• Writer's Training Grounds: "Do Princesses Dream of Magic Sheep" prompts/"Amending Fences" submissions


    Several months of hiatus from pony!  That means no new episodes for a while, but it doesn't mean a hiatus from the training grounds just yet!  We haven't done prompts for some of the early episodes this season (namely, "Bloom and Gloom" and "Tanks for the Memories"), so those will be popping up in the next few weeks.

    First though, it's time to write about this crazy episode we just had!  Find your prompts and submissions below.



    In Dream-Ponyville, ponies can do anything.  Write about the dream adventures of one or more ponies not prominently featured in the episode.

    After her defeat as Nightmare Moon, write about Luna's internal struggles that lead to her decision to create the Tantibus and/or its actual creation.


    The Writer's Training Grounds is a weekly writing exercise in which authors of all skill levels are invited to craft a story based on the prompts provided above. Responses to these prompts are posted directly on Equestria Daily in a weekly compilation post that bypasses the pre-reading process. Authors are then highly encouraged to read comment on, and promote each others' stories -- if you've ever prepared a copy-paste comment for an episode followup, consider doing the same for a fellow WTG participant!

    If you have any prompt ideas for next week's WTG, feel free to chuck them over to fanfiction@equestriadaily.com with the subject line "WTG Prompt Idea" or something similar. We just might use it that week and give you credit!

    Rules:
    • Keep the content appropriate as defined by our submission guidelines.
    • Keep it between 1,000 - 7,000 words. >Greentexts and doorstoppers should apply elsewhere!
    • Keep it to two genres maximum. For the roundup, fics will be grouped by their primary genre.

    When you finish working on your fic, use this form to submit it to the Training Grounds. However, we will require much of the same information as if you were submitting a regular fic as follows, and this document explains what these requirements are.

    1. Story title
    2. Author name
    3. Story description (~1 paragraph maximum)
    4. Word count
    5. Genre tags 
    6. Character tags 
    7. Story URL (must be hosted on FimFiction, GDocs, dA, etc.)
    8. Email address

    The deadline for submission is >>>Saturday, July 18th, at 11:59pm EST!<<<

    As always, please continue to leave us feedback with what works well for these events, what's not working well, your general satisfaction with these, etc. etc. and so on.

    And now, your submissions for "Amending Fences".  We have a bunch today, I'm proud of you guys.



    Normal/Slice of Life

    [Normal] - 2092 words

    Author: The Engineer Pony

    Twilight’s Canterlot friends visit her apartment to play a game, but Twilight’s focus on practicing gravity spells demonstrates how flipped her priorities are.

    Falling Upward

    Characters: Twilight, , 

    [Normal] - 2106 words

    Author: DouglasTrotter

    After rekindling their friendship, Twilight Sparkle and Moondancer decide to test out Haycartes spell. With an unknown book, the two ponies find a rather interesting yet dangerous world.

    What's in a book?

    Characters: Twilight Sparkle, Moondancer, , 

    [Normal] - 3500 words

    Author: Zeck

    Lyra is getting ready to move. Knowing that it'll be the last time they'll all be together in Canterlot, Minuette decides to get all of their friends together to help. Trouble is, Twilight doesn't usually show up for such things, much to Moondancer's dismay. Of course, Minuette knows Twilight's one weakness: Books. And Lyra has plenty of those.

    Mid-Summer Reorganization Day

    Characters: Minuette/Colgate, Lyra, Moondancer

    Comedy/Random

    [Adventure][Comedy] - 3958 words

    Author: Ghostwriterpunpony

    After Moondancer's disaster of a birthday, Minuette comes up with a brilliant plan. Sneak in the the Starswirl the Beirded's Wing, Borrow a time spell and use it to MAKE Twilight go to the party. However, the return of the Mare in the Moon throws a wrench into things

    50th Time's the Charm

    Characters: Minuette, Twilight Sparkle, Prince Blueblood

    Adventure

    [Adventure] - 4500 words

    Author: A Hoof-ful of Dust

    Twilight takes Moondancer through "The Chalice of Moonlight" via Haycartes' spell.

    It's Only a Paper Moon

    Characters: Moondancer, Twilight Sparkle, 

    [Normal][Adventure] - 1325 words

    Author: RABY

    "Make Some Friends," Chapter 1 of an alternate FiM Pilot, where Twilight actually attends Moon Dancer's first party. However, she's still no more interested in making friends than if she hadn't gone. Can Twilight actually let true friendship into her heart in time to stop eternal night?

    The Canterlot Six

    Characters: Twilight Sparkle, Moon Dancer, 

    [Adventure][Normal] - 3200 words

    Author: ScifiPony

    At Cloud Dancer's Party, Lemon Hearts, Twinkleshine, Lyra, Minuette, and I realized that only we stood between a cursed Celestia, a conspiracy in Canterlot, and the coming of Nightmare Moon. Celestia had managed against the geas to train me, appoint me as her crown representative, and send me to oversee the 1000th Summer Summer Celebration in Ponyville. But she'd prevented the royal guard from helping me. Could we, with Shining's help and a hoof-ful of crazy Ponyvillains, save Equestria from nighttime eternal?

    Sisters in All but Blood

    Characters: Twilight Sparkle, Twilight's Canterlot Friends, Shining Armor

    [Adventure] - 7000 words

    Author: SStwins

    Twilight Sparkle and Moondancer have never been close friends. Sure, they sit together in almost every class and they talk some, but Twilight has never been over to Moondancer’s house or vice versa. But sometimes, making one choice can lead you down a different path and change the course of your life forever in ways you could never even realize. What would have happened if Twilight had decided to attend Moondancer’s party?

    The Magic of Friendship

    Characters: Twilight Sparkle, Moondancer, Spike

    Shipping/Romance

    [Shipping] - 2464 words

    Author: Skreeran

    Moondancer has spent days pre-planning, planning, arranging, and finally throwing a party for her friends. It would all be for nothing if Twilight didn't show up. Moondancer didn't throw this party just for fun...

    This Party is Special

    Characters: Moondancer, Twilight Sparkle, 

    Sad

    [Sad][Dark] - 1244 words

    Author: Big League Chew

    Faced with a particularly nasty dilemma, Twilight wonders what could have been.

    Comforting Memories

    Characters: Twilight, Moondancer,