The Definition of Worth · 12:28am Feb 18th, 2014
Hey everybody,
So I haven't posted in a while, reason being things have been kind of crazy. See, a couple weeks ago, I was invited to possibly be a panelist at BABScon 2014, which was great and so I started working on a proposal for the. Problem was, the powers that be decided it wasn't worth bringing me on because my stories just weren't popular enough. Twice. I'm currently under review, but I have to say, I was feeling pretty bummed about having two separate people reject my stories just because not enough people had read them.
DISCLAIMER: Not hating on BABScon or anything. Seriously, not at all. They're a busy bunch after all and doing what hey can in the little time they have. So yeah, not angry. Just sad. Like, Fluttershy stepping on a ladybug sad.
Anyway, just when I was feeling low, I got the strangest message. A reader wanted to know the scene where Graves reveals his cutie mark. I got curious as to why, so I asked he wanted to know. This is what he said:
*****
"Alright, so I suppose I need to start at the beginning. Ever since I was very young I’d always wanted to join the military. My sister tells me that I give too much of myself to other people, but that’s who I am. I’m never truly happy unless I can be shouldering someone’s burden, sacrificing for them, or somehow easing their pain.
Anyways, when I graduated high school in 2010, my parents convinced me not to enlist, and I instead attended a senior military college, intent on commissioning as an officer. I loved it, but my scholarships were only for one year, and I couldn’t afford to go back, so I transferred to a state school and left ROTC. When I was at the civilian college my life kind of got off track. I started drinking heavily, skipping classes, etc, which eventually culminated in me dropping out with four credits left until I earned my degree.
After I left college, I moved to a larger city and started working in the city's ambulance service. As much as I liked helping people, again I felt as if there was something missing from my life. I was actually working the night that I first read “When the Man Comes Around”. It was actually the release of “A Long, Winding Road” that I first noticed, and I decided to give the entire series a try.
I devoured the entire series released up to that point in about two days and became an avid follower of the story. The point when ‘everything changed’ was that passage from ALWR, when Graves shows Rarity that as much as he’s tried to tell himself otherwise, he’s always a soldier first. I remember sitting in the ambulance kind of stunned into silence, wondering if what was missing from my life was the exact same thing: purpose.
I agonized over the decision for a while, but eventually realized that I needed to follow my dream and enlist without letting anyone talk me out of it. My parents weren’t supportive initially, and for a while it seemed like I really alienated them. Thankfully, by the end of basic training, they’d come around to the idea enough to attend my graduation. During basic training, I had earned the rank of Private First Class, qualified expert with a pistol and sharpshooter with a rifle, and brought my PT score to a 270 out of 300.
From basic training I was assigned to the premiere mechanized regiment in the U.S. Army with one of the most important jobs: we are the opposing force. Units that are getting ready to deploy overseas come fight us first in what are basically enormous high tech laser tag matches. When they inevitably get their flank kicked all over the Mojave desert, we then sit them down and explain in detail what they did wrong so they won’t make the same mistakes when real bullets are flying. I personally believe that my job is one of the most important in the Army, and I love my regiment, which is why I affectionately sign off formal correspondence with the mottos of my regiment and squadron.
In the short time I’ve been with my team, I’ve been recommended for soldier of the month, which I’m currently studying for, and I’ve been contacted by a recruiter for the Special Forces, or Green Berets, basically the Royal Marshals of the Army. I’m continuing to sharpen my skills and stay motivated, and while I’d be lying if I said Graves was the only reason I decided to finally turn my life around, it was certainly an important part of my decision. Every time I read your stories and the descriptions of Graves and his combat prowess, it gives me something to strive for. Regardless of whether he’s just a character in an MLP fanfiction, sometimes when I have to make a decision between the right way and the easy way, I think of what Graves might do in that situation. To me, you’ve created one of the most compelling characters on the site, and you’re hands-down my favorite fanfiction author.
P.S. Now I just need to find a Rarity and I’ll be set."
*****
This right here? This is the definition of worth.
I get it: not many people read my stories and they're not exactly the most popular works in print. I understood when I started out that I had a story to write and it might not be well-accepted. I told myself that it'd be fine because it wasn't the number of views that was important but the impact those views had. I said that, but I admit, I forget that at times. A lot of times, in fact. After all it's so easy to get bogged down in the numbers and to compare yourself to others according to statistics and scorecards.
But when you get something like this, something that shows you just what the stories have meant to people? It reminds you of just what really is important. So to the reader who said this and for all the readers who've shared their love of Graves and The Journey, I want to say thank you. Really, thank you because your words mean more to me than a hundred million views.
Sincerely,
GentlemanJ
Wow.
That's…wow.
I really have no words. For you to have inspired someone so much…that's a gift. A real gift.
Wow.
Best of luck, to both you and the reader!
Well, it helps that I like to see your series as an unintentional League of Legends Crossover. XD
But yeah, I honestly love how you've done them as humans, and yet, at least for a decent part, kept what made them ponies. (Aside from, yanno, species...)
But how you explained magic in the second story helped with that a lot. It's that outside thinking that makes me read your fics. Good world building and stuff.
Incredible. To have such a positive impact on someone's life like that is a tremendous honor IMO. I'm very happy for you and I wish you and the reader the best of luck.
Can.. Can I favorite a blog post?
Awesome. Honestly you are in my top three on this site and I get more frequent updates from you than either of them. It always brings a smile to my face when I see you posted up something new.
Congrats on doing something worthwhile for this guy.
Wow...Now that is powerful.
You've touched people in ways that you never realize.
Myself included.
Best of luck soldier and good luck to you GentlemanJ.
May Graves guide you on the right path.
As a Poolie in the USMC (I leave for Parris Island August 25th) I LOVE the Journey of Graves stories. Graves is on a list I have of individuals who I should aspire to be like. I think the entire saga of The Journey of Graves is some of the best literary work on this site. GentlemenJ, as I've stated many times, do NOT change what you do, as your work is something I eagerly await every time something new comes out. It is bullshit that your stuff was rejected on the basis of views.
Not much more to say. Either it has been said, or I would be simply stating the obvious. Take what you have learned straight to heart, and hold onto it. It is a feeling that you deserve to feel.
Congratulations, Gent.
According to site statistics, by writing about one character's journey through life, you are number 49 in followers on the site. Their logic confounds me. Even just looking at your stories, none have more than 30 dislikes, most have more than 600 likes, with over 3k views.
I can't say your stories have affected me, or many for that matter, like the soldier you talk about here, but many can't. We can all relate to having a story that touched us, but this is someone's life getting put back on track from your stories alone. That is a lot. I wish you luck good sir, because before you, Rarity was a lot lower on my list of 'liked ponies'.
Ew, that whole BABScon thing's a bit messed up
they've got me on there, and I'd dare say that you're twenty times better than myself
they must be high on various narcotics over where they chose the people to let in
1852939 It's the numbers. My recent stories haven't gotten as many views, which indicates the series is declining in popularity. In many ways, that's the only way many judge a story's quality.
But like I said, I'm still under review, so if you'd be willing to put in a good word for me at BABScon, I'd really appreciate it: The Journey needs all the support it can get.
1853029 I'll slide in a good report for you, certainly.
Unfortunately, I'm on one of the smaller panels, so I'm not sure how much pull I've got.
Every little bit helps though, right?
1853060 Single steps and flapping butterflies, my friend.
Honestly...that's awesome.
I'm glad you've gotten such supportive feedback! ...actually it's stories like this blog and stories that I love to read that encourage me to keep pushing on. Because our work can affect people in ways that we'd never hear about, unless they message us.