Open Pony · 7:23pm Jun 4th, 2018
Before I found Fimfiction, I had a tumblr audience participation graphic novel (like Homestuck).
A silly example from the story.
For years I've been planning to bring the story here as an audience participation story, but I have concerns.
The main one I'm still mulling over is whether or not I want to do the art again. If I do the story here I'll be tempted to stick with text instead of art. Art takes a lot of time for me (I'm slow) and I'd like this to be a story that moves quickly.
On the other hoof, I don't know how well a story like this one will gather popularity if there isn't any art behind it. I don't want to start working on Open Pony and then find out I'm writing another Irreversible: tons of work for a meh rating and few readers. It'd be especially bad for this because it's intended to be audience participation, so I need a large audience for it to be worth the effort.
Thoughts?
Maybe do some complex art for some chapters, some simple art for some chapters, and no art for some chapters?
(I do like the Squigglevision style.)
I think that, were you to add art, you could just doodle your way through it and add more detail to important parts of the story (as the story itself becomes more detailed).
I don't know how to help with the lack of readers though. I still don't know how in the name of fuck you're not recognized.
Variable art content does seem like a viable option. I for one am intrigued by the prospect of this story.
Maybe try a short version to test the waters and if it's a success do the long one?
Meh, I don't think you need the art.
If it has an interesting concept you should not have to worry about art I think.
4876364
I second testing the waters with something simple.
I don't know whether a lack of art would be detrimental in any way. I mean, this is a reading website, but then again different formats induce different expectations. So I don't know. If you do art, you could try a super simple, even purposely lazy style like the gif you used (well, depending on the tone of the story, I suppose, but maybe not).
Edit: Nevermind, that gif IS from your story. If that style is a slow one, I'm not sure how you could cut back on time, other than going simpler still I guess.
4877548
4876262
That's not a typical example of an image from the story, it's just an amusing one. Any art takes me time and emotional commitment, though.
4877548
4876364
I'm not sure what you mean by testing the waters. If I try it and it fails, I can't retool it and try again. Fimfiction doesn't allow republishing so there's only one shot at horsefame.
4877578
I meant like, with a different story, but the same format (audience participation).
Or just write the second one as a sequel?
IDK. It seems like there should be a way you could make it work to just try out how popular the format will be.
4877821
Ah, I see what you mean.
I really just want to tell this one specific story. I'll need to give this a lot more thought.
4877578
Yeah what
4877824
Yeah what toxbox said. Same format, different but simpler and less time-consuming story. That way, if it proves unfruitful, not much lost. Though for some reason I thought it would be posted in blogs and not published as an actual story. Now if you chose a simpler art style similar to the example above, would it save time? Or does any kind of art take lots of time and investment?