What a long, strange trip it's been. · 1:25am May 31st, 2013
Ah, I have a blogger's dilemma. On the one hand, there's a cute picture of Gilda on my userpage. On the other, I have some things I want to say. I think I've found a compromise; read on past the image and break for some announcements and stuff.
A compromise. Also, this is either a tiny Gilda or a giant ball of yarn.
First, I've been a tad remiss in my duty of linking and credit. In chapter six of Evening Flames, Gilda and Iron go see a play whose entire plot is a reference to the story Raindrops Keep Falling, written by Stormy Seas. It's a fun story, and at just under 13k words, it won't take all of your evening to read it.
Secondly... Summer Days and Evening Flames are (is?) done. This past week was the first time in a very long time that I didn't spend it under the influence that, one way or another, I wasn't yet done writing it. That story has been a graceful demon, one that I am as sad to close as I am relieved that it's over.
But mostly, I'm glad with how it turned out. In the end, that's pretty much the best I could've hoped for.
I remember back in my World of Warcraft days, they had an achievement for participating in all of the 10-12 in-game holidays. It was meant to signify that you've been playing the game for at least a year, but really, what struck me was the title: What A Long, Strange Trip It's Been. I know that it's probably a reference to The Grateful Dead or something, but regardless, I first heard it WoW, and... there's a poetic ring to it.
"What a long, strange trip it's been."
I mean, the fact that you're reading this on a My Little Pony fanfiction website probably sums up more of the "strange" factor than I could put into words. I mean, hell, I got as well-known in this fandom as I am by writing about Gilda, so I'm already off in a niche within a niche.
I guess this is where I ought to mention the obligatory "400 followers!" threshold that I've crossed. But as much as I like numbers mixed with more numbers to rank myself (and I did play WoW for several years), I don't want to quantify people right before I get to my next point:
"What a long, strange trip it's been."
If I can wax zen for a moment (and it's my blog, why wouldn't I be allowed to do that?), the journey is often more memorable and important than the destination. So, while I like the "destination" of writing my story (it's finished), the journey is what's going to stick with me for longer, I feel.
For one, I've learned a ton about writing. The first time I opened up Google Docs and started writing Heart of Gold, Feathers of Steel, I didn't have any real idea of what I was doing or where I was going with that story. It showed. The second version, the one that led into Summer Days and Evening Flames instead of what is now titled Solis Bellum, was more well-rounded, but even then, I feel like I've come a long way as an author since March of 2011.
Part of that is my second point: the people. I've met dozens of people in this fandom who were willing to help, teach, and spend time with me and my story. I've met a lot of friendly and socially outgoing people who are pleasant to be around. Even though I'm always hesitant to use the word, for some people I've met, I would even count them as friends. In the same vein, I've met people who remind me why I don't throw that word around. I've gained enemies. I've lost friends.
In the end, it's been a long, strange trip. If I had a machine and could go back and do it again, I would.
So, what's next?
I don't know how truthful I should be in answering that question. I'll say that, as of yesterday, I do have a new project in the works. However one, I've learned that it's often times a bad idea to announce a story that you're working on before it's over halfway completed. For another, it's not related to any of my current stories, which means that it's going to disappoint people who want to hear "I'm working on a sequel." Because I'm not, at the moment.
In the end, it's been a long trip. I've mostly enjoyed it, and for what it's worth, I hope to keep going on it for a while longer.
Glad to hear that you are working on something new.
I don't know about everyone else, but I'm not disappointed. If anything, I'm actually quite happy to hear that you're already starting on a new story. I mean, I don't have any delusions about seeing it any time soon, but it's nice of you to let us know.
So, Nicknack, just out of curiosity. Are you one of those types who writes the entire story and then posts it little by little, or the kinda guy who posts as he writes it?
Damn it, Nick. I was gonna use this title theme as my own "finished novel" blog post. And in that regard, the nows of WoW will never be as great as the was's... something I hold just as sentimentally, if not more so.
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Thank you both kindly.
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This time, I'm not entirely sure. I'll see how it works come release-time; my gut instinct is to just release it all in one dump and be done with it.
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Heh... sorry about that. But yeah, I couldn't get into the story for Cataclysm, which really made it easy to quit once I realized that my graphics card wasn't powerful enough to run some of the raids.
That'll do nick that'll do
Ah, I remember those older times when the story was first being written and posted on EqD as Google Docs. That was actually quite a while ago, actually. Even though I am saddened that the story has ended, I'm glad that it actually has an end, and I'm glad that you're working on something new! I look forward to it.
Keep up the good work, Nick. That's all you can do now.
Ah ye olde days of Google docs. Long and strange indeed. I'm really glad you have another project, and honestly I think it's cool it's not a sequel to your "Gilda trilogy" I mean a sequel would make a lot of us happy but I don't think it's really necessary, that's just me tough.
Now about this project, whatever it is just take your time for this one, we don't want to break you now, do we?
and thanks for telling us, it's a nice gesture.
Words cannot express how glad I am that you're working on something new; I was really worried that such a magnum opus as this series has been would burn you out.
I am a little sad it's unrelated, though. I needs moar Gilda! Ah well, I'll take solace in knowing that there's another superb story coming from one of the fandom's best authors.
thy will be done, NickNack... thy will be done...
Happy days indeed. Summer Days was one of the first fics I ever read when I joined the fandom, and it's stuck with me since. Now that it's finished... I guess I'm just glad it's complete.
You're telling me!
I've jinxed so many of my stories by telling others about them.
At any rate, I'm really happy for you. Putting real effort into writing enjoyable and tasteful fanfiction (for me at least) has always been a tug-of-war between the desire to go the extra mile on something you've already made an investment of time in, to do something extraordinary, and the fear that the many people who don't understand the fandom will likely never take your work seriously for what it truly is.
I experienced this a lot in my few feeble attempts at writing. Looking at the magnitude of your work, I can only think...Holy fuck, you must have experienced this a lot. Have you? Even if you haven't, seeing your projects through to completion (unlike me, in so many cases, fanfiction and otherwise) was still a brave act. It's a big investment of time, something we have a finite amount of. Completing big projects requires having faith that the return on that investment will be the pride in having contributing some very meaningful, artful and noteworthy contribution to the universe, despite the limited audience. So I admire you for that.