AtSoT - Major Update · 11:06pm May 23rd, 2015
So, I realized that I have like, a 500k word story outlined. This is a big chunk of story, and I'm going to write every last bit of it!
However, the cast is pretty big, and the storyline has split into two distinct focuses. We have Kaily and the Twins out Adventuring, and we have everyone else back "home" prepping to get a civilization going. If I do alternating perspectives from say, more then two characters from this point on, the story will be jarring and hard to keep track of. None of us wants that, and I am sure everyone wants to see their favorite characters get more page time. Fortunately I come baring a solution!
Across the Sea of Time has reached a novel's length, and the story has set up everything about the over all plot except for one major thing in the next chapter. So, AtSoT will end after the next chapter and I will begin witting two separate stories, one for each plot thread. This will let me organize the story so it's far more comprehensible, and will let me give every major character plenty of page time.
This wont change what i had planed for the future of the story, it's simply a change in the story format, going from one megalong book, to four smaller books. Here is how it will work:
Across the Sea of Time - First in series, sets up plot. You know this one.
Beneath the Sea of Sand - Second in Series, follows Taylor, Tess, the Mane 6, ect and the development of the Emerald Hive.
Upon the Sea of Sky - Also second in series. Follows Kaily/Ruby the twins, and Pine on their quest.
Into the Sea of Legend - Third in series. Will reunite the two groups and resolve the storyline.
Beneath and Upon will be written at the same time as each other, you will keep seeing the story as it is now, just think of the divisions as folders to organize the narrative better 
I just felt things are going to get a bit cramped without well, some sort of better organization. This seems to be the best option. Make it a series, the second and third books happen at the same time, fourth wraps it all up. I'll give everyone blog posts as soon as Beneath and Upon are approved and on the site so you can watch them. Hope you guys arn't too mad!
sooo.... you're pulling a George R.R. Martin and splitting the books...
sounds like a plan 
3092095 No. George R.R. Martin would write a 1M 770K and counting series of ~250K books and never finish it while still killing every character you like.
I'm jsut splitting one 5-700K word story into a 5-700K word series :3
Sounds like a good plan. Keeping the stories more bite-sized as opposed to one with an ever increasing length keeps it way easier for new readers to jump in. Single stories with 400k+ words are fairly intimidating.
Great names for the two new stories, very thematic. They very much feel like separate parts of a single structure.
3092134 THat's probably due to the fact that I have outlined the entire thing. I spent a month jsut plotting the story. All I do now is write the chapters down and adjust the outline as needed.
And just as I finally got around to moving ATSOT from my
Library of Lost and Rarely Found TomesEventually Shelf to Now Reading too...3092134 400k+ words?
i1188.photobucket.com/albums/z412/vantagesp/troll_ponies/7924820-20challenge_accepted20luna20meme.jpg
3092111 as much as that statement is true... Not what i meant. I think it was the third and fourth book that was originally one story, but it was too long so it was split between perspectives.
Sounds good to me although the admins may say otherwise.
3092184 The Admins let tons of people do this. If a story has a sequel ID tag on it, they generally just approve it.
Although, can we get a thing were they encounter chaotic good Discordian Death Knights that dress up like pirates, have a flying version of Queen Anne's Revenge, and use this as their theme?
You Are A Pirate! - Alestorm Edition
3092757 I could make them encounter themselves... Possibly.
3092791
What, time travel? Can they make a joke about future/past them flying either the 'Lemonprise', aka the USS Enterprise-A, or the NX-01 version?
3092798 Spoilers my friend! Just remember they are already inside a time loop... and the three former human characters and the Twins are not a part of the original events but were brought into the loop from outside them.
3092806
... I still want the Discorded zombie pirates. Because Rule of Funny
EDIT: I also have an idea for story number 4:
Across the Seas of Legend
Because they are going to be legends after this, so it fits thematically, and it also makes a nice bookend to the style of the titles.
3092809 They are sky pirates... if I DON'T do a few aerial battles with pirates that's a well, a crime!
Also i am taking that title, thank you.
Have a preview of the cover art for Upon!
http://i.imgur.com/mIHL7kR.jpg
3092822
Looks like it's going to be pretty cool. And feel free to use that title, it just sounded really cool.
3092824 I changed it just a hair but it was a great title. Real fitting.
3092832
Will they wind up replacing/refitting the Enterprise?
3092839 Replacing no, refitting, yes.
3092849
Lemme guess, they fit more and bigger guns to it, attach some armor, add more sails, .etc, so on, and so forth?
3092854 Nah, a 26 gun galleon is actually pretty top of the warship class for the time period. The crew deck is a little small though. Too bad it's not bigger on the inside. SInce it's an airship they will need an air skiff...
3092867
Really? I was thinking that they were going to go all Queen Anne's Revenge on it.
3092875 The Queen Anne was actually smaller than a Gallion. It's advantage was it's maneuverability and it's expended deck. But som etop deck mounted weaponry would be a good addition to the Enterprise. Swivle guns, a foreword cannon, bilista.
3092880
Maybe have them pick up a Scotty expy who invents the Gatling gun?
3092882 Gaining a crew is a big part of the story.
3092889
I just like the idea of them managing to use human knowledge to curb-stomp someone by blatant loophole exploitation.
3092892 Well... Spoiler spoiler, spoiler. Spoiler! Spoiler spoiler spoiler spoiler. Spoiler. :D
3092899
Lol, if you need someone to help you find esoteric weapons that could be reasonably thought up in a pseudo-medieval setting, you know who to contact. This kind of stuff is what I do for fun. That, and Gratuitous Space Battles.
3092902 Sure! PM me some ideas.
Hmmm... Interesting.
You should probably post the last chapter of AtSoT simultaneously with submission of the other stories and link your readers. Or just link your reader before publishing so they can track the story.
They should really expand the whole "Prequel ID" system a bit. Maybe like groups but only stories and you can arrange a sort of "timeline" on it and maybe even branch of with story into an AU?
Stories like yours, that branch of into multiple stories that happen at the same points in the timeline get a bit confusing to keep track of in the current system...
four books...
I'm all for it!
3093220 DOnt worry! I plan on using authors notes to help you keep track of things. Additionally this is why I have a dating system and Equestrian calendar don't so you can simply see what chapter starts when.
Unfortunately, if I just kept going at it, the story would be a confusing mess. Some level of organization is needed.