Good news! I blew up my writer's block. · 1:42pm Jan 15th, 2014
Yeah, the title does not lie. I finally finished Cadence In A Minor chapter 13. I know I'm probably one of the worst people on this site on keeping a writing schedule or releasing chapters even remotely on time. My apologies for that. I never understood how difficult stories become as the get longer and longer. So many loose ends to tie, so many previous events to check for continuity, so much, well, STUFF.
So, how did I get through it? I wrote other stuff. I wrote a 12k Slice-of-life story about Rainbow Dash learning about real toughness and the fears a little filly faces when growing up not knowing if her dreams might all be crushed. I wrote about 10k of self-indulgent clop that's nowhere even close to being finished. Enjoying the MLP:CCG with friends and having an awesome Brony meetup a week ago, and the series picking up with some nice, happy episodes helped as well. Those things gave me the distance I needed from Cadence In A Minor. When you write something so long, it ceases to be a hobby and more like a job. I don't want that. Writing is a hobby for me, a way for me to tell stories and express myself. When it turns into something I HAVE to do instead of something I CAN do, when I start feeling that I'm letting people down, I try to force the story out. It doesn't work like that. Writing should feel light as a feather, not like horrid stress from an overdue work project. I know I have all the time in the world to write, yet I felt like I was late for something. My reader's expectations? My own? I don't know. I wrote Tough Little Pony, a 12k story, in under a day. That's from the moment of its conception, to planning, to writing, editing, and publishing. It broke my personal record from Lead. Care. Inspire. That was written in three days.
I know I have it in me to write good stuff fast. That's not the problem. Cadence In A Minor is approaching its conclusion in a few chapters and I want to finish it properly. I've always struggled with endings, both in real life as well as in fiction. I dread writing the ending. Cadence In A Minor has been a huge undertaking, crossing over 100k words after this chapter gets published. That's... a fucking lot of words, of thinking, planning, editing, stressing, hitting my head on the keyboard, and, well, life. I'm not sure if I WANT it to end. I like the story. Yet at the same time I hope it was over so it wouldn't be looming over my shoulder all the time, reminding me that I'm a lazy piece of dung that should man up and get back to work. It's also been a very important psychological process for me, helping me think through several issues I have in my own life. Sure, it's about the predicaments of a prince and a princess ponies prancing in a pastel pink paradise. It's also about regretting the past, not knowing what to do with it, and of how to talk to the people close to you about feeling bad. Things I struggle with constantly.
I hope my editors get it cleaned up soon so you can read more of it. I hope you'll like it. 
YAY!
Holy shit it's finally happening!!!!
hispachan.org/int/src/13894842985.gif
Really man, thanks for continuing it, eve after all those struggles you had to go through, it's great knowing that a story you love is still going (you have no idea how many dead fics I have in my favorites)
Now to wait for your editors to get it ready!
Awesome job exploding your writers block! I hope you didn't get it all over you. I hear it's a PITA to wash out.
Can't wait for more CIAM. That self indulgent clop story sounds like a treat too.
1720753 It's lesbian foalcon BDSM clop.
1720774
I know. You told me over Steam, remember?
That's why I know it will be a treat!
You aren't even remotely close to the worst. It may feel that way to you but trust me... you are far better than many people on this site as far as releasing chapters goes.
> I know I'm probably one of the worst people on this site on keeping a writing schedule or releasing chapters even remotely on time.
Princess Luna Picks Up Hitchhikers: I attached an author's note on my previous chapter saying "IT'S ALIIIIIIIVE" and apologizing for the 7-month hiatus. That was in July.
Glad to hear you were able to get some words out that still had that joy in them, though. And the end is in sight for CiAM! We'll be right there with you celebrating its completion and wistfully contemplating its passing.
Not the worst, by any means. Varanus of Composure fame has a pretty sporadic update history. Which is fine, as his work is generally considered top notch and was directly responsible for inspiring some of the greatest work I've seen here yet.
Good thoughts. Write other things. I might just have to give that shot.