2014: The End of Year Review · 9:42am Dec 31st, 2014
To send the year out right, I thought it would be fun to take a look back at my output this year and compare how I felt about it then to how I feel about it now. I'll also point out a few of my favorite new fics from the past year. Feel free to chime in in the comments.
NOTE: I'm not including the in-progress stories in this.
'Just a Glimpse/Suddenly, Spikey'
-There is no better feeling in the world as a writer than having something pop into your head so fully formed that you have to stop what you're doing and get it down on paper. I was settling into bed and doing one last scan of Facebook when a screen-grab from "Three's A Crowd" caught my eye. You all know which one. And amongst all the FlashLight hatred, there was one comment to seemed to shine out at me.
"How sweet. He came all that way for just a glimpse of her."
Suddenly I was wide awake. I jumped out of bed (earning a half-asleep complaint from the missus) and rushed to my desk. When the story was finished, I realized it was a bit small to be published on it's own.
And there was 'Suddenly, Spikey,' that old contest prize.
I still like 'Suddenly, Spikey' more than 'Just a Glimpse,' but only by a small margin. They both stick out to me now as reminders of that "writer's rush" that all authors seek.
'What's Done in the Dark'
-What was the phrase you used recently, Yami? Emotional whiplash?
As an author, I feel it's important to know where your strengths lie. My strength is dialogue, and I believe that comes from years of Drama classes and film appreciation. For all of its abundance of melodrama, this is probably why the Shining/Luna/Cadance plot line is my absolute favorite to write. The coldness and menace of Cadance's monologue about the heart, the absolute authority of Celestia as she accepts the Crystal Empire's secession, the escalating rage and sudden cut off of the argument between Shining and Twilight (something I wrote from arguments with my own siblings)... I loved writing them all.
As I said last year, I was in no way transforming Celestia into a villain. I was transforming Cadance. The affair trilogy of stories is as much about Cadance's fall because of her husband's actions as it is about Shining and Luna's sin becoming something beautiful.
I leave this with a small snippet from the conclusion of 'The Changelings Have a King.' It is here, in Luna and Cadance's first meeting since the affair was revealed, that I have summed up in one line of dialogue exactly how far Cadance has fallen.
"Yes. The Great Desert that stretches farther than anypony has every traveled. The Bad Lands, from which all of our troubles have come. And believe me when I tell you this Luna; if every single grain of sand in that endless wasteland had the word HATE engraved on it, it still would not equal even a fraction of the hatred I feel for you in my heart."
'Morning Glory'
-'Twilight Cubed' went through a number of revisions, the most major of which was the addition of Flash Sentry. Originally, as was hinted in 'Sweet Dreams,' it was just going to be Cheerilee and Trixie sharing Twilight's bed. Inserting Flash (Ha) into the mix I thought would be funny and would also ruffle a few feathers (double Ha.) Bonus; it also led to the strange pairing of Trixie and Flash, something that continues in the Continuity (but not super focused on.)
'The Walk of Shame' became necessary because of Cheerilee's increased importance in 'Changelings.' I realized that Cheerilee was really a tremendous character with a ton of fanon tragedy in her past. I would've been a fool to ignore that.
I thought 'Secret Rendevous' turned out rather well, though obviously some folks were a little put off by the difference in my and the Princess Rarity's writing styles. She also managed to slip in a little bit of information that I had never considered, something the will be a major part of 'On the Wings of War.'
'It Gets Better With Age' was just a joy to write, allowing me to recall fond memories of the past while savoring the promise of my wife and I's future.
I believe I said it already, but the whole idea for the plot of 'Sweet Music' comes from the Offspring's "Self Esteem." Particularly the last verse.
There are parts of the Epilogue I really love (all things Sweetie Belle, Applebloom's confusion over AJ/Dash) and stuff I'm not super happy with (the last bit of dialogue, Thunderlane's abrupt departure.)
Who would've thunk that I'd become so fond of Granny Smith's young bacon-haired paramour that I would keep that plot thread going?
'The King of Lies'
-This is absolutely one of my favorite pieces Swirling has ever done for me. Like, I want this on a 27x40 poster to hang on the wall of my new office.
As originally envisioned, this was originally a lot longer. In the end, I felt that the story almost worked better with the shorter reading time. Gives the nightmares a nice, fleeting feeling. If I had to pick a favorite nightmare, it would probably be Fluttershy's. I enjoy the shifting tones and the slightly downbeat note of triumph at the end.
I've become quite fond of Belial. Wonder if he's gonna show up down the road...
'Sweetie and Dimmy'
-Good heavens, how long was THIS in production?
Originally Dimmy was a singer like Crescendo and Arpeggio, but I thought it would add another layer to his character if he didn't share the same special ability as the rest of his immediate family.
It occurred to me after this was written that I turned Sweetie Belle into quite the little heartbreaker. Featherweight, Twist, Button Mash...
The best part of this for me was absolutely the final scene between Spike, Rarity, and Crescendo. I love how Crescendo has grown as a character these past couple years. I've only recently realized that all the traits Crescendo exhibits (intelligence, love of dead languages, unquestioning love for his children, etc.) are all traits I wish my own unknown biological father would have.
'Bon Temps'
-It always sucks when something you consider one of your best works gets lost in the shuffle.
This was written for one of my college fiction classes and I uploaded it here after my teacher finished grading it. While originally written as fanfiction in New Orleans during DerpyCon South, I made slight changes to the wording and phrasing to remove all of the equine terminology and stuff like that. Now humanized, the story got top marks.
It's one of my four stories up for publishing in the local literature magazine. Stay tuned.
'Lunar Slender'
-Hooray for more crushing defeat!
This is my least favorite of the Slender Trilogy, mostly because due to time constraints and schooling it didn't measure up to my lofty expectations. There's stuff I like (the origin, the final scare) and stuff I don't (the ending didn't have as much impact as I'd imagined.)
Still, those of you who read it seemed to like it, and that's all that matters to me.
'Heat of the Moment'
-Okay, what the hell happened here?
Me: This make-out stuff is pretty good. The sex itself is teh suck though. Oh well.
You: THIS IS SO GOOD DON'T LEAVE US HANGING BRO
Me: Really? Okay. Here's the sex. I bet it sucks. I'll add Fluttershy and Rarity getting Spike'd at the end so folks know it's a joke.
You: THIS IS SO HOT THE END WAS SO FUNNY
(The Princess Rarity leads the charge demanding a fivesome)
According to you guys, I can write a damn decent clopfic. You are only encouraging me. I hope you know what you're doing.
'For Ages and Ages to Come'
-What began as a ponified tribute to my favorite Christmas special became so much more.
The fact that this baby got picked up the way it did made me so happy. So, instead of sharing my feelings (obviously positive) allow me to shed light on the forthcoming sequel.
'For Ages and Ages More: The Wages of Life and Death:' One week after the Gathering of the Immortals, Twilight Sparkle and Princess Celestia meet to hash out some... issues the young princess has with this new arrangement. The pair are interrupted by a pony who also is a bit upset; Shade, the Caretaker of the Dead. She reveals that the Immortals have set off a chain of events that could alter the very fabric of reality itself. That is, unless Twilight and her friends accomplish the impossible. In the end, one of the universe's great questions will be answered; does the magic of friendship really last forever?
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
And now, my favorite stories of the year.
'My Little Civil Activist: Equality is Magic' by MeesterBob : I'm a sucker for a good political story.
'Parenting is Easy, I Swear' by Aragon : A brilliant exercise in absurdist comedy with some laugh out loud dialogue from all characters involved. Also one of the most heartwarming lines in recent memory. "Twilight likes bears."
'War Games Ponies Play' by Minds Eye : Hands down the best comedy of the year. Possibly one of my favorite CMC stories ever, and that includes episodes of the actual series.
'Cheerilee's Thousand' by xjuggernaughtx : The story that convinced me to give Cheerilee a bigger part in the continuity going forward.
'A Hell of a Time' by Aragon : I was charmed by the concept, but floored with laughter at Luna's characterization. "Toilet paper."
'Her Majesty's Secret Service' by CarcinoGeneticist : Like 'Romance Reports' before it, this story transcends simple clop and becomes a straight up romantic masterwork.
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
And so we bid farewell to 2014. Anything to add? Drop it in the comments. If not, then I'll see you all next year.
(There's a brilliant flash of light. A sleek silver Delorean skids to a stop next to the bewildered author. The gull doors open and Swirling Line grabs Jade by his shoulders.)
Swirling: JADE! We've got to go back!
Jade: Back? Back where?
Swirling: Back to the future! There's a real mess coming up in 2015!
Jade: What? No there's not. I've finally got my school under control, the wife and I are trying for a baby...
Swirling: No no no, that's all fine. It's your fics, Jade. Something's gotta be done about your fics!
(Jade shrugs his shoulders and opens the passenger door. A black tentacle extends toward him bearing a can of cola.)
Slendy: Thirsty?
Jade: I'M DONE WITH YOU! YOU WORK EXCLUSIVELY FOR HER NOW!
Swirling: Just get in.
(The pair squeeze into the car, close the doors, and reverse done the street.)
Jade: Hey Swirl; you better back up some more. You don't have enough road to make it to 88.
Swirling: Roads?
(She flips on Jade's aviators. Jade realizes his glasses have been missing this whole time.)
Swirling: Where we're going, we don't need... roads.
(The Delorean takes to the sky and blasts off. A flash of light, two scorching trails of fire... and it is gone.)
SEE YOU ALL NEXT YEAR!
Hope you have a happy New Year.
I wish I had your talent for dialogue. When I first started off writing fanfictions, it was okay; but now it just comes off as bland and one-dimensional.
Anyway, I thoroughly enjoyed all of your stories this year, and I can't wait to see what you have for next year.
Well, that was some analysis you did there. I haven't read all your stories, because somehow you manage to write exactly the kind of plots I hate (Sparity? Check. Shining cheating? Check. More Sparity? Oh, goddammit). But I absolutely loved Morning Glory, after that I shifted to Dear Sweetie, and then I read some of your other works.
And damn. Ibreally don't like the CONCEPT of Luna and Shining together, and yet I'm 100% sure those are your best stories by far. Read them all, myself, and afterwards I always wonder why the hell I read them. Argh. They're seriously top notch. (tho I think I haven't read the last one of that subplot, I ended at the secession of the Crystal Empire. Gotta skim through your story archive once I get back my computer, I guess).
So welp, ye had a good year right there. Hope you manage to continue like that and write the end of the Cadance downfall. Or you can end it all with everypony happy! And the marriage is saved! And everybody dances and has lemomade.
Or you make Shining's two children fall on love and try to force the two kimgdoms to get along only to discover they're siblings, have Cadance be a tragic bastard, and more or less have absolutely everypony be as freaking miserable as possible. Your call. I'm still gonna read it, anyway.
(But keep the lemonade at least!)
(Also this site needs more SoarinBurn, and the continuity has that. And you're giid with sappy. Just sayin').
Also HAH! I appear twice in there! I never thought I'd live to see the day someone describes a story of mine as 'hearthwarming' unironically, but hey, at least people see why I like my iteration of Velvet.
And you're finally following me! Seeing how I actually had a couple stories in that group of yours, I was wondering how much it would take you to hit the follow button. Guess I'll never know.
One. Thank you for the Back to the Future reference. That movie literally changed my life. Also, assuming you didn't write this in the middle of the street, Swirling Line has crashed into your office (or bathroom, where ever you write). This should have been your first concern. Granted seeing a time traveling DeLorean is pretty freakin' sweet.
Two. You are really good in the area of dialogue. When you came to DCS and were comparing writing fanfiction to the story "Proofreading Clopfics Sucks", I tried to put myself into one of the categories so I could see where I could improve. The one I felt matched me the most was Fluttershy, which you described as "Your heart's in the right place" (Excuse me if my memory is a bit fuzzy). You also put yourself in that category. So I stupidly assumed that our writing styles must be somewhat similar. Oh how wrong I was. When I read "Dear Sweetie Belle," I was blown away by how well the dialogue is written. Mostly because the whole story is primarily dialogue from Rarity. It was just so brilliant that I had to rethink my assumption. I realized that I fall on some other distant arm of a Fluttershy spectrum. My strength isn't in dialogue, it actually is closer to weakness. My strength is in explanation and small detail. I like thinking of why an event would happen and how it would have an effect in both a micro and macro scale. I also remember all the little details of a story and try to keep them from creating little plot holes (not that kind). The perfect example that springs to mind is when I was co-writing a story with a friend. He and I had taken turns writing Rainbow Dash in this random one-off involving Derpy being turned into a slice of bread. He had gotten to a point when he had Rainbow looking for breakfast in the fridge when I took over and wrote for her to go back to her room and turn her damn alarm clock off. It bothered me internally that the small detail of turning off the alarm clock was unresolved....Maybe I'm actually Pinkie Pie and not Fluttershy because damn did I ramble.
Three. I liked "Bon Temps" and I actually prefer it to your "Slender" Trilogy. Not that the Trilogy is bad, I did enjoy it. "Bon Temps" just seemed more magically engrossing to me in a way. Though I might be a touch biased. I've lived within 30 minutes of New Orleans all my life.
*opens Wordpad app on phone* *writes the word "Champagne"* *Holds up phone*
Here's to another year of fanfiction for you and hopefully for me aswell. Cheers!
*clinks phone to computer* *cracks phone screen*
REALLY, PHONE?!
"Jade: I'M DONE WITH YOU! YOU WORK EXCLUSIVELY FOR HER NOW!"
I laughed so hard at that. Yes Slendy... you are mine... Hey! Slendy! Stop beating up Jeff! Stop it! *runs in the direction of a loud crash*
2690081 For some reason, I'm crazy picky as to who I follow. Not sure why.
Glad you're enjoying the ride. As to how it ends... well, it's a happy one. It's just a bumpy road getting there.
2690125 Swirling's actually got a really bad habit of popping up in my office out of nowhere. She made a sketch of it happening. Pretty sure I've got it laying around somewhere...