Thank You All! + Life Update · 1:34pm May 6th
*blows cobwebs away*
Check, check, is this thing on?
Phew, so yeah, 2024 is still... a thing that's happening.
Just thought I'd check in here with a little update of just what's up with me and what's going on in my life.
Back in February I posted a blog (this blog, specifically) on how I was taking a mental step backwards just to kind of... gather myself after being involved in a collision while driving my car.
To re-iterate what I said in that blog: I was not hurt, nor was anyone in the other car, and the only damage done was minor scrapes to both cars. In fact, we both drove away afterwards after exchanging details. Being cheaper than going through insurance, I paid to have my panels repaired, and have purchased a dashcam to cover myself from future problems. All good, right?
Eh, not so much.
In a nutshell, the other person is dragging out the claim to the extent it might go to court. The only evidence either of us have against the other is our words, since there was no footage and no witnesses. I don't know what more court would achieve than our insurers could agree with each other, but we'll see how that goes. Unfortunately, the uncertainty of the situation and the possibility of extra costs that I really can't afford is causing... 'some' stress, let's just say that much.
Anyway. Onto lighter stuff.
The reception to 'I Know You're There' has been stratospheric. Seriously, not since I first released 'Scotchtavia' have I seen the love for something I wrote flood in at such a blinding speed! Thank you all so much, I hope the judges of the Dialogue-Only Contest feel just as much love for it.
If you haven't read it yet, please do so, because this next paragraph or two will be a little bit spoiler-y!
Believe it or not, it's actually an idea I've had knocking around in my head for a while now. It was loosely inspired by an old Tumblr post (which I have not yet been able to find again since the first time I saw it) that essentially posited the idea of a story where the protagonist knows they're in a story, and doesn't want the reader to stop reading, because it means they'll die. And towards the end of the story, starts begging the reader not to kill them. Which... was an interesting framework but way too dark. Hence the 'windows between dimensions' framing device, but the whole part at the end with Twilight being uncertain about what happens next is a deliberate nod to the original idea, without getting anywhere near as gruesome.
The story also serves as a bit of a personal love letter to the show. While there's some hilarious animosity towards Season 9 from a tiny slice of the fandom, I thought it was a wholly satisfying conclusion. Watching 'The Last Problem', and that last song came on... well, I was in floods of tears. This story was my own little answer to that, my own formal thank you and goodbye to G4. While I've dipped my toes into G5 (I did enjoy the movie, but the downgrade in animation quality for the main show is too jarring for my tastes, I haven't watched past the first episode) it just doesn't grab me in the same way. Which I guess kind of adds to the bittersweet ending of this story? Happy little accident.
Finally, I realised as I was giving the finished work a once-over that it makes for an interesting companion story, and maybe even a soft sequel, to another work of mine, 'Discord Writes a Letter'. Both narratives are framed in a non-conventional way, with both protagonists speaking in a train-of-thought in order to process specific thoughts and feelings. Both are bittersweet, even if one leans more towards bitter, and the other more towards sweet. And both feature immortals (though Twilight's immortality is disputed by some of the fandom, my presentation of it as fact is purely my interpretation) reflecting on the past and squaring up to face the future. If you haven't read either of these stories, and I'm the author of both so I'm totally biased in saying this, I totally think you should give them both a go.
What's next?
Earlier in the year, I entered the Portal Transformations Contest I with a neat idea I had for Angel Bunny, with the story 'Penance For My Sins', and finished joint first place! Thank you to Mockingbirb for organising this, and be sure to check out all the other entries in the folder here!
As for my 'current' ongoing project, 'Little Donkey', I haven't forgotten about it. However, see the life updates at the top of this blog, you'll see why my spoons for writing have largely been in a deficit right now. Bashing out a sub-5k short story for a contest entry is one thing, working on chapters for a longer story just feels more daunting? I dunno, it's weird. I want to get back to it though. Hopefully soon.
Which is about it from me for now, I'll let you get back to your regularly scheduled programming.
Peace out!
8_Bit
<3
Author go Boing Boing!