I've got a bit of a conundrum.

[Verily British 145]

I've just started to write a Fan Fiction about two OC's that I've created. But a couple of days beforehand I read the Rainbow Factory story. It wasn't my initial idea to include it in any way but I've discovered that if I added a few subtle references to the story then I could tie that in with mine and then write a second story going down that route, but I don't want to look like I'm mooching off of Aurora Dawn's idea, but then again if I don't include some references to that story so I can lead on from that then I don't know if I could come up with another story.

 

I really don't know if I should include references or not so I decided to see what you guys think and depending on the majority of replies will decide if I go through with it.

 

Please help me decide.

[Hazardus_Havard. 480]

References should only be used offhandedly or in ways that won't tie in majorly to things like other stories, unless you're trying to write a spin-off.  I know a lot of people write spin-offs from FO:E (Fallout:Equestria) and they're a mixed bunch.  You have to think about who you're targeting to reading your stuff.  By doing that, you're immediately targeting anyone to that story, this one being "Rainbow Factory." 

 

That means you'll get the readers that liked it, and readers that don't.  Personally, I don't care much for that story.  It felt like Cupcakes to me, which is a horrible story that didn't make sense and was only written to be "dark and edgy."

 

For my own writing in my main story, I've made references to Doctor Who, The Elder Scrolls, The Happy Mask Salesman, Goosebumps, X-Men, Batman, Mayan History, and plenty of other things.  They aren't central to the story though, they only add in some interesting bits for some fun, never actually tying the story to anything.  If you were to ever put references in, try not to tie them too closely into your writing unless it's some sort of gag or you're actually writing a spin-off to said story.

[Verily British 145]

Well Hazardus_Havard, I've thought long and hard about what you've said and I've decided that I will keep any Rainbow Factory references out of this piece of work, though it might be a bit more difficult to come up with a follow up story I think that I'll try to keep this particular storyline away from the, as you said, 'dark and edgy' part of writing.

 

I've been told that I'm a rather well spoken and written for my age so I'm sure that if I wish to I could create another OC and storyline to follow on from Rainbow Factory.

 

To be honest this story is to see what the Brony community thinks of my creative writing so I suppose I should also keep any in depth references or 'dark and edgy' stories for later on if I find that a fair few people like my work.

 

Thanks you've been a great help, I can finally continue with my work.

[akita-ken 581]

This topic appears to be a request for feedback on a fan fiction idea and has therefore been moved to Creative Resources. The Fan Fiction board is for showing off and getting critique on actual literary works that you, the topic-starter, have created.