Yesterday The Mimes Came To Haunt Me In My Dreams. I Killed Them Again. Stupid Mimes. · 2:55pm Feb 25th, 2014
I remember clearly the day I realized that, from a purely objective point of view, I’m an asshole. It was quite the revelation, mind you. One second you think you’re the best thing that has ever happened to the world and then bam you look at yourself and think “woah nelly, my ego is so big I could commit suicide jumping from its top. And maybe kicking that adorable and probably orphaned and hungry puppy and then dancing at the melody of the children’s cries wasn’t as funny as I first thought.”
Now I like to think that at least I try not to be an ass, but now and then I say to myself: “Aragón, today is the day you are allowed to be yourself. Now go tornado-kick that nice lady and steal her groceries. After that, you can blog about yourself.” So here I am, enjoying a bag of twinkies and answering questions about me that nobody ever asked. Why? Because, quoting Abraham Lincoln, holy magnolias, dude, being a bad person pays off now and then.
Okay, that was a pretty long intro. Sorry. What I wanted to talk about was this, one story of mine that I didn’t talk about yet. Why? Bunch of reasons.
First: college is really pulling me to the limit this semester. I started a week ago and I’m already working every day from 4 pm to 9 pm. That’s a lot of pms. So I can’t write because when I try to I end up creating something so horrible that my eyes end up setting fire to themselves. The solution? Blog! Nobody cares about the quality of my blogs, after all.
Second: that story is getting a little bit of attention lately. City Of Doors reviewed it (it’s the sixth review of a story of mine Griffin does, you guys – I think he knows I know where he lives and he’s scared), and a certain user that has showed me that he really knows how to write is writing a side story to it on his own. Uh, I hope that wasn’t a secret. Otherwise I’m f*cked. Eh.
So anyway! That story is kind of special for me, in the sense that at the moment is probably my favorite story written by Aragón (Aragón is me, by the way. Uh, in case you had forgotten about that. Hello!). I don’t know if it will be a surprise for you, but I don’t really think that Daring DONE! is superior to my other fanfics. I mean, yes, from an objective point of view and judging by the reaction everybody has to it, I guess it’s far better than anything I’ve ever written and if I had died after writing it I would have BEEN A LEGEND, FOREVER REMEMBERED AND FEARED AS THE MASTER AND DARK LORD OF QUICK, ENJOYABLE AND FORGETTABLE FANFICS!
But, you know, I’m talking feelings here. I prefer Twilight DONE! to Daring DONE!, I prefer The Road to Twilight DONE! and I prefer Born On A Rock Farm to The Road. Funny, because if you read the latter you’ll have one of two reactions: you’ll think it’s “interesting” or you’ll be bored out of your mind. I mean it. That fic means a lot to me, but be honest, guys – my writing is pretty mediocre. If you read me, it’s because now and then I crack a joke that makes you laugh because I AM THE MASTER AND DARK LORD OF yeah, that. And Born On A Rock Farm is not a funny fic. Heck, I usually refer to it as "emofic" when I'm talking with my friends.
So, why do I like it so much?
Well, it’s mostly because it has an interesting origin story. And I’m going to explain it because, again: asshole. Yeah. Sorry, I guess? At least the twinkies are yummy! (I wonder if that lady is okay and talking to the police now. I should have tornado-kicked her twice, just in case.)
Diablos, I’m rambling. Ahem. That story, Born On A Rock Farm, was written as a present to Selbi, a friend of mine. He liked the picture I used as a cover art, and once told me that he would enjoy a story about it and I said I could write that. But there’s more than just this.
You see, I’m a Bob Dylan fan. This won’t be a surprise for some of you – I reference him now and then (heck, The Road starts and ends with the question “How many roads must a man walk down before you call him a man?” which is the second most famous line of Blowin’ in the wind), and some of my stories have images that are a little Dylanesque. Born On A Rock Farm is as Dylan-like as good ol’ Robert Allen himself.
It wasn’t, however, inspired by just one song. The main theme, a pony that walks the earth while playing a song and showing others things they would never have seen otherwise, comes from Mr. Tambourine Man, a delicious surrealistic song that’s about… something. Look, just take my word from that, okay?
While listening to that song, I imagined Applejack and Pinkie walking around Apple Acres, with AJ as the Tambourine Mare, showing everything to Pinkie. It was a nice picture, but after hearing that Selbi would like a story involving Inkie Pie playing a guitar, I realized that the story would be far better with a theme a little more… epic, I guess?
Look, that fic is not easy to categorize. I tagged it as Slice of Life because the tag [WHAT THE FRICK IS THIS SUPPOSED TO BE I THINK IT’S LIKE SOME RELIGIOUS/PHILOSOPHICAL BULLSH*T OH GOD WHAT TO DO I THINK I POOPED MY PANTS] is not an option yet (I know that Knightly will include it at some point – it’s just a matter of time!). But I like it!
Also, before writing it, I listened to the album The Times They Are A-Changin’, and used the general feeling of it. That, plus the messianic archetype trope – that one about a person that “saves” humankind (ponykind, in this case) on a metaphorical or literal sense, was what made me write that thing.
And you know what? I had a hell of a time! After writing the “Mother’s Blessing” chapter I had to stop because I was getting too emotional. And mind you, that was awesome. Sure, while I was writing it I was sure that nobody would like it – it’s telly, it’s weird and it’s not humorous. I wanted to include a comic relief, inspired by Jar Jar Binks, to make it more child-friendly… But a friend told me that wasn’t a good idea. A shame, if you ask me – but still! It was fun!
And in the end, isn’t that what writing is all about? Having fun? I had a lot of fun writing that story. In fact, I tend to like my serious stories more than the funny ones, even though the funny ones are (understandably) far better. And don’t get me wrong, I enjoy writing the funny ones. It’s just that comedy is so hard to write sometimes that going all serious is kind of a relief. I can safely say that after writing that thing, my comedy flowed better.
Oh, I see I’m already over 1000 words. Sorry! I guess I’ll stop now. After this, I’ll send the last chapter of Sow The Wind, Reap The Whirlwind, and soon-ish you’ll get a blog about that one and Long Story Short. I’m also writing a new story. A comedy, between two and five chapters. It’s a little hard to write at the moment, so you’ll have to wait for it, but yeah. It involves Thunderlane, of all ponies!
So, that’s all. See ya!
Giant blog my Aragon with rambling and explanations about one of his stories? Heck, gimme that!
I loved Born on a rock farm. It was nice to see you, writing something else than pure comedy gold. I really love those too, but seeing you writing something searious is also pretty good. I liked every aspect of it.
Yet another new story by you? I'd give you more love but you already have it all with TSFS....just imagine I'd give you twice as much
Welcome, fellow asshole, to the league of jerks.
I know where you live...
Oooh, thanks for the compliment! :)
Also, while I enjoyed the story, I must mention that it is guilty of one very insidious deed: FALSE ADVERTISING
I remember seeing it in the "popular" box and thinking: "Jesus, that pun is horrible. 'Born on a Rock Farm'? An image of Inkie Pie wielding an electric guitar and, presumably, rocking out? All you're missing is a *BADUM TSS* sound effect..."
Still, being a fan of rock and roll, not to mention fics inspired by rock and roll, I became curious about it.
Well, as it turned out, the story had nothing to do with Inkie "rocking out"... and I'm still not sure whether I should be disappointed by that or not...
So Lucky said, "Hey, this is a good idea!" and you went, "Okay, then I won't use it." Cool story bro.
1872915
Are you really going passive-aggresive with your editing now? Because if you try to sass me I'll have to take drastic measures. You'll look adorable with wings.
I do think Born On A Rock Farm is the best written of your stories, even if my personal favorite is Long Story Short, Things Went Down. The incredibly fun Done! stories are good, but in a popcorn sort of way.
Also, six reviews it all it takes to prompt a rambling blog on a topic of the last review of the six? Hopefully that power will be used for good when you've got another six completed stories to cue up.
1872925
You make the words "six reviews" sound like something small. That's not something small. And yeah, I see you enjoyed Things Went Down, as you mention it now and then : P
I can say that series is amazingly easy to write, if only because I have experience with writing bad people doing bad things in a funny way.
1872907
Hey, you would have done the same with the title. It wasn't even 100% my idea, as I was inspired by a flash game for the title.
And, I mean, it's a ROCK FARM. How can you NOT make a pun out of that? Why do you think Pinkie can jam the organ like that, huh? She's even the drummer in EQG 2!
1872918
*in wings
1872930
Not unless I was writing a comedy.
Oddly enough, after reading the story, I was convinced that there was no pun intended. With all the serious content and symbolism in it, having such a pun in its title feels incredibly out of place...
1872925 Hey, in regards to the stories: me too!
Hey, reviewing is the easy part. Especially when you don't get all fancy/professional with it. Hard part is the writing the story.
Hey, ten years on? I've just read your fic for the first time and I loved it. I just wish it had been longer!