Two questions about MLP/General Fanfiction

[Dreadmallon 353]

MLP Question:

 

   How can you keep an MLP:FiM fanfiction within the show's atmosphere? Meaning, how do you make it and the fanfiction's events seem plausible and likely to happen within the MLP universe, based on watching the show? Managing how light and dark it is, keeping the characters in-character? What else?

 

General Question:

 

   What do you do when you get an idea for your fanfiction, and it seems like its been taken as well? Especially when you remember that this idea came from one of your  media interests (movies, video games, etc.)? Because, today I was thinking about my OC, and I thought of a thing about his backstory which I could add, and I started to build off of it, when I realized later on that, "Wait...that whole concept was taken by -blank-. I know that if I used this, people would flame me." So, what do I do? I want to use the idea.

[Planty 1,053]

MLP Question:

 

   How can you keep an MLP:FiM fanfiction within the show's atmosphere? Meaning, how do you make it and the fanfiction's events seem plausible and likely to happen within the MLP universe, based on watching the show? Managing how light and dark it is, keeping the characters in-character? What else?

 

General Question:

 

   What do you do when you get an idea for your fanfiction, and it seems like its been taken as well? Especially when you remember that this idea came from one of your  media interests (movies, video games, etc.)? Because, today I was thinking about my OC, and I thought of a thing about his backstory which I could add, and I started to build off of it, when I realized later on that, "Wait...that whole concept was taken by -blank-. I know that if I used this, people would flame me." So, what do I do? I want to use the idea.

 

Regarding the MLP question: Personally I keep am obsessed with lore, I love the fanfics that keep well within the law of the show (bar some hilarious ones). I think you can have a certain creative license to make it very light/dark if it's executed properly, some of the show in actually quite darkly themed it's just in the execution. Things like a zombie apocalypse are bad ect.

 

Regarding you OC, there is a thread on the forums somewhere explaining how to create a good OC. Try and keep it within the realm of possibility, remember having a back story that is really dark and "cool" doesn't really fit in with in to the show where most ponies have lead very happy lives . Regarding other people's ideas, there are so many different OC's that it's hard to be original, I would say it's ok but try and make it as unique as possible. But remember in the real world there are defiantly people who act very similar to each other.

[Dreadmallon 353]

Regarding the MLP question: Personally I keep am obsessed with lore, I love the fanfics that keep well within the law of the show (bar some hilarious ones). I think you can have a certain creative license to make it very light/dark if it's executed properly, some of the show in actually quite darkly themed it's just in the execution. Things like a zombie apocalypse are bad ect.

 

Regarding you OC, there is a thread on the forums somewhere explaining how to create a good OC. Try and keep it within the realm of possibility, remember having a back story that is really dark and "cool" doesn't really fit in with in to the show where most ponies have lead very happy lives . Regarding other people's ideas, there are so many different OC's that it's hard to be original, I would say it's ok but try and make it as unique as possible. But remember in the real world there are defiantly people who act very similar to each other.

    That's the thing. I don't know if my OC is too dark. I personally don't think he is, and I haven't been told otherwise yet, but I'm not sure. He has dark traits, and a detailed backstory (which I feel is somewhat a flaw considering that very little of the canon characters have a detailed backstory). To summarize him right now, he's pretty much a former student of Luna, who's simply upset about the Nightmare Moon incident (may be cliche, but I honestly don't care anymore about that aspect). I don't think that's too bad, although I plan for him to be a villain that actually engages with the Mane 6, Twilight specifically.

Edited April 17, 2013 by III Prong III

[Planty 1,053]

    That's the thing. I don't know if my OC is too dark. I personally don't think he is, and I haven't been told otherwise yet, but I'm not sure. He has dark traits, and a detailed backstory (which I feel is somewhat a flaw considering that very little of the canon characters have a detailed backstory). To summarize him right now, he's pretty much a former student of Luna, who's simply upset about the Nightmare Moon incident (may be cliche, but I honestly don't care anymore about that aspect). I don't think that's too bad, although I plan for him to be a villain that actually engages with the Mane 6, Twilight specifically.

 

That does not seem to bad , you can play nicely on his emotions and I can imagine a really good story about his redemption or maybe flashbacks interspersed all the way through the fanfic explaining his feelings it will be amazing !

[Shanks 10,816]

With how many fanfics there are out there it is likely you will come up with an idea that is similiar to someone else idea, but I wouldn't be too worried about that because you can still put your own unique spin on it. I have an idea for a Derpy fanfic for example where because Derpy is falsely perceived as being retarded Foal Protective Services tries to take away her daughter and she has to fight it out in court to get her back. Someone came up with the same idea but approached in a very different way that I envisioned, in this persons fanfic Derpy actually is retarded but is still able to take care of her daughter with some help from Rainbow Dash but the authorities still try to take the daughter away.

[Winona the Dog 1,984]

With how many fanfics there are out there it is likely you will come up with an idea that is similiar to someone else idea, but I wouldn't be too worried about that because you can still put your own unique spin on it. I have an idea for a Derpy fanfic for example where because Derpy is falsely perceived as being retarded Foal Protective Services tries to take away her daughter and she has to fight it out in court to get her back. Someone came up with the same idea but approached in a very different way that I envisioned, in this persons fanfic Derpy actually is retarded but is still able to take care of her daughter with some help from Rainbow Dash but the authorities still try to take the daughter away.

 

I agree with this because one of my fics was actually inspired from another ones. I did somewhat did a close follow of it but i did add my own unique twist to keep it fresh and in a sense my own story. There are really so many stories out there originality is a rare find but don't let that keep you from continue writing.

[Dreadmallon 353]

Regarding the MLP question: Personally I keep am obsessed with lore, I love the fanfics that keep well within the law of the show (bar some hilarious ones). I think you can have a certain creative license to make it very light/dark if it's executed properly, some of the show in actually quite darkly themed it's just in the execution. Things like a zombie apocalypse are bad ect.

 

Regarding you OC, there is a thread on the forums somewhere explaining how to create a good OC. Try and keep it within the realm of possibility, remember having a back story that is really dark and "cool" doesn't really fit in with in to the show where most ponies have lead very happy lives . Regarding other people's ideas, there are so many different OC's that it's hard to be original, I would say it's ok but try and make it as unique as possible. But remember in the real world there are defiantly people who act very similar to each other.

 

 

With how many fanfics there are out there it is likely you will come up with an idea that is similiar to someone else idea, but I wouldn't be too worried about that because you can still put your own unique spin on it. I have an idea for a Derpy fanfic for example where because Derpy is falsely perceived as being retarded Foal Protective Services tries to take away her daughter and she has to fight it out in court to get her back. Someone came up with the same idea but approached in a very different way that I envisioned, in this persons fanfic Derpy actually is retarded but is still able to take care of her daughter with some help from Rainbow Dash but the authorities still try to take the daughter away.

 

 

I agree with this because one of my fics was actually inspired from another ones. I did somewhat did a close follow of it but i did add my own unique twist to keep it fresh and in a sense my own story. There are really so many stories out there originality is a rare find but don't let that keep you from continue writing.

 

   So I noticed you are all talking about having ideas similar to other fanfictions. That's good advice, but it's not what I meant. I meant, if you're a fan of something, a TV show, perhaps, and you use a concept that originated from that TV show in your fanfic without realizing it. That's what I'm going through (except the concepts from a video game), and I would change it, but I've already built much onto it.

 

   Oh, and Happy Plant, as long as my OC isn't "too bad," lol. I'm just messing with you.

Edited April 17, 2013 by III Prong III

[MyLittlePonyTales 273]

Some people say that all the good ideas are taken. I mean, even FiM uses so many tropes that other shows have used before them. Heck, FiM isn't every original, it's building off the show from the 80's. Even if you think an idea has been used, I think it's fine to use it yourself so long as you aren't intentionally copying what someone else has done.

[Planty 1,053]

   So I noticed you are all talking about having ideas similar to other fanfictions. That's good advice, but it's not what I meant. I meant, if you're a fan of something, a TV show, perhaps, and you use a concept that originated from that TV show in your fanfic without realizing it. That's what I'm going through (except the concepts from a video game), and I would change it, but I've already built much onto it.

 

   Oh, and Happy Plant, as long as my OC isn't "too bad," lol. I'm just messing with you.

 

 

Haha you had me going for a second Sorry if that's how it seemed . But I know my own OC's have been really really bad and I can't do anything with them which is why I don't have any currently on MLP forums :/.

 

I look forward to reading the fanfiction you write you've got me excited about it !

[NightSky 7]

To write a MLP fanfic that is in the relm of MLP, just incorperate the show. Make references to the towns, mane 6, and backround ponies. For our idea being taken, try tweaking where it takes place, or the main ponies. Oh, and  might want to tweak the story line depending on how close it is to nother story to avoid plagiarism.