Delay. On. Everything. · 7:39am Jul 4th, 2015
There are days that I sit at my desk, pull my keyboard to me, and type with the same fluidity one would expect of runny butter.
... Then there are days that I sit at my desk, check what comments I've had on my stories in the past -even the past 24 hours- and think "What's the point?"
Let me explain, as I feel I owe you all one.
We write about a world of rainbow pegasi and winged unicorns, a world where equines talk, gryphons exist, a pink pony can be almost anywhere, and dragons can send the mail. We write about fantasy, mainly because it entertains us, and partly because we have a drive to do so. It's a world where backstories don't always have to be pitch perfect.
Let me give an example, a HiE sort of thing; human brought to Equestria through mysterious magical means, or even as a spirit shift after a traumatic death (car accidents are popular for this trope in particular.) From here he/she is given a name, a form (unicorn are popular), a purpose (cutiemark) and a quest; usually 'make friends you sad, lonely loser.'
Do we care what happened before he/she was brought to Equestria? No. Sometimes we get a fair amount of it, a previous job, family, life... Sometimes we're given nothing.
Is this a plot-hole?
A common plot-hole poked into one of my stories, Fall of a Monarch in particular, is that Thistle didn't just kill Chrysalis outright.
Yes. It's a plot-hole, I get it. She's gone mad, is known for making bloodthirsty plans, and yet has, instead of killing her sister outright, launched her across the goddamned planet. To anyone who has read the often touted Evil Overlord List of things not to do, this is a big fat "for fuck's sake".
Please, for the sake of anyone writing fictional villains, shove this list up your arse. If villains did what would be spoken of in this list, there wouldn't be a way to stop them. The list is to make them perfect evil overlords. This is how you end stories in the first ten paragraphs.
Say I had killed Chrysalis outright then and there. Then what? Clearly y'all know where this is meant to go, so come on, tell me. Better yet, why not cut out the middleman and I just not bother, if you already know?
I explained, in the story, what was going on there. I did, I know I did; it was already in the works, I was writing why Chrysalis survived when the complaint was made, she was meant to die of her wounds in the cold, or be put to death by the Equestrians. What the fuck more do you want from me? A written apology?
*Takes a calming breath.* Look, I understand that some people see a plot-hole and just have conniption fits and refuse to read any more. I get the same thing when I see incorrect use of 'There, their, and they're'. I'm being told -in all caps- in one to think about my details because I didn't explicitly state that Chrysalis had taken a Changeling husband. No, it's just automatically assumed that 'stallion' meant 'pony male'. What word should I use? Make one up? No, can't do that, I'd have to explain what the word is and where it came from, and all of the etymology of an entire race of fictional bug ponies simply because some people can't smooth over the idea that bug ponies might use the same damned words as normal ponies.
I am fucking amazed that I got away with giving her Crystal Rose Champagne during the Hearth's Warming chapter, I swear.
As a result, there will be a delay on everything while I sit here and stew on whether or not it's worth me continuing with anything, and re-read all of my old stuff to find any other fun little holes that people can poke into them.
Fuck this is going to be a dreary and unhappy week. No this isn't punishment, I'm not that sort of person; this is me thinking that I'm not good enough and wondering if I should bother wasting your time with what I do because, clearly, it's not up to the standards expected.
On. Tab so I will be quick, your work is good, I like it. Own your work, if you think it works fuck'um, one person in fifty will tell you they liked something if they did. one in two will complain if they don't. Tldr don't let assholes get you down
Even if you believe the whole world will be against you, know that I'll always be here to read what you write.
The haters are vocal, the lovers not so much. If you want some confirmation, look at your like to dislike ratios. Unless a few people spammed out quite a few alt accounts, your stories are well liked.
Not a hole in my opinion. This is just people being fed up with villains not obliterating everything in sight. I feel it could be even used to add character to Thistle, if so required.
Don't think this way, it's an awful way to think. People will always enjoy your stories.
Sorry to hear that you're feeling down. I hope you feel better soon.
Sounds like you let some turbo douchebags get to you.
Seriously, you're a pretty good writer.
Hope you feel better soon... I really love your story Changing Times...it's a masterpiece.
I haven't read Fall of a Monarch, so I can't say whether the criticism is reasonable. I've certainly gotten slammed by some readers for things that other readers thought were fine. But it rubs me the wrong way to see the actions a character can and would take treated as something that can be cheaply handwaved. Character consistency is one of the most fundamental traits underlying good stories, and it's the main reason fantasy is readable--the more alien and unnatural the setting, the more inportant it is that readers understand and sympathize with the people in it.
I guess the way I'd respond in general terms is that the villain's nature depends on the hero. The primary protagonist in Breath of Fire IV is some random kid who happens to be a dragon. At the start, he fights a villain who's stupid, shortsighted, and vain, because someone more competent would get him killed. The secondary protagonist is the dragon equivalent of King Arthur, so he's strong and clever enough to survive against a smart villain who takes no unnecessary risks.
You've said that Thistle is mad and bloodthirsty. The same can be said of Chrysalis, and that's why she's often written doing things a sane, competent villain wouldn't do--when you think you're unstoppable, you'll take risks just to create a more painful or ironic death for someone. It sounds like you have plenty of room to establish why Thistle would want Chrysalis to die at pony hooves, and wouldn't take seriously any chance that Chrysalis might survive. (And that's assuming you haven't already established it. Sometimes people just misread.)
This is completely aside from whether or not you should rewrite, of course. Plenty of authors won't touch a story again once it's finished, because they'd rather put that time and effort into writing something better. (As for me, I just declared my story Early Access.)
You are an amazing writer. Dont let haters that cant write as good as you drag you down and discourage you. Haters are going to hate so you ignore them. Focus on those that are enjoying your stories (like me) and keep up the excellent work your doing
All stories have plot holes in them. This isn't necessarily a bad thing. You have to leave a few holes in order for it to breathe, after all.
Take what you need from criticism, and nothing more. In the end, your stories are your own.