How to write Pinkie Pie · 12:52am Dec 12th, 2014
Now.... I'll admit it. Pinkie Pie has been written badly in plenty of episodes... Looking at YOU, Filli Vanilli. At least Pinkie got called out in that, but damn. That was harsh. And yet, she's my favorite pony. Which is why I have taken over writing all dialogue for her.
Yes, really. It might be hard to believe, considering that she's Kraber's nemesis, but I do think Pinkie is best pony. Really, it's more a necessity thing that TCB!Pinkie acts like Nui Harime in Spectrum. Who else would have been associated with a party that ponifies people? Though I will admit that's something Nui might do... Anyway, when not possessed by an evil force of forceful evil, Pinkie Pie is hilarious when written well, fairly relatable to me, (especially on a good day, likesay, at an anime convention) adorable, and I can tell we'd be good friends. Plus, the plushie I have makes a great pillow and it looks funny when I put a stuffed dog on her head. Even the writers of the actual show have days where they can't write her well... sometimes, she's just a mechanism to deliver odd lines and do a physical gag. Which isn't bad, there just has to be actual character to go along with it. Here's some stuff to remember when writing her:
1. She's capable of having a fairly normal conversation... sometimes:
Pinkie Pie isn't constantly random... she can at least take a break from being, well, her, to have a somewhat normal conversation with other ponies. Especially Rainbow Dash. Don't write her as a constant non sequitur machine... though you can write these in, only do them when it's funny, not because you feel obligated to. You can have weird responses in conversation, like that 'Grudge rhymes with fudge' exchange from Fall Weather Friends. But don't do it constantly, or have her exist outside the conversation as a non sequitur generator.
2. There's a method to her madness... usually
Mostly, Pinkie Pie has some agenda behind what random-ass thing she's trying. Like in Swarm of The Century... though really, she should have explained that better.
3. Pinkie Pride
This isn't really a writing tip, it's just a good episode for her, and I think it's one of, the best Pinkie Pie episodes, if not her best episode in the show. If you need inspiration as to how to write her, watch this episode.
4. Pinkie Pie has deep-seated social anxiety and her persona is at least partly a mask to hide it
It's made pretty clear on several occasions that she's afraid nobody likes her, and it's incredibly easy to shake her confidence and make her think she's no good at being a party pony. It's possible that at her low points, she thinks that parties are the only thing ponies like her for. That, and she's a little... possessive... of her friends, desperately missing Rainbow Dash. A lot. According to basic story structure, the hero has to have a low point, so breakdowns such as the one from Party of One (Tip 4.5: Watch this one for ideas on how to write Pinkie Pie going cupcakes. By which I mean 'have a breakdown'. Old meme is old.) work in that context.
And she hates being alone. Rather like me, actually.
5. Pinkie Pie is a peculiarly perceptive party pony, yet Pinkie's perspicacity is prevented partially due to being Pinkie Pie
Yeah, she'd say something like that. I love alliteration. The sentence above kinda demonstrates my point - while Pinkie Pie is capable of great insight, she's still Pinkie Pie, so she'd come up with a suitably bizarre way of coming to an insight on a situation. Like saying it all in alliteration, or using bizarre phrasing that only makes sense later. Like that time back in Calm when I wrote her saying "They’re ironing out the wrinkles so everyone thinks it’s smooth! And without all those… can you really be happy?" about newfoals. It sounds nonsensical at first, but then...
Also, to quote tvtropes: "Despite being scatterbrained and crazy she's very good at baking, arranging parties, is an extremely proficient musician and is handed the Smart Ball fairly often.... She remembers everything about everypony, because she loves to see ponies smile." She's energetic and scatterbrained, not dumb. I mean, this whole blog post is scatterbrained, but I'm not dumb! No matter what my old roommates think. Assholes... Anyway, think of it like that, minus the part about assholes. Pinkie Pie is a caring pony.
6. While easily distracted, she can focus when need be
Pinkie Pie is good, very good, when she puts her mind to it, up to and including building a pedalcopter on the spur of the moment.
7. Pinkie Pie would not condone the conversion of all humans into newfoals or just make a blanket statement of 'Humans are icky and mean'. Everyone is her friend until proven otherwise, and the only thing we can diagnose Chatoyance with is being evil. What a kontgesig. I mean, damn.
I will concede that the infamous quote from the original Conversion Bureau fic by Blaze there is written like something she would say, as she uses childish language (is that tip 6.5?) but it's not something she would say. You feel me? Pinkie Pie acts as if everypony is her friend until proven otherwise, making her incredibly kind... and yes, say what you will about A Friend In Deed. The point is, Pinkie Pie is kind, and if anything, she would smother humanity with kindness, massive raves with lots of cheesecake, dancing, dubstep, (with music from DJ-Pon3) rock n roll, balloons, confetti, and stuff. Not potion. Seriously, what the fuck, Chatoyance?
Another tip:
I realize this one might sound kind of hokey, but ask yourself: 'Would Pinkie Pie say this?' when writing her dialogue. I personally write her dialogue through an incredibly secret process of holding up my plushie, poorly imitating her, and saying lines I plan to write for her in the fic. 
(The dog's name is Vasquez)
It works surprisingly well. And that's why we have lines like 'Behold my novocaine cannon! BLAH!' in the last chapter of Spectrum.
And you sir, are the author fit to write Pinkie dialogue because you truly understand her. Most people think she is some kind random, happy go lucky ponies but of course, there is more than that. Well done, Doctor.
2647946 Thank you!
2647988
No prob, though I shudder the thought of TCB!Pinkie dialogue....
Ponifying people while having the same childish voice tone? It make you think the quote 'What is life greatest illusion? Innocence.' is incredibly true
2648005 Actually, I've decided that from now on, I shall take inspiration from Nui Harime from kill la kill for that. They both like pink and screw with the fourth wall, so it seems like a natural fit
2648018
Now you just make want to watch Kill La Kill, I haven't seen it yet and a lot of people talk about it.
2648020 It's made by the guy that directed FLCL and Tengen Toppa: GURREN LAGANN!
2648023
I should have seen it way earlier....Why me? WHY!
2648026 It's okay mang
there's still time! Just watch it till your eyes explode!
2648028
You are good Doctor!
Anyway thanks for telling me that anime, also keep up with the good work on Spectrum. Most collab fic tend to fuck up and Spectrum didn't. Because you guys are the best of course
2648035 Why thank you!
We work hard at this 
...And of course, the timeline exists now. I'm very proud of that idea - we'd have a damn knotty continuity without it.
2648038
Good good, one must have a plan even in chaotic situation.
2648044 That was more of a preventative measure, really.
2648044 We already had a minor continuity snarl, the Three Weeks of Blood had me confused, and I was just feeling a bit lost.
2648046
All the more better
I can't wait to see what happen to Canon!Celestia, I originally though that Mane 6 will get rune power but it was Celestia. Good enough for me.
2648053 I am fairly sure she won't blow up though.
2648052
Well since some idea are stuck on other author head does make it troublesome but you still do a great job of it.
2648060 Thank you
2648062
No prob
Keep up the good works guy
2648067 I am doing that RIGHT NAOW
With luck nobody will be confused by the use of future tense...
2648071
Yeah you do that
img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20140508033858/flutterbutter/images/a/aa/Pinkie_Pie_pulling_up_DJ_Pon-3_S2E26.png
Indeed! Heck, I understand it can be hard to write Pinkie well, but there are things that really would be horribly OOC for her to say (like a certain line in a badly done fanfic).
2648503 I take it you mean that line from the Conversion Bureau I quoted?
2648541
yup
Actually mate, I'm not surprised that you get her character because you strike me as a bit of a Pinkie.
2649241 I get that a lot
2649254
I bet.
But it's no simple business, matching up fans to which one of the Mane Six they ressemble most. For example, Rarity's my favourite pony, even though the only thing we have in common is a certain perfectionist streak.
2649257 In my own way, I line up with most of the mane 6... EXCEPT for Rainbow and Rarity. I keep getting high results for applejack on that one test that uses the hexagon thingy...
2649262 To be honest (hah!), I don't put much stock in online tests.
2649262
That same hexagon test told me I line up mostly with Twilight Sparkle, but somehow I'm not feeling it. My work ethic's nothing like hers.
2649268 Neither is mine! If it was, I wouldn't be editing a final writing project for history of musical theater with about 2 hours before it's due!
2649271
It isn't due to poor understanding, but rather a faint lack of immediate interest, know what I mean?
2649274 ...Yeah, I think I do.
(Also, don't worry about the paper - it's not the worst timing I've had this week)
2649276
I was given to understand you'd already handed in that paper.
2649278 Ehhhhhhhh...
2649280 Seriously? Didn't you mention it on one of your last journals?
2649284 This is a totally different paper...
I had like four I had to work on in the past 2 weeks.
2649285
If it's any consolation, I've still got to write a leaflet on Jewish philosophy.
2649288 Actually, that plays a minor role in chapters 3 and 4 of Light Despondent. Jews, as it happens, are fairly unforgiving compared to other religions, in that we don't believe that someone can just ask forgiveness and have it happen just like that - there has to be a reparation of some kind. I can't say "I'm sorry I burned your house," I have to help pay for it or build it or something.
Or, in this case, Kraber can't ask forgiveness for the shit he's done over the course of the war and have it just happen, so he's doing things to make up for it. Like shooting Celestia, volunteering for assignments, getting assigned to help evac in New Hampshire at the same time as Last Train from Oblivion....
2649294
I'm agnostic and don't want to engage in a knotty debate about religion at present, but that particular thought process makes a lot of sense to me.
2649294
Though I will add that one aspect which draws me to Judaism is that I often feel disproportionately guilty about things and rather skeptical about the whole "redemption" deal.
2649303 You too, huh?
2649306 Yep. And in what ways do you feel it?
2649299 Whatever we both believe about religion, I think we can both agree on that. Honestly, I just sympathize with that because... I can't just have somebody mutter 'sorry' to me, I have to know they mean it. I need to know that there is genuine regret, and a desire to fix a problem.
2649311 I still feel guilty for some things I did as a kid... even if they were in the past, like ten years ago.
2649315
All I can say is that I'm much more forgiving towards others than I am on myself. But that isn't the Christian spirit, that's just neurosis.
2649328 I know that feeling
So much
...Then again, if I'm unforgiving to others, I get really unforgiving. Still haven't forgiven my high school roommate...
2649329 I'd rather not know.
On a slightly lighter note, one good alternate history book I read lately was The Yiddish Policemen's Union, by Michael Chabon. Heard of it? I thought it was the best thing I'd read in ages.
2649333 I loved that book!
2649335
Same here. I especially appreciated that, in the best film noir tradition, the story didn't wrap things up in a neat little bow at the end.
2649339 Well, considering Reversion, it would have been a pretty big step to wrap up _everything_