Page 686 – Self Publishing

It’s easy to go full-tilt Mary Sue when it comes to parodying this kind of subject matter, but there’s so many more bad practices to explore, I think.

Of course, this could very well be a case of the pot calling the kettle black. I’ve been writing fanfiction since I started high school. Roleplaying even way before that. I’m guilty of a lot of these mistakes and more. The best case scenario is to keep at it until you gradually suck less. And besides: Most of the time, if you’re making something people like at a basic level, no one actually cares too much.

Still, you develop a pet peeve or two after a while.

Pinkie Pie: “I noticed that the purple unicorn was most likely Queen Sunny’s personal student.“

DM: Just like that? How? There was nothing distinguishing on her.

Pinkie Pie: “I prepared to use my Glib Limerick! The reason I had this ritual was because of my Granny Balloons, who taught me how to use these rituals when I was very young, just like she was taught.“

DM: Why’d you break away from action to go into an expository tangent…?

Pinkie Pie: “I, Prismatic Speed, prepared for the worst, while also hoping that my friend Yellow Balloons was okay!“

DM: First, these names are consistently just… not great pony names… Second, NOW you’re switching perspectives? And using them to talk about your character anyway…?

Pinkie Pie: “Shiny Reader suddenly disappeared! A couple minutes later, we found where she was.“

DM: I think you skipped an important beat… Ugh, I can’t… can’t take this… So… mediocre…