How To Be Original in Fanfics

[Sergios117 192]

Disclaimer: While I consider my self overall a beginning writer, I know how to spot originality when I see it even if I'm not being original myself. The following is what I consider original on a personal level.

 

Anyway, I've noticed on Fimfiction and Equestria daily that the three most popular genres of pony fiction are human stories, crossovers and shipping. However, a lot of the stories within each genre are one the same. Here's how to shake up the formula in these types of stories. Sorry if it's long.

 

NUMBER 1: HUMAN STORIES!

 

*Now my main gripe in these stories is that the human just ends up in Equestria most of the time for death. That is annoying. Equestria is not an afterlife and while fiction is fiction, ending up in Equestria or a lighting storm through death is immersion breaking. 

 

For example, have the humans go to Equestria through a teleporter or in my case, a transport ship. Any of these are a better excuse than just dying and ending up there.

 

*Another thing that gets on my nerves is how the human just accepts everything. Seriously, if you went to a world where english speaking mythical creature's exist, wouldn't you be freaking out? Also, why should a human just accept everything the Mane 6 tells them, shouldn't they point out how illogical a lot of things are in Equestria? Don't make your human an ideological push over. Create some conflict. Finally if the Mane 6 are told that their life is a show, they should be freaking out as well.

 

In my story, my human OCs are not accepting everything at all. They are aware that the planet isn't right and aren't going to accept magic for an answer and drop the subject easily. Good humans should have a desire to inquire or else they're lazy.

 

*Finally, make your humans diverse. Enough with the 20 year old guy ends up in Equestria. Go for something like firefighter, politician, teacher, or doctor in Equestria and play off their professions. I am writing a 'soldier in Equestria fic' but they're not bland. They can go from dark and violent, to arrogant and cheeky fast. Furthermore, soldiers aren't stupid, they can question things as well.

 

HUMANS ARE NOT LIMITED TO ONE PERSONALITY TRAIT!

 

NUMBER 2: SHIPPING

 

Okay I'll admit, it is not such much as how the story goes as much as it's the pairing. Bronies seem to be obsessed with the same pairing all the time. Now you can just tell me to ignore shipping but here's the thing, many bronies like myself enjoy romance, but we don't want OctaScratch, AppleDash, RariJack, and TwiDash shoved down our throats everytime as our only option.

 

This also reminds me that bronies will accept a pairing only if it's angry love. Seriously, look at the 4 previous shippings I listed. Most stroreis about them involve the mares yelling at each other, realizing they like each other for some reason and make love. THE END. No offense, but just because ponies argue, doesn't mean they're in love. Furthermore, just because two mares are close, doesn't mean they love each other unless they were lesbians and the idea of a world filled with homosexuals seems laughable. Being gay or lesbian is not a choice you can make regardless of species. You're born that way and just because a town is mature enough to accept your biology doesn't mean the entire town shares your sexual orientation the same way it doesn't share your hair color. Stop making ponies "go" gay in your fics unless it was their biological condition from the start. (sorry for the rant)

 

For alternate pairings that would make you stand out try:

 

Pinkie with Vinyl Scratch or Neon Lights or some combination with the three. Not because they were together in the "Pony Rock" song but because they're party ponies anyway.

 

Try Rainbow Dash with Spitfire or Soarin or Soarin with Spitfire. Despite the fact that all 3 love flying and have the same destiny, no one seems to write stories about Wonderbolt shipping. 

 

Lyra with Dr Whooves. You could write a story about Lyra bugging the the Dr. due his supposed past as a human. There haven't been stories like that.

 

Try Rarity with either Octavia or Frederic considering that they enjoyed the fancy lifestyle. Octavia and Frederic are in the same band anyway.

 

Try Applejack with Caramel since they're farm ponies. Apples and Caramel go well together in real life anyway. Or try Applejack times Soarin because we all know what Soarin loves to eat.

 

Try Derpy with Screwball because they're both clumsy. There seems to be no following with them.

 

 

NUMBER 3: CROSSOVERS! (Video Games)

 

This time it is a matter of what you crossover. For example, I love Halo A LOT, but too many bronies keep writing Halo fics and they're very monotonus. Master Chief crashes into Equestria on the Forward Unto Dawn and the Covenant invade. Yawn. There are also way too many Mass Effect and Warhammer 40K crossovers. I get that you like them, I love them, but they loose meaning.

 

Also do NOT try to crossover a military shooter in Equestria because the characters are bland. (Although there are some exceptions like Spec Ops the Line fics dealing with insanity).

 

Furthermore, do NOT ponify. It ruins the immersion and the characters have to go through a period to convince everypony that they are not from Equestria. When we think of our favourite characters, we imagine them as the species they are, not as ponies. 

 

However, if it is a ponfied version of a story like Fallout Equestria, then it is fine.

 

For crossovers to consider I recommend:

 

Watch Dogs: Aiden ends up in Equestria through hacking a machine or something and must survive in a world with no tech.

 

Destiny:  The humans from the game are from a world with both magic and advanced technology  it would be interesting and the humans have plenty of reason to visit Equestria.

 

A humanized Red Dead Redemption with John Marston in Appaloosa encountering the Apple Family. It could create a great southern fic.

 

Far Cry 3 Blood Dragon: The Main character ends up in Equestria and annoys everypony with his 80's action hero ways.

 

Hope this gives you ideas. Sorry if it was long.

[Lily_Mae 36]

You, sir, have summed up my thoughts regarding MLP fanfics. May I suggest writing a ponified Deus Ex - MLP crossover? I think that idea's rather great too.

[websterhamster 203]

Hay there, I think this is a great guide! One thing though, I don't think the Mane 6 would necessarily freak out if you told them they were a show, they probably either wouldn't believe you or would react the same way you would react if a pony came and told you were just a show.

[Silver Letter 1,832]

I agree that many can try harder to be original in their stories. I realize that we all derive inspiration from things but we shouldn’t go and simply copy ideas. Many good writers use their own imaginations often to make good narrative. 

[Ampharos 1,009]

These are all really great points and have possibly inspired me to possibly write a fanfic with these guidelines. Maybe. But anyways I read this comic and the main characters were Dr. Whooves, Lyra, and Derpy. It's pretty interesting and I'll send you a link if I ever find it again. 

 

Edit: Just telling you about the comic cuz you said you never saw Dr. Whooves and Lyra stuff

Edited July 7, 2013 by Ampharos