Stupid sinus infection... and the New Project Revealed · 4:25am Feb 4th, 2019
I'm still a day's work away from releasing the next CSP chapter. Sinus headaches have wrecked my concentration.
But I've decided to explain my next project.
There were three core points to my thought process:
(1) Not a CSP/Maretian sequel (though large Ko-Fi or PayPal donations might persuade me to do that "return to the cave farm" bit you all keep asking for- the car repairs put me heavily in debt, and I'm missing my second most profitable convention this year)
(2) No Chrysalis or changelings (avoiding rechurning familiar/favorite territory)
(3) Starring Twilight Sparkle in a heroic role (because she has been the butt of the joke in a lot of my writing, to be honest)
And, of course, it had to be something that I could produce between 1000 and 2000 words of every day.
Finding something that interested me that met all those criteria was kicking my ass... until I got the idea.
And here it is: here's why I asked for all those book titles.
HAYCARTES' PLUPERFECT METHOD
Synopsis: Twilight Sparkle had decided to take a day off to catch up on her reading- using a tweaked version of Haycartes' Method to immerse herself in the experience. To her horror, she discovers that the altered spell has immersed her more deeply than she'd bargained for... when she finds herself replacing the protagonist of the story.
And the spell won't let her out until each story ends... one way or another...
The series will be ponified versions of the books- that is, it will be as if each book were written by an Equestrian of one species or another, with appropriate minor changes from the real-life original.
And the first book Twilight gets dropped into will be one I'm familiar with (though I intend to use new books where possible for the rest of them (hence the request for suggestions) for the rest of the series...
... the first book is Beat to Quarters by C. S. Forster, the first-written book in the Horatio Hornblower series.
After that... we'll see.
I will use February to build up a buffer, around CSP, a certain writing contest I haven't begun writing yet, and (if and when it opens) Everfree Scribblefest. The first chapter of Pluperfect will post March 1.
Until then...
Just how large are we talking?
O man Sinus pain is the worst.
sit back relax get over this before you even worry about righting.
Oh dear, poor Twilight. She's going to have quite the odyssey. I must say though, this is quite a reading list you've racked up for yourself. I am quite looking forward to this, it sounds like a fascinating story.
5007603 I asked for ideas, but if I can't finish a book, obviously it won't get used. My preference will go to stuff I haven't read before (or in the past twenty years) except if there's a particular book I think the plot requires, but the decision will be my own.
Right now, in the early stages, I'm thinking twenty books for the story.
"Twilight! I'm about ready to go! Where are you?" Spike walked around the crystal library calling out her name several more times before giving a shrug. "Meh. Maybe she took my advice and took a walk instead of being trapped inside all day. At least I got her out of her books." He hefted the thick storybook that had been dropped in the middle of the floor and flipped back to the Canterlot Royal Library checkout card. "Oh, heck. It'll be overdue tomorrow. Well, there's no bookmarks in it, so she must be done with it. I'll just take it with me this evening when I head up to Canterlot. She'll be glad she doesn't have to pay the overdue fine. I'm such a good assistant."
Taking a moment to scratch a note and leave it in her crystal chair, Spike headed out the door of the castle, whistling all the way to the train station and his rendezvous with the annual Canterlot Rock and Mineral show. Tomorrow morning, first thing before the sun was even up, he was scheduled to be in line for three wonderful days of gemstones. He'd just have to remember everything for Twilight when he got back.
He never even noticed the tiny pipping cries from the closed book in his bag while he walked.
5007604
Well I hope Twilight appreciates the trouble you're going to. I look forward to the guessing games as everyone races to identify each new setting.
5007605 So, are we doing Not Really the Beginning now?
5007610 Well, we don't *see* it yet, let alone see an ending, so that end is a lot more difficult to write.
Oh man I just realized the PERFECT metafictional exploit...The Neverending Story.
Any kind of books in particular?
I really only read post apocalyptic books, but if you want something a little more on the serious side... ask me!
Ah, sorry about the sinus headaches.
...Huh. Interesting to see how this works out. :D
5007621 My criteria for books here: https://www.fimfiction.net/blog/843957/new-project-decided-on
5007598
Curious about this myself. Oh, and I hope the sinus pain abates.
Sorry to hear about the sinus stuff. I hope and pray that those problems go away.
May God go with you
Sounds awesome!
Poor Twilight. 
Oh dear, Twilight as Rincewind in The Colour Of Magic/The Light Fantastic.
Wouldnt that make Spike, The Luggage?
Hope the snots get out yer way, and yer nose clears up an all.
Oh my. This should be quite fun. Looking forward to it.
5007605 5007610
Not Even the First Word doesn't quite have the same ring to it.
5007736 We could call it the Before We Get Started.
Journey to the West!
That is going to read like Honor Harrington. :)
Ender's Game, if you can. Nothing like space war training to turn a character inside out.
5009208 There is no way I could ever be so cruel to Twilight Sparkle as to make her endure the events of Ender's Game. I first read that book my freshman year of high school, 1988, and it STILL makes me mad as hell thirty years later.
I would suggest the Harry Potter series if iit weren’t for the fact that it isn’t a terribly original idea and also it would probably take waaay too long.
So instead I’ll suggest The Hunger Games.