My stance on writing fanfiction · 2:56am Jul 12th, 2012
Ok, the title may throw some people off, but let me explain. I love fanfiction. I think it really allows a person to show their talent as a writer, even if they're not talented when it comes to creating characters, scenery, history, etc. And if they CAN do those things, it just makes it better. Fanfiction is a wonderful, wonderful way for people who don't have the confidence to write their own story to still write. Innumerable people wouldn't be writing anything at all if it weren't for fanfiction.
That being said, there are a few things to keep in mind when it comes to fics. Firstly: many, many, many of the characters you're going to be using have personalities. They have depth, they have history, they have quirks. I know this, I see this, and I try as hard as I can to let the character shine through in my writing. Sometimes I'm successful. Sometimes I'm not so much. But I like to think that I've never had a character do something that was, well, out of character.
And this is the crux of my point. I try as hard as I can to not to make my characters do anything. I'm not making my character do stuff because it would be funny or interesting or shocking. I mean, yes, I write the characters doing things. But when I write, I don't think "Oh, it would be interesting if she said this!" Or "Oh, doing THIS will get a laugh!". Instead, I think "Hm, what would the character do in this situation?" For example, in The First and the Last. Rainbow Dash found a note, and on it was scribbled a bunch of stuff that, to her, at the time, made no sense. So of course she's going to toss it away and ignore it. If Twilight had picked it up, she might have gotten extremely curious and looked to find out who John Smith was and what the note meant. Rarity might get an inspiration to design the poor fellow a coat in which to keep his watch. Pinkie would go find the watch and open it herself, because what's the point of a pocket watch if no one ever looks at it? AJ would probably act similarly to Dash, writing it off as a prank, but she'd probably keep the note around anyway and look into it when she was done working.
See? 6 different characters would react 6 different ways to the same exact scenario. But half the time, when I go to read a fic, it has somepony acting completely out of place. In fact, if it weren't for certain quirks (accents, reading, shyness), certain methods of reactions(shouting, whispering), and certain abilities (flight, magic), you could just swap out names in a lot of clopfics and shipfics and it would work the same way. You have to look at the deeper personality traits that are layered over top of the obvious ones in order to really get your character going.
So that's the difference between making your character do something funny and putting your character in a funny situation. As far as I'm concerned, every character has a personality. If you have to make it up, that's fine. Some ponies aren't fleshed out. (Vinyl, Octavia, Lyra, Bon Bon, etc.). Some have personalities, but they aren't fully developed within the show (Flim and Flam, for example). In those cases, yes. Make up a personality. But keep it consistent. I have so much fun when I write because I'm learning things as I go. I'm watching it flow in my head, manipulating the environment and seeing how the characters would react. I'm sometimes not sure how my stories will end until they do. I'll tell you, it makes writing just that much more awesome when you can get into it as much as your readers are.
Oh, right. This all is why I don't think shipfics usually work. They're plotted out with the end as the only goal, and the characters actions along the way will be pointed towards that end. The characters will make choices they normally wouldn't, think things they normally wouldn't, go places they wouldn't, all just to get this shipping in that the reader wants so much.
Not to say I'll never write any romance into my stories. It just won't be because people want to read shipping, or because I think it'd be cute if two characters got together. They will if the situation leads them to do so, and honestly: Don't expect it from me.
Thanks for reading =P Chapter 2 of CY20K will be up within a week. Most likely on Monday or Tuesday. I'm gonna take real good care of this story!
This website has a BLOG function?!?
Also, with the shipping area, you could just ship RD with any MALE side character, then do what Doctor Who, the show, does and kill him off by the end of the episode.
227306
Welcome to FimFiction. I like the blog. Only about half the people on the site even know it's here, and you can get a lot of ideas out there pretty quick.
Didn't you notice? I posted the link to CY20K like...2 days ago.
227313 well, yeah, but I didn't know you could just put up a poster or something like that.
227320
Oh, yeah. Full out blog. It's a pretty cool and pretty simple addition to the site, actually.
227333 and your opinions on the RD shipping idea I supplied?
227312
Oh. Why? And why do you think they always do that? Have you seen the classics? In fact, the first relationship that forms between a main character and a previously side character actually stays.
But yeah, why would I do that? Like I said, any romance that blooms will come about because the story says so. Even if I create a side character for it, RD isn't really one to get tied down quickly. She's way too much of a free spirit. I just don't see it happening so easily, so why would I make some contrivance out of it? Why should I PLAN to throw two ponies into a romance? Heck, I'd sooner plan to add a character in just to make you all THINK I'm planning a romance. Just to mess with you a little
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227351 Hmmmm, quite right sir. I agree whole heartedly. And I am one of those who haven't seen the classic DWs. I started with the ninth doctor and have been very happy with that, and all romantic relationships have all had the other character die, turn evil, or fall out of existence entirely. Which is pretty gosh darned awesome. RD is a free spirit, but I could see her wanting a competitive husband to constantly challenge her, kind of like an antagonistic friendship and companionship between the two characters.
227392
Wait, does Rory count? I mean, he died like...3 times. 4 if you count the end of the universe thing.
And what about the Human Doctor and Rose?
Mickey and Martha?
You know, they're actually not batting THAT bad of a record...
227401 I don't even know how to categorize Rory, but you are right, they haven't been eliminated, just omitted.
227401 oh, and it's official, his name is actually Doctor Hooves. Hasbro has confirmed this.
227543
It's been redacted, they're changing the merch. Check EQD
227648
I really don't care what they officially name their characters. I do assume they had some severe backlash from fans.
So, ah, anyone got anything to say about the actual blog post? o.o. I mean, I'm glad you're chatty and all, but...
227656 Actually, Time Turner is his alibi, because John Smith is just a silly name for a pony. So when he is undercover, he is Time Turner, otherwise he is Doctor Hooves.
227656 and to be honest, I was to lazy to read the entire blog post.
227770
Worked for me. I mean, he didn't know what he was walking into in my fic. He started using the Chameleon Arc before he even arrived. So he had the name John Smith stuck in his head =P.