Fandom Classics Part 103: Scootaling

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Sorry for the lack of post on Friday, guys.  I was out of town for a few days, forgot to set something to post before I left, and didn't get back until Saturday night.  By way of apology, have the review you would've gotten three days ago if I'd been on my game!  My thoughts on GrassAndClouds2's Scootaling, below the break.

Mini-Reviews Round 75

Thanks again to Mr. M for the guest post on Monday; it's good to take a day off every now and then, and that's what unpaid laborers friends are for, isn't it?  But now, we're back in the saddle!  Click below to see what I've been reading casually lately, and what I thought of it.

By Order of the Inquisition: An Author is More Than A Writer

I'm taking the day off to sip fruity drinks with little umbrellas by the beach  shovel the driveway and catch up on work  do something more realistic than my idle fantasies, but less pedestrian than reality. Luckily, Inquisitor M has a guest post that you won't want to miss!  I (and others) have talked in the past about how to receive and deliver criticism, but one thing I don't think I've seen discussed is how to use advice which one has actively solicited.  Click below the break for his thoughts on how an author should treat suggestions and recommendations from editors and pre-readers--and on a common pitfall to avoid.

Fandom Classics Part 102: The 63rd Rune

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For reference, it only took about two hours after the start of the March Madness tournament for my bracket to bust.  Fun fact, not one, but two 14 seeds beat 3 seeds on the first day... but Notre Dame, the three seed I actually picked to lose, won (of course).  Oh well, it's not like I ever expect to win these things, anyway.  Anyhoo, check out my review of Alextrazsa's The 63rd Rune, below the break.

First Sentences in (Fan)Fiction the 4th

Time to look at some first sentences again!  Here are some of the first lines from stories I recently reviewed, and what I think of them.  I'll be honest; while breaking down complete stories is my bread and butter, I really enjoy doing something radically different every once in a while... and "judge the value of a mere dozen words" certainly qualifies as different.  Check it out below!

Mini-Reviews Round 74

I'm having a great deal of trouble concentrating, recently.  I don't know if it's that the weather's taken a turn for the springlike this week, or stress, or something else, but I'm having tremendous trouble getting much of anything done.  I have, however, managed to pump out a few more short reviews of things I've recently read.  This time, it's a mix of old fics and recent feature-box stuff; click below the break for my thoughts!

Fandom Classics Part 101: A Simpler Time

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It occurs to me that, sometime probably within the past year, the number of reviews I've written have collectively exceeded the ability of one person to read in a single day.  Archive-bingeing through everything I've written about things other people have written about ponies is now unavoidably a multi-day commitment.

...I don't know how to feel about that, honestly.  It's kind of neat, I guess?  Either way, let's stretch the length of that hypothetical binge out a little further with the addition of DJLowrider's A Simpler Time.  Review below the break!

Mini-Reviews Round 73

The local Dairy Queen opened again this week!  Time to celebrate with a Nerds-candy Blizzard.  Apparently, that's just a local thing, but the sugar-sour bite of the candy mixes with the soft serve marvelously.  Try it sometime if you get the chance!

Or just mix Nerds and soft serve and save yourself a couple bucks.  Either way.

Anyway, here are some stories I've read but hadn't written up.  Check them out below the break!

It's That (Writeoff-Reviewing) Time Again!

Yup, Sunday marked the start of preliminary-round voting for the latest minific contest: The Best Medicine.  If you're interested in reading a few but 101 minifics (!) seems too daunting, take heart: this is the preliminary round, which means you only need to read and vote for 14 stories in a set.  At less than or equal to 750 words a pop, that doesn't sound so intimidating, does it?

And let me tell you, there are some real gems in there.  You can read my comments on the stories I've read so far here, but even if you don't bother with anything else, you owe it to yourself to check out A Crown for the Princess Twilight Sparkle, which contains both poetic excellence and a heck of a punch, and 4th District Court, Canterlot, 11:35 a.m., which is absolutely hilarious.  And that's just from the set I read!

And, of course, there's a story from me in there.  Good luck finding it; 101 stories gives it a lot of room to hide.  Anyway, if you decide to read a few stories, and then further decide you'd like to offer some reviews, the thread to do so in is here; have fun with it!

Fandom Classics Part 100: Iron Hearts: Book 1 - Planetfall

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And so, the Fandom Classics reviews finally hit triple digits.  Onward!  Onward, I say!  Onward, specifically, to SFAccountant's lengthily-named Iron Hearts: Book 1 - Planetfall.

Mini-Reviews Round 72

Need something heartwarming in your life?  Look no further!  Today's (Monday's, whatever) dose of syrup comes via the wonderful world of hockey, but check it out anyway; we (the Wild) get some depth, his family gets to see him more often... everyone's happy.

Speaking of things that make everyone happy: mini-reviews!  Those do make y'all happy, right?  Well, you can get a fresh batch of 'em, below the break.

Fandom Classics Part 99: Yes, Apple Bloom, there *is* a Santa Hooves

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It's still cold and snowy out.  That means it's basically Christmas.  And that means that this review is seasonally appropriate!  Here's Lucky Dreams' Yes, Apple Bloom, there *is* a Santa Hooves, below the break.