Hubris is a bitch. · 10:50am Jul 30th, 2015
Alright, let's all take a deep breath, take a moment to relax...
In...
And out.
There, that's much better, isn't it?
You're probably wondering why I told you to take a breath. Or you probably skimmed up to this point. Whatever.
Let's just get this out there; off my chest, and on the table.
Fuck horses.
And I don't mean, like, Rule 34 sticky lovemaking fuck horses... No, I mean fuck this fandom. Consider this an informal retirement from producing horse stories. And this isn't like the millions of other times I've threatened to leave because of no comments or my stories not doing so popularly.
This is it. I'm done. I can't go on making MLP stories anymore.
But this is not a retirement from writing, as my previous over-blown and dramatized blog would lead you to believe. I have my reasons, and for those of you still sticking around, you'll hear them. For the others who've unfollowed or blocked me or whatever action they've seen fit, good riddance. I didn't need them anyways.
Haah. Wow, that took a lot to write, actually. Okay, now we can move on.
First off, my reasoning:
I'm sick of this website. I really am. It's a sickness to me. I check in every day to see what sort of notifications I've got, if new stories have posted, or if there's any feedback. It's controlled my life for upwards of three years now, and I'm growing tired of being a slave to the little bell and its incumbent red letter. So I decided a change was in order, and I need to take hold of my own destiny. For the past three or four weeks that I haven't made any updates to my stories, I've actually been producing...
Well, something else. It's not ponies, and it's not even fantasy. I'm trying to produce my very first non-fandom, independent, standalone novel.
But the guilt is still there. I feel bad that I've given up on my stories, that I'm basically just letting them die. That's when a good friend of mine (who recently retired from the fandom, in a fashion) gave me some wisdom I'll not soon forget.
You gotta do what you're passionate about. You can't force yourself to write stories that don't catch your fancy anymore; especially when your livelihood doesn't depend on those stories in the slightest. If horses aren't what inspire me, then horses I ain't writing. I've moved on to this independent story, and I've actually got 5 chapters written thus far.
So I'm saying goodbye, for now. I'm not deleting my account or permanently logging out or anything of the sort. I'm not even leaving the fandom. I'm putting Fimfiction and all the stories I've started, finished, or left behind on the back burner and out of my mind for a while. I need to finish this other story, because so help me, the idea is golden and I'm obsessed over these characters. This isn't a permanent retirement, nor is it an exodus.
I'm just... taking an extended sabbatical. But instead of spending a week fasting, I'm gonna work on this other story.
So, that's about it, really. Any stories I currently have as 'incomplete' will be temporarily moved to 'on hiatus' until such a date as I return, or decide to bury them for real. But I'm done updating any fimfiction-related works for... a while. With luck, I'll finish production of this story by the end of September, and we'll have it edited, polished, and ready for publication come December. But until then, I'm out.
Out, but not gone.
It's...
Look, it's really awkward to write, okay?! I'm having a helluva time just thinking of the right words to say, to let you all know how I feel and what's going on in this whirlwind I call my mind. Let's just do this in a TL;DR:
-Taking an extended break for an indefinite amount of time
-Currently-incomplete stories will be placed on hiatus
-I'm not leaving completely
-Working on another story (will post blogs with updates)
-Still here, still reading your comments, still keeping up with the few stories I read
So that's about it, yeah?
Hmm... Feels like I'm missing something.
Oh, yeah!
Chapter 1 is complete, and up for some fine-tuning.
And there are four more chapters after that one for Grand Moff Pony and I to work on.
So, yeah...
Umm...
Good-bye? For now, anyways.
I'm still here, just...
Working on something else. Something new and wonderful.
For those of you who missed it:
Link to my new, independent story.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_UrB2r3Eri9Ly14zh6HayZ1Qn_bH9VDlWZo-CJ1_R48/edit?usp=sharing
Chapter 1
Don't fret. We all change with time and may grow out of different things. Your friend got it exactly right. You gotta do what you wanna do.
Now I suspect that your new story is still in it's early stages, but maybe you could post a sort of abstract/synopsis so that we can gauge whether it's a story we would be interested in. It doesn't have to be final, of course...
Anyway, I wish you all the best and hope you find some time and enthusiasm to come back, later. Maybe when you've progressed in your new story a bit further.
Do what you need to do. What you have done here stands on it's own.(It's DAMN good if you ask me!) If and when you come back to us..... We will be here!
Good luck and best of writing to you. With everything that I've read of your's here, I'm pretty sure I can safely say that if you say this story idea is golden it has to be good.
TL:DR, Loyal is taking a break from writing horses to write about Fat Racist piano enthusiasts who have sex with vocal coaches.
Good luck with your new project Loyal =D I'm actually interested in this so I'm definitely clicking that link when I have the time
I'm really going to miss you, Loyal, but I can totally understand your reasons for leaving. I really hope this does you well and I wish you the best of luck with your novel and any other endeavors.
I'm both saddened and glad to see you go. Sad because I enjoy your writing, and also glad, because you're doing something you feel so passionately about. I will miss you, but I know you're likely not going away forever, and that lessens the blow.
Remember, take the time to stop and have some fun. Even if you don't feel like you deserve anything good, treat yourself right, and you'll be better in the long run.
You gotta go where your heart leads you, if you wanna be happy. I hope your new writing project goes great!
And thank you for sharing all of your wonderful horsewords here.
Reminds me of David Bowman from 2010.
[Non-Brony]
Do what is important to you....because you get one shot at living a life. Don't let what others say or state feel like your hands are force. Do what you want to do. Long as its legal. Shrugs.
It's kinda sad to see you go, but I agree with you. You deserve to do what you believe is right for you, and if this fandom's holding you back, then don't feel guilty for letting it go. You keep doing good, man. Keep going.
Well, good luck mate. I'll be sure to keep track of your new story, and maybe even offer my two cents if comments is allowed on Gdocs.
you are not alone in hating that stuff.
good luck!
Good luck with the new story Loyal!
You needed this for sure. Goodbye for now and may I hope to god that I shall see you in the future. Wishing you luck.
Trent
Sometimes it's way too hard to remember that no one pays you to do this.
3286530
Right?
Again, good luck. I'm saddened that the fandom, fimfiction, people in general, and/or your own waning interests have made you disenchanted with writing ponystuff. You have fun doing what you do elsewhere. Hopefully, one day you'll want to come back. I for one will be happy to see you to add just one + and one fav to your work.
edit: Also, though. New story? Is that cyberpunk-ish stuff I smell? I can get behind chapter one. If you post it elsewhere officially, let us know? I think I'd read what you're cooking.
It seems that people are dropping the fandom quite frequently as of late. Oh well. I think most people are starting to realize that you can only get so much out of My Little Pony, and trying to get too much out of it leaves you with not enough to continue to care.