The Different Way I Use Story Tags

WARNING: I wrote this because I was seriously bored. Only read if you are seriously bored as well.

I use story tags according to the story, but I do have standards that makes the story deserving of a tag.

My earlier stories had ratings that may have not matched up to these, but that's because my standards on rating and describing have changed. Just ignore the standards of any stories that came before this blog post.

Description Tags

Sex: I never use this tag. Ever. I repeat, EVER. I honestly think it's the weirdest thing ever to write about inappropriate things with MLP characters.

Gore: I use this tag when the amount of gore in the story is greater than a chapter or two. I think a little bit of blood shouldn't be classified into the gore category, but when the gore is a bit too much to handle, I include this tag on the story.

2nd Person: I will most likely never use this tag, but if I ever do, it would be in the second person POV, obviously.

Adventure: Now, an adventure story. I'm not too strict when it comes to the adventure tag. To me, anything out of the ordinary is an adventure story. Now, when I say out of the ordinary, I don't mean no conflict. Every story needs some type of conflict to make it interesting. But if it's more than a very simple conflict, it's adventure.

Alternate Universe: I add this tag whenever I include a non-canon event that changes the course of the entire series. Of course, I add non-canon events in every story I write. But if this event changes the course of the series, I consider it a part of an alternate universe.

Anthro: I think this is the weirdest thing ever. I will never use this tag.

Comedy: I never think my stories are funny when I'm trying to be, so I almost never use this tag. But if I get my inspiration from another comedy story, I add this tag as elements from the original will most likely be included.

Crossover: I don't like fan crossovers. I like the show My Little Pony as a standalone and don't like it don't to be crossed with another show. It just ruins it for me.

Dark: If the story has elements that make it haunting or surprising, I add this tag to warn my readers of a dark story.

Drama: If the story focuses on an event where lives are falling apart because of a single event, I consider that a drama story. I mainly include the drama tag with a slice of life story, but sometimes with the adventure stories if it's needed as well.

Equestria Girls: If the story takes place in the Equestria Girls universe.

Horror: I cannot write horror. Just trust me when I say I will never use this tag.

Human: If I place the story in a universe where they are human (but not Equestria Girls), then I use this tag.

Mystery: If the story has a conflict to resolve that leaves the audience with suspense and wonder and it leaves them in the unknown, then that's undoubtedly a mystery story.

Random: If I get an idea from out of nowhere that is strange and silly.

Romance: This one is self-explanatory. If two characters are falling in love in a story, I will include this tag.

Sad: Now, there are a few things that make me use the sad tag. There doesn't need to be a death or divorce etc., but there does need to be a life-changing event that makes everyone's (or a single pony's) life change for the worse. But it can't just be any old life-changing event. It has to be one that will strike strong emotion in both the characters and the readers.

Sci-Fi: If any scientific futuristic elements are in the story, then I will use this tag.

Slice of Life: If I write a story that doesn't reach the adventure level. (See Adventure Tag section)

Thriller: I rarely use this tag, but if it's meant to be a little scary, I'll put it on there for fun.

Tragedy: The conflict being faced must do with great suffering, destruction, or distress like a serious accident, a life-changing crime, or a natural disaster.

Rating Tags

Everyone: To me, for a story to be rated everyone, it has to be an event that would actually happen in the show. There cannot be any death or seriously strong tragedy, there cannot be any romance whatsoever (unless it's show-canon), there cannot be any dark or haunting elements, there cannot be any gruesome elements, and there cannot be anything inappropriate.

Teen (13+): If there is gore, then that automatically gives it a teen rating. If there is any death or seriously strong tragedy, romantic situations, dark or scary action, or gruesome elements, then it becomes teen for me.

Mature (18 and Older): If I ever decide to use this tag (which I won't), since I never write about sexual activity, it would have to be a story with bizzare gore or traumatic events.