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WovenWord


Ah, the mighty bio box. So we meet again. You will rue the day you dared show your blank canvas around these parts! I will--wait, what do you mean you're already exhausted? Don't you dare run out of--

E
Source

They say heroes are to be admired from afar. That they're the stuff of legends and folk tales, of epic stories and hushed whispers. But, deep down, we all know heroes are ponies—just like us—who rose to the occasion. Ponies who live amongst us and may even pass us on the street without being recognized.

Princess Celestia has asked us to help lift part of this veil, this feeling of distance from those who we honor and respect. It is to that end that we introduce our newest supplement: Woven Word Weekly, helmed by the titular author, to bring you—the people of Equestria—a closer look into the lives of the greatest heroes of our time: The bearers of Harmony.

We hope it'll be to the liking of Her Majesty and our dear readers.

Always at your service,
Final Cut
Editor-in-Chief for Canterlot's Equestria Daily



(This story takes place after the events of the show's second season)
(Featured on EqD! - 01/28/2013)

Chapters (2)
Comments ( 36 )
I_S

This is a really good story, but I have no idea how i'm supposed to connect it to the description in the summary.

Hmm… not quite sure if I enjoyed it all that much. It seemed a bit, eh, lackluster. We'll see whee this goes with the next chapter.

1885302

Thanks :twilightsmile: The description in the summary is the announcement of a new supplement (think of it as a booklet that comes free with each purchase) for their newspaper. The chapter you read is what appeared in the 1st Issue. In other words, everything you just read is now public knowledge to everyone in Equestria.

1885515

Heh, yeah :twilightsheepish: I know it's not a very high note to start on. I wanted the initial chapter to be more of a group thing (to showcase all of the characters) and not be a huge adventure, just something that happened in their daily lives. It's also a weak point of mine, writing scenes with large amounts of characters in it, so I wanted to challenge myself a bit.

The next chapter does move away from that, to show an isolated adventure with only a few characters (something like Dragonshy, an adventure in a single episode).

Thanks for reading!

Abandon this story now! And start writing one about Angel's day of leading the the animals. :raritywink:

1988052

:pinkiegasp: Of course! I've been so blind!

1988223 It will be the greatest masterpiece of epic battles, the purest of love, and the most insane heroism ever told!

1886590
You probably should have started with one of those adventures. This reads awfully similar to filler. Even if it is impressive, well written filler. I particularly enjoyed the bits about Twilight's addiction, which I'm very disappointed wasn't resolved. I don't care much about Pinkie's surprise party, and that ending came out of left field. I'm much more interested in seeing how they deal with Twilight. And the fake author's notes were just... strange.

Can't wait to see what happens when things are actually happening.

2019483

You probably should have started with one of those adventures.

I could have, but I opted not to for a few reasons.

This first chapter is really just me going outside of my comfort zone, since it includes all of the elements that I know I'm not very good at yet: handling many characters interacting at the same time, trying to be funny, writing Pinkie Pie (sweet Celestia, Pinkie Pie...), and the Slice of Life genre in general. I'm trying to get better at all of these, since I'll definitely need them in future chapters. I'm sorry if it falls somewhat flat, but I'm glad at least some semblance of quality seems to shine through :twilightsheepish:

[...] which I'm very disappointed wasn't resolved.

It was resolved... to the extent that an addiction can be resolved in a week. You'll see it come up again in the future, but let's just say that Twi'll have to find some other way to work into the late hours of the night.

And the fake author's notes were just... strange.

They were? It's just a quick introduction to these two peripheral characters (and don't worry, they'll remain peripheral) and the relationship between them (which I'd describe as vitriolic, at best). They'll be there to fill you in on a couple of the things that happen in between chapters, or outside of the main story.

Can't wait to see what happens when things are actually happening.

Thanks for sticking around :twilightsmile:

Well. this was unusual, but intriguing.

I really loved this. This is wonderful

And I love the idea behind the frame-story and the give and take with Woven and his editor. That make me chuckle.

It wasn't poorly written... but to be honest, it didn't really feel like a story so much as just something that happened. The bit at the end is a bit of a blindside and to be honest I'm not really sure how much it adds to the story with this format. Honestly you could just present this as some standard slice of life without losing anything of importance, trimming what appears to be fat as well. As it stands, it feels like there's not really any relation between the stories and the newspaper/magazine/journalistic thingy. It's pretty clear what you were trying to do with it, but at the moment the framing device simply adds nothing to the story. Don't get me wrong, the actual content was well written, but the premise seems like it needs refinement.

"That took me seven hours. My eyes hurt. But there, a hundred and fifty eight! Why do you do this to me? Is it because of my desire to watch you burn in Tartarus?"

Favorited.

PPS

There were forty-two convex vertices in her cutie mark.

Whoa, you're right. I never noticed those little white bits on the central star.

Personally, I'd like to see the framing device incorporated into the story more. But maybe that's in future installments.

The story itself is quite good, and feels very realistic. I enjoyed this.

2037024>>2037137>>2037544>>2037636

Thank you for reading :twilightsmile:

2038297

Indeed! The framing device isn't mentioned much in the first chapter, since the event happened before Woven started writing it. As the first issue is being published, the events of the second chapter are already underway.

2037428

It's true. As of Chapter 1, the only thing it adds is the two new characters. Also, don't expect the framing device to absorb the story and become the focus. Remember that the whole idea of the supplement is to tell stories about the mane six. It'll become more apparent as we move forward, but the chapters are similarly structured to the episodes in the show—in other words, they jump around when it comes to themes. One of the purposes of the framing device is to (hopefully) add some cohesion and prevent it all from seeming disjointed. Still, your concerns are noted.

It also means that I won't be leaving you with cliffhangers (at least for this arc).

Take my thumb and fave; you've earned them :moustache: Personally, I found this very well written, and I enjoy the slice-of-life stuff about as much as grand adventure, so no complaints here :twilightsmile:

Interesting start and I'm curious to see more. Gotta say though with the lack of context and knowing them your editor comes across as bit of a b*tch, especially with the "hack writer" line.:derpytongue2:

2038798

Well, your taste in genres should definitely be accommodated by this story, fine chap :moustache:

2039119

:rainbowlaugh: Violet's not really based on an editor, she's just an OC. I don't have any editors or pre-readers (and it'd be very painful for me to work with someone like her :twilightsheepish:)

2039844 ahahaha fair enough. I feel better then (Had this awful mental image of hurt feelings ><)

I loved this story. :heart: I'm not sure where the other reviews are coming from, but I personally thought it was one of the best things I've read in a long time. Slice of life done perfectly!

Among the hundreds of other fanfics in the genre, it could have blended in - the plotline of this chapter specifically is super creative (coffee!), but not the most memorable. However, I enjoyed the story more than others, for a couple of reasons. Obviously, the news story framework made it unique, but It's mostly all the creative things I thought you incorporated perfectly. Characterization that you don't even see often enough in the show (Being more IC than in the show, is that possible?), like RD being all nonchalant about missing the Wonderbolts, Pinkie being too easily manipulated, Twilight and negative feedback (which we can all relate to D:). And the little jokes - like Spike and research - and Pinkie making the town rehearse for her song - I completely broke out laughing at that. A lot of stories are centered around some cool ideas, but this one's just sprinkled all over with them.

And the ending was just perfect. I felt so relieved for Pinkie XD Thought the story was going to go darkish all of a sudden.

After you get into more chapters, the story'll become more and more unique anyways- and if you do get to that full adventure you mention but keep all the little quirks from this chapter, I'd absolutely love it. It's a great way you have it set up, where many unrelated plotlines can come together under the title of Woven Word - but with continuity! :D Short stories with continuity are the best kind.

Can't wait for more. ^^

2085671

Yes, thank you! That’s exactly where I’m going with this first part (the series of interconnected short stories). I was getting worried that I hadn’t conveyed it properly (really worried, since I thought I was being pretty blunt about it). I’m glad you liked it and that you caught all the little details, that really makes my day :twilightsmile:

I’m actually going to be toying around with Sad/Dark themes (just touching upon them, really… I think chapter 2 is going to be the worst offender in this area), but the story as a whole will never go down that path. That’s why those two aren’t up there in the tags (notice that Comedy isn’t up there either, since it isn’t really a focus, even if I tried my hand at it this chapter).

As a random fact, the only reason there isn't also an Adventure tag is because moderation rules forbid it (since SoL and Adventure are considered conflicting categories). I've seen stories that ignore this, but I'd rather play it safe.

Those little subplots are still going to be popping up, since I really love to do that, and you can expect more continuity in the next chapter (which should be coming out either this week or the next)!

a fun, well written story, it is more canon to me that a lot episode from the show, great work

Wow.. THAT certainly went in a new direction. This chapter was FAR more intricate and complicated than the first, and was certainly much darker in tone. Chapter 2 has been fantastic, and I can't wait to see what else you have up your sleeve. :twilightsmile:

These stories are great because each chapter is a story of its own, no cliffhangers and no waiting for the next chapter of the story to be written - its all right there, right now. Also long enough to take a few hours out of your life, but hey - hours well spent.

That was good :pinkiesmile: Though more than a little heartbreaking as well...

As a point of interest, though, listening to Lunar Republic Takeover as I read this, and about two thirds of the way through this came on. Ended just as Dazzler was talking to his daughter about mages and magicians. Gave me an epiphany, you might say :trixieshiftright:

While a fun and great chapter, especially with the leaving of how safe Applejack and Rainbow Dash were up in the air, at the same time heavy use of illusions and dreams make me start to skim read past them to seek out reality again. A lack of a basic reality and jumping from scene to scene is incredibly disorientating.

2340689

Yay indeed :pinkiehappy:

2340693

Thanks! I used Chapter 1 as an introduction, most of all. That's why most of the characters that are going to be popping up at some point in the story (all of the Mane 6, Spike, the CMC) got at least a small scene.

2340854

I will begin work on the next cliffhanger-free chapter very soon, right after I finish up a quick (read: "I wish I could actually do this fast") one-shot.

2341024

Sometimes I feel like I miss out on half of the fandom's music, since I normally don't listen to a lot of electronic. I did read the lyrics and I can very much see what you mean, though :twilightsheepish:

2341032

Wow, you must've skimmed over most of the chapter :twilightoops:

The truth is, most of it is happening in "reality", as in, not inside their heads (there are only four scenes that happen inside the characters' heads). But I do understand that it was harder to follow, since most of the story took place within a shifting magical construct of illusion magic. That's why I mostly stuck to resurrected memories, and not the mind screws that appeared at the beginning (which were the actual traps).

Just in case it wasn't completely obvious, I love illusion magic :twilightsmile: To me, it's the best kind of magic there is, as long as it's used creatively. If I use it again, I'll try not make it so confusing.

Glad I am not the only author to explore the differing lifespans between the tribes. Was a little confused at parts but a beautiful and intricate chapter.

Wow....okay so I totally wasn't expecting that...It's awesome don't get me wrong but it was really unexpected :twilightblush: Can't wait to see where you'll go next!:pinkiehappy:

This reads very similarly to an episode of the Twilight Zone. It has that same bizarre, yet brilliant premise, mystery, melancholy, and a feeling underlining the whole story that something is very, very wrong.

Great work on writing the different character's perspectives. They each had a distinctive, matching style. Perfect example of narrative voice.
I was impressed by the introduction of Dazzle and Pi. I've only seen non-linear dialogue once before, but it's fascinating, and you pulled it off very well.

I'm still not sure how necessary those little exchanges at the end are, and this reporting idea is strange, but interesting. That early bit about the difference in lifespans is a great little bit of world building, and I'm disappointed it wasn't explored any further. I hope that comes back later. Anyway, I have nothing constructive to say, but this was great. Much better than the first chapter.

2341669

:trixieshiftright: "Trixie would like to remind you that she is still the same Great and Powerful mage you've always known. Trixie cares not for your displays of pity." :trixieshiftleft:

2342083>>2344785

Coming soon.

2343619>>2366040

The lifespans are a bit of world building that will indeed come into play later.

As a rule, I tend not to introduce elements that are completely irrelevant—especially when expanding upon the setting—but you might not see the reason for their introduction until several chapters later.

As another rule though, I try not to dump everything on the reader at the same time. If something that'll be at least semi-important to the plot depends on a thing that only exists within the canon of my own story, I'll introduce that element early, before it gains importance—so that it doesn't come out of left field.

In other words, I really like Chekhov guns.

2366267

Chekhov guns

Oh yeah, those. My editor commented that I like using those too, and I had no idea what he was referring to.

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