Pony Fan Fiction Arguments

Below are a list of arguments I refuse to use as a writer of pony fan fiction to defend my work, and I suggest you refuse from doing the same:

"Well, [famous author] in [famous book] did exactly what you're criticizing me for here, so it's ok!"

This argument is so ludicrous that I don't even know where to begin. I guess we should start with the formal fallacy.

Argumentum ad Verecundiam—the fact that a famous author did it does not in any way make it less wrong, less shoddy, and in no way refutes the other person's argument.

Next, the informal fallacy:

Two wrongs make a right fallacy. Just because you do something wrong, too, does not make what the other person did less wrong, nor does it make what you did as right or justified.

Secondly, times have changed. The standards for writing and syntax change as well; and it's up to you, as the author, to keep up with those standards.

Thirdly, and perhaps the most important: no matter how good of a writer you are, no matter how great your prose is, comparing a great novel from a great artist to your pony fan fiction is absolutely absurd.

"Well, [famous pony fan fiction author] in [famous pony fan fiction] did exactly what you're criticizing me for here, so it's ok!"

This one seems slightly more legitimate on its face; but, purely logically, when you think about it, it's just as fallacious as the first one. This is still Argumentum ad Verecundiam and Two Wrongs Make a Right.

"You just didn't understand my work!"

Your job, as the author, is to establish plot, characters, conflict, setting, and the world. If the person reading doesn't understand, then you didn't make yourself clear enough.

"I have [this many likes] and [this many views]. Read the comments, and you'll see that people love it!"

Probably one of the arguments that I hate the most, Argumentum ad Populum. The concept of democracy has, wrongfully, made people think that the majority is always right, just, and fair.

Now, don't get me wrong; I love watching the view counter on my stories get up and watching all the stats. Nothing brightens up my day more than clicking through the "referrals" and seeing people talking about my story on other websites. I love that little green bar with the thumbs-up.

But no one cares about that but me. A majority opinion is not necessarily the correct one. If everyone said that gravity doesn't exist, would you still jump off a cliff? If everyone said that you don't need to eat to live, would you stop eating?

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Now, below are arguments I will use to defend my work, and I suggest you should too:

Yes, it's true my story doesn't have many views, and the number of people who dislike it is extremely high. That does not mean it's bad.

This is the converse to the last argument, and this is also true.

Note that this argument proves nothing; it simply refutes the assertion "High number of dislikes=bad story." This does not mean that a story with a high number of dislikes are bad. This is a negative statement; it proves nothing; it only disproves an assertion.

Well, the Chicago Manual of Style section [whatever section] says that I can . . .

Pointing to a reputable, objective, style guide is always good. It's verifiable and unbiased.

Merriam-Webster says that that word is indeed a noun/adjective/verb/adverb/participle/gerund.

I love Merriam-Webster; they're the most up-to-date dictionary on American English. Did you know that the word "good" is an adverb? Go and tell your old teachers!

I think most people, when they criticize your parts of speech, are not doing it to be malicious; they're doing it to help you. But they're not right all of the time; so, if this happens, point them to the dictionary to justify your use of the word.

And, in a similar vein:

There's more than one definition for that word.

I thought I was the most literal person on the planet before I started writing pony fan fiction. It seems that people are quick to criticize you if you use a word other in a sense other than the first definition in the dictionary—but that doesn't make you wrong.

Comments

[Showmare Trixie]

I must say. I love you for making this.
I especially agree with your counter to the first argument you listed.

[Biker_Dash]

My favorite defense:
I write what I feel I have to write, as you feel you write what you have to write. I write for myself.

By that argument, that means I will follow or not follow rules of canon, grammar, or what have you, as I feel I need.

[Geist]

Hmm, fascinating and helpful. As someone hoping to get into writing some myself, I am always happy to see an author I'm watching, or the site news, list things like this. One can't learn any better then reading the views on writing from the source of your interest itself.

Much appreciated for another bit of writing help.