Anyone Want to Be a Guest Contributor?

Hey, you!  Yes you, the one reading this post!  Have you ever wanted your opinions to appear on a blog visited by literally dozens of people every day?  Well, now's your chance!

As you presumably already know, I've been writing reviews of all the 6-star stories on Equestria Daily, starting with the oldest and working my way forward.  Assuming nothing interrupts my posting schedule, come Friday I'll be 'due' to review The Purloined Pony.  So what's the problem?  Well, I'm the one who wrote that story.  For reasons that should be obvious, I wouldn't feel comfortable or competent to review it myself, but I don't really want to skip over it altogether.  So, I'm looking for someone to do my dirty work for me!  Here's the deal:

If you want to help me out, read my story (linked here) and write a review.  I ask that you use the same format I do for my 6-star reviews (Impressions before reading, Star rating, etc.), and that you do your best to provide an honest, accurate, and spoiler-free review of the story geared towards potential readers.  Send your review to madethisjusttopostponies@gmail.com before 12:00 am on January 6th (US central time), and I'll put it up on the blog.  That's all there is to it!

If no-one submits a review, I'll just skip over my story.  If two people decide to review it, I'll post both.  To be clear, I won't edit or censor anyone's review, so long as they follow the format I've laid out.  Whether you give it five stars or one, I only ask that you make your reasoning clear, and do your best to give potential readers some idea of whether or not they'd enjoy the story.

A bit of fair warning: it's a choose-your-own-adventure, which I'm guessing will make reviewing it a pain in the butt.  Hopefully someone answers the call.  If you have the time and inclination, happy reviewing!

6-Star Reviews Part 24: Ah Ain't Got No Ack-cent!

To read the story, click the image or follow this link

It's kind of interesting to look at the stats this blog has generated.  For example, about two-thirds of the traffic to this site is from the US, and most of the rest is from Canada, Australia, and the UK.  Alright, nothing too surprising there.  But what nationality do you suppose represents the next most visits?  Luxembourg.  If you are reading this post and are a native Luxembourger, I only have one thing to say to you: do you think you could get me Frank Schleck's autograph?  I'm kind of a big cycling fan, and he's one of my favorite riders.  I assume that, given the tiny size of your nation, every citizen knows the Schleck brothers personally.

...On that note, and apropos to nothing, my review of Conner Cogwork's Ah Ain't Got No Ack-cent!  Below the break, as always.

6-Star Reviews Part 23: Storm

To read the story, click the image or follow this link

It's funny; when I started doing these reviews, I assumed that I'd learn to do them more quickly as I found my groove.  Instead, I find myself spending more and more time evaluating each passing story.  No doubt my inability to streamline the read/analyze/review process is the result of some deep-seated mental defect.

So it is that I present my I-spent-entirely-too-long-on-this look at Kits' Storm, after the break.

6-Star Reviews Part 22: Incomplete Edition: Fair Feather Friend

To read the story, click the image or follow this link

Time for that most frustrating of events: the abandoned fic.  Who among us hasn't invested several hours (or more) reading a story told in updates, only to discover too late that it would never be completed?  Not fun times.

There are obvious limits to what kind of review I can give an incomplete story, but I wanted to do a post about it in any case (thanks for the warning anyway, anonymous poster).  So, everything I've got about Bobcat's Fair Feather Friend is after the break.

And Now, Some Non-Denominational Holiday Stuff

This post has nothing to do with My Little Pony.  Sorry about that; I promise it won't happen again.

What it is about is the holiday season, which we are now in the midst of.  I hope you'll read it, even if you don't celebrate anything this time of year.  If you're just here for ponies and want to skip this post, that's fine too; I completely understand.  But if you're willing to indulge me, everything's below the break.

6-Star Reviews Part 21: Jack and the Ponies

To read the story, click the image or follow this link

Since I began this blog, I've done 21 reviews of 6-star stories.  In that same stretch of time, EqD has given 21 new stories the 6-star tag.

...Ugh.  Well, at least I'm in no danger of running out of material!  Below the break, my review of Moabite's Jack and the Ponies.

Episode Talk: S2E11, Hearth's Warming Eve

You know, it's the darnedest thing.  Traffic to this site is mostly pretty steady from day to day, but it always seems to take a nosedive around Saturday morning (US time).  It's almost as if all the pony fans have something better to do right then...

Anyway, thoughts and commentary on the latest episode, after the break.

6-Star Reviews Part 20: Better Living Through Science and Ponies

To read the story, click the image or follow this link

Pen Stroke and Batty Gloom?  Now where have I heard of those two before... ah, never mind, it'll come to me.  In the meantime, feel free to peruse my review of their VERY long Portal crossover fic, Better Living Through Science and Ponies, tastefully stowed behind the break.

And then the blog exploded

Pageviews on December 10th: 53

December 11th: 84

December 12th: 42

December 13th: 4,399 and counting

Holy crap.  Hello there, Equestria Daily.

6-Star Reviews Part 19: Party of None

To read the story, click the image or follow this link

This marks the first time I've reviewed a grimdark story on this blog.  Although every now and then one catches my eye, I must say I read very few fanfics of this genre.  Ponies and violent death, in principle, aren't things I particularly want to see mixed together.  But if there's one thing I'm willing to make an exception for, it's quality.  Is Sparkler and Quill's Party of None such an exception?  Read below the break to find out.

6-Star Reviews Part 18: The Truth About Pinkie Pie

To read the story, click the image or follow this link

Many people have tried to explain Pinkie's "Pinkie sense" and 4th-wall-breaking tendencies with some combination of science, magic, and asspullery.  Here, we have a story that purports to give us the long-sought answer at last!  After the break, my review of Batty Gloom's The Truth About Pinkie Pie.

Mixed-Quality Writing: Why It Frustrates Me to No End

Once more, I'm going to take advantage of this blog to blow off a little steam.  If you're just here for reviews, they'll be back next week as normal.  But if you do want to know what's eating me (fic-wise, anyway), I've buried my thoughts beneath the page break.  See you there.

6-Star Reviews Part 17: Forever

To read the story, click the image or follow this link

Today I'm reviewing the first of an impressive four 6-star stories by Bobcat.  My take on Forever, after the break.

6-Star Reviews Part 16: Rainbows and Sunsets

To read the story, click the image or follow this link

How many readers remember the Scootabuse meme?  Well, here's a story written as a "take that" to the idea that Dash gets her jollies from viciously beating Scootaloo.  So, happy pegasi ahead!  Everything's after the break.

6-Star Reviews Part 15: Sunny Skies All Day Long

To read the story, click the image or follow this link

I have nothing interesting to say up here.  Below the break, my review of PhantomFox's Sunny Skies All Day Long.