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Here we go again, folks!
Before we get started, I want to thank everyone who joined in the first two Friendship is Short Shorts contests. The FiM Writeoff formula has been pretty locked-in for a long time, and there was never a guarantee that we’d get a critical mass of people who would be interested in mixing it up. But we did—twice! Both contests had pretty strong showings. And the 750-1250 word limit felt good.
It’s time to do another 750-1250 round again. I’ll be honest: the structure of our last contest (1000-5000 with a finals round) didn’t feel quite as solid. I’m still working on how I want to restructure those. But that’s not a problem for today! Today we get to let ‘er rip with a contest format that we know works great. I’m excited to see what we come up with, and I hope you’ll join in and make it a good time!
Before we get started, I want to thank everyone who joined in the first two Friendship is Short Shorts contests. The FiM Writeoff formula has been pretty locked-in for a long time, and there was never a guarantee that we’d get a critical mass of people who would be interested in mixing it up. But we did—twice! Both contests had pretty strong showings. And the 750-1250 word limit felt good.
It’s time to do another 750-1250 round again. I’ll be honest: the structure of our last contest (1000-5000 with a finals round) didn’t feel quite as solid. I’m still working on how I want to restructure those. But that’s not a problem for today! Today we get to let ‘er rip with a contest format that we know works great. I’m excited to see what we come up with, and I hope you’ll join in and make it a good time!
>>007Ben
I think that can happen if you and two other people input the exact same prompt.
.... What the heck did you submit?
I think that can happen if you and two other people input the exact same prompt.
.... What the heck did you submit?
>>007Ben
>>Bachiavellian
No, mine apparently has a score of 3 already as well.
Must be a bug.
But I sure am psyched for this round, need a short story to jump start my writing here.
>>Bachiavellian
No, mine apparently has a score of 3 already as well.
Must be a bug.
But I sure am psyched for this round, need a short story to jump start my writing here.
>>Bachiavellian
My prompt’s got three votes and it definitely is not the same as the rest.
My prompt’s got three votes and it definitely is not the same as the rest.
>>Bachiavellian
>>Moosetasm
I mean, it's a moderately common two-word phrase, but it'd be off the charts crazy if another person submitted it, let alone two.
>>Moosetasm
I mean, it's a moderately common two-word phrase, but it'd be off the charts crazy if another person submitted it, let alone two.
>>007Ben
>>Bachiavellian
>>Moosetasm
>>Anon Y Mous
I suspect this was caused by a new voting scheme that Roger is debuting as of this contest. Rather than the traditional "yes/no" voting on prompts, I believe the new scheme offers no less than four options: "bad/meh/good/great." I haven't looked at the actual code commit, but I would guess those options break down to something like 0/3/6/9 points per each. The default option is "meh," which appears to correspond to 3 points...? (Unless it's 0/1/2/3, and everyone by default votes theirs as "great.")
>>Bachiavellian
>>Moosetasm
>>Anon Y Mous
I suspect this was caused by a new voting scheme that Roger is debuting as of this contest. Rather than the traditional "yes/no" voting on prompts, I believe the new scheme offers no less than four options: "bad/meh/good/great." I haven't looked at the actual code commit, but I would guess those options break down to something like 0/3/6/9 points per each. The default option is "meh," which appears to correspond to 3 points...? (Unless it's 0/1/2/3, and everyone by default votes theirs as "great.")
>>CoffeeMinion
Oh, yeah, totally forgot about the new prompt voting system. That's almost definitely what's going on.
Oh, yeah, totally forgot about the new prompt voting system. That's almost definitely what's going on.
>>CoffeeMinion
Yeah, that system is definitely debuting with us.
I love being a guinea pig; it means I can squeak and complain all I want! :D
Edit: I also just realized you can vote that your own prompt is garbage now.
Yeah, that system is definitely debuting with us.
I love being a guinea pig; it means I can squeak and complain all I want! :D
Edit: I also just realized you can vote that your own prompt is garbage now.
I love the new prompt system. It's super cool and fancy and neato.
>>Moosetasm
You could actually do that before, it's just we never did.
>>Moosetasm
You could actually do that before, it's just we never did.
Pretty nifty prompt voting system this round. Much better than just a simple thumbs-up or thumbs-down.
>>CoffeeMinion
Probably not for the writing, but hopefully for the art if something cool happens. Idk, I'll see what I can do in regards to words.
Probably not for the writing, but hopefully for the art if something cool happens. Idk, I'll see what I can do in regards to words.
Schoolwork piled up this weekend, so I won't be able to submit anything. I'll be sure to check out what the rest of you make though.
Blah, it was down to the wire and I only had 500 words of a pretty bad idea. I need to get better at this.
>>Moosetasm
Alas. Sometimes 500 words of a bad idea is great to build on, though! :pinkiesmile:
Alas. Sometimes 500 words of a bad idea is great to build on, though! :pinkiesmile:
It’s mashups time again, kids!
The Meaning of Tempest: In adulthood, Sandbar decides to study psychiatry in the hopes of bringing greater chillness to his fellow creatures. Unfortunately, part of Discord’s court-ordered treatment program (after atomizing Fluttershy) is to see a psychiatrist. Can Sandbar stay sane (and stave off being atomized) long enough to decipher Discord’s nonsense? Thanks to the timely intervention of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the answer is yes.
Sink or Sparky: It’s the season’s wackiest black comedy, where Twilight literally cannot stop trying to drown herself over her unrequited love, but also can’t die because she’s immortal! ...Wait, no, that not a comedy, that’s awful.
Shatterhooves-On Lesson: After failing to connect with the martially-minded Tempest through traditional means, Starlight decides to share the magic of friendship by getting herself and Tempest Isekai’d into a Power Ponies comic in the hopes that they can punch villains together. Things get awkward when the comic casts Tempest as a gardening-shears-themed anti-hero and Starlight as a sapient do-gooding plant that can only communicate by saying, “I am Phyllis.”
Hearth and the Meaning of Lessons: Amplitude wants to become a champion swimmer like his grandpa was. Starlight wants him to spend time making friends with Tempest instead, so that Starlight can make her monthly quota of students converted to the goodness of friendship. In the end, a giant turtle visits her in a dream and tells her to stop being such a tool.
The Meaning of Tempest: In adulthood, Sandbar decides to study psychiatry in the hopes of bringing greater chillness to his fellow creatures. Unfortunately, part of Discord’s court-ordered treatment program (after atomizing Fluttershy) is to see a psychiatrist. Can Sandbar stay sane (and stave off being atomized) long enough to decipher Discord’s nonsense? Thanks to the timely intervention of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, the answer is yes.
Sink or Sparky: It’s the season’s wackiest black comedy, where Twilight literally cannot stop trying to drown herself over her unrequited love, but also can’t die because she’s immortal! ...Wait, no, that not a comedy, that’s awful.
Shatterhooves-On Lesson: After failing to connect with the martially-minded Tempest through traditional means, Starlight decides to share the magic of friendship by getting herself and Tempest Isekai’d into a Power Ponies comic in the hopes that they can punch villains together. Things get awkward when the comic casts Tempest as a gardening-shears-themed anti-hero and Starlight as a sapient do-gooding plant that can only communicate by saying, “I am Phyllis.”
Hearth and the Meaning of Lessons: Amplitude wants to become a champion swimmer like his grandpa was. Starlight wants him to spend time making friends with Tempest instead, so that Starlight can make her monthly quota of students converted to the goodness of friendship. In the end, a giant turtle visits her in a dream and tells her to stop being such a tool.
And that’s all, folks!
Thank you to everyone who read, voted, and/or reviewed. This was kind of a small round, but you guys made it great regardless. Special congratulations to my fellow medalists Bachi and Miller. Please remember to vote and provide feedback on the art, and we’ll see all y’all next time!
For those migrating their fics to FimFiction (which oughtta be everyone), the story folder is here: https://www.fimfiction.net/group/200535/folder/69519/2019-11-against-the-current
Thank you to everyone who read, voted, and/or reviewed. This was kind of a small round, but you guys made it great regardless. Special congratulations to my fellow medalists Bachi and Miller. Please remember to vote and provide feedback on the art, and we’ll see all y’all next time!
For those migrating their fics to FimFiction (which oughtta be everyone), the story folder is here: https://www.fimfiction.net/group/200535/folder/69519/2019-11-against-the-current
>>CoffeeMinion
I'm tempted to make this a real story.
Sink or Sparky: It’s the season’s wackiest black comedy, where Twilight literally cannot stop trying to drown herself over her unrequited love, but also can’t die because she’s immortal! ...Wait, no, that not a comedy, that’s awful.
I'm tempted to make this a real story.
If anyone is still looking here.....
I wanted to say thank you to Coffee and Bachi for their comments on the art! It was very much appreciated. <<3 Ironically ‘To Grandmother’s House’ was the one I was dreading to do the most.
I only wanted to do one or two, but then I wanted to do three or four and by that time I knew that I had to do all of them.
I’ll address some concerns you guys may have had. I’m sorry to shatter hoof for having such a bad cover! I wanted to make it true to a comic, but the lines turned out soooooo bad. And I didn’t even get the font that I wanted. The text options didn’t have it :((
Also! For The Sink or Swim one I did reference the picture of Ophelia as Sunset. I’m glad Delusionalism caught it. In the back left is the tub which is concealed by a transparent curtain. Top right is a door opening, and in the front is the phone next to a towel on the sink.
My favorite one to do was the first one, Chill Vibes. Ahhh. So calming.
I wanted to say thank you to Coffee and Bachi for their comments on the art! It was very much appreciated. <<3 Ironically ‘To Grandmother’s House’ was the one I was dreading to do the most.
I only wanted to do one or two, but then I wanted to do three or four and by that time I knew that I had to do all of them.
I’ll address some concerns you guys may have had. I’m sorry to shatter hoof for having such a bad cover! I wanted to make it true to a comic, but the lines turned out soooooo bad. And I didn’t even get the font that I wanted. The text options didn’t have it :((
Also! For The Sink or Swim one I did reference the picture of Ophelia as Sunset. I’m glad Delusionalism caught it. In the back left is the tub which is concealed by a transparent curtain. Top right is a door opening, and in the front is the phone next to a towel on the sink.
My favorite one to do was the first one, Chill Vibes. Ahhh. So calming.
>>Anon Y Mous
Don't worry. I'm not quite finished here yet. I still got a retro to post after all.
This is on the spur of the moment, but I'd figure it'd be best to pop the question now. In the future, can I use To Grandmother's House We Go as cover art? Of course I got a lot of work ahead of me to polish it, so it'll be a while before you see any results. But first, I wanted to ask your permission since it is such a beautiful piece.
Don't worry. I'm not quite finished here yet. I still got a retro to post after all.
This is on the spur of the moment, but I'd figure it'd be best to pop the question now. In the future, can I use To Grandmother's House We Go as cover art? Of course I got a lot of work ahead of me to polish it, so it'll be a while before you see any results. But first, I wanted to ask your permission since it is such a beautiful piece.
>>Anon Y Mous
Anon, thank you so much for doing art for all the stories! That is an awesome thing, and I know personally that it is a thrill to see my stories inspire something.
(Also, apologies for the late reply here -- I blame the holidaze)
Anon, thank you so much for doing art for all the stories! That is an awesome thing, and I know personally that it is a thrill to see my stories inspire something.
(Also, apologies for the late reply here -- I blame the holidaze)