The Future of Equestrian Earth: What Should I Do With The Story? · 5:04pm May 20th, 2016
I'll be honest. This question... it's fucking with me. I can't even just rest every time I think about Equestrian Earth. It's my fault for letting so much time pass by, but now it's come to the point where this decision must be questioned and answered. For too long I haven't worked on the story and already new canon information is coming from the show. Because of reasons, this story has a tie-in with another story that is part of an MLP-verse that takes place a handful of years ahead of the show, so making it as accurate as possible is pretty important to me.
But anyway enough talk. I'll just stop beating around the bush and address the nitty gritty because I can't really think of any more setup-words I can write of.
Should I redo the entire thing? Unpublishing all the existing chapters and start over from the beginning? Is it time to reboot the story?
Or should not dismantle two years of work I put into EqE and still try to rewrite the several chapters that needs to be changed while trying to update the story?
So now that I got that out of the way, let's have a brief explanation of why the need for a reboot? Well simply put, like I've said earlier, the story is tied in with another series I have in the works called Cast in Fire which would be my OCs' stories. How and why? Well if you may remember, Sentinel Shield and Snowy Silvercast made their presences known in EqE. Yep, those two idiots of mine, the one that sticks with Luna and the other that appeared in the Trottingham arc. Since the time of writing them into the story, their development as characters have changed so much (mostly Sentinel's), that there's no reason for them to have such a heavy role in the EqE (mostly Sentinel-- like seriously man you're supposed to be a full time Vanguardian and not some game developer).
Secondly, the quality of the story. I'm SAD with how it is. As a writer who let this story sit still, I can't help but experience pain when I think about the chapters the way they are now. The beginning is a terrible mess, Trixie's introduction in the story needs to be changed, plus I've sort of written myself into a hole with how I was going to continue after the Rainbow Dash/Trottingham's arc with that fifth intermission. I want to do the whole thing better for you guys, and I feel that rebooting the story would make it easier for me to actually write the damn thing. I won't have to worry about consistency with older chapters if I reboot. The quality of the story will finally be even somewhat without a gap of years between.
I know that we're already knees deep into the story, as in 15 whole chapters+5 intermissions, but rest assured that even when rebooting, the key plot points of the story will stay relatively the same. Twilight and friends will still participate in a tournament in the prologue arc, they'll still encounter a shadowy character at the library (or some other place), they'll still meet Trixie and go to Trottingham with her, but it's just... I just need to write without having an anchor holding me back, so yeah my wanting to reboot the story is strong. But I'll be honest for a moment: not all of the chapters and intermissions are bad. I can still keep some of them, but all together as a package? Nah. I can still make minor tweaks to some of them without worry, so don't worry about the story taking a long while to catch up to the point it was at before rebooting this story. Plus some of the OCs in the story, I'll keep in respect to their creators who really wanted their characters to be a part of this story I've created. Some only though, because a couple I have in mind simply just doesn't work.
At this point, you probably already guessed that I've already made my decision, so why the need for the poll? Well I just want to know what sort of feedback I'll be expecting from you guys. I want to accept the possible backlash that may occur before I begin. Plus you guys need to be aware of the reboot anyway, so this is my way of telling you guys that... this explanation wasn't brief at all was it? Haha sorry I got carried away. I guess you can say I really let time fly by, eh? 
Anyway that's all I can say about the topic. Please do drop by the poll and pick what side you're on. Reboot or Rewrite? And also any constructive comments will be sorely appreciated.
Doing reboots can be fun. I usually do reboots as opposed to rewrites.
>tfw I'm the only one so far who has chosen "Rewrite"
67.media.tumblr.com/379e8ddfadb035ea1b1fecdfa53d1c6b/tumblr_nqfmy3ILIx1uqvdgpo1_500.gif
3959289 How come?
The low number comments itself is a form of feedback, I suppose.
Regardless of the choice that each person makes, anyone that wants to come back into this story is going to have to begin anew when reading it. It would make sense, then, that you should begin anew as well. Reboot it. Give us a new story. That is, if you think you're finally ready to make your way back into the world of published pone-fiction.
3959932 Thank you, man. Your words definitely something I needed to read.
Oh hey also I've been asked to always find new peeps for this fimfic Discord group I'm in, so uh yeah if you're interested do ask.
3959289
That goes for you too man. The group Discord thing
3959353 There are parts of the story I feel are well written and can stay. There are a few bits that could go through an edit or two. That's just my opinion.
I actually found myself asking myself the same question about one of my stories.
Try to return to life a story after so much time can be a pain. Most people probably forgot about the plot and will have to re-read part of past chapters to remember. And, as you said before, there is also the fact that you're a better writer than when you started the story. The quality gap is going to be significant.
I vote for the reboot.
3960211 Well like I've said, some chapters will come back but for now they'll need to be gone in order for the reboot to be ready.
3960268 Well said, Midnight. Thank you!
Still waiting for the next GL chapter
3991614 ... fuck me.