Nov
24th
2016
Question for you all... · 10:23pm Nov 24th, 2016
Hey everypony,
I had another horrible week but a good thanksgiving so...I don't know. I can't seem to catch a break till now. In other words, I finally have a day or two to write, so that got me thinking....
To everypony out there, am I bad writer?
I recently got some more...discouraging things about my writing recently that kinda put me down and my miserable job isn't helping. (Thankfully, I'm leaving on Dec 20th!) But...do you guys think I'm a bad writer? I've tried really hard to improve on my writing but I always feel like it isn't enough.
What do you all think?
Also, I should finally have A Lost Sunset out this weekend, even if it kills me. I will finally get something published!
You are not a bad writter at all, I love your stories, the one I love the most is A Lost Sunset , I just got to know what happens to Sunset soon and to see if she will get away from the Sirens and get somewhere safe from those three.
4315963 I'll go ahead and tell you that this next chapter super rushes the Siren arc because I want to end it and get back to the random slice of life chapters.
4315966 Thanks...I needed that.
4315971 But the Sirens show up in the second movie, won't that throw things off now that they have shown up a few years early, also I'm guessing that movie 1 won't happen, and what about movies 3 or 4 then?
4315990 ...we'll get there eventually.
Let's just say...the Sirens won't be written out of the story, just the arc will end.
As for the other movies? I got other plans for that and those characters. Got to keep it interesting after all.
Don't worry about it, you are a good writer. And I've really enjoyed "A lost Sunset", looking forward to it's continuation.
i love lost sunset who said your writing was bad ill boil them in lemon aid
Your writing is good. We just need more of it. You got good quality, now put out some quantity!
Hardly, you aren't a bad writer because there are those days with rush felt chapters but you're actually a good one because of them. That's because of two things: 1. There really aren't that many rush chapters that feel like its been rushed at all and 2. Knowing what feels like a rush chapter helps improve your own skills.
So I say a healthy amount of skepticism will do just about any writer good.
No, you're not a bad writer. Your stories are pretty good and that proves you're a good writer.
I don't think you're a bad writer I really enjoy Lost Sunset.
I've only read A Lost Sunset, but I've seen you improve through the story. I'll be completely honest, you're writing is above average for the site, but still riddled with problems. Your biggest weaknesses seem to be pacing, continuity, and characterization for side characters, but you've improved quite a bit. Your biggest strengths (at least in A Lost Sunset) are setting up interesting scenarios and dealing with Sunset's struggles. The writing for normal scenes is good, though your action scenes are a bit rough, and certain other scenes, like Sunset, Twilight, and Celestia writing to each other are very clunky (though it's mostly a pacing issue). Right now, I'd say your best bet to improve is to specifically tackle your weaknesses, as your strengths are at a good point. Don't worry about action scenes for awhile (writing a proper action scene requires not only skill in describing the important details, but also being able to choreograph it, so save it for after you tackle your general weaknesses). Instead, focus on pacing out your scenes and side character interactions. Expand the dialogue, add more descriptors, and in general, put more personality (and space for that personality to show) when characters interact. Show some details, like if Gilda was trying to intimidate Sunset, show how she's doing it (like getting up close, pushing forward, something about her gaze or breathing, movements of her arms, steps she takes, her pose, or whatever details you think would help show the reader how the scene looks. Don't forget to put Sunset's physical reactions either, like stepping back, standing her ground, pushing forward, staring her down, or whatever will fit), and give it some time/space to sink in. Basically, have your characters emote more. It will help with your pacing (as your overall pacing is fine, just your scene pacing needs work), and it will help flesh out the side characters, giving them more personality. As for continuity, that will come with time and practice. If you don't have one, set up an outline and add notes for little details, like birthdays, dates, events, and personal things characters tell each other.
The biggest thing I can recommend though, is find other stories on this site to study. Since I'm typing this from my phone, I can't link them now, but I'll recommend a few stories to use. For pacing and character interactions, I recommend Fractured Sunlight and the Savage Skies series (starts with Foal of the Forest, and the author also wrote Fate/Twilight, which while incomplete, also would be great to study). For continuity, I'd say Gunsmoke is a very good choice. Of course, there are plenty of other great stories to use, these are just the ones that come to mind immediately to help with your weaknesses. I'd say that if the average writer on this site was 5/10 and writers like Wanderer D and Oroborro are 10/10, you're at about a 6 to a 7 (depending on how you weigh concept and execution, and what strengths and weaknesses you value). You have been improving, and if you manage to tackle your weaknesses, I'd say you can easily reach an 8 or 9. From there, it becomes much more complicated, but once you get to that point, the rest will probably come naturally, or at least easy to figure out on your own. You have a lot of potential, don't let haters get you down, but don't ignore genuine criticism either.
You're actually really good! Don't think otherwise!
4316088 You're probably the third actual genuine criticism I've received on this site over these 2 and half years on this site. Though its funny that the authors you mentioned, I actually find their works to be boring in the overall picture. (Fractured Sunlight was okay, but I'm also SICK of SunLight stories on this site. Sunset apparently just isn't allowed to interact with anyone except Twilight and Celestia on this site. Go ahead, I dare you to find a Sunset story that's long where she does interact with everyone and only Twilight sometimes.) I also find it funny that you criticize what I've enjoyed most about writing this story, the Sunset/Twilight/Princess Celestia/Book dynamic.
Overall...thanks. I will say that details are not my strong suite. I'm not a adjective person and English was never something I enjoyed.
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Thanks everypony. I've uh...this story has never been easy to write. I was told when I started this story that I shouldn't be allowed to write it. (Yes, this did happen) I don't know...thank you everypony, I'm gonna try to get two chapters out by the end of this week. The Siren arc will reach an abrupt end, but I want it out of the way so I can get this 'A Lost Sunset' writer's block out of the here!
4316183 Thank you.
As for the 'dunk on'...I'm not good at giving people on this site 'a bad time' so to speak.
4316191 Er...both. It was deleted. I don't usually delete comments but...there are people who go too far on this site. A lot of them go after me, especially when I first started on this site.
I enjoy the story!! You aren't bad. Better than me. I can't write at all! I'm an artist
4316141 The Celestia, Twilight, and Sunset dynamic is great as a concept and emotionally. The problem is that the scenes are awkwardly paced and very cluttered. I'd actually say that those scenes show your strengths and weaknesses the best. Great concept and lead in, great emotion, and goes in an interesting direction, but are paced very awkwardly, hard to decipher at points, and lacking in physical descriptions.
Also, Three Visitors (I think that's what it was) barely features Twilight, as do most Siren or Fluttershy shipping fics. One thing I've noticed about the MLP community is that everyone tends to be love it or hate it for everything. After a large chunk of the anylists left, all the reviews, blogs, and comments became either praise or bash with very little in between.
4316336 There's a difference between hate and being insulting on this site. Trust me. As for that dynamic between the three...there isn't much to describe since they're writing. Please keep that in mind. I plan to do more of that and it is more dialogue based than anything. That and the emotional stuff is kind of done now...there'll mainly be just Sunset and Twilight talking/writing to each other.
In the end, I'm gonna keep writing and if people want to yell and scream at me, I don't care. I gotta keep this story going!
4316335 I wish I was an artist...then I could figure out what the cover art should really be for this story.
You are not a bad writer at all. I like your A Lost Sunset story and I couldn't wait for the next chapter.
Just keep on writing. The more you write, the better you'll be!
4316393 Thank you.
Bad Writer? Nah. Here I've read such horrible things, that would make you seem like a genius.
Seriously though, you are doing ok; and I read A Lost Sunset in one sitting, so I noticed the improvement you've had. Keep it up, you'll only get better and better.
Honestly, thank you for writing! Waiting patiently for a new chapter.
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Challenge Accepted!
Here are a bunch of good (IMHO) and long Sunset stories that have no SunLight, and in which her relationship with Twilight or Celestia is not a main plot.
Equestria Girls: Friendship Souls
The Shimmer of Magic
The Evening Sonata
Leap of Faith
Let Them Wonder
All That Shimmers
Three Little Visitors.
You Can't Help Who You Love
I can also mention Gunsmoke, it is really different from the usual Sunset fic. However, I think the specific friendship between Twilight and Sunset is a very important part of the plot... But the story is too good, read it anyway.
Basing on what I have read (A Lost Sunset being the only one of your works I have read
) I would say your writing skill are pretty good. I mean, there are fics on this site that have terrible grammar, punctuation and plot, yours on the other hand (again using A Lost Sunset as an example) are some of the better one.
4316637 Thank you.
4316550 Huh. Not many, eh? There's hundreds of Sunset stories on this site and yet these are the few that don't have what I was talking about. Sad huh?
Thanks you for the compliment and finding those though. I need something to help me like writing Sunset a bit more.
4316689 Nope, not sad. Me loves me some Twilight and Celestia with my Sunset Shimmer. They are my favorite ponies. I can read about those over and over... actually I've been reading them over and over, so I guess I know what you mean.
I guess people write what is popular.
Your challenge was finding one. I got eight, and I didn't really look that hard; I just grabbed those from my bookshelves for stories I already fully read AND thought were good. And were above 70000 words.
I must add that, for the moment, I haven't touched stories with Pony Sunset in Equestria. Nor stories with blatant OC protagonists with Sunset on the side. There must be more, I don't think I have read everything in the site, even with all that criteria. I'm not some kind of Sunset Shimmer fan fiction reading machine... Wait, actually that describes me pretty well.
But, I have high standards and only started reading those, in September. 
You're welcome. I hope you enjoy some of the stories.
4316783 Thanks. I've got both 'A Lost Sunset' chapters done now. (FINALLY!) I'm just editing now, hopefully they'll be out this weekend.
You shouldn't listen to the haters. You've been one of my favorite writers on the site since I got here! Take it from me I only follow the best (like you!).
4317054 Thank you.
You're not a bad writer, each writer has his or her own style, which makes it unique, don't compare yours with theirs, are they the best?...
And readers have different standards, there will always be haters my friend, I know, my story got 4 dislikes off the bat in less than one day after getting published
That be said, you're not a bad writer, each writer is unique in his or her own way, it's the soul of a writer, it gives us our flare
Don't listen to them unless they're willing to help okay?
-Psycho
4317119 Thank you. I will admit, my first encounters on this site were haters, it makes it hard to stay on this site. But...I'm glad to have fans that like my story.
4317122 People like you and "EverfreePony" (another friend of mine from this site) are what make it worthwhile
You have such good fans, I am jealous of you, be proud of that
-Psycho
4317127 Thank you my friend. I'll help you anytime.
YOU A BAD WRIGHTER?!?!?!?!?!? WHERE ARE THAY I WILL DESTROY THEM AND CRUSH THEM AND BURN THEM!!!!!!!
But no your not a bad wrighter if you were then you would not be loved by all of us!!! there just mad that THEY CANT wright as well as you. I for one think you are a wonderful wrighter and I love reading every thing you post.
P.S I know you want to get something out but dont kill your self over it we need you so you can keep weighting and so we can keep supporting you
4317759 Don't worry, I should be releasing two chapters tomorrow. Its in the works right now...
OHHHHH
I can't wait... maybe I can... I DONT KNOW!!!!!!
4318986 Don't panic. It'll come out a little later today.