jan 25th, 2014
Hi, y'all.
So some of you guys who haven't been under a rock lately might've heard of this dealie called The Royal Guard. "But I do live under a rock," you might be saying now... and that's slightly creepy, but nobody's here to judge you for it. The Royal Guard is, in fact, very supportive of sub-geological lifestyles, so if you didn't see the trial-run post a few days ago, you may want to give it a look-over.
The long and short of it is that The Royal Guard wants to feature quality fiction for all to see, and it needs your help to get the job done.
First up, for all you eager beavers who're chewing at the bark to submit your stories for consideration, The Royal Guard will be going live sometime next week (possibly Wednesday or Thursday, though depending on circumstances it might be Randomday). As you can imagine, everyone will be buried under the flood of early submitters, and that’s not even counting all the stories that'll be submitted in the weeks to come.
The thousand stories of Fimfiction's empire will descend upon you, is what I'm trying to say here.
So what can you do to help out with this? For one thing, you can apply to join the ranks! If you think you might be interested and/or qualified, PM the Applications Princess a résumé containing any details that you might think relevant. The Guard prefers applicants with some editing/proofreading/reviewing experience, so this is your time to make a good impression. A sample résumé can be found here, which should give a pretty clear idea of what your submission should look like.
Do note that this isn’t a terribly formal process. The word "résumé" isn't meant to imply that you'll be coming to work in a button-down shirt and dancing for your corporate overlords whilst you slather yourself in an insulating layer of coffee. Just list what you can that'd tell folks "Hey, I'm a good candidate for this."
The application process itself, after you send in your resume, comprises an entry exam with a reviewing segment, and a short (yet friendly) interview. If any of this intimidates you, then don’t worry—the Applications Princess will be happy to help you along and address any questions or soul-shattering agony you might have. You can even find a full explanation of each part of the process here.
So if you feel up to it, come on down and throw an application PM out. The more, the merrier—and the more prereaders The Royal Guard has, the better a service it'll be able to offer. Which is a good thing, y'know?
Thanks for your time, folks. The entire shebang will go live next week, so remain beautiful until then.
And maybe for a little while after, since you're worth it.
You have my moral support, but my eyes bleed now from too many years of prereading
Working on it now, boss.
The grammar portion is screwing me over...
~Skeeter The Lurker
You gave me a day! I'm so flattered.
How is this group different from the others? And are you sure you should be using the site blog for this sort of thing?
Deep respect for those who willingly put up with sifting through tons of mud looking for diamonds.
>master of metaphors
I'd like to second 1757864 's comment. It doesn't strike me as particularly appropriate to be using the site blog for this sort of thing.
2 site posts...
1757857
You poor bastard, suffering for us all.
How much of my time would this require? I would still want to be able to get my writing done if I decide to help out.
1757880 I mean similar groups on this site. How is this one any different?
1757910 I see. Well, I have no more questions.
1757918
Hmmmm... assuming I pass the test, I could probably do something closer to one and a half hours per week.
I live under a rock.
It's called the moon.
1757998
Dohohohohoho
I live in Iowa.
1757877 I am unsure of the purpose of site posts.
I unfortunately feel I would be too inconsistent in my schedule to put in my fair share of work.
Another question; will fics be featured in these site posts or through the groups individually?
No, sorry but i'm already in the Imperial Guard.
Unqualified.
Oh, well, at least the recommendations are probably going to be good!
I would totally sign up, but I have multiple reasons why I don't think I could perform to standards just yet. Maybe I'll take some time to expand my horizons and observe the workload before I apply.
Being too desirous to promote underfed stories, an irrational hatred of anything dealing with humans in Equestria or ponies on earth (though EqG universe and MLD are fine), and unwillingness to be required to read a quota are why I would not be fit for this job at this point. Maybe I'll fix these over the next couple months and figure out a means to do it.
Out of curiosity, would there be an opportunity to perform a trial run of the duties required of a Royal Guard? If I liked the job description enough, I'm pretty sure I could buck the aversion to fics I thought I didn't like (because I've almost always been pleasantly surprised when I decided to give something a chance) and at least help with the impending workload. I don't like editorial loyalty to specific authors, anyway, and that may be a part of my desire to not be an editor for a specific author, which wouldn't be an issue when I'm reading random fics from all kinds of different authors.
1757865
abbyofftherecord.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/Creeper-300x231.png
Dang it.
Good thing I already volunteered my soul for this.
I salute all the noble souls who shall lay down their sanities sifting through the layers of crap to reach the shiny rocks of shininess buried beneath.
God bless you all . . .
How much/long will I have to proofread/edit? I really like helping people but I like to write my own things and I'm currently helping a friend edit her story. If there really isn't a quota or anything like that I'd happily offer my soul for this.
1758726
Okay, I'll start my application then.
1758726
I read through the application example, and does it have to be that specific? I'm kinda new to the site so I haven't written much, mostly read things, but I do know how to edit/proofread relatively well.
1758778
M'kay
If you guys could also tighten up submission standards so that all stories that get through have, at the very least, proper grammar, that would also be great.
TwiSparkle is a LIE. Twilight hasn't written stories or reviewed ever. Twilight hasnt been seen at fimfic since Friday 24 of August at 7:13:07 pm aka 1 yr, 22 weeks, 1 day, and some hours minutes and seconds ago depending on when you read this comment. Actually the day depends too but that is correct if you at least look at this comment today.
EDIT: The links take me to a page with this image fimfiction-static.net/images/missing_story.png so yeah.
1758719
Give me a little gold star next to my name whenever I post anything on The Royal Guard and you got yourself a deal.
I'll do a resume thingy or whatever.
1758802
Greatness isn't in grammar, but the story. If the grammar is bad enough that it detracts from the story, I agree; however, if it's passing enough that I can see how A got to B and it doesn't inadverdently become a comedy, I'm willing to bite my tongue.
1758939
True enough. But I'm referring to the stories that ignore capitalisation, periods, commas, punctuation...
A few mishaps here and there, I'll politely point them out. But if the entire story is a wall of text that the author refused to even put any effort in to make it readable...
1759034
Actually, I was reading a pretty interesting story that managed to pull me in very quickly, then had some very out-of-character moments, one of which I found particularly laughable.
So, Roseluck and Vinyl Scratch are part of some force that's out to reclaim Equestria after a famine wiped out most of the population about 100 years ago. The first real firefight that the two of them get into, Vinyl lobs a firebomb grenade and lights all the enemies on fire, then just stares while the ponies burn, obviously traumatizing her.
Roseluck at this point says, "Vinyl don't look."
Literally, it was exactly like that.
The lack of any punctuation, be it a comma, em dash, or even dippin' dots (fancy folk call them ellipses), just made that line comical, rather than riveting as it should have been.
I'd like a supporting role. I've been on this site since July and I would like to contribute positively in the community. However, given I'm still in the throes of re-learning how to write a story (I cringe at my first two fics), I won't be ready until I can present a story that causes a spontaneous orgasm of reader's joy....
....did I just say that?
LOL don't we have enough of these "groups" already? Between the feature box, EqD, RBD47 (or whatever kid does it now?) interviews, Seattle's Angels, and this thing (which, according to all of its google docs, is absolutely no different than the others whatsoever) all people will have to do to get featured is write a story and have achieved a C- in 8th grade English.
Man maybe if the editor—just editors, not the authors—community stopped trying to gain some sort of fake status over a my little pony fansite we could actually sit back and read/write some fics.
1759336
Yet I still see stories get through that abuse the English language so bad it makes it look like a torture victim.
I would apply, but that would require me to read horsewords. I quit that months ago; around the same time I realized I'm not cut out to be a writer.
1759437 Makes one question you being on a website largely devoted to horsewords and the reading and writing of said words.
1759503
Yet a part of me wants to continue writing, even though I can't write the kinds of stories that a group like this would feature. I just suck at writing in general.
This is a great idea, but I pity the people who have to deal with the opening onslaught.
Isn't it cute how seriously we all take ourselves?
Came expecting a chance to bust heads for friendship. Found grammar and proofreading.
I can't see this avoiding the "glorified popularity contest" fate these groups so often fall to.
1759879
^^^^^^^^ can I upvote this twice
1759969 >implying life is not just a giant popularity contest
enjoy your hugbox
1759382
So... When are you gonna find this kid?
I've been part of these kinds of things before, and certain persons have urged me to join this, so I just may give it a shot.
...After I get done with these infernal exams, that is.