Late to the party (too).
But I was thinking since you are going for a Lyra that's "not quite there" what if you make her not understand or completely misinterpret the episode/chapter aesop.
It's always fun when the lesson is subverted and would contrast with Twilight and co.

O_O Holy crap, that's an awesome idea. :D

Glad to hear that. :D

Like take for instance in Just for Sidekicks where the moral was "Don't only think of yourself and get into situations you can't handle" Lyra's interpretation would be "Don't get involved with animals, they bite!" :lol

Actually, she is a character. She might not get to do much because she's just a background pony, but she is a character.
She even recently got to participate in a Peanuts style parody with Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon in the comics :p

This I gotta see. :D

http://i.imgur.com/6pq0F1x.png
http://i.imgur.com/CCpWKcR.png

It's not some long drawn out scene, but sometimes, it's the little things :p

Aw, poor Lyra. :(

I should totally reference that if I get the chance. :lol

You should :p
Diamond Tiara. Wrecking every pony's day :lol

Exactly. :lol

I really need to finish those, I keep forgetting I have em.

What!? The comics are great! You should :D

Interesting...

I can see where you're coming from. I don't like the whole "SHE SAT UPRIGHT! SO SHE'S OBSEESED WITH HUMANS!!!!1!111!!" thing.

Yeah, I'll touch on that a bit but it won't be a big part of how her character. She'll mostly be a shut in character that exist mostly in the realm of her own mind. Like Lola from Looney Toons. :lol

Cool!

Also this...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T8EQakBAEds

You guys...he's voiced by the Gaburevolver...

Yep. Found that out a few days ago, sounds awesome!

Eh, it's alright... Personally, nothing will ever top John de Lancie. I find that it lacks the calmness and control of the original which is what made the character of Discord so intriguing to me. He's a very laid back villain however the Japanese version seems to be over the top and oozing with evil which just isn't Discord... if that makes any sense. :lol

Yeah...I agree. Just...the freaking Gaburevolver dude. I was watching it, and I thought to myself "He sounds familiar" so I went to Wikipedia, and "Zyuden Sentai Kyoryuger: narrator, voice of Kyoryuger equipment"

I've been telling others for a week that it's Kyoryuviolet :lol
It's awesome :p

Anyway, how did all the talk shift to Lyra recently?
I don't really mind. I own 5 of her for Celestia's sake. I'm just wondering :lol

Simple, I'm working on a fic with her as the main character. Though technically it started when I pointed out that she wasn't in Equestria Girls... then I believe algo said "I never even knew Lyra existed until now" then things kind of got out of hand. :lol

Can someone here teach me the basics of fanfic writing? Do you guys read a lot or something?

I mostly just write them. :lol

There's not much to teach really. If you've done any form of creative writing in the past it's just that but with characters from a movie or tv series. All I can say is try to write something worth reading that fits into the show in some way and whichever characters you choose to use be sure that they act the way the would in the source material. You can develop them in anyway you want, just so long as the start out the same as they were in the original.

Ironically, I hate reading fanfics. They're always too fanwanky.

Just write what you like, and boom. You got it.

So Heart Song is proving to be a fairly... interesting project.

Thanks. How do you improve your writing? Read a lot? Write a lot and get people to critique your work? Attend writing workshops?

Pretty much a combination these two. I've never attended a workshop in the eighteen years I've been on this planet. :lol

In other news I should have the first chapter of Heart Song finished sometime soon. :D

All of those.

Unless you're me. In which case you just write a lot and have others read and critique it. Reading a lot will expand your horizons, though, so I would definitely recommend doing so.

Question is...what to read? Should you have a target of things to read, or just read naturally.

Sadly 99.9% of things I read are from the Internet now. Haven't picked up a novel since...the Hunger Games trilogy.

I think you should read fanfics, as well as whatever novels strike your fancy.

I learned to write because I read a lot of books. The books that I read were the books that I found to be interesting. When I first attempted to write a novel, I copied the formatting of novels that I had read before a reference for grammar. As my vocabulary expanded, so did my utilization of complex words. Eventually, I developed my own style and my own way with words.

Writing isn't something that's taught. It's something that is learned.

So it's just practice then. Maybe it's something I should try.

I used to write a lot as a kid, until lack of self-esteem caught up and pushed me down and I stopped. Maybe it's time to try again.

The problem with every skill, be it art, writing or whatever, is that when you ask for advice, people will tell you to do all kinds of professional things. Artists tell me I can't be an illustrator without attending a four-year degree, drawing from real-life models and drawing 10 real-life pictures per day. Writers tell me I can't write unless I read 52 books a year or so and major in English. And so on.

True words of wisdom my friend. :)

Read Watership Down. Why? Because badass bunnies, that's why.:D

Badass bunnies like Angel.

MLP thread.

That, right there, was a smooth transition.

Have I mentioned that Fluttershy is my favorite pony?

http://s3.amazonaws.com/imgly_produc...5054/large.png

I'm still trying to get the basics down.

Bunnies?... Oh, nothing to worry about here folks! It's just the show with the FUCKING KILLER BUNNIES!!!

Flutters is good... I personally prefer these two though. :D

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c18YOYnJfL...40/Capture.PNG

Second of course being the fair one herself Lady Rarity. :D

http://images2.wikia.nocookie.net/__...tiara_S2E9.png

Fluttershy? Twilight and Pinkie? Rarity? :eyebrow You guys are CRAZY!!!

Its AJ ALL THE WAY!!!
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CsNfEqOpuE...ge-570x402.jpg

Because? Well...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZqYIG6Qy_E

SHES COUNTRY!!!

TASTE THE RAINBOW MOTHA FUCKA!

http://th08.deviantart.net/fs71/PRE/...35-d5lc1fw.jpg

Whatevs!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nd7JB97DEHE

http://i568.photobucket.com/albums/s...-Applejack.gif

SHES COUNTRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!