Beetle Daily(?) · 4:59pm Sep 20th, 2016
Over yonder in the Austraeoh Camp, I've just uploaded four chapters to Utaan. Too bad it all constitutes 8000+ words of a single conversation, but... hey... at least there's batpony exposition. In any case, I've decided to call it my "make-up" for the last few days of uploads that I have missed. I hope to be back on track... for what it's worth... soon enough.
As for Shellstrings, a certain mint green fuzzball is gonna get her comeuppance within the next 24 - 36 hours. Expect five to six chapters to make up for the most recent hole that my ennui and illness have dug up. For those of you actually reading Shellstrings, you may very well know what those "five to six chapters" are going to contain. Case in point: it's okay to be excited. At least... I hope it's okay to be excited.
F'naaaaa... what's the use. You're all in it for Flash "the Punisher" Sentry, aren't you? Just admit it. That... or the first instance in which the fic uses the word "cloaca."
I would like to thank everyone who sent well-wishes, fanart, and other assorted messages of "Get well. Ya bastard." The gestures may seem small, but it's snazzy... not to mention humbling.
Granted, hug boxes are as hug boxes do, and I more-or-less brought it upon myself with that last blargh, and I do apologize if I came across as needlessly dramatic or sympathy-grabbing. In truth, I wasn't too terribly ill. Just super tired and bummed out that I'd have to wait out this viral thingy (and for what it matters, it's considerably less rape-y on my throat this afternoon, so I think I'm getting better).
I'm a very fortunate lemur. I don't have a terminal ill-ness. I'm not in a deep financial hole. I have a roof over my head and plenty of Internet space to cartwheel around in. I have tons of subscribers and lemurs who seem deeply invested in the less-than-stellar stuff that I put out. After all, I don't really "write" because I'm good at it, but because it brings me satisfaction and I like sharing horse-flavored imagination with y'all. There are lots of really awesome people out there who seem to truly and deeply care for me, and that's a sort of empathy that this sociopathic basement child has a hard time grasping every so often.
And yet, all of this supposed thankfulness doesn't excuse the way that I've acted as of late. These last few months especially, I've carried on a lifeless ennui that's comparable to early 2014 shiet (aka, the age of "blank, black, SS&E user page!"--remember that?). I've felt a strong detachment in certain social circles that beforehand used to sustain me. I've allowed the garbage manifestations of this year's U.S. election scene infest me with an undying vitriol, practically dominating my Twitter account. I feel as if I've injected pure venom into my arteries, and I wake up most mornings despising everything--most especially myself. I feel as though I need to detox, but I'm starting to get used to all of my outlets.
None of these things, of course, are valid excuses. I have a patreon account. A dayum good one, as a matter of fact. I've now experienced the boundless lurve of the marsupial alumni in various forms: emotional, poetic, philosophic, and now monetary... hooooooooooo boy monetary. And yet I still have a backlog of unfinished commissions. There's simply no excuse for that. I'd apologize, but that would mean to suggest that I'm a better person than the slacker I've proven myself to be.
I will be getting to those stories. Anyone who's mad at me has every right to be. You deserve better.
And I will be updating Appledashery. I've let that story fester in limbo for far too long. For what it's worth, I have begun a sort of initial "research step" of going over previous texts. I don't want to go into specifics, but the first arc(s) of Appledashery Volume 2 does a sort of interspersed narrative thingy (think Back to the Future part 2), and so far I have 270+ pages of "notes" at my disposal. >.< Oh... and I have cover art too, but that's for a later revelation... hopefully not much later.
In short, you all deserve way more than I've contributed in output. It's just that lately I've not had much energy to manifest anything except the occasional crack!fic for a friend, and I know that SS&E can do better than that... even though I won't be ashamed of the former neither. I've tackled over 140 stories in the realm of poni poni poni literature, maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaan. I think I've made my proverbial tentacle impression in the soft, pliable carpet of the Internet bordello by now... lulz.
Anywho, yeah. Four to five chapters of Shellstrings coming soon. Utaan probably has another thirty chapters in it left. Maybe less. Appledashery... is still bunning it up in the oven. But we're getting there...
Or at least if you still stand to believe me.
Thanks once again for the support and good spirits,
-SS&E
Oh dude, I totally feel you. I've had to go on a near-total media blackout because my absolute hatred for Donald Trump was starting to make my eyes go all Sithy. Nobody wants Darth Moth. Regular Moth is bad enough.
As to everything else: It seems to me you're coming down off an extended case of the summer blahs, which is a condition everyone has been having lately. July and August have a habit of being bad months for most people, but for some reason this summer has just hit everybody harder than most. Nearly everyone I know has had some or another degree of the blahs since late June or mid July. August was a terrible month for a lot of people I know personally, myself included. September's messed with some friends of mine.
All I can offer is this: There's humility and then there's self-flagellation. Be humble, but be balanced in your humility. Your sheer amount of writing output is frankly astonishing (I wish I could get on your level), so you shouldn't feel guilty about being backed up on things. (Leave that to those of us who don't routinely write 10k words a day.
)
And also: I find browsing Uotapo's deviantart gallery for the Nth time helps immensely when I feel down in the dumps.
...
Exactly what part of people semi-regularly complaining about the constant distractions from what's advertised as the main plot is it that continues to fly over your head?
Just remember, Skirts... we believe in you. Utaan do it
4218838 Because he actually knows that we're all only in it for Flash "the Punisher" Sentry. I mean, I know I am.
You're the most self-denigrating skilled writer I know. You're awesome. Don't forget it, and don't forget it's more than OK to take breaks.
Man, you do a lot. Don't apologize for not doing even more. You are not a machine as far as I know.
4218848 The character with literally two moods, those being frowny-face and incredibly over-the-top angry, whose character arc is half-comprised of people endlessly talking about how much it sucks that he isn't here helping out, half-comprised of long build-up to fight scenes that are more an example of how much onomatopoeia you can squeeze into a single chapter.
That's the biggest draw of this story for you.
4218838
Relax, man. He'll deliver. Eventually.
And it will be worth it. Most likely.
~Skeeter The Lurker
4218888 I find your complacency disturbing.
Honestly you're the most humble
internet famoushorse famouscontent creator I know, especially given how much you create in your chosen format. You may not consider it high quality, but we love it anyway. Don't worry about expectations of ours, because we'll be here as long as you keep writing.4218891
Maybe. But I've been on the Skirtsride for a decent bit since joining this site.
That and there's just something about his writings that I enjoy. Might be because you can somewhat tell he does this for the fun of it, but I honestly don't know.
~Skeeter The Lurker
EDIT: Removed everything. Drama's over, and I didn't do a good job with my attempt to say something about it.
4218922 Because I definitely ever used the words 'your readers deserve more' or 'you owe us'.
Look, my only problems with the story are as follows: 1) Simultaneously trying to develop three plotlines that, for the moment, are only tangentially connected is very difficult to pull off, and Skirts hasn't done a particularly good job at that thus far.
2) Quite simply, the description of the story suggests an overwhelming emphasis on the Lyra plotline, which was actually introduced relatively late in the game compared to the other two plots, and has arguably taken the most time to develop.
If that description were altered to accurately reflect the amount of time that the story spends on other (and actually genuinely more interesting) plotlines, I wouldn't be voicing these complaints. As it is, I have expressed my frustrations that the author is apparently blind to the fact that the description does not give prospective readers a truthful impression of what they're going to read, and my surprise that the least developed character is apparently the most popular part of the story.
But please, tell me more about how I'm acting entitled by pointing out false advertising and apparent willful ignorance thereof.
4218838 You know, there's a time and place for this crap. Protip: This is not the time or the place. I mean, if you MUST be a dick about something in one of Skirts' stories, at least be decent enough to do it in the comments thread of that story. This isn't really the place for it.
4218965 For once, I'm going to agree with you. This has been rather immature of me.
I have seen many mediocre attempts at making Rainbow Dash cute, and that one shy little gif beats them all. I wuv it.
In other news, I'm now even happier that I ignore politics as much as possible. Tis a scary world, particularly right now.
4218887 Nah, I kid. The biggest draw of the story for me is the great worldbuilding that's been done so far, and it has Skirts' trademark way (see: Appledashery) of weaving in supporting/one-time/background characters into a beautiful functioning world that... really makes everything make sense. I started reading the story not for the description but because it's Skirts, and I like his writing style (from the millions of words of it I've read). Hell, I'm hardly interested in that side of the story, and I for one was glad when I saw it would be focusing more on the politics part of it, at least to start with. And yet I don't think the description should change; I do fully believe that the story will soon be what the description says it will. I dunno. I would still probably say for me, right now, Appledashery > Utaan > Shellstrings, but I've been finding Shellstrings still mostly to my liking.
Though I am curious: if you're so critical and don't seem to be liking it... why are you still reading? Like, I can understand being critical and leaving comments about it, and that can be valuable, but... you've been in it for over 100,000 words, and I'm guessing it will probably continue for a million more after that. What keeps you with the story?
4219102 I'm not still reading. I just gave up on it, and posted my final thoughts on what is currently the most recent chapter.
What kept me reading until very recently was the fact that, since basically everything else I've read by this author has actually been much better than Shellstrings in every single way, including the things you describe as the main draw of Shellstrings for you, I kept expecting it to get better. I kept hoping that all the cliches would spontaneously disappear, and the creative genius who kept me genuinely guessing throughout The Things Tavi Says would reassert himself. The recent short Scratchtavia thingy he put out was enough to renew my faith in his writing ability, and this latest kerfuffle left me convinced that there's no point in trying to reason with his followers on this.
Also, because I don't believe I have a right to complain about something I haven't read. It's the main reason I can only really criticize the first three pages of Stephenie Meyer's Twilight.
4218836
tl;dr don't be a Luminard, Skirts. I love daily updates as much as the next lemur, but if you skip some to work on one-shots and commissions- or because work is a pain, or even just to take a break- I sure won't mind. You staying sane (insane?) is super important.
Politics? Keeping an informed opinion while still not caring is hard, but so worth it. I can't imagine how ruinous this year would have been if I didn't, but I feel for you. The best advice I can give is to just vote, shake your head and walk away, because this year's candidates don't deserve your time.
Remember the days when Background Pony used to be the most polarizing and debated story in the comments section of everything you posted? Maybe it's just something about Lyra...
But in all seriousness my excitement for Appledashery volume 2 knows no bounds.
Yep, you got me. I'm here for the Flash and pizzas. Also, Sweetie Drops Jensen against the Ponyluminati.
...You know me too well.
4218843 Fourths, why?
...
Please continue, I like seeing that Flash isn't the only 'Pun'isher
Get better, ya bastard!
You're not the only one missing... er... you.
Dude, how can I put this? I have been consumed by World of Warcraft and two really good books that have devoured my days, plus work.
But, for real, I have 4 pony episodes to catch up on. Text me sometime, and we shall watch. And hate on Trump together or something.
I actually started reading Shellstrings 'cause it contained best bughorse and was supposed to introduce a fusion of her and Lyra, which I found interesting. I'm still reading and wading through all the side plots full of stuff I often don't really care that much about because I stuck with the story so far and I wanna finally see the titular character without feeling like I wasted all that time. That and I'm genuinely intrigued what will she do, seeing as she'll be a fusion of a pony and its superior replacement, a changeling.
So no, I'm not really reading it for Flash, so far Lyra's backstory seems more interesting to me. Plus, I wanna see her punch Lemon out.
Heh.
Batponies.
and Lyra.
Glad you're feeling a bit better.
I'm a day late, but I'm glad you're feeling better. You're still way too humble, but that's okay.
Also, let the excitement for Appledashery Volume 2 commence.
I can't believe this one somehow slipped through the cracks of my feed. Hopefully the trip to WDW has cheered you up a bit by now. Don't sweat being in a slump too much, I've definitely been there and I'm sure most of us can relate.
I completely understand how you feel about the election. Fall during an election year in
the Florida of the northOhio is pure suffering. The whole thing is a bit like reading .out.of.character., it's disgusting, repulsive, and makes me wanna upchuck but I can't stop watching. At least my faith in the system hasn't been shaken at all when there are rational, intelligent people like this one representing my state in the electoral college...