Breaking the HiE Mold [+ Facing Changes Chapter 4 Preview] · 8:11pm Mar 6th, 2014
I recently read a thread where people discussed their opinions of HiE stories, and the general consensus was that HiE as a genre is full of uninteresting wish-fulfillment stories with poorly writen human characters. I wasn't mad though, because it's their opinion, and it is based on some truth. There are many HiE fics that are poorly written and use common tropes and cliches (some that I may or may not be guilty of using in my early stories), said tropes including, but not limited to:
- Meeting and instantly befriending the Mane 6 and the Princesses
- Randomly waking up in Equestria
- Being every mare's object of affection
- Being a "chosen one"
- Loving Equestria and bitching about how shitty human society is
- Turning into a pony
- Clop
I've already given my two cents in the thread.
Reading all the comments made me reflect on my own stories, particularly My Overbearing Aunt and Facing Changes, and how I've tried to break the usual HiE mold and help to make the genre a little less reviled.
Which brought me to this question: Am I succeeding?
I'd like you guys to give me your thoughts on whether or not MOA and FC have done anything to break the mold, particularly with the main characters of each story, Marcus and Devin. (I wish I could link both stories and not just FC, but what can you do.)
And as a reward for reading this up to the end, here's a preview of Chapter IV of Facing Changes. This preview is similar to last chapter’s preview, because it’s not an actual snippet from the chapter, but it gives a vague idea of the events in the chapter.
After today, it’ll be official. After today, my dad and I will be princes. After today, we’ll officially be part of the royal family. Family… That word still bothers me. A bunch of strangers that I barely even know will soon be my family. The problem was that I didn’t see them that way. I know Dad said to give them a chance, but… I’m just not so sure…
Hopefully, this chapter will be done by Sunday at the very latest.
I enjoy HiE stories and in my opinion and not trying to suck up to you, I find your stories to be some of the most best and enjoyable to read also MOA is easily in the top 3 of my stories that I've read in quite a long time.
Keep writing,
S.R. Brony.
Your conflict in Facing Changes is a breath of fresh air to most of the HiE stories I've read. So you more or less broke the mold there. Keep up the good work!
I know what you mean about the HiE clichés, I'm guilty of a couple myself. Tried to overcome most by sticking in a whole family, not just one protagonist.
But yours are quite good in that they get over most of them by having the human and pony civilisations already connected. This makes the occasional trope, such as befriending a member of the Mane Six, a far easier pill to swallow. I certainly do not count your work as being 'just another HiE fic'.
Honestly, I haven't read that many HIE stories (beyond some tastefully done clop stories ). But after reading yours I'd say that you've done a great job in tackling the HIE stories, making the characters act like being around ponies is no big deal, and giving some resenting and conflicting emotions when interacting with different pony characters (i.e. Marcus and Devin respectfully). So yeah, I think you are
I actually have an HiE fic in the making, but it's a small part of a larger superstory. I'm actually intending on having my human(who is based off of my nephew Phillip) go through a bunch of issues of being in Equestria, try to get back home, and, of course, remember everything at the same time. I'm trying to get at least three chapters done before I post the first one.
I'd also appreciate any advice you have for keeping first-person characters interesting to read, especially concerning an HiE.