A moment of your time

[Park3s]

I’ve got a little problem and I'd like some outside input.

A couple of months ago I started writing my own side-story on a spontaneous bout of both boredom and admiration for Fallout Equestria having finished the story days beforehand. As of now I’m sitting at around seventy thousands words with chapters ranging between ten and fifteen thousand. I have the entire story planned out; all the arcs and where they lead, recurring plot element and gags, references from both FoE and FiM and character development.

The thing is; up until recently I hadn’t really planned on uploading it or releasing it any form. Since school, writing had only ever been my own personal hobby and until I had written this, I had never considered showing anything to anyone (and being inevitably torn apart by the criticism but I guess that’s part of the creative process and I should just suck it up). Part of me wouldn’t mind throwing up parts of it somewhere for some critic, to see if it has any worth or intrinsic value. Another part just tells me to keep my head down and write for my own fun and amusement; for all I know, I’ve just written seventy-thousand words of pure garbage and its best use could be as a deterrent “don’t do this” example.

Upon reading the latest chapter of Project Horizons, I realize the future chapters will touch upon the same characters (from the show and FoE) that are integral to my side-story. Now I respect the living shit of Somber, Project Horizons and its editors. That’s eight-hundred-thousand words I cannot account for and while I’m not certain on what’s considered canon and what isn’t, I’m sure PH has earned its spot and I do not wish to intrude upon it.

So that’s where my dilemma arises.

I recognize it’s mostly my own fault; I'm months of not years late to this. When I chose to write a side-story, I included by my own creations and used minor ones from FoE as important plot related characters and setting. I have grown attached to what I’ve written, I don’t just want to throw it all away but I also don’t want to get in the way of others who have been doing this for far longer than I have. Even if my story never does see the light of day, it will personally feel somewhat wrong.

I guess it all boils down to what exactly I should do next.

-Use what I’ve already written now as a experience and write something completely different, side-story or not.

-Stop writing, reevaluate/redo the story and try to weave it into another.

-Continue on like I intended but keep the entire thing to myself; no outside editing or readers.

-Try and get it uploaded sometime soon, perhaps I’m just overthinking everything.

If anyone has the spare time, there are some excerpts from the story I have uploaded to googledocs. I'd a comment telling me how meh it is or if there are any glaring conflicts I have missed:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1O8G ... vGWQI/edit
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kLd ... A9vdk/edit

[sargecadet]

You're probably over thinking it. Remember, there are a whole lot of side-fics and lots of them conflict with each other. The canon for the expanded FO:E universe is malleable. Write whatever you want. In my opinion, if you've written that many words then it's worth posting. I'll read what you have. I'm already editing two fics and writing one of my own so I know a little about writing and reading FO:E stuff.

[SilverlightPony]

...while I’m not certain on what’s considered canon and what isn’t,...

Firstly, re. canon: The first season of FiM and Fallout: Equestria itself are canon to Fallout: Equestria, and nothing else. Several of the side-fics and spinoff stories may be labeled "Kkat Approved", which basically means it's earned Kkat's respect as the other author's take on the world of FoE, but does not mean it is canon.

Kkat has, IIRC, said she will not declare any other author's stories to be canon to FoE, partly so that no story steps on another author's toes (so to speak), and partly so it won't seem like she's playing favorites.

Since none of the spinoffs or side-fics are canon, you don't need to worry about whether or not your story contradicts any of them.

Secondly: I think you should post it. It's always a shame when a work of art (regardless of quality, writing is still an art) never sees the light of day. I expect it will be well-received.

I don't have time right now to look over your concept docs, but I'll try to get to them when I get home from work.

[sargecadet]

Just read the first link. It's great. Needs a little editing but I definitely think you should post it.

[Park3s]

...while I’m not certain on what’s considered canon and what isn’t,...

Firstly, re. canon: The first season of FiM and Fallout: Equestria itself are canon to Fallout: Equestria, and nothing else. Several of the side-fics and spinoff stories may be labeled "Kkat Approved", which basically means it's earned Kkat's respect as the other author's take on the world of FoE, but does not mean it is canon.

Kkat has, IIRC, said she will not declare any other author's stories to be canon to FoE, partly so that no story steps on another author's toes (so to speak), and partly so it won't seem like she's playing favorites.

Since none of the spinoffs or side-fics are canon, you don't need to worry about whether or not your story contradicts any of them.

Secondly: I think you should post it. It's always a shame when a work of art (regardless of quality, writing is still an art) never sees the light of day. I expect it will be well-received.

I don't have time right now to look over your concept docs, but I'll try to get to them when I get home from work.

Ah, thanks for the clarification. That's a load off my mind.

Just read the first link. It's great. Needs a little editing but I definitely think you should post it.

Thanks for the read. Any editing was done by myself so I guess that really doesn't count. As for uploading; I'm still a little impartial on that. Think I'll try to get most of the first seven chapters done before I consider it.