Lately I have seen yet another influx of fan fiction... some good, some bad. It's difficult to not just spam the front page with it.
I'm thinking of limiting it a bit further. I have been lenient with a lot of this stuff, mainly because I don't want to alienate anyone from contributing to the community as a whole... but lately it seems like people are just sending in rough drafts with hopes of getting feedback and editing once they are posted. The pre-readers have done an awesome job of filtering all of this stuff, which is clearly shown by how many 5 star fics I have been tossing into the archive lately.
(More After the Break)
There are a few options here, and obviously feel free to add new ones in the comments below.
1.) I could create a side website, send all stories there for feedback, then spotlight the good stuff here. Fanfiction.net and Deviant Art already seem fine for this, but maybe something specified to pony.
2.) Someone can set up another writers workshop over on ponychan, preferably someone who is good with editing.
3.) I can continue doing what I do now, with heavier requirements.
4.) I can take all "average" stories, and compile them into big fanfiction posts, while continuing to give the really good ones their own setups.
Either way, I really cant post all 15 stories in my box right now all in separate posts. Only ~half of us actually read the fanfics, and a lot of these could really use an editor.
So what do you guys think?
Anyway off to create the Friend Off post!
239 comments:
I agree. There's way too many fics popping up.
ReplyDeleteSO MANY FUGGAN STORIES, HOW THE HELL DO I READ THEM ALL!?!?
Well the first option is without a doubt the best one. This way not only will everyone get the spotlight but the really good ones would end up here any ways. But I'm sure this is the hardest to implement.
ReplyDeleteNumber 3 would be the most practical but then sacrifices will have to be made.
Number 4 will be another good option.
Personally number 1 is the best option
I´m planning on making a fanfic blog myself preserving the continuity to these MLP series while also creating alternate characters. I was also thinking of confronting G1 and G4 ponies, but it´s just a thought. Actually MLP is what got into the habit of writing.
ReplyDeleteI did come up with an original story when I was twelve that did involve creating a pony universe, they even had their own language. MLP FiM is exactly what I wanted to see years ago and that´s why I feel more connected to it than ever before.
@THE BLACK SHEEP CORPORATION
ReplyDeleteAlternate Characters?
OC ponies?
: D
HARMONY WILL TAKE OVER THE WORLD! MWAHAHAHAHAHAAHA
I am vehemently against option 4 because of how cluttered feedback and ratings would get for whatever fics were deemed "average" by the pre-readers. It is a completely flawed concept that delegates fics based on the opinions of a select few and then denies them the chance to be put under the public spotlight and get real feedback. Also, as mentioned above, it would be hard to search for and find your favorites if you wanted to revisit them.
ReplyDeleteOption #1 sounds the best, although I don't see why we can't set up a writer's workshop anyway.
Wasn't there a writing guide? Maybe that should be linked in the Submit section? Or at the header?
ReplyDeleteNumber 4 or 1 sounds good.
ReplyDeleteOption 4 sounds like the best idea to me, with the main problems being the ratings and feedback for each, as well as concerns about what constitutes an "average" fic.
ReplyDeleteWhat if each story got its own page, just as it is now, but have it sent directly to the story archive rather than appearing on the front page? Then, you could put a summary post on the front page with links to (and descriptions of) the individual pages for new fics and updates from that day (or whatever suitable time period). It would help retain the current level of feedback and exposure to new stories, while reducing the clutter on the front page. What do you think?
Option 4 sounds best.
ReplyDeleteoption 1... I like the idea of a dedicated fic website.. get some features to make it WORTH WHILE as a website though... author pages, comments... ratings... categories/tags... and I'd LOVE to see something like "if you like this, bronies thing you would ALSO like..." ... kind of a fic-recs sort of thing... that you can thumb up or down if you agree or disagree... because you have no idea how often I go "wow, this story was awesome. I wish I could get something that 'feels' just like it...
ReplyDeletejust a thought. :)
there may already be fanfiction.net an such, but the 'best' websites for fanfic are "always" the ones dedicated to specific fandoms. especially if you get ourself established 'early' in the fanom.
@frith
ReplyDeleteWell, AO3 is a lot sleeker and has nicer features, but it's still in beta so a few of them don't work quite right. It's also harder to get an account there. In all, though, I like it better.
As for my thoughts on this sight: I like option 1, although that would probably be a lot of work. 4 is probably my favorite of the alternatives.
Sethisto
ReplyDeleteI find everything fine right now.
ReplyDeleteSo... that would be #3 I guess...
I never read the fanfic, and I admit its a little annoying to slog through all the individual fanfic posts. I mostly just come for videos and other things of interest now.
ReplyDeleteI support just saving all your submissions for may 1 or 2 posts a week. Like the way all the fanart is put together. For those people who say it would make it too cluttered for people to give constructive feedback... Well, making you a better writer isn't really what this blog is for.
Go with number one, I don't like inane fan fiction cluttering up the blog.
ReplyDelete@Makkon
ReplyDeleteJust read some fanfic, decide how you feel and quit your self-indulgent whining, Makkon. Nobody cares what you think.
I like option 2, in part because I could use pre-readers myself. Option 4 isn't too bad either. But my advice is that whatever you choose, you're going to be doing it for a long time. Don't give yourself too much extra work and don't get into arguments with writers. Option 2 seems easier because it's community-supported AND most writers will take "Not good enough yet - but these people can help you" better than "Not good enough".
ReplyDeletePersonally, I don't like option #1, just because I don't need another website to keep track of, and I don't like the idea of splitting the fandom. Or...something. That, and while I can't draw for crap, I always enjoy seeing folks enjoying my writing. I'm vain like that. :)
ReplyDeleteOption 3 or 4 seems like the best bet.
Or heck, we might even have occasional writing-workshop threads, in which folks share writing tips and pointers and such?
@Tumbleweed
ReplyDeleteOption 1 doesn't work that way.
Option 1 allows for another website for authors to send in for proofing and feedback. Sethisto already highlights the good pieces of fiction on ED. There are many fics which are floating around which don't get publicised here.
If you have a another site catering to authors, the inflow of good quality fiction should naturally increase.
Ooh! What Lawrence Gander said towards the top sounds like a good idea. I vote for that one! :)
ReplyDelete@Makkon
ReplyDeleteI think you might be underestimating some of the people in this fandom. Though, like any fanfiction writing scene, there are a fair share of poorly executed ideas out there, I was actually rather pleasantly surprised by some of the fiction I've come across here on Equestria Daily. Maybe check out a couple of the 5-star stories over in the Story Archive. Though, of course, if fanfiction just isn't your thing, I completely understand.
It is good practise, however. Although original work is definitely the way to go for growing overall as an artist of any form, creating something in your chosen medium focused on something you enjoy (Read: Ponies) helps you to improve, and even expand upon, fundamentals. It will not turn you into the next best-selling author, but it's a fun way to practise story-writing with a pre-established setting--or, in the instances where it strays from the existing setting, at least gives you a place to draw some inspiration from. The important thing for improving writing is, simply, to write--a personal journal, fanfiction, original stories, whatever it is, if you're doing it consistently, it helps you expand your skills.
And in the end, it's all just a another way to have fun with something you love.
Though I do agree about ponyporn. I do my best to avoid it in 'fic and art, though people are perfectly free to enjoy that in the privacy of their own internet... Really glad it doesn't really show up around here though. XD
Never be sad to be Pony!
I kind of like #4 because Short stories could be put in only one post and big ones in their own posts
ReplyDeleteDo not delete comments you don't like please.
ReplyDeletego with number 1 because the majority of fan fictions are really bad and cluttering up the page.
A combination of 1 and 4 seems best, where all the fics are added to a side site, but a newspost is made at regular intervals (i.e. daily or bi-daily) on this site to make sure people here are aware of what's going on there.
ReplyDeleteOr maybe just add a tag filtering system, where if people don't want to see fanfic posts, they can just filter out any newsposts that are tagged as fanfiction.
Please stop deleting comments you do not like.
ReplyDeleteGo with number 1 because most fan fictions are bad and they are cluttering up the blog.
I'm one of those that read fanfiction, and I would have to say I go with number 1 and maybe 2 or something.
ReplyDeleteI'm very against the kind of fanfiction that seems to be showing up around this fandom. Sure, innocent and cute stories are fine, but the shipping is kind of creepy. It's a kid's show, and all the main characters are females, yet people keep on shipping them together and it grosses me out. If there could be a separate website for that kind of stuff, that would be way better. It's just getting kind of annoying to go to this site and only see shipping fanfiction everywhere.
ReplyDeleteI hate to say it but option 4 sounds best to my typanum.
ReplyDeletetreat the fanfic stories like you do the drawfrind stuff.
ReplyDeletejust a big post with a list of stories. those interested will expand the post and click to the stories interested to them. because there are no previews, like there are with pics, you may still need to include a blurb about each story.
@Chris
ReplyDeleteTo expand on what Chris said, the problem is the quality of the fics, not the number of them. I figure that Option 3 should be the best option. Get a handful of readers and make a VERY strict criteria for what can and can't be admitted. No garbage generic fanfics and absolutely NO spelling/grammar errors.
I say just trim the fat. I trust Seth and his crew can make the smart decisions for the community.
Option 1.
ReplyDeletePonies with nothing better to do can read through as much as they like, and the rest of us get to enjoy a curated experience.
I like the idea of 4, with the divider being short pieces vs. longer ones. "Bon Bon Makes Cookies" goes in a post with all the short pieces for the day, while "Epic Background Journey: Crest must team up with her old foe Lyra to save Bon Bon from the Everfree Forrest, a story in 15 parts" gets it's own post that you bump with updates. There are exceptions, but for the most part, when someone has skipped a round or two of editing, it's for a short work.
ReplyDeleteDividing by length will not only reduce the clutter for those who don't like fanfiction, but will also advantage writers, since those who are weaker won't be flung into a "these are boring; skip" post.
As for quality, I think that adding a permanently linked post (from the submission post, since including it would get overlong) that has a list of beta readers/tips on how to find one of one's own would be helpful. This fandom has a lot of people who haven't been active in the same ways before, so you get someone who just doesn't consider that someone might be willing to proofread their contribution.
Also, I think there would be something positive about seeing how people respond to the other shorts on any given day, sort of like how the drawfriend posts let the artist of one drawing learn from the critique of others' as well as their own.
option 4 imho
ReplyDeleteHave yet to read a good fanfic of anything that wasn't good for it being a joke. :/
ReplyDeleteFanart.. I often don't like, but drawing the ponies is so fun! When it comes to making up random stories about them though...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YpURSoTsk2g
I fear this.
@ 1:03, April 24 Anonymous That's the vibe I get when I see AO3 mentioned on DreamWidth. If I see AO3 invites mentioned, should I point them out to Sethisto, or is it like Dreamwidth invites: easy enough to get if you want them, just lurk the dedicated AO3 community?
ReplyDelete@Anonymous (April 24, 1:03)
ReplyDelete(Blogger seems to have thrown my earlier reply into the spam trap.) Good to hear that AO3 is nice and has potential. I think getting an account shouldn't be too hard, it's probably a question of lurking the appropriate community on Dreamwidth.
I've read some of the fanfic and some of the clopfic and I don't love it nor hate it. What makes me sick to my stomach is clopfic that includes the school aged fillies. That's pretty much pedophilia and is just right out wrong. Furries....whatever. Ponyporn...whatever. But fillieporn? F*** no.
ReplyDeleteI say number one, if a side site is a possibility. The possible costs and what not.
ReplyDeleteFour would be neat if you made new short story sections after so many short story posts. A kind of collection of short stories put into different volumes.
3 is pretty good for a while, but there may be a need to add more or change strategies down the road.
I'm not sure about 2, however. This one feels like a good idea to recruit people in helping with something like number 3, maybe even number 4.
The first option always seem to work on all communities. I'm in one, but it's actually a wiki.
ReplyDelete