Okay, I have a fanfiction I have been working on for some time now, and recently one of my close assistants left, leaving me sadly short of a third opinion. Now, although I have a faithful companion in Raindrops/Lyra, I really want to make this piece shine, and for that I'll need all the help I can get; you see, my brainstorming is taking a while (over 2 months, nearing 3), and with so much to build I'm worried that a few areas might be left glaringly underdeveloped or in need of rennovation. Now, I know this might be asking a lot, and its okay if you folks don't want to help (the internet is large and the brony community widespread), but I would like to check anyways. Now, about the fiction: this is a slightly darker piece (it isn't a shock-fic or anything, don't worry), born of a simple thought experiment: if one was to build Equestria's history with the start of cave-ponies and an ending at least slightly resembling Equestria, how would it turn out? After following that trail for some time, I have created an alternate Equestria; very, very similar to the one we all know, but different, and with a full history, and political, economic, and technological systems (hooves, after all, tend to be more difficult to utilize than opposable thumbs). Now, I won't go into every detail of that in the fiction-this is not an encyclopedia- but it still means that it would be useful to have a helper or two that doesn't mind talking politics (and preferably isn't bored to tears by a little history). This is a political drama, after all. So does anyone have input, suggestions, advice, opinions, or the like? (also, if you'd like to get involved and have the full thing explained in however much detail you wish, please say so). Also, no stealing my stuff without asking, please, I don't mind sharing a universe, plotpoint, or an idea or two, but I do like to know about it first (or even help out, if that wouldn't be too much)
A deep political plot is out of the scope of my knowledge or abilities. I like the depth of what you're trying to do. Equestria Daily and PonyChan both have a plethora of guides. They pretty much cover everything, including things the fandom expects of certain aspects. My own story breaks many rules and is likely why it cannot be on EQD in its current form. What are you trying to improve on? If it's story, inspiration can come from anything. More technical things could be built from your ideas, or perhaps reading another fiction of a similar theme could inspire or push an idea to completion. I have read several major fictions, though the ones that inspired me to write at all are completely opposite of my own. If you're interested in writing form or structure, perhaps a type of prose, you could read a book and gain ideas for that. I'm reading "Eye of the World" by Robert Jordan occasionally. I have adapted similar styles into my own writing (though his type is a bit too archaic or medieval for mine).
Well, It's a combination of story, character, and technical aspects; I just feel that, with so much to talk about, that I need some people to bounce ideas off of and help me get out of writing holes(where I just can't figure out a way around something). You see, this is my first real fanfiction project of any large size, so I'm a little overwhelmed; I just have too much world to make it detailed and believable all by myself. I need as many active conversations as possible to help me build such so many characters and systems with the maximum amount of depth and interest. However, if I manage to complete this, I can happily say that I will be able to look back on it in pride, even if it doesn't get many views or make it to Equestria Daily-I'll be happy knowing I made something like this, and I feel it will help me both as an analyst and a writer immensely. (those other things would make me jump with joy, of course) Also, you don't have to know all too much about politics to help; a prior knowledge of real-world examples can be helpful, but it also can limit one's imagination and creativity. Of course, you probably don't care all too much for systems in a fanfiction, which is perfectly understandable, I'd just like to throw it out there that the qualifying trait here isn't prior knowledge so much as it is interest (boredom and the like are killers for everyone involved), and I am willing to not delve into any topic a brainstorming helper doesn't have interest in-I wouldn't subject anyone to that. Thanks for the tips however, I'll keep those in mind! Thank you very much.
You have to remember that your world is the way you make it. It doesn't have to be the same as everyone else's world. The fanfic that inspired me to write was "Spark" by AVeryStrange, and it was love fic. I hadn't felt compelled to write until the Epilogue chapter, but I was fascinated by the depth of the story. "Common Sky" left me with very strong imagery while "The Ballad of Twilight Sparkle" gave me a deep, interconnected world with loving and comical characters. And all of that inspired me to attempt writing a shipping fic. Though, without completing it, I began on "[The] Quiet Place" which is more like a dark fantasy. What inspires us and where we find inspiration tend to be fickle for me. Sometimes I just sit down, read what I wrote, and formulate a scene with rewriting an older part to sound better or just picking up where I left off, regardless of a previous idea to go off of. Remember, it's how *you* imagine it. Then, it's you conveying that imagination into your reader. I tend to be bad or vague at purple prose. Sometimes it's intentional so as not to clutter a scene with too much detail, but also to let the reader's imagination run wild. It's ponies, so not every single thing needs to be explained, which is also part of how the show operates.
You certainly are right, and maybe I'm misunderstanding you, but this current, rather overwhelming, setting that I've placed myself in was a purposeful choice; it's just that I misjudged a few things, and I may be a little overambitious. However, your posts have helped me to look closer at exactly why I'm feeling the need to go out looking for help, and I've come to a rather odd conclusion: really, it is that the secondary and third opinions that get me out of linear thinking, which has been what has helped me build a number of diverse characters for Cloudsdale, and yet am completely stumped now; in many ways, I just need to find a way to think more constructively for characters and plots (it must be something subconscious, who knows). But, for some odd reason, by recognizing this I'm actually finding it easier to focus on what I need to do, and I'm thinking more creatively as a whole, so I really, really thank you for that! Also, about the previously mentioned guides...do you happen to have links by any chance? I'm having some difficulty finding any beyond the Equestria Daily Omnibus.
