In-Derp-endence Day! · 9:58pm Jul 4th, 2015
I am sitting on a lounge chair on the balcony of my Long Island home, a cold drink on the table at my side. In a few hours, if the weather holds, I will lean back and watch fireworks.
I have just typed the last word of Lyra's Human 2: Derpy's Human
(Incidentally, for any of you who want to know what the last word is, I will tell you, and unlike that hack J. K. Rowling, I won't change later. The last word of the story, with some space on either side so as not to reveal its length, is: human )
It was a mighty task. When I began the story, I had a different job, a different home, a different car. A different life.
I began writing pony fiction with a simple idea: that the magic of Equestria could be useful to make a human's life better, and the technology and mentality of humans could be useful to make a pony's life better. My first attempt was Lyra's Human, but I didn't realize how much I was trying to accomplish. The characters and the story got away from me. I didn't know how to pace a chapter. I fell into a romance instead of a friendship story. So I ended it, so at least it wouldn't be unfinished.
I went back to work, tried comedy, found it too hard in written form, wrote some adventure, learned how to pace myself and find my voice. I decided to dive back in on my idea, this time with changes. Third person instead of first, and an actual character for the human instead of a vague "Anon" type.
But more than that was this: a writer writes. People are always criticized for saying they are writers when they don't produce copy. I wanted to escape that notion. I wanted to know what a deadline felt like, even if it was self-imposed. I'm happy to say I never missed a week of publishing, even if it was just a clip show. And I shouldn't miss what's left. The chapters are loaded into FimFiction. All I have to do is push the button. The work is done.
So I can say I've accomplished what I set out to do: create an open-ended story of human and pony. Once I opened up the world, I was able to create character and, I believe, make the reader care about them. I am proud of this work.
What now?
Well, first off, I will rest a little. Having written constantly for three years, I can confidently say that I am a writer, enough to miss a week or two. I'll relax, focus on being better at my job and such, make some money.
"Yes," you say, "but what about us?! We want writing!"
Indeed. The second thing I have planned is that I want to do NaNoWriMo and write a completely original story. Because it's one thing to say that writing is my hobby, but there are some people who don't know I'm a brony, and whom I'd like to have something to show them when they ask what I've written.
"That's not what we meant! We want pony fics!"
Yes, and I mean to write some more. would like to write more reaction fics, as Love in Time Immemorial was. I wrote that the day after the Season 2 finale, all in a burst of inspiration. I've had some where I've had that, but didn't have the time to finish, because I was working on LH2:DH. Now, I'll do those.
I also have a half-finished novel that I want to take another crack at. In the long gap between All the President's Horses and My Girlfriend is a Siren, that's what I was working on. Even if I don't finish it, I know there's a subplot there that will make a good short story on its own. Something will come of this.
And I have plenty of ideas as well. More Optimalverse, more Conversion Bureau, or just more plain fics. There will be ponies, I can promise you.
Well, I've delayed the inevitable for long enough. Having finished writing the story, I couldn't bear to put down the keyboard, so I went on with this. It's time for me to say goodbye for a while. I hope you will keep following me as I move to the next phase in my writing.
-PJabrony, July 4, 2015
Wow, has it really been three years?! (thinks aloud), 150 chapters... one per week... By golly, that's certainly a lot!
Yes, you certainly deserve a break, many authors we follow do so every chapter (not necessarily intentionally!), so kick back a little, enjoy this "summer break" I keep hearing about. We'll still be here when you return, provided we haven't found our own pony to host!
Keep going! ;)
3207786 What are you going to say to me after the end when "Keep going" doesn't work anymore?
3207867 I Dunno... It's kinda our tagline. I'll have to think of something though, don't want to sound flat.
Besides, you're always going somewhere, right?
Congratulations and condolences.
I look forward to reading it.
when will the last chapter come out?
3211560 Chapter 149 comes out this Wednesday the 8th, and chapter 150 next Wednesday the 15th.