Patch 2

Writing is creeping along. Finally getting something concievably a grasp on this next bit--it should be smooth sailing from here on out (and by that I mean until the end of the second miniarc).

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I'm being evicted sometime in May. I'm still unable to stop thinking about it completely, so it'll keep creeping along as long as I have Internet access (and ideally a different ISP after I move, Jesus Christ).

I don't have a whole lot saved up nor do I have a job that makes me enough money to live off of. I don't have a place picked out either, so there's a lot hanging over my head right now. I'll figure it out; I'm just afraid I'll fall into the financial rat maze and not be able to escape and get to where I want to be.

Real life sucks sometimes.

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Handholding

More importantly, how much of you do you want? If your story is more for light or casual reading, you should (ugh) have a fair amount. If your story is targeted at people looking for a challenging read, you shouldn't have almost any.

But consider how many things you are choosing to explain or not to explain. A challenging read with a vast number of things-not-explained (think reading ponyfics if you have no knowledge of the MLP-verse--you don't know unicorns have magic, pegasi manipulate the weather, etc.) can very easily put off potential readers. Metaphorically speaking, you're throwing them into the river and waiting for them to learn how to swim.

On the flip side, too much handholding can also be a deterrent. If you explain every little thing that pops up, it won't take much for your reader to feel pandered, babied, or at least think you're condescending and/or pretentious.

This also connects to all of your other storytelling choices. First person? Is the protagonist familiar with the universe, or are they in a new world where nothing makes sense? The former should see minimal handholding; the latter, a lot. Same goes for third person limited. Third person omniscient--well, personally I can't see much of a reason not to have some handholding if you're going this route.

The thing I'm trying to get at is, if you're sticking to one point of view (either via first person or third person limited), don't spend a lot of time on things that the narrator is accustomed to. A pony who grew up Equestria isn't going to stop and think about pegasi having elemental powers or unicorns having magic, unless it's a race issue. How often do you come home and think "My house is blue"?

Just my two cents, anyways.