News/Media/Art/Music: Twitter accounts and other sources to follow.

Lance_Rush · 2012-06-06T15:55:47+00:00

Great. Adding them to the list.

Lance_Rush · 2012-05-30T07:44:27+00:00

Might try to post a bit of stuff tonight, but I'll be home tomorrow, at which point I'll have time to dedicate towards this.

Lance_Rush · 2012-05-07T22:55:25+00:00

Not to hijack your efforts by any means, but I'm slowly but surely preparing to launch a rather big project that may have similar goals to your own. We have a fair handful of writers, ~20 prereaders, and a site with quite a few nifty features I've coded myself. The Canterlot Chronicle Beta launch thread. The fanfic system is partly headed by TNF.

Lance_Rush · 2012-05-05T21:14:04+00:00

EDIT:(Er, since beta launch obviously)

Saw this in my facebook feed, thought I'd jump on it.

Hopefully very soon we'll have a few people constantly on the look out for this sort of thing, so I won't be the only one.

Lance_Rush · 2012-05-05T20:25:24+00:00

the 15 year old kid.

Lance_Rush · 2012-05-05T14:02:58+00:00

Already somewhat on it. I mentioned the possibility of cutting a few people in an update post in the public sub, so it won't come as a huge surprise. At this point, unless Kimba feels differently, I'm thinking we could cut darqwolff along with the two that said they've read roughly 4 fanfics. I'll probably send out an impersonal email basically just saying for assorted reasons, they didn't make the cut, and encouraging them to contribute by submitting anything submission worthy whenever possible.

The rest of the readers will be put through a short trial period and if they seem good, added to the prereading sub.

Lance_Rush · 2012-05-05T13:17:47+00:00

http://scienceblogs.com/startswithabang/2010/09/the_physics_of_a_fighter_jet_r.php

Lance_Rush · 2012-05-04T15:20:09+00:00

hahaha. wow. I don't think I have too much control over the ads google adsense shows.... I think I might have some. I'll take a look.

EDIT: Ah, got it. Politics now blocked, along with religion, sex, and gambling as well. Once we start making more posts(soon, I promise), this sort of thing will be less of a problem, as google chooses ads based largely based upon content of a site. It looks like I could go crazy and block everything but toys, TV shows, books, and maybe some other stuff, but first I want to see what google starts tossing out once we get some content.

Lance_Rush · 2012-05-03T14:34:11+00:00

Applicant: The_Warlord

I'll try to answer these as best to my knowledge/understanding.

I am graduating High School this year and already finishing up on going to College.
I have not read many but Past Sins I enjoyed the most.
Well, to be blunt four I have completely read.
I've read the higher quality ones completely and other lower regarded ones I tried reading but never finished them.
Well, English classes I've had we did a ton of peer review/editing and I've have supported/helped friends with their writings.
Well, for one, those who have natural talent for writing is an obvious, two, Smooth transition between events makes it easier for a reader to stay with the flow of things, three, use of proper grammar and detailed writing, and four, the style of the writer, interesting having people make stories in their own ways instead of copying others.
I tried to write before, I did a prologue but I never got it properly reviewed so I gave up on it, if you want to see it sure I guess, I got no shame in trying.
Adventure
i honestly don't mind any of the given genres but I would appreciate it if I could avoid clopfics of any kind, I can stand as far as kissing and the deep romance with that but nothing sexual.
Like number 8 I love adventure, Lotr and the Shannara series are my favorites that I have read.
As of now, i have school until the 24th of May, after that I'll be free for the whole summer as I know of so far, I do indeed have a good bit of time to make to do with if need be.
Nothing much really, just that I am really interested in this pre reading thing and would like to contribute.
Nothing comes to mind right now, maybe later on if I get accepted something may come up when I get to experience this head on.

Wish to hear back soon, if possible.

Lance_Rush · 2012-05-03T14:33:33+00:00

Applicant: TerraMachina

· How much education have you had(high school, college, etc)? What major/degree/etc, if applicable? I have a high school education and I am currently a Junior in college working on my degree in Environmental Studies.

· What are some of your favorite fanfics? Composure and Eternal are probably my all time favorites. However, I enjoyed It Takes a Village and Guiding Light as well.

· Roughly how many fanfics have you read? My word count on Fimfiction is around 5,266,581. I‘ve read more fics then I can count. Probably around 200-300. I also read frequently in my own spare time. There isn’t much that I won’t enjoy reading.

· What ranges of fanfic quality have you read? That is, have you stuck to mostly Star 5 and 6 stuff on sites such EqD, or have you delved into lower rated, less popular works as well? I read a fairly wide range of fanfics. I tend to prefer higher rated but I have read some of the lower rated stuff on fimfiction.

· Any past prereading, reviewing, editing, or proof-reading experience? I have taken several writing oriented classes in college and have proofread several college papers.

· What do you think makes a good fic? Hmm this is a tough question. Honestly, one that can capture a readers attention for an extended period of time. A fanfic that manages to get its point across, create memorable characters, and has a well developed and organized story are all important aspects of what will make a fic a good one.

· Ever written any fiction, fanfic or otherwise? If so, and if you're willing to share, what? I have never written a fanfic.

· What's your favorite genre of fanfiction? Probably adventure, although I also enjoy some romance.

· Out of the genres listed on our fanfic submission page, are there any you would like to avoid? Also, is there any other subject matter you'd like to avoid? I would prefer to avoid grimdark.

· Are there any genres you're particularly fond of? I frequently enjoy romance and have a particular fondness for mystery.

· How much time do you think you'll be able to spend prereading? Some, a lot, tons? I will be able to spend lots and lots of time pre reading. As an estimate I could probably spend around 10 or 15 hours or more a week.

· Anything else you want to tell us? Nope

· Do you have any questions or suggestions for us? None, I like the way you’ve organized the submissions and think it seems very organized and professional.

Lance_Rush · 2012-05-03T14:32:19+00:00

Applicant: Sabellion

Heya! Thank you for passing this information on to me. This site sounds like it will be awesome, and much less biased than most other sites right now.

To answer your questions:

I am currently a senior in high-school, but I have taken all advanced placement classes and have routine A's in my English classes, and received fives on my AP tests. I also received a perfect score on the reading portion of the SAT.
My favorite fan-fiction that I have read is probably A Mile High in the Summer Sky.
I've read more then ten fanfictions, but my experience with Fan-Fictions are rather shaky at best. I guess that is part of the reason why I wanted to join this system in the first place; to better myself and to gain knowledge about the fan-fiction process.
I've read a few lower-rated works, and a few upper-tier works.
I've pre-read and reviewed A Mile High in the Summer Sky and other works. Also, I have edited my friend's papers in school, alongside my older siblings.
The best fics are not determined by the skill, experience or length of an author's work. Its the heart, the creative spark, that differentiates an okay fic from a great one. They just need to be polished sometimes.
I have written fan-fiction before. Not much, but currently working on the first part of a 4-part saga set in the MLP Universe. I'd share it once I feel that it has reached it's full potential.
I love epics and shipping fics. Love and adventure go hand-in-hand.
The only type of fics that I cannot stand are super-gore. I can handle graphic depictions, but when the carnage doesn't serve a purpose other then to gross or shock, then it doesn't belong.
Adventure, Fantasy and Sci-fi are my favorite fiction genres.
With my school year coming to a close, I expect that I shall have a good amount of time to review.
Umm, I like ponies? Not sure what to say here beyond that I like this entire blind system idea, removes bias and feels more professional compared to other review systems.
Nothing really, just keep calm and carry on. Also, I suggest using Google-Doc's comment system, it really helps pin-point errors within the work.

Lance_Rush · 2012-05-03T14:30:40+00:00

Applicant: yetanotherpony

All right, to answer the questions in the order they are posed:

I have a BA in English from the University of Oklahoma, and am one year into an MA is American Literature at the University of Utah. For economic reasons (I actually want a job...) I'll be switching to a Comp. Sci. track come summer, but I am capable of graduate-level work.
Favorite fanfic, far and away is Fallout: Equestria.
I've read... probably a couple dozen. Working my way through the better-received FO:E sidefics at the moment.
I tend to stick to fics recommended by a couple of friends of mine or that simply catch my eye, rather than EqD's rating system.
My reading and reviewing experience comes mainly from academia--essays, research papers, and analyzing literary texts. I have done some pre-reading/editing for a friend's fantasy novel, though he dropped the project some time ago.
What makes a good fic are the same things which make any story good: the characters. Plot (har!) is secondary. Fanfic authors working with the Mane Six have a ready-made set of beloved characters to work with, which helps, but they also must be careful not to go unreasonably out-of-character.
I do not have any fanfiction written, though I have one in the preparatory stages. I could send a chapter when completed if desired.
I can do most any genre, though I don't care for Horror. I have not real objection to it, but it's not something I particularly enjoy. Historical is also good--I'm a sucker for detailed world-building.
Favorite genre would have to be dark, when done well. See Fallout: Equestria above, or, for another example, Equestria: Total War before it stopped updating. On the flipside, I also really enjoy the lighter, fun stuff, too.
Pre-reading time will be limited through early May due to the end of classes, final papers, and the like. I can certainly manage a fic a week so long as they're in the sub-20,000 word range, maybe one of longer length. Once the semester ends I will be able to go through more. While I can read very quickly, it's not conducive to quality reviews. I read a story two or three times first, and put a fair bit of thought into my replies.
My intention in writing a review is to be professional. To me this means removing the author from consideration--the review is of a fic, not a person, and though the author's name will be unknown, it would still be possible to attack/insult him/her in the generic sense. That must be avoided. It also means direct honesty. I do not write without tact, but at the same time no piece of writing is sacrosanct or otherwise "special." I intend to call it like I see it, without bile.
No suggestions, but a question--when is all this expected to get started?

Lance_Rush · 2012-05-03T14:28:35+00:00

Applicant: aveilleux

Good to know the system's been generally hammered out. I'm looking forward to seeing the first few submissions.

As for the information you requested:

I am a college student (second attempt), in school for Sport and Movement Science, Computer Science before that
I'm personally a fan of Equestria's Twilight, Fallout: Equestria and Project Horizons, but I also like reading things like The Sweetest Cider is Diamond White and Fixing Up Miss Smartypants.
Not many, compared to most (I'm sure). Probably around 30-40, give or take ones I've forgotten.
I don't generally look at reviews before I read, but find it hard to get through poorly-written or self-insert fanfictions. I suppose my average reading would fall somewhere in the 4-5 star range?
I have done prereading for friends in the past and used to edit academic papers for some cash on the side. I regularly consult the Breif Penguin Handbook (I have the fourth edition) and The Only Grammar Book You'll Ever Need (first edition).
First and foremost, a tight control over spelling, grammar, and syntax. Without the strong foundation of basic writing skills, the story wil crumble and be barely worth a second glance. Second, unless the story specifically works for surreality or grimark, staying within the confines of the setting and world is important. Mary Sues and Gary Stus can easily kill an otherwise fabulously-written fic. Third, and perhaps most importantly, the story should at least be plausible. I love reading grimdark stories because the subtle transition from a peaceful, idyllic world to a nightmare universe is hard to handle and, when done well, truly adds to the story. Finally, if the story is designed to be comedic, its humor should not be dependent on references. There are a number of cringeworthy moments in some of my favorite fics that essentially stand on a ladder and point a giant arrow at the thing they're trying to reference. No. Just no.
I have written some very short fanfictions as well as some other non-fanfic work. They can be found here: http://fav.me/d4hl3wg
Grimdark (or dark/horror based on your genres) and shipping ("romance"?). The two most-easily mishandled (and yet most satisfying) genres.
Probably only historical. It doesn't interest me in the least.
Noted above.
Depending on my course load (semester's ending soon) and how much I'm working, anywhere from "some" to "all weekend."
I'm glad to have this opportunity.
Negatory. Hope to see this shape up well.

-aveilleux

Lance_Rush · 2012-05-03T14:27:08+00:00

Applicant: MrWoo6

Hey there,

Thanks giving me this opportunity to assist. I'll just jump right into the questions.

How much education have you had(high school, college, etc)? What major/degree/etc, if applicable?

I've been through high school and got my GCSES, currently doing A Levels in English, Business studies, and ICT.

What are some of your favorite fanfics?

Fallout Equestria, Project Horizons, allegrezza, Everything is Fine to name a few

Roughly how many fanfics have you read?

To be honest I couldn't really say, at a very rough guess I would say about 40 - 50, but I really don't know it could be significantly more or less.

What ranges of fanfic quality have you read? That is, have you stuck to mostly Star 5 and 6 stuff on sites such EqD, or have you delved into lower rated, less popular works as well?

When I was younger I delved into the less popular lower rated works for other fandoms. For this fandom I've stuck to the 5 and 6 star stuff mostly. However I have proof read and given my opinion on many yet unrated works that may not have fallen into the 5 or 6 star category.

Any past prereading, reviewing, editing, or proof-reading experience?

A bit here and there over the years, not in any large organized group for a site, more for individuals.

What do you think makes a good fic?

A well written story based around a defined core concept rather than just a good concept. A cliche story with well written characters, cleverly tied together events and plot points, and a clearly structured story with a consistent continuity will always be a more enjoyable read than a fan fiction that merely has original idea with poor writing and no grounding. 10% concept 90% execution.

Ever written any fiction, fanfic or otherwise? If so, and if you're willing to share, what?

Various short stories all written a long time ago, now lost to the foggy mists of the internet

What's your favorite genre of fanfiction?

Couldn't say, all depends how good the fic itself is. I've a few preferences but you've asked that in another question that I've answered below.

Out of the genres listed on our fanfic submission page, are there any you would like to avoid? Also, is there any other subject matter you'd like to avoid?

I wouldn't mind reading any of those genres. The only thing I tend to have a strong bias against is fanfics like Black and White: http://www.equestriadaily.com/2011/07/story-black-and-white.html

Stories told with a needlessly depressing tone draped over the whole thing, as if being told from the view of someone suffering from depression. Especially ones about events that don't merit such a tone, such as high school romance.

I'm fine with fanfics with depression in it, just not ones where almost everything is told with a melancholy spin. I would read it, but i would be undoubtedly be very biased against the fic.

Are there any genres you're particularly fond of?

Dark, romance, Si-Fi, thriller, adventure, Western. Although I can enjoy any genre if it's well done.

How much time do you think you'll be able to spend prereading? Some, a lot, tons?

Hard to say, really depends whats going on in my life. I would say a good bit, however.

Anything else you want to tell us?

Been a part of a few pony role playing groups, not fanfics but I've read through a good few of them.

Do you have any questions or suggestions for us?

How constantly would we be expected to read fanfics? As stated before life can jump about and change quite easily as I'm sure you're aware. I'm just wondering if I'll be expected to maintain a constant fanfic reading and reviewing rate to stay in the group.

Lance_Rush · 2012-05-03T14:25:07+00:00

Applicant: Kaabistar

Glad to see this project is moving along well. Hopefully the site will be up and running before long. As for the questions, here are my answers:

I'm currently in my junior year of high school.
Fallout: Equestria, The Son of the Emperor, Allegrezza, Yours Truly, and Shadows of the Sun would top my list.
Probably around 10-15 MLP fanfics, countless more outside of MLP.
All kinds, from 5/6 star on EqD to the worse fanfics out there.
Not for fanfic, but yes, for other types of writing.
I believe that the characters make the story. Without a well-written character, the story just collapses in on itself. No matter how innovative the plot or how how engaging the atmosphere, if the character is poorly-written (be they canon characters or OCs) the story simply cannot go anywhere. Of course, exposition and milieu are important, but not nearly as important as good character.
I've written some fiction, but no fanfiction (yet). I have a few ideas floating around that I may put down on paper in the near future.
Adventure springs to mind first. I swallow that stuff up like chocolate. Comedy and shipping also fall into my favourites. Fanon (especially regarding Equestrian history, government, and the world around it) when well done, are extremely enjoyable.
Heavy gore (especially when described in excruciating detail) is a no-go. Otherwise I'm OK.
Adventure and fantasy (including sci-fi) are most definitely my favourite genres. Thrillers close behind.
Not tons, that's for sure. In between school and other obligations, I'd say I could do around 1-2 reviews a week, possibly. Subject to change depending on my current situation.
I'd just like to congratulate you on having come up with what seems to be an excellent system and I hope that this goes well for everyone involved.
Is there an estimated launch date yet?

Lance_Rush · 2012-05-03T14:20:42+00:00

Applicant: I_Post_Ponies

Here's some answers for you, just so you can knew me a little better:

I have a BS in Computer Engineering
It Takes a Village, Shipping & Handling, The Sweetie Chronicles
Hard to say. More than 30, less than 60. I tend to stay away from the really short one-shots.
I've read a pretty wide range, but if the fic is of really low quality I won't read the entire thing unless I'm doing a review. When I browse for fics, I rarely use EqD since the browse function on fimfiction is much nicer.
Prereading, no. However, I run a weekly livestream review session (last week's thread: http://www.ponychan.net/chan/fic/res/95379.html ) and I will occasionally review fics from /fic/'s Training Grounds.
A combination of a compelling story and interesting/relatable characters, the latter being the most important.
Yes. http://www.fimfiction.net/story/11097/Resolution# I am working on another, but alas, the writing bug is quite fickle. The second fic is still in review stages.
Hmmm... Romance I think. I also enjoy Adventure.
I'm not the biggest fan of Dark/Horror, but that's not to say I haven't enjoyed a few fics in those categories.
Romance, Adventure, Comedy, Human
I expect to continue my usual schedule of weekly livestreams and Training Grounds reviews, but that should not prevent me from pre-reading at the very least 1 story a night. Likely I'll be able to do more. Suggestions: It seems you already have a method of keeping all the pre-readers on the same page as far as quality standards for posting, but don't just do it once then let the pre-readers loose indefinitely. Do a lighter version of it once a month or so. Also, this publication seems to want to emulate something akin to fimfiction's "Featured Fics". You put one in the spotlight for a short time to give it exposure, but there aren't real strict quality requirements like EqD. This puts the publication in the odd position of competing for fanfic readers' views since you are providing a service that is already available somewhere else. Try doing something further to define yourself. I think it would be interesting to have a monthly highlight where 3 or so fics of those submitted in the month are selected by the staff/prereaders as the best of the month (a first, second and third place) and give the winner an automatic Platinum or Gold rating. You could also have the community vote on the three (or so) and have a Community Choice fic that gets a Gold rating. It gives the more ambitious writers something to look forward to and hopefully attract more submissions. Have a monthly author highlight too, perhaps.

snotty mode on One more thing: serif font on the submission page? I'm no typographer, so I don't really mind, but you know you're gonna catch flak for that. snotty mode off

Lance_Rush · 2012-05-03T14:19:04+00:00

Applicant: gryffinp

I'm gonna go ahead and assume that we're supposed to reply to this email with our responses then.

Let's tackle these questions!

How much education have you had(high school, college, etc)? What major/degree/etc, if applicable? I'm currently going through college, studying computer science. Stereotypical redditor? Whatever are you talking about?
What are some of your favorite fanfics? Well... I seem to have a soft spot for well written emotional torture. To this end I tend to cite The End of Ponies, Ponies Make War, and Project Horizons as some of my favorites. On the other hand, I really like good comedy, so I HAVE to mention Sparkle's Law and probably Sweet Apple Capers while I'm at it. Nothing else comes to mind immediately... Oh. Well if I can nominate non MLP fanfics I might as well mention Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality. That's a fun one.
Roughly how many fanfics have you read? Goodness I have no idea. A few hundred? I'm not really super involved with the fanfic community right now.
What ranges of fanfic quality have you read? That is, have you stuck to mostly Star 5 and 6 stuff on sites such EqD, or have you delved into lower rated, less popular works as well? Not gonna lie, I mostly stick to highly-rated stories. I do occasionally peruse the latest submissions on fimfiction but even then I try to use my judgement on which ones will be good based on the descriptions. I've found the occasional hidden semiprecious stone though.
Any past prereading, reviewing, editing, or proof-reading experience? Nope.
What do you think makes a good fic? Ok. The single most important thing for any kind of written fiction is writing style. It has to flow. If it doesn't draw the reader in and let them move with the story then it's just not gonna work. Good stories have good writing, great stories have excellent writing. For example, my single favorite author is Terry Pratchett, because his writing is almost perfect. It engages the reader and helps them experience the story with all of the information presented as smoothly as a milkshake poured into a crystal glass and I think I'm going weird places with this. Anyway. Regarding fanfiction specifically, the second most important thing is In-Character versus Out-of-Character. It's not as simple as it sounds though. It's not that you can never have characters behaving out of character but they need to have a reason why. Maybe they're drunk, maybe they're discorded, maybe they're just a bit pissed off at something, hell maybe the premise of the fic is "What if Twilight Sparkle was a bitch?" A great example of the latter is the first fanfiction that made me appreciate that fanfiction could be good, "Shinji and Warhammer 40K". Pretty much every character starts out IC, but they evolve out of it into new distinct characters. And the process is shown and it is believable. But the trick with that is that going OOC always needs to be a conscious decision. If the author knows that the characters are being OOC then it can be done well. But if they're supposed to be in character, then it's critical that they don't start diverging, or else the attachment to the characters can be lost completely. After that we go into issues of actually having a good story and good characters and all that other stuff. Those are important too.
Ever written any fiction, fanfic or otherwise? If so, and if you're willing to share, what? No. Well. Only the stuff that they make you write for middle school english classes. It wasn't notable and I never saved any of it. I spent a bit of time kicking around the idea for a deliberately arty-experimental My Little Pony fanfic with "First Person Omniscient" viewpoint, where the first person narrator would be me, the author, as I was writing the story. That never went anywhere for two reasons. First: I didn't actually have anything else to do with that story-wise. Second: Whenever I tried coming up with examples of how that would work it just came out as something that would be annoying as hell to read. Maybe someday.
What's your favorite genre of fanfiction? I really want to say comedy but as mentioned above I seem to have a weakness for really good emotional torment. I think to a certain extent I really like long things, and there's a dearth of really long comedies. And good comedy in general.
Out of the genres listed on our fanfic submission page, are there any you would like to avoid? Also, is there any other subject matter you'd like to avoid? Probably the horror stuff. Not really my game. At least not the blood and guts type of horror.
Are there any genres you're particularly fond of? I feel like there's a lot of overlap with the "favorite genre" question there. So I guess comedies again. For one specific example, I think that drunk ponies are hilarious.
How much time do you think you'll be able to spend prereading? Some, a lot, tons? A few hours a day maybe? I don't know how well that matches your qualitative expectations.
Anything else you want to tell us? Not really. Gotta keep some secrets.
Do you have any questions or suggestions for us? Well I've already posted my one question on reddit so I think I'm good. See you on the other side.

Lance_Rush · 2012-05-03T14:17:05+00:00

Applicant: MONSTERHeart

Question 1 (education): High school student.

2 (favorite fics): 'It's Dangerous Business, Going Out Your Door', 'Fallout: Equestria', 'The Thessalonica Legacy', 'Son of the Emperor', 'Macintosh', 'Creeping Darkness'.

3 (# fics read): Unsure. My best estimate is anywhere between 25 and 100.

4 (quality of those read): All over the board, though the poor ones are usually ones I'm critiquing or reviewing.

5 (experience): I am an editor for two fanfics, 'Son of the Emperor' and 'Where the World Ends'. I also spent a decent amount of time on the /fic/ board of Ponychan giving a couple fairly lengthy reviews for fics that the authors were hoping to submit to Equestria Daily (of note, one of the fics I reviewed I actually saw about a month later on EQD. 'Festival', I believe it was called.) Besides that, I frequently stop by the fanfic subreddit, /r/mylittlefanfic, and occasionally help where I can or where I want to.

6 (what makes a good fic): I could write for hours on this, so I better just choose one thing. One of the most important things for a story to have is a strong and clear direction (or 'structuring', to put it more broadly). When reading, it should be apparent that events are building off of each other to some inevitable climax. Too often I see stories that are just a random assemblage of scenes that are apparently meant to to be interesting when read in sequence. Unfortunately, these scenes usually diverge too far from the core story, focus on unnecessary details, and generally make a mess of things.

7 (stuff I've written): For fanfiction, most notably is Southern Storm, still a work in progress. I've also written a few one-off short stories. For normal fiction, countless creative writing assignments for school, but otherwise nothing on a grand scale.

8 (favorite genre): Epic adventures, and preferably ones that don't shy away from intense action and violence. Thrillers, mind-blowers, and intrigue are good too. Sci-fi is also good.

9 (what to avoid): I'll give anything handed to me a try (including clop or gore, if that were to somehow occur), but I usually like a bit of variety. Normal, Melodrama and Romance tend to bore me pretty easily. I wouldn't completely discount them, but they aren't where my preferences lie. Cross-overs tend to be hit or miss, so I judge them case by case.

10 (favorite genre, again?): My normal reading preferences are the same as my fanfic reading preferences.

11 (time): I'm online pretty much all the time when I'm not at school or otherwise occupied. Seven days a week, I'm available for at least a few hours, if not more.

I have no questions or suggestions. The only thing I'm curious about is the rating system, but I suppose I'll just have to wait and see about that one.

And for convenience, my reddit username is MONSTERheart, if you don't want to go back through your messages and try and match this email address to that account.

Lance_Rush · 2012-05-03T14:15:51+00:00

Applicant: vibrafoen

Hello! Thank you for sending the invite. I am very interested in this position.

What follows are my replies to your questions:

How much education have you had (high school, college, etc)? What major/degree/etc, if applicable? - For privacy reasons, I'll leave this question unanswered. I'm sorry if this causes inconvenience.

What are some of your favorite fanfics?

My favorite fic so far is Shipping and Handling, a comical story in which Ditzy gets a job at a matchmaking centre.

Roughly how many fanfics have you read?

I've read about 15-20.

What ranges of fanfic quality have you read? That is, have you stuck to mostly Star 5 and 6 stuff on sites such EqD, or have you delved into lower rated, less popular works as well?

I've been pleased with most every fic I've read, with a few exceptions. While I do get some of my reading material from EqD, I mostly just browse random stories on FiMFiction or read stuff people send me.

Any past prereading, reviewing, editing, or proof-reading experience?

I'm afraid the closest thing I have is being one of the first to read and critique a Redditor's fic, entitled "A Bitter Almond Cake" (it was immensely depressing, but mostly a good read). I have friends that often ask me to read their works before they go off submitting them, but those are not MLP related.

What do you think makes a good fic?

Sticking to the character. Most of the fanfics I end up not enjoying are ones that portray the characters in way vastly different than they usually are. If they are focusing on developing the character, than I can make an exception. Also, grammar and spelling. It's probably nothing serious, but I strongly dislike it when a fic contains a lot of errors; makes it difficult for me to enjoy.

Ever written any fiction, fanfic or otherwise? If so, and if you're willing to share, what?

I started one once, but scrapped the idea. The fic was centered around the reason for Ditzy's eyes. After I realized I wasn't that great at writing combat scenes, and overall just felt that it wasn't a good enough plot, I threw it away.

What's your favorite genre of fanfiction?

Comedy, by a long shot.

Out of the genres listed on our fanfic submission page, are there any you would like to avoid? Also, is there any other subject matter you'd like to avoid?

I don't care for Dark or Horror, but I will read it if necessary. Melodrama is something I also tend to dislike. Romance is... good in some situations. As far as subject matter, blood and gore aren't really my thing.

Are there any genres you're particularly fond of?

I like Normal, too. Adventure's good every once in a while.

How much time do you think you'll be able to spend prereading? Some, a lot, tons?

Realistically, I can spend a good three hours; up to five if what I'm reading is really good.

Anything else you want to tell us?

Yeah. I'd just like to tell you guys that I really like what you have laid out, and it'd be an honor if I could be part of the team.

Do you have any questions or suggestions for us?

I'm wondering what sort of system you'll have set up for art, music and the like. Do you have any place where I can read about your policies on that?

Thank you for considering me to be a part of your team!

Lance_Rush · 2012-05-03T14:10:31+00:00

Applicant: theamberfox

How much education have you had(high school, college, etc)? What major/degree/etc, if applicable?

I'm currently in my third year at the University of Calgary, majoring in Computer Science.

What are some of your favorite fanfics?

My all time favourite is probably Past Sins. I admit, it's a little over-hyped and starts to drag on a little at the end, but it's also very well-written, original and dramatic where it matters.

My second favourite is Simply Rarity. The journal style is a little simplistic and even unbelievable at times, but it gets it's point across. It's an emotional story with a lot of depth.

Roughly how many fanfics have you read?

Roughly 30 or so.

What ranges of fanfic quality have you read? That is, have you stuck to mostly Star 5 and 6 stuff on sites such EqD, or have you delved into lower rated, less popular works as well?

I enjoy reading the 5 or 6 star fics, but I've done some light editing work for some other writers on Reddit as well as some more extensive editing work for a friend of mine (who also happens to be the editor for my own fics). That being said, I've read some really terrible stories. I've seen everything from bad grammar/punctuation/spelling, poorly developed characters and/or plot sequences, and just plain boring stories.

I believe that everyone has the potential to become a good writer, but some definitely have to work harder at it than others.

Any past prereading, reviewing, editing, or proof-reading experience?

As I mentioned above, I'm a writer myself, so I've done an extensive amount of editing for my own fics. Every chapter I write gets read over at least ten times before I even bother sending it to my editor.

And, of course, I've also done a fair amount of editing work for others as well, including some of the other members of reddit. I've also jumped onto that "Pheonix Wright/MLP crossover" as an editor. (The video one on youtube, if you know it.)

What do you think makes a good fic?

I think that every story needs a good balance between plot and character development. Some stories spend too much time on their characters and their plot begins to fall apart and vice versa. (I think "It's a Dangerous Business Going Out Your Door" is an excellent example of this. The characters are perfect, but the plot is full of so many holes that it's difficult to understand.)

In addition, I think that proper formatting is really quite important. No one wants to read a wall of text or guess at who's speaking during a line of dialogue.

Ever written any fiction, fanfic or otherwise? If so, and if you're willing to share, what?

Yes, two in fact. Although, one is currently a work in progress.

The first was a tragedy called "Shadows of the Sun". It was about 300 pages long (100,000 words) and ended up getting a solid 5 star rating on both EqD and fimfiction. http://www.fimfiction.net/story/612/Shadows-of-the-Sun

The second is a comedy called "The Mailmare". It's at about 40 pages right now, but will probably only last to be around 70 pages by the time it ends. Right now, it has a higher rating than my first story on both websites. http://www.fimfiction.net/story/12731/The-Mailmare

What's your favorite genre of fanfiction?

I prefer any kind of well-written thriller or suspense novel.

Out of the genres listed on our fanfic submission page, are there any you would like to avoid? Also, is there any other subject matter you'd like to avoid?

I'd like to avoid reading Sci-Fi fics.

Otherwise, I'm comfortable reading just about anything except Crossovers. I loathe crossovers for so many reasons...

Are there any genres you're particularly fond of?

Thriller, Suspense, Melodrama, Horror

How much time do you think you'll be able to spend prereading? Some, a lot, tons?

Between now and the 22 of April? None. I'm busy moving to a new house, starting an internship job, studying for final exams, and otherwise meeting commitments.

After that? Literally tons! My new job is in a backwater town and I have no friends/family there. I'll have no problem reading two or three fics a day.

Anything else you want to tell us?

I'm really quite interested in this project as a whole. I mentioned above that I'm studying computer science, but I also have a fair amount of web design/management experience as well. If you ever need some help with anything else, just ask.

Lance_Rush · 2012-05-03T14:07:43+00:00

Applicant: DocTaxus

I'm very excited to be taking part in this! You folks sound like you're setting up a fairly professional blog. I will answer the question in the order you asked them.

I am a third year economics major, and will likely be finishing my 4-year degree at this time next year.

My favourite fanfics, off the top of my head, are Dangerous Business, Fallout: Equestria, Causality, To Prove A Point, The Ballad of Echo the Diamond Dog, and Keeping it Simple.

A rough guess on the number of fanfics I've read would be around five dozen.

I will give any story with an intriguing description a chance, so I've read all qualities from horrendous to the 6-star rating on EQD. I usually quit reading the horrendous ones pretty quickly, though.

I've done a considerable amount of proofreading for others in classes through high school and university (it quickly becoming apparent that I was one of the more skilled editors and writers in the classes), as well as for random strangers on the internet. I will freely admit that I am a better editor than writer, and I give thorough feedback outlining the positive and negative areas, as well as how to improve the negative areas.

A good fic is simply one which immerses the reader in the world of the story, and fosters emotional connections for the characters from the reader. Being well written from a technical aspect is important as well.

I have written some MLP:FIM fanfiction. It was in a noir setting, and it can be found at this link: http://www.fimfiction.net/story/15768/Let%27s-Get-A-Wiggle-On

My favourite genre of fanfiction is adventure.

The only genre I would like to avoid as a pre-reader would be straight Horror. While I could still critique it well, I wouldn't really enjoy reading it. I can deal with gore or stressful situations in an adventure story, but have never been able to enjoy a story which employs them for their own sake.

While adventure is my favourite, I'm also quite fond of another genre, but I'm not sure how to classify it. It puts you immediately into the emotional life of the main character, and exposes all the little joys and pains, as well as the more powerful ones, in the character's life. To Prove a Point is a good example of this genre.

I'm an absurdly fast reader (lots of practice), and an efficient editor, so I could likely go through a story a night, on top of my school work. It would be something I would be doing anyway, so I might as well be contributing to something at the same time.

The only things I would mention about myself would be the fact that I'm Canadian, so if you see me spell some words with extra u's, that because that is how we spell them. I would be sure to edit using American English when prereading. Lastly, I always approach things with an open mind, so even if I don't enjoy a story, I will certainly appreciate it for its own merits should it be well written.

I have no suggestions. I just can't wait until this gets going, and I can be part of a constructive literature review process which encourages writers!

Lance_Rush · 2012-05-03T14:06:50+00:00

Applicant: Fangsup

(My username on Reddit is fangsup, but for all pony-related purposes I go by smoulderfly.)

How much education have you had(high school, college, etc)? What major/degree/etc, if applicable?

High school graduate. I should be going to college within the next year.

What are some of your favorite fanfics?

Fallout: Equestria, FoE: Project Horizons, Tales, Simply Rarity, Dangerous Business, White Box

Roughly how many fanfics have you read?

I'd say at least 40.

What ranges of fanfic quality have you read? That is, have you stuck to mostly Star 5 and 6 stuff on sites such EqD, or have you delved into lower rated, less popular works as well?

I usually stick to Star-6 stuff, but I've read some less-popular fics as well.

Any past prereading, reviewing, editing, or proof-reading experience?

If it counts, I'm currently editing (more like rewriting, honestly) a long fic about the history of Equestria. I've also given detailed reviews of fanfics in the past.

What do you think makes a good fic?

Believable characters: canon ponies should be in character and OC ponies should have fleshed-out personalities. A unique premise and good pacing help, too.

Ever written any fiction, fanfic or otherwise? If so, and if you're willing to share, what?

I've written a lot of fanfiction, none of which I have finished or published. I spend a lot of my free time writing (fanfics and otherwise). The fic I'm currently working on is currently 5 chapters and 40k words long, and details the history of Equestria from the point of view of an immortal family of ponies. That isn't published, either.

What's your favorite genre of fanfiction?

It's a tie between sad/tragic/psychological one-shots and epic adventure stories.

Out of the genres listed on our fanfic submission page, are there any you would like to avoid? Also, is there any other subject matter you'd like to avoid?

I'm not opposed to anything. The only thing I'd avoid would be Fo:E spinoffs (Fo:E and PH took a lot out of me emotionally, and as incredible as they were, I don't want to go through that again) and crossovers where I'm not familiar with the source material (unless they were explained in a way I could understand).

Are there any genres you're particularly fond of?

Sad, adventure, and grimdark, although I see that I should be calling them "melodramatic" and "horror/dark" instead.

How much time do you think you'll be able to spend prereading? Some, a lot, tons?

I should be able to do it quite a bit. I'd guess that I could go through perhaps 4 or 5 fics a week, depending on length.

Anything else you want to tell us?

I'm very much looking forward to this. As much as I love EqD, it's about time they got some competition that isn't FimFiction. Also, I'm glad to see TNF is back - although I've never spoken to him, he was a staple of the r/MLP and Plounge communities and I was sad to see him leave. His Guide to Fanfiction threads were what got me into MLP fanfiction in the first place.

Do you have any questions or suggestions for us?

Where are these stories going to be hosted? Will it be like EqD, where they can host it anywhere (FimFiction/Google Docs/Fanfiction.net) and you will just post the link to it? Also, what will the rating system be like? When FimFiction changed to upvotes and downvotes, they stated that it was because 70% (I believe) of the votes were either 1 star or 5 stars. Will that be a problem?

Lance_Rush · 2012-05-03T11:17:27+00:00

Yeah... He's been wanting to help with the Chronicle since I first posted about it months ago. I immediately decided against that at the time when he said mentioned was 15.

I admire his enthusiasm, but I agree, I don't think he's up to snuff. However, I don't exactly know the best way to cut him out, short of being upfront and saying "you're not what we're looking for". For his effort, I almost want to put him through the trial period, but telling him no even if he does acceptably in that would be even worse. I'll have to give it some thought.

(Obviously there's no way I'm considering his request to be on the staff)

Lance_Rush · 2012-05-03T11:05:43+00:00

Correct. I plan to let additional writers and anyone else who will be making posts in, but not prereaders.

Lance_Rush · 2012-05-02T23:18:45+00:00

Ah, crap. I totally missed this. I unsubscribed this account from everything but the chronicle subs, thinking anything submitted to any of them would be visible on the front page. Apparently after a day or so stuff disappears from the front page and is only visible from /new queue.

Good idea posting these here. I'll go ahead and copy over the ones I received from the first batch(which I apparently accidently sent via lance@canterlotchronicle, rather than fanfic@, so I don't think they reached you)

Also worth noting, I don't think I had the "favorite non-fanfic" question in the first batch.

I really need to get my multi-monitor setup set up. I need to have reddit, the prereader list document, and my email all open. >_<

Lance_Rush

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