The more time passes, the more I think about it... · 11:35pm Sep 6th, 2012
The more I realize I keep putting it off, I keep not getting the inspiration and I don't feel like doing it...
I hate to say it, but I don't feel like finishing Silent Ponyville 3. I mean I have all the ideas here in my head, I have all of them. Point A to Z on where the story is and how it's going to finish, even most of the endings in mind. But nothing I write feels 'right' when it comes out, it doesn't feel good enough, I'm not satisfied with it. I'm not inspired to write for it and I can't keep up any sort of pace on it.
I'm really sorry to everyone who has been waiting to see how the story would end (and a certain author I know was really excited to create a story after it) but I don't really have the personal creative urges to finish it.
...But I'd be willing to let someone else finish it I suppose. I could write up all my notes I have for the story, give it to another write and direct them to bring my vision to life.
I've been very hesitant about this option to be honest, because I've always been worried that if I handed the story to someone else to write while I directed that it wouldn't feel 'true' anymore, that it wouldn't be the same story, that it'd end up being someone else's work and not my vision. But maybe my fears are a little unfounded, maybe this can work out.
I want it to be known that if you want to be the writer who will continue Silent Ponyville: I'm very picky. You have to be a GOOD writer. If you've written something and I can read it and say "Hey, I have no real complaints about this from a descriptive point of view" then you'll probably be in. Even if you tend to meander about in your stories, taking too long to get to the next story point, that's okay because under my direction I'd help steer you in the right direction... plus this is Silent Hill, a bit of meandering adds to the atmosphere.
So yeah, there you go. If you're a good author who wants to help me finish this for everyone who has been wanting to see it finished, contact me! And please don't be disappointed if I turn you down, like I said, I'm very picky. It's the reason the story hasn't already been finished.
fc05.deviantart.net/fs70/i/2011/210/e/e/sad_lyra_by_mcawesomebrony-d422m75.png
341102
I knew that was coming, I'M SO SORRY MAN, I SWEAR I REALLY DO WANT IT FINISHED ;~;
Alas alas...
Silent Ponyville was a good series. I'd offer to finish it for you, but I have my own writing to be concerned with.
...I'm so confused. You have all the ideas, but you don't want to write them? Why not?
Silent Ponyville is one of the best series on this site.
)
While I'm sad that you won't be finishing this one, I'm confident you'll find someone worthy of doing it in your stead.
Either way, I look forward to reading whatever new stories you decide to write, as I'm sure they will be great! (and dark?
341110
It's not that I CAN'T write them... it's that they don't come out GOOD. It's like... you can build houses right? Well just because something LOOKS like a house doesn't mean you made it to function like a house. From the outside no one will notice, but you go inside and suddenly you see it's structurally unstable! Poles are leaning everywhere, the roof is leaky as hell, and nothing works right. You couldn't live in that place.
That's where my writing is and has been for the last few months. I can make it look like its a story, but the moment I read it I go "Oh god this is awful, this is just truly and terribly awful, no one wants to read this garbage!" and delete it. I could write out what I want to happen in the story for someone, but not in the descriptive mannerisms that Silent Ponyville deserves.
I'm a bit curious to ask though, was Silent Ponyville 3 supposed to be the end of the series? Or did you have another one planned for after it?
341123
It was -MY- end to the series. But I had someone I really respect as an author who wanted to create a canon story after it and I was going to let them. I feel really bad that I'm letting him down though, which is why I want someone good to continue the story and at least finish it.
I saw this coming. e.deviantart.com/emoticons/moods/sadness.gif
341130 what about the pregnent scootaloo tumblr?
Mmm... I loved this series. A lot. A lot a lot. Hmm... I would finish it myself... but I don't think it is my thing. However, one thing is occurring to me, now. You say you write it, look at it, and think it's garbage. Do you have a proofreader?
Also, a few questions:
What is it about your writing that keeps making it seem like garbage to you? Is it a plot thing, a personal thing, a technical faulting, or is it some combination of the above? Are you sure this isn't just a serious case of Writer's Block that you could overcome? How long have you been thinking about this option? Are you second-guessing yourself, even by a bit (Regarding the option, not the writing)? Referring to my previous questions about if you have a proofreader, do you have pre-readers who's second opinions you can take into consideration (Remember that you are your own worse critic, and thus prereaders are crucial to you for knowing if it truly is bad or not)?
I'm not saying you're wrong or anything, but I thought I would ask you these questions, both so I can be sure of this and you can be sure yourself that you have thought this through. If you want help, I'd be willing to give it myself (As a prereader and proofreader) but it is ultimately your call. I just don't want you to hand over this story without you being totally sure of this. Also, I as the reader would like to be totally sure myself that you are making a good choice.
341162
What about it? Drawing a story seems infinitely easier then writing it. See, in stories you don't have pictures showing you what things look like, so I have to vividly DESCRIBE to you what is going on. I used to be good at that, but for some reason I'm not anymore. Or at least I don't like what I do with it anymore, nothing comes out 'right'. With scootaloo I just show you a picture a Dialogue, or even no Dialogue to tell a story in a different manner.
Stories
=Comics, they're very different mediums and right now one is easier to write in than the other for me.341167 idea you say you have the ideas in your head and you could make it into a comic what do you say also hows about a pregnant scootaloo fic?
341163
It's not the plot really, its just how I write it. I start writing it, the ideas flow for a moment, then stop. Then I look back and read what I wrote and go "...Wow, this is really, really, REALLY BORING." Not because the ideas are wrong, but just because it isn't exactly how I want it to be written from me. Like it's not so much second-guessing myself as it is knowing how writing works in my head, and then when I put it to paper realizing how much I don't know about writing. It's about posting something I'm satisfied with that I would be proud to say "This is what I worked on". I don't know if there's really any right way to describe this, but it's almost like I can't physically write it for several reason.
341169
I also don't want to do this because... well the vision in my head of what Silent Ponyville is? I'm not good enough as an artist to portray the feelings and emotions of what I have in mind in picture format. It's easier to write the descriptions of what is being seen, then to draw them. And if you don't have the right impact of a scene... then it's not going to give the same emotional impact that I want it to. So no, I won't be turning Silent Ponyville 3 into a comic for the rest of it =/
I never even read the third, I stopped when you put it on hiatus and I can't help but feel it's not going to be the same. I really liked the series and I hope the new writer with your help will make it feel just like you're the one who wrote the story. I'm sorry that you're having trouble with your writing.
Well... what can I say...
Silent Ponyville was one of the very first fanfics I have read.
And it really... It really caught me.
Sadly I'm a slow reader, so it took me awhile to finish SP I, Too Shy for a Rainbow, SP II and I was looking forward to read Study of the Mind Delve and The Rainbow's Surprise to go for SP III (I'm that slow)... I guess I will read them anyway, you are a good writer and I think I will enjoy them even knowing that the don't have "an end".
I hope you find the right person to finish it, Jake, and if you don't, that you can do it the in the way you really want it to be.
Best Regards.
Ok, I'll throw my two cents in.
I want to try and postulate for wriiter of SP3. i'm not a very known author, but I like to think I have a half decent job. Have never written something SP-like before, but I'd like to try, if you think I can be up to it, with your assistance.
If you'd like to check my stories, then allow me to point you towards Playing the Heart's Strings and The Honeymoon, given that the previous ones that are not mature weren't very good.
I'm probably not up to your standards, but I'll give it a try. Nice to meet you!
341183
I call this phenomenon "Writer's Block". Also, of course you know how to write. I've read your work, after all. True, you do have a lot of things a good editor could weed out, but it's all technical. Another thing: like I said, prereaders. What may seem boring to you is something others may absolutely love. I myself have written some of the most boring, crappy stuff before (At least by my opinion) and then had all my prereaders and even my actual readers say they loved it. None of them could understand why I saw it as boring and crap. Sometimes, it takes that person on the outside looking in to tell you that you are writing good stuff, even if you don't think so.
Also, as far as this block goes, I suggest just having someone to talk to while you write. If you work in gdocs, their real-time text-chat is a great way to just have a friend there to talk to while you work. You'd be surprised at the wonders it can work on your writing to have someone there as you work.
I'd also just like to thank you for writing the series in the first place; your story was what first brought me to writing. I can't thank you enough for that.
341130 I see. Well, as a fan of the entire series, Reunion included, I would offer to try and complete it since it's definitely a story that deserves to be completed. However, if you aren't satisfied with your own work on it, I doubt that I'd be able to do any better, nor would I want to disappoint the readers. Still, I hope the story is put it good hands. You mentioned that an author that you very much respect wanted to make a story following SP3. Would they be interested in finishing it?
Aw
The original got me into fanfiction, so it's kinda sad if you can't finish it yourself. That said, I know that feel of having ideas but not being able to execute them. Happens to me all the time with music.
As for another author finishing it... Well, I can't deny I'd love to see it finished. I don't think my own writing is quite the right standard, though. As much as I'd like to, my only notable story is my most recent, and it doesn't exactly scream "Dark author"
I hope you find someone who is suitable, though, or even better: have your own flash of inspiration. I'll still be watching either way
such a shame i must say the silent ponyville series is probably the first series i've read on this sight. well i read 2 before 1 and i read to shy for a rainbow and the rainbow surprise.
.
I'm sure someone will step up to finish it.
Looks like I made the right call. I was reading until chapter 3, but because I didn't want to go through withdrawal over and over again I stopped reading until it was finished.
Oh well at least we get more tumblr stuff
341183daww any ways like ya will you be doing any other fics like a new flutterdash fic or a pregnat scootaloo fic?
I, uh, may be working on a something-or-other that I might have to get done by this weekend, but if you'd still be willing to have me after that, we could talk turkey, I guess.
If you want me in the first place, I mean.
GURHS.
Or, uh, do I send you a message?
I still believe you should try just a bit longer before giving it up to someone else. This feels like a rash decision to me.
Aw, that sucks, I've really enjoyed the Silent Ponyville series.
I ended up stopping at chapter 3 of Silent Ponyville 3, I've meant to read the other chapters a lot earlier when you hit hiatus (still plan to). Well I hope you find someone to finish it for you.
I will admit I've never read the Silent Ponyville series; my time in the MLP:FiM fandom has been a lot shorter than a lot of other people's. With that being said, I don't think you should do this. You are the person known for writing the Silent Ponyville stories; you're the one who's been putting forth the effort into it. So you're not satisfied with what you're getting out? That probably means you're vastly improving as an author! Let me pull out a quote from a book, "Getting the Words Right: How to Revise, Edit, and Rewrite":
Ernest Hemingway claimed to write his last page 39 times before he way satisfied. If you're going through the same effort to continue yuor story, THAT'S A GOOD THING!
And for those waiting? I would guess that they would wait a bit longer for great quality from you. If not, I'd personally hold them in low regards (I'm not a good writer, but even if I were, I would not offer to write your story).
This is just the musings of a 20-year-old autistic person that isn't a very good writer and that hasn't read your story YET. I will say, though, that I admire your dedication to your piece, not wanting to ruin it, but I am put off that you would give away your own creation to someone that may be more skilled, but who may not put as much dedication into it as you have. It's your story, and I personally would feel odd reading it if it was continued by someone else. BUT THAT'S JUST ME.
I ultimately cannot stop you, but I would urge you to heavily reconsider (hell, I'd urge you to continue with your piece yourself). But either way, I wish you the best of your talents with your future endeavours.
As a fan of writing in general and a fan of your Tumblr blog, I would be more than willing to lend you a hand. My best work is The Story of My Life, you can find it on my user page if you are interested. I have no qualms with catching up with your story (as I have not yet read it) because I am actually, at the moment, looking for something to read that I'm sure I'll enjoy.
However, as many people above, I would strongly advise you reconsidering. I will try my absolute best to mimic your style if you so choose to honor me with your decision, but ultimately it will never be as you as your own writing would be. But, in the end, the decision is yours and I'm sure fans would be happy as long as the show goes on.
Cheers!
So it has come to this.
I'm sad to hear this, but if you don't have the inspiration...
I hope you have better luck with your future endeavors. Maybe you could write something else instead of Silent Ponyville? I would like you to know that I have immensely enjoyed your stories, and I hope to see more in the future. Best of luck with Pregnant Scootaloo.
Well that's sad... I hope someone else is able to pick it up! I really enjoyed Silent Ponyville 1 and 2.
I can't say I didn't see this coming.
That said, what you're experiencing is known by many different titles, writers block is one, my personal favorite is 'burnt out' and unfortunately there's nothing that can really be done about it. I've had stories I left open and unfinished, it's not because I don't know where to go with them as its all planned out. But the problem is my will to write those stories, it just doesn't exist. Even now with me back writing and writing a pony/game crossover I have no urge to go back and finish those stories. I'm worn out and moved on from that (doesn't help the tv show fiction I left undone was for a show that's now 5 years out of production...you can't buy any show merchandise for it anymore).
That said, does the idea of picking up this story appeal to me as a writer? Absolutely, but it also terrifies me. There is a lot of pressure on picking up the torch on something like this, not just on living up to your expectations, but expectations the new author will put on themselves. A tall order, but what do I have to lose? I'd kick myself if I didn't ask.
I saw this quote the other day and felt that it was appropriate:
"Writing only ever begins badly, and you have to sit and tolerate yourself long enough to grind out a shitty draft. And unlike cooking, where you basically put together a meal out of palatable ingredients, what you have to essentially do is reverse-engineer something edible from rotten, stinky, slimy, moldy food... That can be hard."
- David Rakoff
I'm sad to hear it. I know this isn't a decision you'd take lightly.I hope you reconsider, or barring that eventuality I hope you choose well. Don't do anything you don't want to but for what it's worth, you're the only author that could do this the way it was supposed to be done. I don't have any worthwhile advice other than "you're more than good enough, you just have to convince yourself of that" which may or may not help. Have you ever shown anyone else these discarded drafts? Maybe somebody pointing out what you are or aren't doing would help you to find the flow of ideas and words that got you this far.
Good luck, however this plays out from here.
I agree with some of the others here: You shouldn't give up quite so soon.
"
"And you better not stop writing in general! You're a damn good auther
Have you considered getting an editor? Sometimes they can help you figure what you are doing wrong and make it right. Not a proof-reader or a pre-reader, a real editor. That way they can help you make as good as you want without having to sacrifice everything.
wow i just forgot about/ got over this storyh not posting then this comes out gah why does nothing ever work
I have never beaten Majora's Mask. It's not that I wasn't any good at it; I beat all the temples and got all the masks, completed most if not all of the side missions, and was fully prepared to fight Majora and save the world. But when the time came, out of a sense of... I don't know, pride? Honor? I came ill-prepared. I went to the moon directly from the dawn of the first day, without arrows or potions, even eschewing the Fierce Deity mask in hope of a battle that would truly put my skills to the test. And oh, it did. With limited resources and no idea how the battle was meant to go, I had to use every clever trick at my disposal to outwit and outmatch my world-destroying foe. But in the end, in his final form with only a few hits left, Majora struck me down.
That's when I made a decision that would forever change the way I looked at the art of storytelling. I stopped playing.
If you truly love a story, if you're truly invested in the world that someone's created, then you have to believe that it goes on even without your involvement in it. Termina didn't cease to exist just because the player character had died (although it did cease to exist shortly after, when Majora destroyed it). The points at which a story starts and stops are arbitrary; events were set in motion long before we were introduced to it, and the world will keep on spinning long after we leave. So my version of Majora's Mask was a few minutes shorter than it could have been, but so what? Who's to say that a story where the hero dies at the end is any less canon than one where he succeeds? Heck, look at Banjo-Kazooie, to use another apparently wildly inappropriate example. It gave you a painfully elaborate Game Over sequence not only if you lost, but every time you quit the game. It's a reminder that the story doesn't stop when you let it go, it just carries on in a different way.
The point, which I'm beginning to suspect I'm not capable of reaching in a hurry, is that this applies to all stories, not just games. Anything that requires the reader to be invested, where we can project ourselves onto the characters and live through them in the world that the author has created for us, follows the same principle. Putting down a novel halfway through is no different than writing another chapter after it ends; the story can change in any number of ways when filtered through a reader, but so long as it's presented well enough, the story itself will never die. And this, friend, is such a story.
What we've been presented with is a version of Silent Ponyville in which Twilight Sparkle never finished her journey. She reached her final save point, turned off the pony-box, and never looked back. But the story isn't incomplete, it just stops in a different place than we expected. The horrors of Silent Ponyville don't leave just because Twilight isn't there to experience them with us. They keep going, writing themselves further and further into our minds, until the world the two of us have made is consumed. But as many stories in the past have shown, even an absolute defeat can spawn more heroes. It goes on forever, questions ever unresolved, the town echoing on and on forever until the end of time. Now that's an ending you won't find in any story marked "complete".
On a more direct note, I'll add that the third main installment of the Silent Ponyville series did feel distinctly different to its forerunners, perhaps because it didn't appear to rely on the same kinds of elaborate symbolism and overtly psychological elements that made up the worlds of the previous two. It's less personal, which is both a good and a bad thing. Some kind of conclusion would be nice, just to see how it all ties together, but I think I can live with a little mystery. The world you've made is bigger than the mere words that make it up... and for now, that can be good enough.
That's sad to hear, and I do hope you'll reconsider, I love the series. But honestly, I know a similar feeling. I'm "in the process" of writing a fic myself (and by in the process I mean I haven't updated in over 5 months I think after only posting one chapter). I've got multiple chapters and even the ending (or endings depending on how things keep changing) thought up in my head but I just can't bring myself to start writing. I want to start writing again, I really do, and I hope that when I can finally break this writing slump the 14 or so people I've got watching the story aren't that pissed at me and that they haven't been scared off by the excessively long hiatus.
Well, good luck with your endeavors and if you decide to go through with this I hope that you can find someone you feel will be able to take over as the SP writer. Thanks so much for the great stories!
Nooooooo
Well, I stopped reading after Chapter 3 of SP3, but I recently started rereading your entire series. I have the first prologue to one of the stories I'm working on up and will have Chapter 1 up relatively soon. I would be willing to try my hand at writing the rest of your story, after I finish rereading and catching up.
However, I would like to note something. I would be perfectly happy with my version of your story not getting published. All I would hope for, all that I would want, is for my version to inspire you to finish it yourself, whether it be because my story is just so darned crappy, or because I got it close enough that you knew what you had to do. If, by some fluke, I managed to get it the way you wanted, I guess I might be happy with that. But it would feel hollow. Really hollow.
You were the fanfic author that actually got me into writing fanfics, and one of the people that got me inspired to writing in general. I refuse to see the mammoth you created fall because you were having some issues and no one stepped up to help you. I refuse to stand idly and let all of your fans get their hearts mangled by the simple tragedy of writers' block. And, above all, I refuse to let a fellow writer, one that I respect and adore, let a sub-par writer finish what they started.
I can understand not taking me up on my offer. I can understand not seeing my message at all. But if you see my message, I implore you, take heart. Stop thinking of all of your fans as people who you would let down, but as people who would lift you back up so you can finish. Stop beating yourself up for not finding the right words and just do your best to find them, and do whatever it takes. If you need an editor over your shoulder, I'm here for you, too. The most important thing for you, at this critical stage, is to not give up.
So don't.
Silent ponyville 3...dead?
*sudden onset of a panic attack followed by hysterical laughing due to loss of sanity*
But... that makes me sad.
Oh well. I guess I have to pretend that the story ends after 2. (dramatic sigh).
In all seriousness, I know how that goes. It's why I've never posted anything anywhere. You gotta do what you gotta do, and all that similarly cliched jazz.
If you're going to just give up and hand it off to someone else, there's one huge concern I have with that: Quality will decline and the story will go to shit.
I sincerely hope it doesn't come to that. Silent Hill was only good when it was in the hands of Team Silent. You're Silent Ponyville's Team Silent.
I hope you know what you're doing.
Daww... It's okay, Jake. I understand that feeling as well.
Whatever you choose man, I'm right behind you, and I'm sure everyone else here is too. Who knows? 2 minds have proven to better than 1 mind in the past, maybe it will get even more creative and vivid?
Come on guys, have some hope for the story and the author(s). Seriously, man. Your story series is absolutely amazing, and I honestly can't wait to play Silent Ponyville when that comes out, too. Even though you may have 'gotten out of the writing groove,' it doesn't mean you can't bounce back, bro! Give it time!
Whatever you do though, just follow your heart.
Best wishes,
Gyrofest96
[youtube=6NulXbsJ9lY]
This saddens me greatly. Silent Ponyville was the second MLP fanfic I've ever read and was what got me into the fandom. I would volunteer to help, but I do not believe I am yet up to par with what it properly needs.
You have my best of wishes and regards, Jake. Good luck.
--Journeyman