With the first contest firmly behind us, we here at HazMat believe that it’s time to launch our second scheme to get you to write stuff. This time around, we’re tackling an idea that, once again, might never have been attempted on FimFiction.

You guys like the show, right? ‘Course you do. That’s kind of the point.

We’re going to be getting you to imitate, in the minutest of details, how the show episodes work. This contest, we’re going to be looking at writing fics that share the same tone, the same content, and the same structure as the show they're based off. You'd think the site would be full of those, right? Well, I think it's pretty obvious by now that it isn't.

And yes, that means that there should be natural breaks in the story to allow for the show’s intro theme and commercial breaks. The story should also contain the same approximate amount of content as an episode of MLP. That and imitating the show’s tone and themes will probably be the hardest part of this challenge. Written stories are not the same as a cartoon, after all, but it's still your job to get the same feel across despite the different format. The story needs to work as a story that you could picture as an episode. Same pacing, same atmosphere.

But it gets worse. In the darkest corner of the Businessverse, there is a master of money and marketing such as the world has never seen!

Overlord Hasbro is watching, and you never know when he might need some last minute marketing scheduled! Hasbro has plans, after all. It’ll be your job to bend over backwards to accommodate Hasbro’s toyetic schemes if and when they arise!

Hasbro's plans have come to light! (Fake) Overlord Hasbro needs the new locations on it's new map included in some manner or form!

Hasbro's mischievous schemes have finally come to light, and an additional requirement has been added to the contest!

The map of Equestria has been updated, and several new locations have been brought to light. With them, a whole new range of toys are being lined up for the shelves, and they desperately need some advertisement! Specifically, toy sets of Yakyakistan, Mount Everhoof, the Yaket Range, Bugbear Territory, Starlight's Village, Griffonstone (and it's station), North and South Luna Ocean (and Luna Bay), Tall Tale, Arimaspi Territories, Forbidden Jungle, Dragons Lair, and the Celestial Ocean are all being considered for a toy set here and there.

These locations must be included in some manner or form in the story. It can be visited, mentioned, or play an indirect role. What exactly it does is up to you! Bonus points for imagination.

Rules

-Each story must be safe for work. The show is for kids, and while Overlord Hasbro is willing to bend the rules on teen rated material if it's mild, he isn’t about to let porn and gore reach a young audience.

-Each story must not have been published before this post aired.

-Incomplete stories are not allowed. Hasbro cannot air an incomplete episode, after all. All stories must therefore be complete by the time the contest ends.

-Stories must imitate the show, both in content and tone. Each episode must have a natural break in the middle of the episode and near the beginning to allow for the commercial break and theme.

-A story must include, in some manner or form, one or more of the following locations: Yakyakistan, Mount Everhoof, the Yaket Range, Bugbear Territory, Griffonstone (and it's station), North and South Luna Ocean (and Luna Bay), Tall Tale, Arimaspi Territories, Forbidden Jungle, Dragons Lair, Starlight's Village and the Celestial Ocean.

-No whining.

Prizes

Like last time, advertisement is our best reward. The top three stories will be advertised in a post on this group, the Shameless Self Promotion Bureau, and my personal blog. You are also encouraged to promote the contest and its winners too.

Each story will get a review, from me, on my personal blog.

The story that wins first place will get an art request from the very generous Keam!,

Winning stories get bragging rights.

Submission Guidelines

A folder will be created shortly for you to put your contest entries in. If there is a problem, do PM me, and I will be sure to do my best to solve any and all problems. If you have a question, feel free to PM me about that too.

If you have any questions, ask them below. If I've forgotten something, I'll be sure to edit the post. Good luck, and do (fake) Overlord Hasbro proud!

4762367 You better. (fake) Hasbro is counting on you.

4762351 I'm already entering a short horror story contest, but maybe I can make room for two.

I don't have any complaints actually, I just wanted to use that joke.

Interesting challenge. I think I might actually have an idea for this that I like.

4762351
Oh god...while I'll probably NEVER be able to participate, cuz school and stuff, aaaand the fact I haven't finished my last contest entry yet, even though I swore to complete it oke day (it's to be forgotten)
HOWEVER

If ya want, I can throw in an art request as prize for the winner

4762351 I definitely want to take part! Oh muse, don't fail me now...

4762406 I'm sure the winner would love an art request. I'll stick that in for first place.

Thanks a bunch!

4762468

No problem, I kind of miss drawing pony stuff anyway, so it'll be fun to do some ponies again!

Great idea. But, keep in mind the real creators of the show explicitly said they ban themselves from all fan works as a matter of policy.

4762498 Yeah, I know. That's why we have to settle with (fake) Overlord Hasbro.

The real one was unavailable. : (

Challenge accepted.

Write all the ponies!!!!!!!!!!!
.
.
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.....Wait.......It has to be good?............Well, that's gonna be a problem. I'll try though!

4762602 Strictly speaking, it only has to be good if you want it to win.

God, all these cool ideas and ALL THIS ME SUCKING AT WRITING.
CAPS LOCK IS CRUZE CONTROL FOR COOL. I CANT STEER. HELP.

4763058 Well, you got no stories. You could get some practice and feature your first one here.

So much win for everybody.

4763103 i'm trying but nothings good enough to publish yet... Or even a half good idea

4763149 If you say so.

There'll always be next time, in any case.

4763153 i'm trying now ... i'm just not very good at it. But every time is better than last time!

4763156 That's generally how it goes. Very rarely do people get worse over time.

Although I'm sure that given enough incentive, I could give it a really good go.

I'll pass, sorry.

So... I rarely actually watch the episodes on tv (just no time to watch them when they come out). But the format of the show is Intro Little Fun Scene -> Opening theme -> Part 1, setting up the episode-> commercial break -> Part 2, establishing conflict -> another commercial break -> Part 3, resolving the conflict -> Closing theme. Right?

4778731 That's how the breaks are arranged. Although it's worth mentioning that they often use the first little scene to set up the conflict early, if they're being ambitious.

They've only got 20 minutes: they try to cram as much as they can in.

One week down, guys! Oh, and (fake) Overlord Hasbro has been plotting. Mischieviously.

He might have an outrageous demand for everyone soon!

I hope your ideas brainstorming has been going well!

4779266 Often, yeah, but it's used often enough just to slip in a joke or tell us who the episode's about that I think it's fair enough to just call it "fun".

4780440 I agree, especially early on in the series, when less happened in episodes.

I'm just clarifying that we've seen both, and that it doesn't have to be little more than a joke for it to be contest-approved.

4780387 I have an idea...But in keeping with my role in (fake)Hasbro, I will only pretend to do work until (fake) Overlord Hasbro gives me some outrageous and ultimately sponsor-serving task.

Attention, all contestants!

And... other people.

Hasbro's mischievous schemes have finally come to light, and an additional requirement has been added to the contest!

The map of Equestria has been updated, and several new locations have been brought to light. With them, a whole new range of toys are being lined up for the shelves, and they desperately need some advertisement! Specifically, toy sets of Yakyakistan, Mount Everhoof, the Yaket Range, Bugbear Territory, Griffonstone (and it's station), North and South Luna Ocean (and Luna Bay), Tall Tale, Arimaspi Territories, Forbidden Jungle, Dragons Lair, Starlight's Village, and the Celestial Ocean are all being considered for a toy set here and there.

One or more of these locations must be included in some manner or form in the story. It can be visited, mentioned, or play an indirect role. What exactly it does is up to you! Bonus points for imagination.

Good luck!

4762367
4762390
4762391
4762416
4762498
4762602
4778731
4782228

4796757 One or more. I clarified in the OP, but not in my comment. I'll fix that.

4796769 No probs. I'm here for questions.

4796830 It's more a question of content than length, really. An episode of MLP has around so many twists and turns before it has to reach it's twenty minute mark.

I'm not inclined to throw a definite word limit, although we will be comparing the stories with episodes to see how well they match up in terms of stuff that happens in them.

4796736 I really liked how a crucial part of information was hidden for a time, it adds a layer of strategic planning and some out-of-the-box thinking to writing the stories, and I'm sure we'll all benefit from that. Cool!

4797832 IRL, episodes have been cancelled on information as sudden and unpredictable as an event happening a week from the air date (like a particular crime being like a crime from an ep about to be aired), and there being too many parallels with the content of an episode. And you know what that means:

Re-write. The writers literally don't sleep until a new script is made, or is tweaked.

4797938 Me too. Much fun shall be promised!

4796736
Tall Tale was on the old map (season 3 reverse cover)

4798710 Wuz it?

Well, it's on this one too.

Admin privileges!

4798718
I was just trying to point out it's not new. Sorry.

4798764 No probs. I'm just too lazy to correct it.

Besides, Tall Tale hasn't appeared much in stories. It deserves it, really. :P

4796736 As if hearing my pleas for inspiration, my muse has deliberately turned a deaf ear and is no longer talking to me. Alas, I'm pretty sure I won't be making a contribution to the competition. Good luck everyone else!

4811596

4838058 Deadline was three days ago.

There weren't any submissions: I'm afraid you missed it.

Better luck next time!