The Process of Story Writing
The story began at Sugar Cube Corner where Pinkie Pie was in her room. She laid down on her bed near both Gummy and a small pile of books with one already in her hooves. After she flipped through a page and skimmed through the words, she laughed hysterically.
"Can you believe what I just read, Gummy?!" Pinkie Pie asked, turning her head towards her pet alligator, who just blinked at her. "How could she not see that coming?!" Pinkie Pie continued laughing before taking a deep sigh. "Man, what a really funny story."
Pinkie Pie put her book on top of the pile. She then stood up from her bed with a relieved smile, rubbing her chin in thought.
"I wish I could write a good story like that," she said before turning her head towards Gummy again. "What do you think, Gummy?"
Gummy stuck his tongue out on Pinkie's nose before retracting it back. Pinkie Pie then gasped and her eyes widened before putting Gummy's nose close to her own.
"You're right," Pinkie said, putting Gummy back down. "I should write a story of my own. No, not just any old story. I'm going to write the best story ever!"
Pinkie Pie walked to her drawers and got out a pencil and some paper. She then went downstairs where Mrs. Cake was feeding the Cake Twins their bottles. Pinkie Pie then searched through the other drawers of the lobby.
"Uh... Looking for something, Pinkie Pie?" Mrs. Cake asked.
"I'm trying to find something to write on for my story," Pinkie Pie replied.
"Story?" Mrs. Cake asked.
"Yeah, I'm writing my own funny story and I need something to write on top of. Don't wanna tear up the papers while I'm writing, that's for sure,"
"Okay then," Mrs. Cake said before reaching down the counter and pulling out an old, dusty binder. "How 'bout this?"
"Perfect!" Pinkie Pie squealed.
Mrs. Cake handed her the binder before she zoomed out of the lobby. Pinkie Pie then popped her head out from downstairs. "Thanks, Mrs. Cake," she said, retracting her head back.
Pinkie Pie sat back on her bed and blew the dust off of the binder. "This is going to be the best funny story ever," She coughed as the dust was clearing up. She then placed her pencil, paper, and binder in front of her. "Okay. I have everything I need for my story." Pinkie's eyes turned into a narrow, determined look. "Let's do this!"
Pinkie Pie placed the stack of papers on top of her binder. She then grabbed her pencil and just sat there, staring at her papers. Her smile then turned into a frown as minutes went by. She tapped her pencil on her chin before rubbing the sides of her forehead and letting out a loud groan.
"Ugh! Why can't I think of anything good to write down?" Pinkie Pie said. "There are just so many funny and awesome things that I want to write, but all I have is a blank." Pinkie walked over to Gummy again. "What should I do, Gummy?"
Gummy stuck his tongue out again on Pinkie's nose and retracted it back.
"Another great idea, Gummy!" Pinkie Pie said, beaming a great big smile while her eyes glimmered. "Maybe Twilight can help me with my story. She knows all about books and writing essays. She's probably full of great advice on story writing. Thanks." She then zoomed out of her room while Gummy just blinked his eyes again.
At Twilight's Castle, Twilight was at the castle's library, levitating and reading a book around a large table while Spike was sitting next to her, digging his claws into a bowl of red gemstones.
"What a peaceful and domestic day," Twilight sighed. "Right, Spike?"
"Yeah," Spike replied, crunching into a crisp jewel. "Let's not jinx it, though, okay?"
"Right," Twilight nodded, going back to reading her book.
Pinkie Pie barged her way through the doors, startling Twilight into dropping her book and causing Spike to cough on a gemstone. Twilight patted his back, making the gemstone come out of his throat.
"Told ya," Spike said.
"Sorry for interrupting you guys, but I need your help," Pinkie Pie said.
"What is it?" Twilight asked as she and Spike walked towards Pinkie.
"I'm trying to write my own funny story, but I can't think of anything good to write," Pinkie Pie replied.
Twilight chuckled. "Oh, Pinkie. You're just having a bit of writer's block, that's all,"
"What's writer's block?" Pinkie asked, tilting her head and raising an eyebrow.
"Writer's block is when somepony is having trouble thinking of something good or new to write down. Everypony gets writer's block, even the most talented of writers." Twilight explained.
"Oh. So how do I fix it?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"Come with me," Twilight replied, walking towards the library table while Pinkie followed suit. She then levitated a stack of paper and a pencil with her magic and placed them on the table. "Now then, what is your story's premise?" Twilight asked.
"Premise?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"You know, what is your story about?" Twilight continued. "It can be about anything you want."
Pinkie Pie placed her hoof on her chin and narrowed her eyes in thought. After a few seconds, a light bulb popped right out of her mane.
"I've got it!" She exclaimed. She then realized that her light bulb was still glowing, blinding both Twilight and Spike. "Oh, sorry." She lowered the light bulb back into her mane. "My story's premise is about a happy farmer who finds a golden goose that he has to help fly south for the winter."
"Okay," Twilight said. "Next, what is your story's structure?"
"What do you mean?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"I'm talking about where you're going to place each event in the story in order to make it a complete story," Twilight sighed. "Let me give you an example."
Twilight levitated her pencil and wrote some words on the paper in a downward row. Pinkie Pie watched her do all of this, raising an eyebrow and scratching her head.
"There," Twilight placed the pencil back on the table near the paper of written words. "Let's look it over, shall we?"
"Okay," Pinkie Pie replied.
"The first one is called the 'Exposition'," Twilight explained. "It's where you introduce the characters, the setting, and the conflict of your story."
"Why would I want conflict in my story if it's going to be a happy one?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"Because it's a story, and even happy stories need to have some kind of conflict. That's what keeps your story interesting and believable."
"Ooooooh," Pinkie Pie responded.
"Next, the 'Inciting Incident'. It's where the conflict hooks the main character, or characters, into the action, thus starting your story," Twilight explained.
"You mean like a fishing hook?" Pinkie Pie asked, rotating one of her hooves around the others.
"Pinkie! You need to take this seriously, okay?" Twilight scolded, placing her hoof on Pinkie's rotating one.
"Okay, sorry," Pinkie Pie sighed, putting her hooves back down. "What's next?"
"Do you want to explain the next one, Spike?" Twilight asked, turning her head to her assistant, still munching on his rubies.
"Sure thing," Spike replied, walking to the duo's spot while Twilight and Pinkie Pie moved back. "Next comes the 'Rising Action'. Where the main character, or characters, go through a lot of incidents that lead up to a 'Climax'."
"Exactly," Twilight added. "That's the most exciting or important point of the story that the rising action has been leading up to. Thanks, Spike."
"With pleasure," Spike said, walking back to his seat of the table.
"Okay. This is all getting too complicated," Pinkie Pie chimed. "So, the exposition is where you introduce the characters and conflict of the story, right?"
"As well as the setting, yes," Twilight replied.
"And the inciting incident is where the conflict starts the story?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"Yeah," Twilight answered.
"And then, the rising action is all the stuff in the story that builds up to the most important part of the story, which is the climax, right?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"Exactly. Now, you're getting it," Twilight said.
"Woo-hoo! Is that all I need to know about writing a story?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"Not yet," Twilight replied.
"Oh, c'mon!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed.
"Don't worry. The sooner we get this done, the sooner you'll know how to write your own story, okay?"
"Okay," Pinkie Pie sighed.
"Now comes the 'Falling Action', where the story resolves the loose ends of the conflict until it reaches the 'Resolution'." Twilight explained.
"That's where the story is over, right?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"Correct," Twilight replied. "And this is just one of the many story structures that you can try on your story. Depends on what you're more comfortable with using and what type of story you're writing."
"Okay. Is that all I need to write my funny story?" Pinkie Pie asked, beaming a huge smile on her face in anticipation.
"Almost. One last thing: Theme," Twilight said.
"Theme?" Pinkie Pie asked. "You mean like the message of the story?"
"You could say that," Twilight replied. "But while they may seem similar, there's a difference between a theme and a message. Theme is the central idea on which your work is based on throughout the story. The message is the moral lesson that you want your readers to learn from in your story."
"Soooo, basically the same, but not completely?" Pinkie Pie asked.
"Close enough," Twilight replied. "Let me give you an example in order to put all of this together. Your story is about a happy farmer trying to help a golden goose fly south for the winter, right?"
"Yup," Pinkie Pie answered.
"So, you have the premise, main characters, and conflict, but not the setting and time period. Where and when does your story take place?" Twilight asked.
"Oh, that's easy. It's at a farm in the daytime," Pinkie Pie replied.
"Good. Now what's your theme of the story?" Twilight asked.
"Hmmm..." Pinkie Pie said, rubbing her chin again. After a few seconds, Pinkie's light bulb was about to pop out of her mane again, but she immediately stopped it and put it back inside before it could fully come out. "I've got it!" she said. "The theme of my story is about never giving up,"
"Perseverance, eh?" Twilight said. "That's a good theme to start with. Now, remember. Good story writing isn't as easy as it seems. It's very nuance and takes a lot of practice, patience, and discipline in order to truly master."
"Okay. Thanks, Twilight!" Pinkie Pie said, hugging Twilight around her hooves while letting out a great big smile. "Now, I can finally write my funny story..." She then let go of Twilight and started yawning. "Right after I get some sleep."
"Okay, good luck on your story," Twilight said.
She and Pinkie waved goodbye to each other. Pinkie Pie walked out of the castle library and closed the doors.