The Decision · 11:19pm Aug 5th, 2014
Ok, now I was gonna do a general blog post about this but I felt it'd be better to discuss with you first... I've been thinking about this a while and... I'm not sure I can actually finish First Steps.
Don't get me wrong, it was my first and so far only solo story, the one that got me started on this hobby and passion, the one that lead me to many friends including one that I have gone on to write many co-authored stories with, but... having grown as much as I have as a writer, I look back at it... and honestly, most aspects of it make me cringe now.
I see mistakes, rushed ships, far too many characters all trying to be focuses, mane six shipping which honestly I don't find as interesting as oc shipping anymore. An overall story too grand, ideas that I realized were my friends and not my own, an ending I never planned enough and honestly I don't think I could pull off in any meaningful way...
The character himself has evolved far more than what he was in there, he was so... by the book in my mind. The only times I truly smile at him are the times when he interacts with Pinchy.
Honestly, the story just leaves me... unsatisfied. I am grateful for what it has done for me, but I don't even think a rewrite is possible. So many references, one shot jokes, things that I have done better in other stories...
The only things I would honestly salvage from it are certain characters, which has already been partially done in other stories.
I mean like, letting them live on if nothing else. I suppose the truest one would be Virtue and Vice: Equestria. It does have the most returning characters. But The Start of Something New has a few as well.
So yeah, that's my basic spill here. I mean honestly, you guys know I've been slow on that story, and I do apologize. But... I feel this is for the best. Check out some of my other ones if you are interested, I feel I've improved much in them. If you have any questions about the story itself, where it was going, things like that, do let me know in a comment on here and I will do my best to answer them.
[gross sobbing in the corner]
2346582 Don't do that... I don't like crying...
I do like the character Volt.
Its kinda sad to see him go.
Alright
Dude, keep it going. Worst case scenario, just wrap it up sooner than you thought. I mean, finishing a 200k+ word story is quite an accomplishment, no matter how bad it is!
Does this mean you'll be concentrating on stories like The Start of Something New? Because I really like that one.
2346610
The fact that you can look back on your story and realize that it's lacking, tells you that you've grown both as a person and as a writer as well. As far as the story itself goes, you and only you can decide if you truly want to abandon it, or rewrite it, don't let people pressure you into doing either.
2346631 Think of it as just ending where it was, it's not too bad of a spot.
2346625 Volt is in Virtue and Vice: Equestria.
2346670 Yes, that story was recently planned out pretty much until the conclusion. The latest chapter is 1/3 done.
2346610
Oh, okay, sorry.
[mad grin in the corner]
I may not have read this story, but I know the feeling when you feel like you can't finish a story. For me, it was the fact that I got ideas many, many chapters ahead of where I currently was and it became annoying to get all these 'later' ideas and never any current ones. I even had a private story I feel I can't send to a friend of mine because of all the seriously epic later ideas I had rather than trying to work my way up.
As... long as you don't cancel the sequel to the wonderfully romantic An Alternate Path, then I won't send the torches and pitchforks and my personal pet dragon changeling after you. I still consider that the best romance I have ever read (beating out Bluebird's Song) so yeah, you won't get a fate worse than death if you don't cancel that one
2347211 Don't worry, although I admit the unthinkable could happen and maybe that one gets cancelled, it wont be for any reasons like this, it'll be things outside my control. Honestly I love that story and look forward to every idea and writing binge I have for it.
.. oh well... there goes my inspiration...
2348002 you can find many things to inspire you. Try reading my other stories, others on the site, or maybe just shoot me a message and I'll see what I can do.
I can respect your decision.
I mean my own story makes me cringe every time I read the earlier chapters. So many mistakes. Things like these thoughts, "I DID THAT LIKE THIS?! WELL WHY DIDN'T I JUST?! OH I'M AN IDIOT!" run through my brain but I accept these pieces.
I guess the difference is I am satisfied with them. They are still EMBARRASSING. But I like to think of them like lil baby photos. As reminders of how far I've come from where I began. It isn't far mind you, but it is at least a start. It always takes a while for startup.
"But for me, it takes all the mistakes I've made in my life, and shoves them back in my face," (Zuko, Last Airbender). This I guess sums up your feelings.
Although to be candid I am disappointed. I kinda wanted to see how it'd all end. Oh well I'll leave it to my imagination then.
But seriously dude RESPECT.
2352420 Don't get me wrong, I'm not taking it down, and it does fill me with good memories I just don't think I can continue it because my internal quality control can't help but cringe and scream for major revisions that would leave the story looking far different from it's current self.
2352453 I wasn't assuming you were gonna take it down. And of course I get it. Your quality control is OUT OF CONTROL. hehe. But seriously I GET it.