Break Week · 10:14pm Oct 5th, 2017
Haven't seen the movie yet, but these two moments still keep me grinning. Never change, Rares.
A few things to discuss on this break week. The first thing is...
Derp
Don't worry, the dozen or so of you actually reading it, it's still updating daily. I just can't help but note that it's one of those stories that I agonized over for a while. I waited months to deal with it, and went through more than a few edits with the help of my awesome (and patient) editors. I was taking the editing bit far more seriously than usual, to the point that at times I made myself legit upset over it – and Paul doesn't get upset often.
The entire experience has reminded me of something: I'm a casual writer. I write because I like to do it, not because I want a perfect story. Don't get me wrong, it's good that I wanted to improve upon the story. But now I realize that the moment I started getting frustrated is the moment I should have published. I shouldn't have agonized over it for a week trying to figure out how to fix certain flaws or if I even wanted to.
Pascoite has hinted that he's gonna provide a review of the story later, and I fully expect him to blast me for not following some of his major suggestions or fixing the issues that he so studiously pointed out. I don't blame him one bit. Remember, editors, if the writer doesn't follow your suggestions, it's not because you were wrong or failed in making an argument; it's because the writer is an idiot. 
I only bring this up because I feel that the pursuit of perfection is a fruitless endeavor more likely to cause headaches than to achieve a noticeable improvement. I still want to have strong editors for my stories, and you can bet I'll be approaching Georg, BlazzingInferno and Pascoite again someday. But I have no intention of doing battle with a story in the same way I did Derp. That's not why I'm here.
Review Scheduling
I've decided that a small change to my review scheduling methods is in order. One of the issues I've been struggling with is keeping my RiL organized. The problem is that I've been lumping a lot of different story types into it, which makes it impossible for me to tell if I'm covering any ground in terms of the amount. How many are stories added because I read a story I liked and wanted to read something by that author again? How many are requests? How many are legitimately unknown entities that I chose on a whim? I have no idea.
To solve this, I've created entirely new bookshelves. Requests get their own bookshelf, as does the Sequels/Completed Stories list. I've also created a 'Stalked Authors' bookshelf: going forward, whenever I finish a story by an author that I liked, I'll add another one of their stories to this bookshelf for later reading. It'll mean that I'll be reading certain authors' works in rapid succession early on, but I am confident this thing will start to fill up quickly. And all of this makes it so that any story added to the actual RiL will only be stories that I chose on my own without any external influences.
To compensate, the 'Stalked Author' bookshelf is getting its own list in my schedule separate form the others, and I intend to read one story from it every week. I'll have to read one less story from my RiL every week to accommodate this, but I think it'll be worth it for a little more organization.
Inspiring!
Yes, I do have that effect on ponies.
In other news, I inspired a story! Always knew I was an inspiring individual. 
Go have a gander at Georg's latest story before I end up reviewing it and ripping it to pieces.
And more shout outs! My buds JawJoe and Viking ZX did a review trade for one another's original fictions, both of which I've reviewed previously. Frankly, I like their review styles more than my own, so I figured they deserved pointing out. Take a gander at JJ's review of Colony and Viking's review of Seven-Point Star and tell me I'm wrong.
The Generosity Stories
And now for the good stuff.
Lessons in Generosity and Study of Generosity did pretty well, but even as I wrote them, I realized I might be on to something. So yes, I do have some more stories for this in mind. At the moment there are two more planned: Friend of Generosity and Allure of Generosity. I thought I'd take this time to talk a little about my thoughts regarding this series and what I had in mind in a more general sense.
I came up with a special headcanon for this one. The entire series focuses around Scootaloo getting closer to Rarity (only friendshipping, mind you). The question is why?, and I imagine more than a few people wondered what made me pick this particular duo.
Enter the headcanon. In the AU of this series, Scootaloo has parents. To be specific, she has fathers. No, that 's' isn't a typo.
Now, imagine for yourself as Scootaloo, growing up with a pair of strong father figures. Where is she going to get her strong motherly influence? People might jump on Rainbow Dash as an option, but nobody can deny that Rainbow is the most masculine of the Mane 6 in her overall manner. When you take this into account, is it any surprise Scootaloo herself is a complete tomboy?
It can be argued that any of the Mane 6 would qualify for strong female role models, and I can't say that's wrong. But Applejack, Pinkie and Twilight are really only 'female role models' by virtue of being female. Their overall behavior isn't necessarily 'feminine,' save on special occasions. By comparison, Fluttershy might have made a good pick for this role, but she's feminine in a casual, natural way and makes no effort to showcase the fact. Let's face it, she doesn't need to.
Then you have Rarity. Rarity is attractive and feminine, but more importantly, she knows it. She flaunts it. She uses it. She embraces her feminine nature and wields it to further her goals. She's a confident, strong-willed individual who knows how to take charge and get things done, but kind and generous enough that she supports others rather than using them as stepping stones to her success. Frankly, I can't think of a better female role model for a filly growing up around boyish influences.
This is what my vision for this series stems from. I see Rarity as being the one that addresses all those things that a filly wants and needs to know about being a mare. And for Scootaloo, whose regular source of information comes from a pair of male fathers and a particularly masculine female idol, she could be a godsend. I see the Generosity series as exploring that potential relationship, with Rarity becoming Scootaloo's unofficial mother figure and confidant. Friendship lessons, beauty tips, and yes, even boys. And, as she gets older, learning how to embrace her feminine side while avoiding all the potential pitfalls.
Now the only question is whether or not I can pull it off.
Thoughts? Ideas? Vicious Rarihate? I welcome them all.
What is this "making progress" you speak of? <.<
Wait, what did I say to make you think I was going to review "Derp"? When do I ever post public reviews of stories? And unless we're talking about pretty clear-cut right/wrong issues like misspelled words, I never expect someone to follow all my suggestions. One thing I often say is that I'm as suspicious of the author who uses all my suggestions as the one who uses none of them.
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I interpreted 'review' as meaning 'review'. Because, y'know, I'm a reviewer and that's what I think of when I see that word. Guess I misinterpreted.
Also, did parts of the blog come off as me complaining or some such? Because I was going for sarcasm. I'm well aware of your intentions and interests with editing, I was just trying to make light of my reaction to the entire process.
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I'm not sure even I know.
That mirror scene is hilarious. I want to wait to watch the movie till I read the comic. I even have the prequel comics.
I'm gonna choose vicious Rarihate just for the hell of it. I happen to like Rarity, actually. She has the best characterization in the show. But now for the hatred.
WHY WOULD YOU CHOOSE SUCH AN AWFUL CHARACTER AS RARITY!!!???!!!??? RARITY IS NOTHING BUT A DIVA AND A BITCH SHES NO GOOD AS A MOTHER-FIGURE SCOOTALOO IS JUST GONNA LEARN TO FLAUNT HERSELF AT STALLIONS!!!!!!
There shall come a day, before the sky evaporates and the the stars die out...that I finally read a story of yours
Also, I am terrified to see the pony movie. Even with my expectations as low as Hades I think I'll still be disappointed. :l
This. Honestly, a first draft from you would probably still be a better story than an Nth draft from almost anyone else on the site (read: the people I'm not following). To use a metaphor: don't waste time polishing the same jewel over and over when you could be cutting plenty of new ones. Even Rarity can't bedazzle a dress with one gem, after all, regardless of how shiny it is.
Fizzlepop Berrytwist
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Ah, at last, my blog is a place for haters. One more thing to check off on my bucket list.
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I'm divided. I'm not expecting to be wowed by it, but I do have hopes it'll be above average. I don't feel like going to see it in theaters, but at the same time, going to see it in theaters supports the series and would be my tiny contribution to keeping it running.
So yeah, I dunno.
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D'awww, shtahp.
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Fluttersplosion Magnifico
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My only regret with that animation is that we don't get to see Applejack's face once the mirror floats by.
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I don't want to see it in theaters either, but everywhere (including here) will be swamped with spoilers in the form of artwork, music, stories, etc, and I'd rather not have it spoiled, so I'm basically stuck.
All part of Hasbro's plot to get my money I bet!
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Whelp, I'm almost certainly not going to see it now, but only because October is turning out to be an expensive month for me already. I'll have to pinch my pennies, and even then I doubt I'll be able to so much as break even.
Of course, the argument can be made that if you know you're screwed, why not go all out?
...still probably won't see it. Hasbro hasn't trapped me in their slimy, greedy talons so much that I'm going to make myself a little more broke because pone.
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Now Paul, wouldn't Twilight go see a movie for you? Of course she would!
Just don't eat for a few days and you'll have enough money. Easy peasy!
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I don't think Ms. Practical would starve herself for a movie. A book, sure, but not a movie.
Now if we're talking about the Princess of Friendship, yeah, she'd probably starve herself to death for a movie. But I have less respect for her than I do Twilight.
I actually like the idea of Scootaloo having gay parents.
The show Loud House has the best friend of the mane character having two dads.
geeksout.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/blog-images/Overnight_Success_%2814%29.png?itok=blxA_UPW
upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/c/c6/The_Loud_House_-_Clyde%27s_Dads_Howard_and_Harold.png/220px-The_Loud_House_-_Clyde%27s_Dads_Howard_and_Harold.png
Hell, one of the sisters, Luna is revealed to be bisexual.
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...You knew the perfect argument for me. Well played, sir, well played.