Foresight

So a few weeks or whatever ago I wrote something after perhaps too long of not writing something. Then I started worldbuilding, and now I can't write anything anymore.

Good job, me.
It's like I can't even write something without getting so caught up in minutia that I can't even think. I guess I'll just express vague opinions about fanfiction while I'm here.

There is only one thing in fanfiction that legitimately bothers me, though not for reasons most people express: Original Characters.
Now don't burn me at the stake yet—I'm not saying they're intrinsically bad or any sweeping generalizations like that. I'm saying quite simply that they are overused when they shouldn't be, and underused when they should be. Would it be unique or speshul to write an entire story set in Vanhoover with absolutely no recognizable characters at all? Sure! Problem is, there is absolutely no reason for your story to be in the MLP universe if you do this.

Why is that an issue? Well, I can't speak for anyone else, but I came here to read fanfictions about ponies. I certainly wouldn't ascribe this behavior to anyone else, but if I don't recognize or accept that a character is part of the universe, I cannot be invested in them. If a character has no reason to exist, I won't accept that they do exist. Recognizable figures reassure me that a story is taking place in Equestria, with all the familiarity that I can expect from that. I've read too many stories where the only tie-ins to Equestria are in name alone. It's almost like name-dropping, they say "By Celestia's beard" so I remember it's about ponies, or they mention some historical event.

Some people use OCs when there is an already established character who has a reasonable chance at being in the right place at the right time to fulfill the role themselves. It doesn't have to be a main character, it doesn't have to be a popular background character. It could be, I don't know, Sunshower Raindrops, but only mentioned by color.

Other people have the opposite problem. They need a character and they've somehow exhausted every named pony they can think of, except for Fluttershy. So they just shove her into a scenario she could never possibly be in, acting a way she would never possibly behave. Fluttershy is now a cab driver in Vanhoover who doesn't play by the rules. She sabotages her rivals and endangers their passengers. She is cutthroat to the core and won't take no for an answer. This is, hopefully, a very obvious exaggeration. Still, people write ponies horribly out of character (that's a laugh) because they can't use somepony that not everyone would know.

This happens a lot when people try to portray Equestria as having the same societal qualms as Earth does. Things like racism, sexism and bigotry can only occur in main characters, especially Applejack. And somehow Pinkie Pie. Sunshower Raindrops might be the most racist pony you have ever met, but Pinkie Pie hasn't been used in the story yet. Friend-making fun-loving Pinkie is now turning away Pegasi at Sugarcube Corner because the plot demanded it.

whatever, at least I wrote something. Makes me feel better.