A Pleasant Conversation with My 2,325 Closest Friends · 5:09pm Jan 1st, 2015
Dear Loyal Watchers, Interested Visitors, and Confused Passersby:
So, despite doing nothing else last night to welcome the New Year other than sitting up to watching American Pickers and getting fat on the empty calories of M&M's and Cherry Coca-Cola, I still managed to sleep in until 9a.m. today.
I'm slowly walking around the house taking down Christmas decorations and listening to my iTunes. I've noted that taking the angel off the top of the Christmas tree is like the ceremonial "first cut," clipping the nose of a ship that's about to be scrapped: It might still exist as a Christmas tree/ship, but as far as anyone can tell it's all over, folks.
Today's Shipboard Activites: Not much. Some weeping and sighing.
This is always depressing, so I thought to myself Hey, why not leave a note saying that you're here and willing to answer questions from your Watchers as you do this stuff?
That's a great idea! I answered myself, You are intelligent and handsome!
So, if you have a question, comment, criticism, or deep philosophical pondering you'd like to bounce off of Ol' Crow Face, feel free! I'm here until I'm not!
Stay Awesome,
-T.D.
Doing better?
~Skeeter The Lurker
Most important one... when is Zenith going to appear in my updated stories list?
Okay, now that's out of the way... What would you like to see in season 5?
How'd your holiday go for you?
What's with the top hat, monocle, and moustache? Nice touch, by the way.
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The issues are still outstanding, but I feel a little better now that I've had some time to digest them a little. I just worry about my loved ones who are affected by some of them more than me. Thanks for asking, Skeet.
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I'm actually 3,800 words into chapter fifteen, and I've been working on it this vacation. Perhaps the 15th, if we're lucky and my editors haven't given up on me?
Same thing I've wanted to see for the last four seasons: Twilight to give Spike a real hug and tell him that he's more to her than just cheap labor and that she loves him.
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Thinking of others, eh?
That is what I like about you, y'know?
~Skeeter The Lurker
...but who is the closest?
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I was wondering where things were going with that...have you planned things out as far as plot points you want to hit?
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Not bad! I didn't ask for anything, but I was still pleasantly surprised with how things went on Christmas (all I told my mother that I wanted was for her to make her god-tier waffles that I love.) I got to go to a little country church for Christmas Eve, and my niece, nephew, and brother made it out to my mom's, too. My grandmother even got to come out of the home, and she's in her 90's. New Years isn't that big a deal for me, but I enjoy one last night to see my Christmas lights. I hope your holidays were good!
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Well, after Christmas the Santa hats become a little dated, and I like to switch over to something a little more "classy" to ring in the New Year. Thanks for noticing!
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Those who allow them selves to be drawn closer.
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I have reems of paper mapping out the plot points. The sad part is that some of the notes are over two years old. Getting the ideas from my head, to the paper, to the word processor... that's the hard part!
Is it always Christmas?
Why are you one of the best writers on the site?
How do you feel knowing that you are the first live read that I have ever done, and that you are probably my little brother's favorite of the live reads?
Is my avatar cute or adorable?
What is the best of your work?
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Well, who couldn't notice such a classy looking raven? (Unless one is on mobile, in which case I could easily understand.)
Hmm... Perhaps I should change my avatar to something slightly more colorful to ring in the New Year...
Yeah, I think I will.
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The hardest part of being an adult is not worrying about yourself, but worrying about those you love.
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In our hearts and on your avatar!
And on my credit card statement.
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Well don't bother trying to apply copious amounts of banging the keyboard with your face...it doesn't work...I checked.
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Why am I one of the best writers? Well, that's a matter of opinion, but any technical prowess I may have comes from writing fan fiction for fifteen years and learning from my mistakes in other fandoms. Believe me, there are plenty. Most of what I've written was garbage.
I fel honored to have been the first author whose work you chose to read, and proud that your brother enjoys your reading of A Sweet Taste of Cake.
Yes.
The one that I'm writing right now, and it always is the one that I'm writing right now, and it always will be... no matter what the thing I'm writing right now happens to be.
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I think that's a good decision!
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Damn, that was my next move.
In your experience, what's the best way to get yourself out of a bout of being unmotivated/writer's block? I've got all these wonderful ideas churning around the inside of my head, but I can't seem to find the drive to actually get them out.
Help!
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Jeez, Rust, if you can figure that out, let me know. Zenith and the thousand other works I have trapped in my head, running around screaming, would all have come to fruition by this point if I had an answer to give you. One thing I've discovered is that turning off the Internet connection to the computer you're working on certainly helps... nothing is more disastrous to a fan fiction writer than unfettered access to YouTube. I've also found that moving myself to a new location helps, too.
TD, I know the feeling. This year, especially the last six months or so has been somewhat... trying to say the least, with two funerals (but one birth to compensate). I am extremely fortunate, though, that this time of year is very busy with the rest of the family, and I do count my blessings... I do wish everyone could have the same fortune, so I'm sorry to hear you are on your own.
As you have answered probably the most pressing question I might have (Zenith! Zenith!), I can only suggest the one I posed to my local ponythread as a New Year's Eve challenge:
Which pony (slash dragon slash whatever) secretly has their own version of Joxer the Mighty's theme that they quietly sing to themselves when they think nopony else is listening (and would be most Humorously Mortified if somepony did) and what are the words?
(Only half-points for Trixie on account of that Being Too Obvious.)
No, I have NO idea where these random ideas to to me from. I really, really don't.
So far the winner of my ponythread was for Big Mac thusly:
Big Mac the Mighty
Bucks through the apple farm,
He never dares a mare to harm.
With Smarty as his doll mook,
Reading from her little book.
Righting wrongs and singing songs.
Being awesome all day long.
He's Big Mac! He's Big Mac the Mighty!
Also, because there is only one thing better than ponies - the one and only thing, the sole purpose of existance and meaning of life: starships, here (linked because I'm not sure off the top of my skull what the format limitations of these comments are) is a picture of a spaceship to make you feel better. (Be aware, I have MANY more pictures of sp[aceships to throw at you if this one fails to lift your mood. I literally own over 1200...)
One
Two
Specifically, the LEGO one (from the movie) Wot I Made As A New Year's Tradition (est. 2000) (it took even an expert like me four hours) being... re-purposed... by me, myself, my No. 2 Hopereaver (she's the one with hair) and Derpy.
Because... no, actually, it's probably better you don't ask...
I got a question... why do you think the show rips on Spike nearly all the time?
Brace yourself.
Questions:
What's your writing application(s) of choice?
What's your writing process like (post-it's, outline, drafts, etc)?
What's the best thing (pony or non-pony) that happened in 2014?
What's one thing that youre looking forward to this year?
If I were to ask really really nicely would you pre-read a future project of mine?
Comments:
I watched Fellowship of the Ring and ate junk food as my New Years celebration, my wife and I are just that boring and antisocial
Bug me any time with your own musings or existential ramblings
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I think taking a small trip would be beneficial if that's the case.
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what
2693560 That's all very nice. And to answer your reply, I had a good Christmas. I got mostly kaiju related stuff and some video games, and my mom made some awesome steak. Tonight I'm in for my first steak dinner of the year.
Oh, and a philosophical thought:
Don't use a cannon to kill a mosquito
- Confucius
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So very agreed.
~Skeeter The Lurker
Stupid question time!
Do you ship? If so, what's your favorite(s) ship(s)?
Is there a piece of fanon you find overrated?
Least favorite villain?
Best princess?
So far Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash are the only ones from the Mane 6 that didn't have a bonding-with-Spike episode. If you could write an episode for each pair, what would they be about?
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Certainly the most detailed and involved of any of the replies that I've gotten so far, Aotrs! I can't really say that I know much about the personal theme music involved, but the reply that you posted certainly makes me think of any number of ways that it could be applied to most characters. It definitely made me think of Spike's song in Spike at Your Service.
Thanks for passing along the images of the starships! You put a lot of effort into those, clearly. I've often felt that I was born at the exact wrong moment in history—too late to see steam engines, too early to see starships.
I'd just like to take this opportunity to wish you a Happy New Year! Hope 2015 is a good one for you!
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Spike's character was always meant to be a foil for Twilight and the other girls. He fills out the roll of "gross little brother" in his design, the cold, reptilian way that the nine-year-old girls the show was meant for views their own brothers and boys in general. While I think that later seasons have done better by him, there still seems to be some sort of block keeping them from either letting him from being a competent member of the group or a little kid. There's plenty for them to use in Spike; his inherent inner conflicts are many, and in many ways he's the most complex of the primary cast. That's probably why he's my favorite, and I hope that the show will see that before he simply becomes a missed opportunity.
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Well, I use Word 2011... not by choice but by necessity.
I plan! I plan and plan and plan. I have pre-writing sheets where I try to capture the images I have for each scene before I write it, and I have little snippets of scenes and dialogue circled and written down in bubbles and connected with lines to where they should fit in the narrative. I always say that the writer should be the last person to be surprised by where the story goes.
In 2014? Not much.
I'm looking forward to participating in the 150th Reenactment of Lee's surrender at Appomattox in 2015. The Civil War Sesquicentennial has been amazing, and I am glad that I was alive to participate in it.
I have a lot of demands on my time, unfortunately. I would like to, but I can't make a commitment right now. I'm very sorry.
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Not a problem at all!
Word 2011? Yikes.
I'm glad you've got something big on the horizon to look forward too, and I hope the new year treats you better than the old one
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Why does Confucius have to put in his two cents about my hobbies all the time?
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Thank you, Key! You too!
I hope you've been doing well, my dear friend. Any plans for Spike-centric fics in the new year? or anything sharing the literary flavor of Highball?
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I like this way to sum up where Spike has a problem in his portrayal: he's stuck between two roles, but sort of gets the unsympathetic bits from both.
He's not competent as an adult, and not treated like an equal friend, like he's a little kid. But he's treated like he should be on his own and can take care of himself, like he's a full member of the adult group.
The thing is, too, they've toned down his... grossness in these later seasons. Specifically his sniping/sarcasm. But he still gets the comeuppance as if he were doing so... so they just make him screw up or be irresponsible more often.
Hugs?
Huh. Your internal dialogue sounds like mine.
Hey, Descy!
1. Not sure how bad a shipper you are, but what ponies do you enjoy seeing together in fics?
2. Will Spike grow wings when he grows up?
3. Would you consider writing a fic detailing more about Spike's relationship with Celestia/Twilight Velvet/Night Light? You kinda did with Our Gifts, but I would love to see them interacting more.
4. Would you ever shave the beard? Please say no...
5. Have you written anything other than fan fiction?
6. Why are you so awesome?
7. Will you be my literary waifu?
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Spike is the Dark Horse of MLP FIM
All my questions have already been asked (and answered
), so I'd like to wish you an amazing 2015 
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I don't do much shipping, as I see too much of the teenaged girls I work with on a daily basis in the main cast. In my mind, they are still a little too young for "real relationships."
I do have a favorite "'ship" though: OpalTank forever!
I hate, hate, hate the "Ponies in Heat" trope with a passion. I have yet to find a story which invokes it to be worth my while, and I can't understand why anyone who loves these characters would follow a fanon that robs them of their sexual and reproductive rights.
Least favorite villain? Probably Sombra, as he never really felt like a threat... more of an inconvenience.
Celeste remains Best Princess. Despite the events of Twilight's Kingdom I still don't quite understand why Twilight even had to become a princess/alicorn, especially if she's denied the long life/immortality that Celestia and Luna enjoy.
Oh! Good question! I guess that it would have to be extensively reworked, but my story Every Little Bit would be the episode I'd write for the Dash/Spike bonding. Pinkie Pie is harder, as I think that she already views herself as having a bond with everybody, so I'd have to think hard about that one. Fluttershy's would be something I'd have to think about, too.
Thanks for checking in!
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Thank you, Noble. You too!
Plans for such? Of course!
Actually getting them written is the hard part, though!
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Some may see it as sage advice, others take it as a challenge. I'm still waiting on the permits for my mosquito cannon, sadly.