The Sweetie Chronicles rant ahoy! · 6:39pm Mar 29th, 2014
Writing, writing, writing.
Fair warning, there's no rhyme to this, I'm writing my thoughts and such. I might eventually reach some sort of conclusion, even!
Isn't it always funny how I can mess around, write random little stories, shower people with ideas, do thirteen things at the same time: Blogs, reading, working, filling forms, etc. and yet, worry so much about a single story and character?
What makes TSC special? Well, so many things, at least to me. It honors stories I love... every story in it, every connection is a reason to read that fic again. It's not always a perfect rendition of the world or author's work, but it means more than just putting Sweetie in a story just because it's popular, or because I know the author.
In fact, it's thanks to TSC that I know so many cool people! So, not only is it my story, it's my little homage to all these creative individuals who awakened my imagination.
It's also my chance to write one of my favorite characters from beginning to— well, wherever our journeys might take us. Furthermore, it allows me to see her grow. Of course she's not the same as she was before, or in canon. That would be pointless.
Why would Sweetie go through all of this to remain the same? Why would she have all those adventures, suffer through things that would break other ponies and come on top and not change?
Writing Sweetie as she grows, how's she influenced by others—Twilight's fragments, Trixie, different versions of the Mane 6, Blue Blood, Esteem, Chrysalis, Octavia, the Crusaders, herself, Silver, Puppysmiles—is really, really fun and interesting.
How does a small comment affect a character? Why does she react the way she do? Why does she speak so different now? Does her character reflect her actions and writing and music and singing? What is breaking her inside? What's healing her inside? Just how powerful is she? How does she fight? What is she willing to do? What will she never do? And what happens if she does?
I'm also plagued by ideas, throwing off options because the name's Sweetie Belle, NOT Mary Sue.
How much easier would it be if she could be a 'perfect', ultra powerful, everything-goes-well type of character. That I could simply write her as having the one single thing happen to her that is so dramatically powerful it takes her three paragraphs to get through it and return to her former self... instead of so many little things chipping away at her, making her doubt herself, or be too sure of herself... things that echo in her actions and how she perceives others. I think I would have quit by now.
Eh. Thankfully that's not the case... I know what makes her tick, and I know where she is, has been and will be, emotionally speaking and power-wise. It's going to be a long, hard journey for her.
Anyway, rant over. Back to writing TSC.
Note Slap to self: D, you're not Shortskirts and Explosions. Stop trying to write like him!
Response to self: Bu—
Double-Slap to self: Shaddup and do as I say!
Response to self: Wanderer D used confusion! It's super effective!
Wanderer D is confused!
It hurt itself in its confusion!
You may not be SS&E, but that's fine.
You're in your own league.
~Skeeter The Lurker
Should be its, lel.
1964238 I was confused. Also. 'Lel?' Seriously? E tu, Trevs?
1964298 I was under duress! Super Big Mac made me! HELP ME!
This may not be the intended reaction you're going for, but your rant has left me very nervous. I'm trying to write an epic (as in length, not as in kewlness) story about another foal character, and I don't want it to come off as an easy adventure for him either. There's no avoiding the inevitable mistake, but I at least want to make a story worth reading for people, even though I'm not worthy.
In any case, best of your talents and luck with the rest of TSC.
There's not much to say to that, really, except good luck, god speed, and try not to break your power armour again.
In order to truly write like Skirts, you'd have to go another couple years without releasing a chapter!
I love TSC, and thanks again.
Wanderer ranting hum...Well how about you rant a little about this:
What's this about? Now you got my curiosity.
Isn't it obvious?
To infinity of course.
fc00.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2011/275/5/1/to_infinity_and_beyond_by_clear_green-d4bktoc.png
~Leonzilla
I'm actually not sure of what will be of Sweetie Belle in the future. I simply have faith in that it will be amazing.
You can do this D! I believe in you!
Indeed. Don't write like SS&E, because that would be abandoning your personal stylings and creativity for a style that just works for him.
If you'd allow me to vent a bit, TSC does feel a bit like my own story, only while you're honoring stories you love, I'm doing stories that I either hate, or think could use a continuation. Cupcakes where Pinkamena is a mercy killer, releasing her friends from emotional torment due to shattered dreams. Rainbow Factory, where the staff are controlled by the government to uphold a racial pride in perfection, forced to kill others (well, they willingly do it, but it's kinda like a drug high that puts them in the right mindset).
One thing I am jealous of is characterization and situations, though. While you're using a practically defenseless filly from the beginning, I'm using the God of Death himself. Granted, he does hide just as much, manipulates instead of intimidates, and just plain doesn't fight, but yeah.
The Sweetie Chronicles is good stuff. A representation of a concept that can run for a long time throughout hundreds of changes. A showing of a life in constant flux, learning and relearning from experiences. A true epic. Good that you know where it's going, though, because that same kind of flux can easily lead to complete confusion. I know I've run into that issue numerous times in the past.
And just like your blog, this is equally misguided until the conclusion. TSC is good stuff, and the concept did act as inspiration for my own story. So thanks for writing it.
Whose Shortskirts and Explosions?
Also ... Yay! More TSC! It's better than cookie dough flavored Icecreme with Recess Pieces chunks.
That, and Marysue gets thrown around waay too much nowadays. I don't think it means what some people seem to think it means
.
You're taking forever writing your EoP chapter like he is. It really leaves me to wonder if the story is indeed cursed
TSC means just as much to many of us as well. I patiently await the next chapter, and I continue to be inspired to continue my own writing.
Thanks for all the hard work, D.
better get a Lum Berry then...
Уже более полугода прошло, но мы всё терпеливо ждём. Такими темпами мы доберёмся до конца повести, наверное, году к 2020ому.