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>>Monokeras I am Negan Roger.
(really hoping to participate in this one; it's been too long since I've written some poniponii)
(really hoping to participate in this one; it's been too long since I've written some poniponii)
>>Monokeras
You disappoint me, I thought you could live up to the legend, but alas, it seems the years have been cruel, and the weather not merciful.
Now sing with me, >>QuillScratch
*Cough* *Cough*
Every word written right here,
Even those that disappear,
It's a miracle.
Authors' creations, great and small,
The ones that win and the ones that fall
That's a miracle.
Pony stories being praised,
Authors, readers both amazed
It's a miracle.
We're having a miracle on Earth,
Father Rodger does it all for us.
You disappoint me, I thought you could live up to the legend, but alas, it seems the years have been cruel, and the weather not merciful.
Now sing with me, >>QuillScratch
*Cough* *Cough*
Every word written right here,
Even those that disappear,
It's a miracle.
Authors' creations, great and small,
The ones that win and the ones that fall
That's a miracle.
Pony stories being praised,
Authors, readers both amazed
It's a miracle.
We're having a miracle on Earth,
Father Rodger does it all for us.
I've only ever written a handful of pieces over 2,000 words long. Let's see how well this goes.
It's ok, guys. I'm here. There's no reason to worry anymore.
Anyway, really looking forward to practicing my art skills. (Can we do one where the fic is based on the art again?)
Anyway, really looking forward to practicing my art skills. (Can we do one where the fic is based on the art again?)
I'm going into this one with absolutely no ideas on the stove right now... which usually bodes pretty ill on my chances of entering. Here's hoping that we get a particularly inspiring prompt this time 'round.
I hope to participate as well! Though in the interest of health and sanity, I will probably not continue my recent-past practice of a Sunday all-nighter if writing time fails to materialize earlier in the weekend. Here's hoping it does!
>>MLPmatthewl419
I second doing another fic based on art round!
Also gonna hopefully participate this time. I've been, uhh, life-changingly sick for the past while now, and I'm hoping there's still something I can make myself do with my time other than stare at walls!
I second doing another fic based on art round!
Also gonna hopefully participate this time. I've been, uhh, life-changingly sick for the past while now, and I'm hoping there's still something I can make myself do with my time other than stare at walls!
Hi! I like shorts! They're comfy and easy to write!
*ring*
Remember my super cool short? My short is different from regular shorts. It’s like my short is in the top percentage of shorts.
*ring*
Remember my super cool short? My short is different from regular shorts. It’s like my short is in the top percentage of shorts.
Saw Cold in Gardez's plug for this. Not sure if I'm up to it, but if you never try, how will you know. Right?
>>Lamplighter
Welcome! (In a non-creepy, not-Starlight's-village sort of way)
In Writeoff! In Writeoff!
We can set you right.
You can't have a badfic
If you never write.
Welcome! (In a non-creepy, not-Starlight's-village sort of way)
In Writeoff! In Writeoff!
We can set you right.
You can't have a badfic
If you never write.
Twice Upon a Time...
Alone on Hearth's Warming? Hold Your Horses! Forbidden Fruit. A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes. Big Wave On the Flip of a Coin.
Time Ticking Away
Happily Ever After Beyond the Blue, An Ever-ending Dream, Headlong Flight Off the Record. Gloria in Excelsis, Fillies and Gentlecolts, We Are Floating In Space Among the Clouds, Against the Wind! Bustin' Makes Me Feel Good!
The Time We Waste
Complete a Tale You Left Unfinished in a Prior Round--nOt A Good Bildungsroman! Getting Vaguely Positive Comments but Doing Poorly in Voting. Hindsight is 20/20. Indelible title case, Days Neither Fun Nor Free.
Clip Clop, Clock. Is. Ticking.
Me Among the Mighty, A Winter Harbinger Here at the End of all Things. Old Abram Brown is Dead and Gone. Light on Frozen Fields At Last. And Then, Things Got Worse.
A Hearth's Warming Eve That Never Was...
Pony was Dead, to Begin With.
Alone on Hearth's Warming? Hold Your Horses! Forbidden Fruit. A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes. Big Wave On the Flip of a Coin.
Time Ticking Away
Happily Ever After Beyond the Blue, An Ever-ending Dream, Headlong Flight Off the Record. Gloria in Excelsis, Fillies and Gentlecolts, We Are Floating In Space Among the Clouds, Against the Wind! Bustin' Makes Me Feel Good!
The Time We Waste
Complete a Tale You Left Unfinished in a Prior Round--nOt A Good Bildungsroman! Getting Vaguely Positive Comments but Doing Poorly in Voting. Hindsight is 20/20. Indelible title case, Days Neither Fun Nor Free.
Clip Clop, Clock. Is. Ticking.
Me Among the Mighty, A Winter Harbinger Here at the End of all Things. Old Abram Brown is Dead and Gone. Light on Frozen Fields At Last. And Then, Things Got Worse.
A Hearth's Warming Eve That Never Was...
Pony was Dead, to Begin With.
>>GroaningGreyAgony
Ouch. Too true...
Getting Vaguely Positive Comments but Doing Poorly in Voting. Hindsight is 20/20.
Ouch. Too true...
Belated announcement: The pic round for this event will be held after the fic round for our first fic2pic experiment. I'm still finishing the code up so it'll work so just don't submit any pics in the meantime.
I have a perfect idea for this one. I already have written down a long page of notes and I never have to do that when composing a story.
So I'm in likeMichael Flynn original sin foreskin somepony who is in.
So I'm in like
>>GroaningGreyAgony
I don't see why everything ending can't be cheerful.
Then again, that might be why some of my best stories get a hoofful of downvotes.
I don't see why everything ending can't be cheerful.
Then again, that might be why some of my best stories get a hoofful of downvotes.
That awesome moment when the prompt fits your preplanned idea. I'm quickly running out of excuses for not putting forward something good this round.
>>007Ben
That itchy moment when you try desperately to convince yourself that you can make the prompt fit your preplanned idea...
Mike
That itchy moment when you try desperately to convince yourself that you can make the prompt fit your preplanned idea...
Mike
>>007Ben
>>Baal Bunny
That moment when you realize the best stories come from when the prompt doesn't fit your preplanned idea, so you have to come up with a new one on the spot. :twilightsmile:
>>Baal Bunny
That moment when you realize the best stories come from when the prompt doesn't fit your preplanned idea, so you have to come up with a new one on the spot. :twilightsmile:
>>Baal Bunny I have a worse problem. I saw "Here at the End of all Things" and my first immediate (and disturbing) thought was "Rainbow Dash - Proctologist"
Now I need to go wash my brain out. Sigh.
Now I need to go wash my brain out. Sigh.
Oh... Wow, didn't expect my prompt to win... Now I wish I had come up with a story to go with it.
>inb4 half the entries are armageddon stories and the other half are about alicorns at the end of time
Well, butter me up and call me a biscuit, I thought of something. Let's see if I can finish it before the deadline and not turn the ending into a total rushjob like I usually do.
I may have an idea, but it's more suited to a minific round. I'll have to stretch it to 2000
>>Winston
Check your notification options in Preferences.
Personally I received the email without problems.
Check your notification options in Preferences.
Personally I received the email without problems.
>>Baal Bunny
Yup. Been there.
>>Trick_Question
Forgive me for setting the bar low, but if I can muster up the motivation to write, it's a good day in my book.
Yup. Been there.
>>Trick_Question
Forgive me for setting the bar low, but if I can muster up the motivation to write, it's a good day in my book.
Ugh, guys, I'm a terrible writer. I was actually giving it a real try, you know? Jotting down ideas, taking a stab at writing one...and then I realized they're all character pieces, ALL of the ideas, like, what was so-and-so thinking when THIS big thing happened, and what led up to it? What drove their behavior? But there isn't a POINT to the stories because they aren't actually STORIES and we all know what's going to happen at the end. Ugh. I so totally suck. This is why I'm not a real active writer...
>>Kitcat36 Nothing about that sounds as though you should abandon it. It could be quite interesting, on the other hand.
Go for it.
Go for it.
>>Kitcat36
I'll make you a deal: you go ahead with what you've got, and I will with what I've got.
Cuz what I've got is pretty much bupkus, mind you. Just really terrible, weird, or extremely-obviously-written-by-me ideas. But if you're flagging, you should know that you've got fellow Writeoff people out there doing it for fun as well.
I'll make you a deal: you go ahead with what you've got, and I will with what I've got.
Cuz what I've got is pretty much bupkus, mind you. Just really terrible, weird, or extremely-obviously-written-by-me ideas. But if you're flagging, you should know that you've got fellow Writeoff people out there doing it for fun as well.
>>CoffeeMinion
Thanks, CoffeeMinion. I'm continuing to work on it, but I'm really skeptical it'll turn into anything particularly worthwhile. My current idea feels pretty darn pathetic. It's reading like a summary, and that's no good. I'm trying not to compromise my anonymity but it's hard, darnit, especially when I wish so much for help! *sigh* Well, I suppose people will just have to struggle through my story? It'll probably be really boring.
You're a good writer, though, so I really think you at least ought to continue. I bet you'll turn out something that at the very least is full of potential for further review and improvement and editing. Even if it comes out rough, it'll still be like the rough containing a diamond, you know? Most likely. Same goes for all the really big name, experienced authors in here, I think. I only hope I end up with something worth improving with feedback.
Thanks, CoffeeMinion. I'm continuing to work on it, but I'm really skeptical it'll turn into anything particularly worthwhile. My current idea feels pretty darn pathetic. It's reading like a summary, and that's no good. I'm trying not to compromise my anonymity but it's hard, darnit, especially when I wish so much for help! *sigh* Well, I suppose people will just have to struggle through my story? It'll probably be really boring.
You're a good writer, though, so I really think you at least ought to continue. I bet you'll turn out something that at the very least is full of potential for further review and improvement and editing. Even if it comes out rough, it'll still be like the rough containing a diamond, you know? Most likely. Same goes for all the really big name, experienced authors in here, I think. I only hope I end up with something worth improving with feedback.
Hello! I'm new here and I can't seem to wrap my head around how this website works.
What is the prompt this time?
What is the prompt this time?
>>discord
The prompt is "Here at the End of all Things."
I had a hard time with the website when I first visited it, too. I've lurked around here enough that I'm modestly proficient with it, though others are sure to be much better than me.
Yes, the prompt really is just "Here at the End of all Things." There's not more to it. It's the title of this write-off, too. It threw me off a lot at first, being set up that way, so I'm hoping this helps.
The prompt is "Here at the End of all Things."
I had a hard time with the website when I first visited it, too. I've lurked around here enough that I'm modestly proficient with it, though others are sure to be much better than me.
Yes, the prompt really is just "Here at the End of all Things." There's not more to it. It's the title of this write-off, too. It threw me off a lot at first, being set up that way, so I'm hoping this helps.
Post by
Garzeel
, deleted
>>discord
Yeah, I know what you mean. It takes some adjustment to get used to the idea of a few vague words as a prompt. You don't have to do something really obvious but there should be a connection to the prompt phrase somewhere that the reader can pick up/figure out, even if it's a bit tenuous. Try some brainstorming: open a gdoc and type out--in sentence fragments, cuz this is quick brainstorming and the typing equivalent of jotting--some vague ideas, what the phrase makes you think of, then in particular with regards to ponies, follow some of those thoughts to more concrete ones... Just experiment around. I'm no expert and not much of a writer but that ought to get you thinking, at least.
The prompt isn't so much whatI think of when I think of a prompt; think of it more as a...a theme, maybe.
Yeah, I know what you mean. It takes some adjustment to get used to the idea of a few vague words as a prompt. You don't have to do something really obvious but there should be a connection to the prompt phrase somewhere that the reader can pick up/figure out, even if it's a bit tenuous. Try some brainstorming: open a gdoc and type out--in sentence fragments, cuz this is quick brainstorming and the typing equivalent of jotting--some vague ideas, what the phrase makes you think of, then in particular with regards to ponies, follow some of those thoughts to more concrete ones... Just experiment around. I'm no expert and not much of a writer but that ought to get you thinking, at least.
The prompt isn't so much whatI think of when I think of a prompt; think of it more as a...a theme, maybe.
>>Kitcat36
Nothing wrong with character pieces. If that's what you come up with, that's fine.
Nothing wrong with character pieces. If that's what you come up with, that's fine.
>>Kitcat36
You’re much too kind. But while I agree there are some very talented folks running around here, I think by far the more common experience is to produce something flawed in a variety of interesting ways. (++EDIT++ and the point there is that things don't have to be perfect to be valued, notwithstanding the very high likelihood of the "usual suspects" continuing to produce a high quality of output.)
I might be on the cusp of a write-able idea, though. Gonna need some time tomorrow to make it happen, but I’ve got a summary/synopsis that I think I can live with.
You’re much too kind. But while I agree there are some very talented folks running around here, I think by far the more common experience is to produce something flawed in a variety of interesting ways. (++EDIT++ and the point there is that things don't have to be perfect to be valued, notwithstanding the very high likelihood of the "usual suspects" continuing to produce a high quality of output.)
I might be on the cusp of a write-able idea, though. Gonna need some time tomorrow to make it happen, but I’ve got a summary/synopsis that I think I can live with.
>>discord
Welcome to the Writeoff!
>>Kitcat36
The time limit is the hardest part I believe, as it may clash with real-life constraints. And it takes some time just to develop some ideas. But if you have something in mind, go for it! The important thing is to have fun and get useful feedback.
And I struggled too understanding how the site worked at first.
Welcome to the Writeoff!
>>Kitcat36
The time limit is the hardest part I believe, as it may clash with real-life constraints. And it takes some time just to develop some ideas. But if you have something in mind, go for it! The important thing is to have fun and get useful feedback.
And I struggled too understanding how the site worked at first.
>>Trick_Question
I should be very clear that I'm NOT trying to shame anyone for writing (or enjoying!) one of those types of stories. (I may or may not be working on one of those myself. As >>Kitcat36 notes, the prompt is what it is, and it's an awfully specific prompt.)
It's just that we've danced this dance before. The more specific the prompt gets, the more samey the stories look. It gets tougher to write something fresh, takes more work to do the reading, gives the critique a sharper edge as the more active reviewers keep reading similar stories over and over.
So, I guess, if I did have a point, it is: Let's make a point to be more gentle in critique this round, especially wrt originality. This goes double because (based on the comment thread) we've most likely got more new authors than usual.
Let's also acknowledge that just finishing a story in 72 hours is a significant feat. Regardless of the feedback you get, you've accomplished something most people never approach, and you've done a good thing putting yourself out there.
I should be very clear that I'm NOT trying to shame anyone for writing (or enjoying!) one of those types of stories. (I may or may not be working on one of those myself. As >>Kitcat36 notes, the prompt is what it is, and it's an awfully specific prompt.)
It's just that we've danced this dance before. The more specific the prompt gets, the more samey the stories look. It gets tougher to write something fresh, takes more work to do the reading, gives the critique a sharper edge as the more active reviewers keep reading similar stories over and over.
So, I guess, if I did have a point, it is: Let's make a point to be more gentle in critique this round, especially wrt originality. This goes double because (based on the comment thread) we've most likely got more new authors than usual.
Let's also acknowledge that just finishing a story in 72 hours is a significant feat. Regardless of the feedback you get, you've accomplished something most people never approach, and you've done a good thing putting yourself out there.
>>horizon A good strategy is to just make your reference to the prompt as perfunctory and lame as possible. Maybe your story is about Sunset taking Twilight to the mall to buy her a new pack of panty liners, but Twilight's been licking toads all day, and she just won't stop referencing Lord of the Rings.
>>Posh
This is exactly what you do. I got handed "On a Moonless Night" as a prompt once. So I wrote about Trixie stealing everypony' s butts. Because moon -> mooning -> butts.
I will note that I also have a story named "End of a Rainbow" that is also about butts and not a cupcakes ripoff.
What I'm saying is, if you try hard enough, any prompt can be about butts.
This is exactly what you do. I got handed "On a Moonless Night" as a prompt once. So I wrote about Trixie stealing everypony' s butts. Because moon -> mooning -> butts.
I will note that I also have a story named "End of a Rainbow" that is also about butts and not a cupcakes ripoff.
What I'm saying is, if you try hard enough, any prompt can be about butts.
>>kits
Seeing how the prompt this time is "Here at the End of all Things", you don't even have to try too hard.
if you try hard enough, any prompt can be about butts.
Seeing how the prompt this time is "Here at the End of all Things", you don't even have to try too hard.
>>Zaid Val'Roa
>inb4 1/4 the entries are armageddon stories, 1/4 are about alicorns at the end of time, and 3/4 are about butts
>inb4 1/4 the entries are armageddon stories, 1/4 are about alicorns at the end of time, and 3/4 are about butts
>>horizon
>>horizon
Oh come on, people can always write comedy fics about something that is not the end of the world, but someone is acting as if it is. I expect at least one of those.
Something like Absolute Anonymous's A Million Things to Do would also fit, as would, say, some dramatic change in someone's life situation/circumstances/direction/ect.
And of course, you could also write something artsy, talking about the end of things, and then like, either play off of the idea that not all things DO have ends (like, say, spheres) or make allusions to the ends of various physical objects (thread or something) and real-world things.
And of course, you can always just write something about someone dying, as it is the end of all things for them.
>>horizon
Oh come on, people can always write comedy fics about something that is not the end of the world, but someone is acting as if it is. I expect at least one of those.
Something like Absolute Anonymous's A Million Things to Do would also fit, as would, say, some dramatic change in someone's life situation/circumstances/direction/ect.
And of course, you could also write something artsy, talking about the end of things, and then like, either play off of the idea that not all things DO have ends (like, say, spheres) or make allusions to the ends of various physical objects (thread or something) and real-world things.
And of course, you can always just write something about someone dying, as it is the end of all things for them.
>>TitaniumDragon
I mentioned this in the discord chat, but in theory, you could slap a big fat ~~The End~~ at the bottom of the story, and it would fit the prompt.
I mentioned this in the discord chat, but in theory, you could slap a big fat ~~The End~~ at the bottom of the story, and it would fit the prompt.
I have an idea, but no idea where to take it. I don't think I'm gonna make it this round.
Thanks for being so encouraging, everybody. Especially the posts linked below.
>>Posh
>>CoffeeMinion
>>CoffeeMinion
>>moonwhisper
>>Posh
>>CoffeeMinion
>>CoffeeMinion
>>moonwhisper
>>Dubs_Rewatcher would you like me to straddle you and scream positive motivational things into your throat? would that help?
I decided to try writing something this round (it's my first time doing so). I hope I can finish in time for the deadline...
I have an idea I actually really like, a thousand words, an outline, and one more day. Heading to bed; I'll see you nerds in the morning.
Hoo boy. I’ve got a live one here. It’s not done yet but it’s happening!
(Pulling the semi-but-not-really-actually- all-nighter tonight not tomorrow night, which isn’t the same thing, right?)
(Bedtime...)
(Pulling the semi-but-not-really-actually- all-nighter tonight not tomorrow night, which isn’t the same thing, right?)
(Bedtime...)
>>Zaid Val'Roa
Summarize!
Just let some errant words become surmise!
Where bloated paragraphs have come to rise,
Keep them from our eyes,
And just summarize, summarize, summarize…
But remember always to say of it, please, “Be Terse!”
Summarize!
Just let some errant words become surmise!
Where bloated paragraphs have come to rise,
Keep them from our eyes,
And just summarize, summarize, summarize…
But remember always to say of it, please, “Be Terse!”
>>Zaid Val'Roa I'm about halfway through my outline (and halfway to 8k words), and have already decided to cut some stuff from mine. We'll cross that finish line together, m'dude.
Crud. I had an idea for a story, but after a few hours I realized it's crap.
Oh well. Maybe if another concept can hit me I'll try again.
Oh well. Maybe if another concept can hit me I'll try again.
On Friday:
I sat down and wrote more words in one 24 hours period than I ever have before. Now to figure out if I can arrange those words into a story before tomorrow morning...
Mike
I sat down and wrote more words in one 24 hours period than I ever have before. Now to figure out if I can arrange those words into a story before tomorrow morning...
Mike
Mine is nearing completion. I'll just say this now: it's kind of a hot mess that would benefit from some actual pre-reading and a decent editing pass. It's not going to get those things, though, because life is short and this is speedfic. Lucky you!
This past couple days, I think I have written more than I have ever before, but I'm still far from done and I'm not sure if I'll make it on time. I really want to make it on time though, because I believe in my story.
Came up with ideas when I wasn't expecting to have any, got interrupted by high-priority request, spent the rest of the weekend cooling off from that. Oops.
One of these rounds, I swear I'll come back to this…
One of these rounds, I swear I'll come back to this…
Well, I did something. It may not be the most well-polished and finished thing but it is a thing. I never really know how much ponies are going to like stuff in advance, though.
Holy frickin' crap, I just submitted my first short story entry in more than a year! Break out the streamers!
But honestly, if I had more time, I would have liked to expand on it a bit more, but I just wrote several thousand words in about six hours (holy crap, have I ever written so quickly?), and it's getting pretty late, here. Gonna make a quick editing pass, then I'm going to pass out. Good luck, everybody!
But honestly, if I had more time, I would have liked to expand on it a bit more, but I just wrote several thousand words in about six hours (holy crap, have I ever written so quickly?), and it's getting pretty late, here. Gonna make a quick editing pass, then I'm going to pass out. Good luck, everybody!
Today I become a lurker no more! Excited to read everyone's entries, but even more excited to go to sleep if I'm being totally honest. Hope everyone's enjoying squeaky bum time!
Gosh, I'm tired. Got something in, but I've lost all objectivity when it comes to the story. Everyone tell me what I missed in the morning.
I'm pleased with the amount of positivity in the discussion thread this time around. Best of luck to everyone, and a hearty welcome to all our newcomers. I'm looking forward to reading your stories. ^^
I'm pleased with the amount of positivity in the discussion thread this time around. Best of luck to everyone, and a hearty welcome to all our newcomers. I'm looking forward to reading your stories. ^^
Just finished. Wasn't sure I could get anything done. Only worked on it tonight, and it sorta wrote itself as I worked. Hope it's up to snuff.
That was fun. Didn't end where I thought I was going to (again). I wish I'd been able to give it a pass through my pre-reader but they had to go to sleep. The wuss.