A Comment on Daring Do · 6:23pm Apr 21st, 2016
For those who don't know, my favorite fanfics are Slice of Life stories, especially those involved in the cast making new friends (villain redemption stories are some of my favorites). Eventually, there will come a point in these stories where the cast and the outsider are talking about common interests. The subject of books comes up, Daring Do is mentioned, and surprise, literally everyone in the immediate vicinity fangirls (or fanboys) over the series. Some even go the extra mile and have Daring Do actually be a character in the story (but incognito), a plot point from the show that still makes no sense to me (but that's another story). My question is "Why?" Why does everyone use Daring Do? Yes, common interests are important in budding friendships, but it's gotten extremely cliche by now.
I realize the hypocrisy: Why am I complaining about this cliche while saying that I like a particular type of story that by this point is pretty cliche itself? The reasoning is simple: There are only so many story archetypes in the world. Go ahead and go through Fimfiction and keep a list of the number of different types of stories. Eventually, you'll run out of new categories to list. The difference here? In the wide world of fictional worldbuidling, there are many other fictional series to make up: supernatural, superhero, horror, romance, and many more. Why not have the characters squeal over a Harry Potter expy? Lord of the Rings? Twilight? Pretty much anything would be a breath of fresh air to read.
I'm not saying to never use Daring Do ever. It's an established part of Rainbow and Twilight's character that they love Daring Do, and I expect the series to be brought up when literature is the topic while they're around. But don't be afraid to use something else, even if it's being compared to Daring Do. We don't only have Indiana Jones, so why should they only have Daring Do?
Well, I dunno, but, what happened to you? I havent seen you since, since I got here!!!
3886570 Sorry. Life has gotten very busy since my last story, leaving me with little time to write. Combine that with writer's block, and I'm sure you see the issue.
3886587 Well, I'm sorry, and as for me, life has hit me harder than ever, and you won't believ all that has happened to me.
3886591 Dang, that bad? I'm all ears if you wanna PM and share. Only if you want to, though.
3886594 Alright. For startes, I did five stories about sunset, and all of then are erased, and my successful one is now cancelled. I did it because I found the love of my life on fim. She is nice, cute, funny, and optimistic, and I felt bad on doing so, so i stopped my love for sunset,and decided to stop.
3886598 Sucks to hear that you lost those stories. I'm glad to hear that you found love, though. I don't think you need to give up writing about Sunset or people loving Sunset, as long as you can separate yourself from your characters.
Writers are lazy. Daring Do is known to the vast majority of fans due to it being featured in the series, and it's easier to go with that than an expy of some other famous work of literature.
If it makes you feel better, I've made use of an expy of the James Bond series. I've seen an expy of the Twilight series in another author's works, and the comics have given us Harry Potter and LotR pony equivalents. So there is more out there than Daring Do.
3886792 That actually does make me feel better. I certainly didn't expect a James Bond expy. Thanks for letting me know.
3886803 Not a problem, and I'd be surprised if there wasn't someone else using a James Bond expy. I haven't done much with it, mind - just a name ("Jay Link") and a quote borrowed from Ian Fleming's own works - "Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, three times is enemy action".
Given that Equestria's been established to have actual secret agents in-series, however, and the concept of a super-spy is common enough that Pinkie can fantasize about them, there's probably at least something like the James Bond books in Equestria. Maybe even the Jack Ryan books, too.
3886820 That's just it, though: I don't mind if it's just a passing quote or inconsequential reference. I'm just glad your story (and others) show that the world has more than just Daring Do.
3886828 Ah. Well, glad I could help.