Not dead (yet) · 3:13am Feb 11th, 2017
... but in lieu of a proper State of the Horizon post, I'm going to take a few seconds to remind folks that there's a Writeoff this weekend for MLP minifics. Writing period starts in about 12 hours from the time of this post, and you get 24 hours to tell a story in 400-750 words. I've talked before about why Writeoffs are worthwhile and how they can help your writing, so if you're interested, check that post out for further details and then swing by writeoff.me.
Also, in case you missed it, a few weeks back Present Perfect posted reviews of all the stories submitted to my 80 Days writing challenge. I've already plugged the quality of the stories myself, but you no longer have to take my word for it: PP's review set had more "Highly Recommended"s than every other rating put together.
As for me, lately: I'm going through logistical and medical training so that I can start volunteering with my local Search & Rescue. I'm also working with BABScon's Theme Department, writing scripts for some of their promotional and at-con content. Between those two things, and a helping of political activism (as well as picking up some con crud at FC that wiped me out for most of a week), my well has been dry these last two months when it comes time to focus on my own creative enterprises. It's a temporary lull, though, and I do miss all y'all.
I still don't understand why you claimed it's worth hundreds or thousands of dollars of free workshopping.
4417636 Shh. It's a tax thing. After all, Horizon has 47,245 brother and sister drones to support... um.... If he were a changeling. Which he isn't. (where did I put that darned neuralizer...)
4417636
The review feedback. Here in MLP-land, we're spoiled by a frankly wonderful fanfiction site with high levels of commentary and a solid review community -- but for original fiction in particular, unless you've got an amazing local writer's group, the ability to write a first draft and then get half a dozen thoughtful and detailed responses to it is the sort of thing that you have to get by paying to join workshops.
If you've got a fairly sizable follower base, then it's possible to get that sort of feedback here by posting a pony story -- but with the Writeoffs, that's the point, and you don't have to gamble on your followers. I've been doing the Writeoffs for almost three years now, and I'm still learning things.
Oh thank god that means my failure to keep my promises hasn't matterrr--err. Uh. I mean. Uh.
Sorry to hear that?
Seriously though, I understand how life gets in the way, and it sucks.
Ooo, thanks for the reminder! I haven't done one in ages, but I'm on a writing roll just now and I'm sure I could whip one out.
Yay, still alive!
Did you ever read Georg's The One Who Got Away? I saw two scene continuations in the comments as I was reading that earlier this week, and I know you collect those. I also enjoyed reading it a bunch...
--Sweetie Belle
Being persnickety: the writeoff actually starts in more like 8 hours, not 12.
Yes, I will actually be up at 4 in the morning to catch what the prompt is the second voting ends.
I'm
pathetichardcore like that.4417668
And I'm going to try and actually participate this round! I did read some stories last round.
Been a while since I jumped in.
Been awhile since I've done a WriteOff entry. Time to break that streak.
In other news, it's good to see you being active and getting out there to spread the seeds of love that you might harvest later. For strictly non-dietary reasons, of course. I DO want to finish up another My Harshwhinnial guest chapter. I've gotten better at being terrible.
4417643
...
That awkward feeling when you actually have an amazing local writer's group.
Is there, uh, any way to get notice of writeoffs more than half a day in advance?
I… didn't see any kind of subscription link or anything?
More seriously, all the win for you for actually putting energy into developing yourself! It's harder than it looks.
4417746
To answer your question, if you have an account at writeoff.me, you can go into your account settings and add notifications based on what type of Writeoffs you're interested in participating in and when you want to be e-mailed. I participate in all four types (FIM/original minific, and FIM/original short stories) and so I have notifications set to tell me when each new event is created, giving me about a week's notice.
You can also click "Schedule" on writeoff.me to see the next four upcoming events, if you'd rather add them yourself to your own calendar/time management device, you can set those notifications arbitrarily early.
4417643
I've gotta get me one of those 'amazing local writer's groups'
Sorry to hear you've been under the weather on top of such a busy schedule. It is good to know BABScon is in goods
hooveshands though4417710
It's been great seeing you ramp up your own activity. And another Harshwhinnial chapter would be awesome! :D
4417662 4417668 4417691
Awesome. See you there! (Well, once I finish with my Wilderness First Aid class tomorrow evening and have some time for writing, anyway ...)
4417664
Off the top of my head, I don't remember. If you or 4417642 could drop me a PM with the commentfic links, that'll give me the best chance to find them again and add them when I have a little free time to update the collection.
4417754
Ahh. That explains it. I'm not sure why I didn't already have that turned on. And I was looking for an external option, which is why I wasn't logged in.
My bunny ears and I:
Won't be in this round, alas. I seem to have two simultaneous Pony serials running at the moment--the Currycombs stuff here and the mature-rated Blueblood-as-royal-consort story over on Baal Bunny. Not to mention the Sorceress Squirrel novel I'm supposed to be working on and random poems for the weekly Poetry Nook contests....
Mike
Good to hear from you.
I completely understand about being swamped.
Incidentally, don't know if you ever saw, but I went to my first convention two weeks ago, Ponycon NJ. Met the artist who did the art for Time Enough for Love. Really nice guy, and thrilled to meet someone who understood the context of the piece. I actually bought a print of it. (We agreed that I should poke you about that story, but given the circumstances, I think this will suffice.)
As for the Writeoff, we'll see. Writing time's at a premium now that I'm working nine-to-five with a commute that makes it eight-to-six, and I am working on a multichapter story at the moment. Still, this is minifics we're talking about; I should be able to fit something in.
4417664 you know the sequel is in the box this week, right? :)
One day I might have the time and energy and inspiration and confidence and... well, one day I kinda want to participate in a write-off. But that day is probably not today.
I wondered where you'd gotten off to!
But hey. Guess what. :3
This blog reminded me to check on the writeoff site. For once, I had an idea and was on time. I finally managed to crank out and submit something. I've never finished a whole rough draft in a day before.
I guess what I'm trying to say is, thank you for prodding me to give it a shot.
Whaaaaaaaaat...you're going to be a hero? How am I supposed to compete with that?!
Ah well, at least you can spread the pony love. "Take this life preserver! Remain calm! Also, did you know My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic has a surprisingly relevant thematic core?? Stop flailing!"
4417947
That is how I found the original story...
--Sweetie Belle
4417940
Yeah, I did see your con report -- and I kept it open in a tab to remind myself to mention it when I got around to writing a State of the Horizon post! Even if the context is that I need to get off my ass and finish the thing, it's flattering to be talked about. And I'm definitely elated to hear how much you enjoyed the con!
I'm trying to wrap the Babscon script I'm on deadline for so that I have a little writing time to get back into TEFL. I'm adding in a number of scenes to fill out some of the storylines crimped by the wordcount limit and even out the pacing. I've got two chapters out of four locked and loaded.