The Future of Past, Present, and Future · 7:06am Aug 3rd, 2016
TL;DR at the bottom of the post
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3 years.
Sweet Celestia, it's been so long. Just over three years ago, I began writing my very first piece of fan fiction.
Then I trashed it and tried to write another.
This one had a more interesting premise so I published it to FimFiction under the title "Past, Present, and Future" and it was surprisingly well received! Within a few days of publishing it and posting another chapter or two, it had like 10x the views I ever expected a new story by a new author to get.
Before long, I passed 500 views and and a few dozen favorites. I was on an author's high, frequently pumping out new chapters, and getting a lot of positive feedback. Eventually, life happened and I was forced to slow down a bit. Since I had more space between chapters, I had more opportunity to reflect on what I had made so far and... I thought it was passable. I mean it was my first fic! What more could I expect? But then the chapters started getting longer, and more and more detail was being thrown in the mix, opening plot holes and making cheap patch jobs for said plot holes. It became a bit of a mess.
And then there was the big arc shift/plot twist. You know the one. The one the story is currently frozen on only a couple chapters into it. It was a spur of the moment arc idea, and I really tried to make it work, I did... but I just couldn't fix all of the terrible foundation leading up to it, so I knew the story would collapse completely if I kept pushing it. Thus the hiatus.
Which brings me to the reason for this post. I want to see this thing to completion, but in its current state, I feel it would turn out terrible if I continued. I want a second chance at writing it. I fell in love with Zack and Smith. I believe their dynamic could shine brighter with proper writing and planning instead of all this on-the-spot make-it-up-as-I-go-along cliché mess.
I've mentioned the possibility of a complete rewrite in other blog posts and even in the author's notes on a chapter or two, but I think I've finally drawn the courage to act on it. But I wanted to run the idea by you guys, the fans of PP&F, first. Without people/ponies like you, I would have never found my enjoyment in writing that I did 3 years ago. So I owe it to you guys to let you know what's going on.
Let me start by saying that if I do end up rewriting PP&F, it will be from start to finish. A complete overhaul. The current version as it stands will be completely trashed, archived somewhere on my computer, only to ever see the light of day again as perhaps a bonus chapter in the future. All of the current chapters on FimFiction will be taken down and we will be right back to Chapter 1. Think of it like a New Game+ from a video game, but in story form.
In this new version, I will be keeping the same general premise and OCs. However, a great amount of detail well be altered, from the year Zack lands in the past and how long he's there before being sent to the future, to the shenanigans and order of events of the trips to Ponyville. Of course the two biggest plot twists involving Smith's and the Nightmare's true identities would already be known be the majority of you in the rewrite, but I have a few more surprises in store that would still potentially keep you guys on your toes. As for this last arc... I'm still unsure if I should keep it or skip it entirely. I'm leaning towards skipping it at the moment as it was an admittedly poor idea that just left more readers confused than surprised.
So now that you've heard the idea, I want to hear from you guys. And I mean ALL of you guys. Should I go with it and hope things turn out better? Should I just leave things alone and hope this dry spell ends and I find a way to get this version finished? I'm not gonna lie to you guys, this story was so close to finishing up. I had estimated that the final chapter would be roughly around the Chapter 30 mark. But as I said, I don't think I could easily cross this gap I made for myself without messing it up. I want to hear your thoughts on the matter. Post a comment, let me know where you stand. Don't think your comment won't be worth it. Even if it simply says "Do it", that still tells me loads more than your silence would, and it'd only take about 10 seconds to type and click "post comment". I don't care if I have 2 comments or 100 comments already. I want to hear what EVERYONE thinks about this since it would be such a large undertaking effecting both myself AND my readers.
TL;DR - I want to trash PP&F and write it again from the beginning. Yay or Nay?
I really love the story! I do agree with you, seeing the story getting a rewrite would be great.
What I like to see maybe a lot more characters, world and other things for the story.
Here's a good a idea...
What if MLP doesn't existed in the human world?
What does that mean? It would bring more of exploration for Zack to see the world. Also it would be neat for him when he gets to the present, that he has to work his way back to Canterlot and not just going to Twilights house... Maybe this takes place before end of S3?
Also another Idea is maybe you should create a new plot for the villain of story, because it felt really odd & obviously felt like another story... (Or even create a whole new villain!). Surprise us with someone who is a threat to ponies!
Oh like Groger! That would be awesome and make a lot of sense.
Anyways, I can't wait to see what you'll do!
I really liked reading your story. So if you think you can do even better, then Yay :D
It was good as it were, and if you think that you can make it better, then why not? So, Aye.
fuck yeah. make me smile more!
I love PP&F and can't really remember how many times i have re-read it.
If you say that you can make it even better by rewriting it? Then i'll say go for it
I shall eagerly wait for it.
BTW i really liked the chapter where Zack ''predicted'' the future of the main 6.
Hope you keep it some way
The story you gave us was good, but it was getting a little confusing near the end for me, but now it sounds like you have a better idea knocking around in your head there, so my gut tells me that the rewrite would go from good to great, can't wait to see it.
Go on with the rewrite, I loved your original story and to see it improved on would be great!
Go for it!
As one author to another I know how tempting it is to rewrite older stories as you get better and so I would like to encourage you to go for it. Things like this usually help the story although my attempt at a rewrite got destroyed and I hope you don't encounter the same problem.
Oh wow, less than 24 hours and already a bunch of nice responses. After having a "dormant" account for about a year and a half, I didn't think I'd get an influx this fast. To those that are just getting here, please, by all means still leave a comment about any agreements, objections, or ideas regarding this post. As for you guys that already commented:
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I've also considered expanding my character base, even by a few ponies. You may have noticed that I tried expanding a bit too late into the story with the inclusion of Red/Lightwing, the two guards Harold Green and Forest, and of course Trixie. I may end up introducing them earlier, like having Green and Forest be two of the guards that delivers Zack and Twi at the beginning to Canterlot or something to that effect. Also I'm working on the Villian issue. It ended up being too "on-the-nose" for my liking, so we'll see where I go from there.
As for the idea of removing MLP from the human world, while that would appease some people since it will no longer be a "Brony In Equestria" story, it'd also ruin one of the fan favorite aspects of this story if past comments I've gotten on it are any indication, and it's the idea of foreknowledge. Zack's knowledge of what's about to happen or could happen is one of the main draws to this story. To remove the Brony aspect, I'd have to do something like make Zack "magically" psychic or something crazy like tha-
...hmm...
I'll get back to you on that...
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I certainly do think I could make it better! Thanks!
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I plan to! I enjoy making people laugh when I can!
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Heh, while I don't like how poorly I wrote the scene, I'm glad I was able to amuse my readers with it! As it stands, there will just as much, if not more "prediction" shenanigans in the rewrite.
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ALWAYS follow the gut! And yeah, I even managed to throw myself through a loop writing those last few chapters. I promise to keep the confusion to a minimum in the future!
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Thanks for the support! I'll see what I can gather and plan up while I'm still getting responses from other fans.
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Thanks. I'm sorry to hear about your misadventure as that's my biggest fear at the moment is having something similar happen to me. That's why I'm reaching out to you guys to see what the rest of you think!
Again, thanks to everyone for the support these last few years and for taking the time to comment and tell me how you feel about this big change! It really means a lot.
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Yea I do agree you need to introduce characters in the beginning or at least yearly on... Not just pop them here or there...
I was thinking.... I was reading a story called Simpler Pie, were it had a balanced between characters for past & present. Like there is one present chapter than 5 more or less than chapters for the past. What it did felt like there was balanced of meaning for the present chapter.
It would be great idea to do. It would give us fans to look forward to the past of what happen for a time to see in the present.
( definitely trie to read. It's really great!)
Actually wouldn't it be interesting if he only has knowledge for the first season? (Maybe 2?)
Because instead of the idea I had, maybe back to the original part for Zack were he only saw first season. He ends up in the past, were know only knows the sisters. than ends up around 6 season cause him to wonder were he is... Maybe instead of ponyville it would be somewhere else?
He goes on a journey to ponyville since it's like only place to find Twilight to ask for help, but when he returns Celestia senses him being back but doesn't want to believe, mostly she thought he was died or ran off. So she moved on... Causing her to try to fall in love in again, but doesn't work for her since what happen the mirror world.
Making it so Zack has to rebuild their relationship...
That sounds kind of sad
Hey maybe have another friend Zack made in the past to come with him to. It would be for Twilight to fall in love, she needs to get out more.
4130483 Hmm It could go either way, I would like it to see if MLP didn't exist so that he could have a meaning of exploring or have it originally but with the other idea in mind.
It could go either way. Just what we'll best fit your creativity for writing. I love to see you get creative with a open box to play in.
Go for it. Honestly, it's been so long since I read it that I don't remember most of it, so people in my boat might not actually have many spoilers by having read the current version.
Keep what you have, but rewrite that that you feel needs to be updated to your present standards, it will make it easier on you to get the chapter's out(why trash something that's already good in order to make something batter) and make your readers happy.
S.W.B.
I would like to see a rewrite of this story and I have to say it's good to see you back in action my friend.
I would like to see it completed one way or another, I loved the story and have been waiting for an update with bated breath.
As for how it gets done, I believe that a re-write would be good.
So!
I just thought about PP&F again, and it's been a few weeks since you made this blog post asking what you should do. So I was wondering if you had any objectives or anything, if you had already started rewriting, etc :D
As an advice, I think that keeping your community updated and setting deadlines (not anything precise, just something like "I gotta finish next chapter before the end of this month") will help you progressing in the writing
Hope you see this comment, bye!
If you need help editing I'm always willing to help?
Do it! Make it even better than before!
I know im stupidity late but go for it if you can
Yes
I love this story and how you portrayed it, but if the road block is too much, then you need to go for the rewrite. I can't wait for the change.
I don't know if you've already made a decision yet because I'm incredibly fucking late, but if you haven't then I'd say to definitely go for the rewrite. Honestly I don't care if you start from scratch or not, anything new from this story would be fucking magnificent.
So i may be to late, but here's my two cents. I have not read the story and I want to. like really want to. If your going to do a rewrite of it, I will wait until you have the first chapter out to read it.
It's your choice if you want to rewrite and I would say "Go ahead!" If it's more fun or if you want to make it better you SHOULD do it. That's my two cents on this as a reader that has NOT read the story yet. :)
I think you should rewrite it