Status Update (Feedback strongly requested) · 3:36pm Jun 8th, 2014
So, good news first. I have been writing like a fiend the past two weeks and have two chapters for different stories finished and in the editing process (All of them sequels to RPO). Unfortunately/fortunately, my editing process is substantially longer these days so I can give you all better quality stories, but that means I might have some updates idling in the queue while my editors look over it.
The bad news involves one of the stories themselves. It was supposed to be a silly comedy and you can still see traces of that in the first half, but then it turned dark. Real dark. Darker than Nightmare Night and Anthro-Con put together. So now I have this story where something unbelievably terrible happens to Octavia and I don't know what I should do with it.
The first option is to publish it. I kind of like this option, because so many interesting alterations to the group dynamic between the kind of four main characters will occur in the fallout and Octavia's road to recovery is super interesting to me. The drawback to this option is that that would mean subjecting you all to what is without a doubt the darkest fic I've ever written, and if there's no audience for it, I won't do it.
The second option is to turn it back into the comedy it was supposed to be in the first place. Instead of being a multi-chapter story it would go back to being a light one shot that desperately tries to give Bon-Bon some characterization, but I'm not really feeling this option anymore, so I will only do it if consent seems pretty universal.
The third option is to just throw my hands up into the air and say "screw it," and get to work on the next story I have planned. You all wouldn't be subjected to the darkest fic ever, (Well, not really, it doesn't hold a candle to say Pages of Harmony, but it's still darker than anything I've ever written.) and I wouldn't have to alter it.
Anyways, these are the possible options as I see them, please leave a comment with your feedback so I can figure out just what I should do. Until next time where I hopefully announce the release of a new story.
I usually try to avoid influencing authors decisions about their stories too much but this time I feel I need to say something. This fic has been great. One of the best octaxscratch stories I have read, but I honestly hate it when a story goes dark beyond a certain point. Couple of times you have already taking the story towards that line with all the trouble Octavia gets into.
If you are going to take this to that dark please then please tell me and we'll part ways without hateful reactions at least I'll be certain to regret later. Don't get me wrong, you are brilliant as an author but I came to this story for the promise of comedy. Not to reach out for brain bleach etc.
Sorry if this seems rude but I don't think I'll be able to anything that much darker than Octavia has already been through.
Well you already know I am all for it!
2187531 I have read the rough rough draft of the story and feel I should give you some thought. While it is dark, in my opinion I don't think its was darker than her dying all those time on Nightmare Night. But that can change with how the story is refined and pt into multiple chapters. I just dont want to see people leaving the story just because its a bit dark, but if it isn't what your are in to then I guess it cant be helped. I am also not a huge fan of dark fics but I can assure you that this isnt a 'super depressing, soul crushing, tear jerker' like the Pages Of Harmony is. No where close to it. But either way I don't suppose my opinion means that much. But I wish you would give it a chance!
2187531 No worries! Even if I publish this particular story, there will be four other stories that are sequels and substantially lighter. For instance, we will have Princess Luna's Academy for the Arts and Sciences (Chapter 1 in editing as we speak), that should be light and funny. What I'm saying is even if I do publish the dark fic, there will be plenty of light fun comedy coming anyways, so don't stop reading my stuff, I really like your commentary.
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Ok. If it's just one of several sequels then I'm fine with it. Sorry for my rather extreme reaction earlier but I have had a few good stories just suddenly turn dark and lose everything that made me have interest in them. Sometimes it feels like a kick in the nuts and considering that I have taken a training sword there a few times, I think I know that particular type of pain quite well.
2187912 It's fine. I am not the type to go all dark all the time, veering schizophrenically between ultra-dark and light-hearted comedy is way more my style, I justify it to myself as the dark times making the good times all the better. But anyways, I know this next story is a departure so I have kind of sealed it off so that you can skip it and it won't affect the other chapters too much. It is the EQG in this story.
MY BODY IS READY
But seriously you should publish this story, normally I try to postpone (not avoid I always get round to reading them when my chocolate supply is up) reading dark or sad fics cuz I'm a wimp but I LOVE your take on the characters, their different, and their loves been tested TO THE EXTREME.
At least I'll know it's be good quality writing and an interesting plot that'll crush my soul
2188645 Very well, just remember that you asked for this. It will still be a few days either way because I want to publish all of this at once so I don't leave my readers stuck at the lowest rung of hell without showing them how the characters get better.
2188648
I think you broke me,
I don't know whether to jump up and down with excitement or cry in a corner
2188683 How'd I do that?
2188999 You are too kind. I will probably publish this story, but not before I launch Princess Luna's Academy for stuff (Finding cover art tonight and hoping a proofer gets through it by then as well. Oh hey, jlm, have I given you the link to the Sweetie Story?
2189043 As you can see, I have a memory like a steel trap.
Just wanted to say that I don't really care how dark it gets as long as it's your decision.
2188720
Well I'm excited that it'll be coming out soon, so I kinda want to frolic around the place with a huge smile on my face, but I know that the content of the fic will annihilate my feels completely soooo...
The result is I've kinda been staring at the wall for the past couple of hours while my brain beats it's self up trying to figure what reaction I should go with