Author's Notes For Sunset · 11:24am Aug 6th, 2018
IN WHICH I GREET YOU
Hello and thank you for reading my latest Sunset Shimmer story. As usual, I have a few things to say that wouldn't really fit the Notes box at the bottom. So let's just dive into it, shall we?
I've been sitting on this story for awhile, and only just now got round to tweaking it. For that, you have my apologies.
On the other hand… you actually have Soufriere writing a Sunset Shimmer story. Whoopee.
Okay, so first off, I originally wrote a much longer story of the same title about three years ago that would have delved into Sunset's backstory (at least my interpretation of it, completely divorced from whatever canon happened after). But I scrapped that and plan to hopefully recount Sunset's past in a different way with a different setup, if I'm still able to adequately write by that point.
As I wrote, I decided I wanted to make it difficult if not impossible for the reader OR ME to definitively conclude which world Sunset is in for this story. Is she a pony or a humanoid? I made the writing and setting intentionally vague on this point so you can draw your own conclusion. Who's to say Equestria doesn't have some form of broadcasting?
The clinic I go to, its TV is always turned to Disney Channel, which is almost as maddening as the other clinic's TV that's always tuned to Nickelodeon. But, really, who wants to watch the news these days? It was a relief when they changed the channel to the World Cup during those weeks, even though as a 'Murikan, I had no dog in the race since we didn't even qualify for the first time in decades. Probably for the best given the series was in Russia. I've had bad experiences with Russkies, and our present government's total capitulation to theirs doesn't help.
This story was partly inspired by a comment Posh, bless his pointy head, made on one of my SRA stories suggesting Sunset needs therapy. Eventually, I figured why not. The session itself references one of his stories just because I felt like it. It also references the Higurashi series, which I adore, although I can't remember which arc off the top of my head. As before, I also reference SF Debris with Sunset's shoulder entities. If Sunset becomes Parody-Janeway, then we're all screwed.
Doctor Volf is, of course, the one and only Dr. Wolf. No I did not get his permission. All names have been changed to protect the guilty and innocent alike. I managed to fit one of his catchphrases in while still keeping to my OCD word-count. Probably hurt the story, but I don't care.
The therapy I'm most familiar with is Cognitive Behavioural. There are, of course, other types of therapy, but I'm simply not as knowledgeable about those. I wrote what I knew.
The final line was something my dad often quoted, attributing it to Mark Twain, but it actually comes from the 1920 book The Young Immigrunts by American humorist Ring Lardner.
I didn't expect to put out my three-hundred-first blogpost so soon. But I really wanted to get this story out before dropping off the face of the earth for awhile. With the publication of this fic, my backlog gets a little lighter. I still have two big multi-chapter stories and one lemon completed but unpublished. Those will come… eventually. Probably.
Peace out!
Cognitive Behavioral therapy has worked great for me. Unpacking the bullshit from my past really helped me, as did learning to actually pay attention to how I feel and why and being able to steer against some of my unhelpful ingrained ways of reacting to life.
I still get bouts of depression and my social anxiety is an ongoing battle but at least now I'm fighting and not just getting trampled by my own issues. It actually feels pretty great whenever I take a moment to reflect.
Only recently binged the whole recovery arc and I enjoy your writing a lot.
I usually work through my baggage and bullshit on my own. It works better for me than seeing someone for it.
~Crystalline Electrostatic~
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I'm glad you liked it!
I'm also happy to know CBT worked for you. I do a combination of CBT and medication to keep me from going off the deep end again. Doesn't always work, but simply having that safety net is better than the Nothing I had for so many years. I'm not "cured"; I can never BE "cured". I'm still mostly nonfunctional and have little to no schedule, but at least these days I only wish I was dead some of the time rather than all of the time.
Praise for my writing also helps
. It's strange -- normally I hate being praised, but I'll take it with my barfing of horsewords onto this site. Possibly because I actually put in effort so I don't feel undeserving.
Dare I ask what those experiences were?
I swear, the more I read on this site, the more I realize just how common mental issues are. Considering what two of my siblings have gone through in recent years, that's surprisingly reassuring. It's fascinating the way aspiring authors like us use pony fiction as a medium to explore and communicate such harsh truths.
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Okay, full disclosure: it's one guy with whom I regularly butt heads on Reddit and Youtube. He has a bee up his butt about certain things and anytime anyone triggers them, his immediate response is to call them a "western fuckhead" or just trash the West in general and America specifically -- I'm allowed to trash my country and my people; he's not. He also made fun of my avatar, though the fact he knew it's Sunset Shimmer's cutie mark only speaks to his hypocrisy.
Plus the Russian bots (or dumb Americans; it's hard to tell) on social media spreading misinformation.
Honestly, I've had more direct unpleasant experiences with Francophones than Russians, simply because I've encountered more of them, and I won't defend them either.
My apologies if you are yourself Russian. I have no reason to dislike you.
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Given the subject matter I'm best known for writing about, I've had a lot of people talk to me via comments and PMs over the past three years about their issues and how my stories touch them on a deep level. I guess that means I've done something right since it's the job of a writer to try and make readers feel something. It's simultaneously reassuring and a bit disturbing -- but not surprising -- that Ponyland seems to attract a disproportionate number of mentally maladjusted males.
What surprised me is that at least a few of the people with whom I've corresponded are diagnosed with various legit DSM disorders, as I was, and not "self-diagnosed" like the stereotypical tumblrite. Mental issues are real and they don't get enough respect because they're "invisible", and you have my deepest sympathies for your siblings.
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Ah, okay I see now.
Oh and I'm not Russian, I'm American myself.
I was just curious, because personally I'm sick and tired of hearing about Russiagate (Not a Trump supporter btw.) after hearing it be repeated over and over by the media; it's looking more like the Benghazi of the Left (or as far left as the Democratic Party goes at least, which is Center-Right internationally.)
The story was very enlightening and interesting in a good way.
On note, I read it in the perspective of the EQG world, And I thought I was assured of this when she said 'came into this world of competitive capitalism' or something along those lines. However, the mention of the old friend Doctor Dover does make more sense if viewed from the Equestrian world.
Overall, a very solid and enjoyable story.
I thought the bit about the footsteps sounded familiar. It was a nice story, even if it's not canon to the rest it was pretty nice to see Sunset trying to help herself.