A slight delay · 6:14pm Feb 14th, 2012
I will be uncharacteristically forthright:
I'm taking a break.
A familiar thing happened when I was writing the sixteenth chapter: I began to run out of steam. I typically manage about two thousand words a day. I ended doing about five hundred. It isn't that I'm not interested in writing Ponies Make War, It's—actually, that's pretty much exactly what it is, come to think of it.
Let me explain. I am still very much interested in telling the story itself. My over the top Michael Bay/Zack Snyder action sequences still roll around in my brain every time I go to class/take a shower/talk to other human beings. I am still meticulously plotting out the execution of the final chapters—and rest assured, these next chapters will be the final ones. What I have lost interest in is the act of spending three hours a day churning it out to the merry sound of my very expensive keyboard clicking and clacking away. It was beginning to feel like a chore.
This happened once before, when I was partway through writing chapter 9. I took a break, which essentially means, "I wrote something else." The result was a comedy that got more reads than every single chapter of PMW combined.
Then when I came back I wrote what, at the time, was considered the high point of Ponies Make War. Also my readership doubled because people like Sparkle's Law so much. So, so much.
This is another, "I'm not abandoning you" post. I intend to release another story during the break, and also start using this blog for the self-indulgent frippery that it's meant for. I intend to give Ponies Make War the best I've got, which means that I get I get to delegate it to future Aesthetic. In my experience, he usually turns out to be a pretty cool guy. Your story is in good hands.
I am stepping out. I am not stepping down.
good luck getting back in the mood!
i would hate to loose another great story for my list... especially at such a clifhanger
also, first
you forgot the canada joke.
Just keep up with the pure awesomeness of all your stories, even if it means, that you must take a break.
Hey AB,
I think everyone who's embarked on a long story has felt this way at some point. Stephen King took something like a ten year break between stories in his Dark Tower series. It happens.
It happened to me when I was working on The First Light of Dawn, my ambitious, "this is so great I must tell this story" story. Predictably, the energy and enthusiasm necessary to keep that up petered out after a few months of writing. Today, The First Light of Dawn sits in the middle of my story stack, staring at me accusingly. "Finish me," it cries, plaintively. "It's just a few more chapters!"
Right. "A few more chapters" is easy, when it's a new project you're excited about. When it's an old project, sometimes writing just a few thousand words becomes a chore. I'll get back to it, someday, but for now it hovers in the middle of my priorities list, right behind my "Twilight attempts to write a clopfic" comedy idea.
My "Michael Bay Presents" story was a quick break from First Light of Dawn, and just like Sparkle's Law it instantly received more views than everything I had written before that. Somewhat disheartening, actually. I actually get annoyed when I see it has a new comment. "Go read my other stuff! It's better!" I want to shout.
Ah well. If it's any help, I have immensely enjoyed both Ponies Make War and Sparkle's Law, and I'm sure I'll enjoy whatever you continue to cook up for us. What matters most is that you enjoy writing -- if taking a break does that for you, then take a break. It'll be better in the long run.
To be fair.... Sparkle's Law is utterly amazing. The visuals and slapstick are flawless, the light humor told in a single session is far more attractive to some than Ponies Make War's dark, beautiful world.
That said... if you make a sequel to Sparkle's Law, you'd be my hero.
Dude, take your break "you deserve it".
I suppose this is a fair assessment, when Ponies Make War first popped up on EQD, I never really gave it a chance. As you said yourself "Ponies Make War" is a pretty bland name. But after reading "Sparkle's Law" I thought "hey, this guy really knows what he's doing, maybe I should give Ponies Make War" a try!" And I never regretted it once. Turns out the title was the only part I didn't like.
Take as long as you need, but honestly I hope that won't be too long. (Think "Ballad of Twilight Sparkle")
Hell man, with the chapter you just gave us, take all the time you need. And if it results in another Sparkle's law, so much the better.
Oh, and if you still haven't thought of a genre for your next story, I'd love to see another good trollship like "Accolade" and "Airshipping is Magic".
Once sheogorath and cthulu had s3x. 9 months later discord arrived.
I'm surprisingly okay with this, probably because-
A.) You deserve a break
B.) You didn't end this chapter on some huge cliffhanger that'd have me agonizing over what would happen in the next chapter.
I'd like to mention to both you and Cold In Gardez I read both FLoD and Ponies Make War before your comedic alternatives and frankly enjoy the first ones more. Although keeping Light of Dawn on hiatus for Wind Thief is a ok imo.
I have the midterms upcoming, so it's probably for the best. Hope to see an update again soon.
When reading your series it made me think of this song. I really think it is in tune with the general feel of your story. Perhaps it might provide inspiration for your next chapter.
It's ok, Mr. B. We'll be seeing you again.
14714
Damn comedy for having such a wider appeal and easier expectations to meet!
I don't know if you recall, but the first time we spoke I told you I loved your comedies. You told me to read your other stuff because it was better. And now I know exactly how you feel.
I have another project brewing in my mind. A medium length shipfic that's also an adventure story with disney-movie qualities and a dragon and — well, you get the idea. I'm really excited to write this next story. Except I won't, not until PMW is done and done, because if I do I know exactly what's going to happen: my 200k word fic that's three chapters from completion won't be finished until July.
14731
I'll be the first to admit that Sparkle's Law was better than the first chapters of PMW. Though looking back, I consider them to be complete garbage. And the sequel is a pet project I've been working on for some time now. I'm taking things slowly because I have to try and make it better than the original.
The original was featured on FimFiction, hit six stars on Equestria Daily, and is a Pony Fiction Vault inductee. Attempting to top it is slow goings.
14738
Ponies Make War is a truly awful thing to call a story. Back then I didn't think it mattered. Now? Let's just say, "Titles are important" and leave it at that.
14853
I rarely listen to music with lyrics, but Viva La Vida happens to be one of my favorites. Not a bad sound at all.
14899
A-dun-Dun-DUN!
Ponies make war: Chapters: 16 | Views: 30503 | Words: 181775 | Comments: 308
Sparkle's Law: Chapters: 1 | Views: 13927 | Words: 17765 | Comments: 104
Sparkle's law has less than half the views, a third of the comments.. but it also only has a fraction of the words. Ponies Make War being a multiparter probably also boosted its views.
...maybe I ought to give Sparkle's Law a read.
Ponies Make War is my all-time favourite MLP fic, so please Aesthetic, take as long a break as you need. I'd rather wait a month or two for a chapter of the jaw-smashing epicness which comes so naturally to your literature than wait a week for something that you feel you can't place your full effort into. Recharge your batteries buddy, you've definitely earned it. *Brohoof*
I await the next chapter of PMW with bated breath! (though I do so patiently)
the only grimdark story so far I like.
You deserve more views
14967
When Sparkle's Law was released, its total views topped all eight chapters of PMW combined. Seriously. Still, that's only on FimFiction. PMW has another 30k or so reads if you count the Google Docs version on Equestria Daily.
I figure I'll post this here because you're more likely to read it here. I recently introduced PMW to three of my friends, ALL of which are not Bronies. All three of them I value their opinion very highly:
One of them is a cynical French Canadian enigma made of cigarette smoke and red-bull, and is an accomplished novelist. He blew threw PMW within two days. I remember he said "Even if you don't like Ponies, it was actually quite awesome." He likes Esteem a lot.
One is a good friend of mine who reads a book series a month. I mean he seriously tears through A song of Ice and Fire type series's again and again.
The last one is another friend of mine who is in a Tolkienology class in university. He "doesn't have time to read the whole story," but after reading the first chapter he complimented your writing and called it reminiscent of Robert Jordan, high praise indeed for such a die hard fan of the Wheel of Time series.
What I'm getting at here is that you shouldn't be discouraged by lower views on PMW, because if these three people actually like your fanfiction of My Little Pony, then you should be proud of your writing skill, Ponies or not. PMW has become my favorite Fanfic, and I can't wait for you to return to it.
Eh, I know that feeling. I still need to get back to Elements of Discord and that's been languishing in developer hell since before S2 started. I know exactly what's going to happen in the last chapter or so, I just haven't been able to write it. Instead I embarked on another story which is currently sitting at more words than EoD and has, on fimfiction at least, garnered a ton more views.
If you need any help, if I have some time, I would love to - this is one of my favourite MLP stories because of the way you take the world itself and make it something else that still manages to just plain fit. I do enjoy the michaelbaysplosions, but I also know how difficult it can be to get gods to fight believably on screen, as it were.
15193
I read all my comments, everywhere, I just try not to comment on my own stories. Sparkle's Law was discouraging a couple months ago, but by now it's just a reminder of what else I can write when I set my mind to it. As for your three friends... that's some of the nicest praise I've gotten. It's good to know some people like my story for the writing and not just the action ponies
15712
I'd love to have you on the collaborator team, Midnight. I'll send you a PM to see if you have time once I have something written.
You're taking a break? As desperate as I am, fine then. I'll be waiting.
It really is a shame PMW doesn't get as much recognition as Sparkle's Law. Which is definitely a story as good as or if not better than Sparkle's Law. Only problem is the deeply ingrained fear of OCs... especially OC Alicorns that this fandom has somehow developed is holding it down. And if you ask anyone who has gotten over they're dislike of grim-dark and OC, who has read up to the current chapter, will tell you that the story is in fact.. brilliant. Funny thing is you seem to be beating yourself over it. But then again, it's probably a thing that all writers do.
Now then, I'll go back to speculating how Discord and Titan attempt to kill each other.
To be honest, after reading Sparkles Law and PMW, anything you come out with instantly goes to the top of my reading list. PMW is one of my favorite Grimdark stories ever, so whatever it takes to make it shine, have at it.
i think you are doing the right thing. taking a break is something every good author does. by no means does it imply that you are putting the pen down on the story, it means you taking a break. as one pony pointed out, even Stephen King did it with his Dark Tower series.
take a page from one of the greats. Ray Bradbury. one of THE most prolific writers of science fiction. if he felt bored with a story he was writing? he put it in a folder and filed it in a filing cabinet. he might come back to it weeks, or months or years later. it did not EVER mean he has put the pen down on the story, it just meant that his muse had stopped giving him inspiration for that story and that it was time to let his mind churn away on another idea. and if/when he came back to it he always finished it.
so take your time. we readers will be here. let your muse guide you however it can, where ever ideas take you. if that means you write a new story before picking up Ponies Make War again? so be it. Take your time. if you feel you need more time? write a few more doing something else. and if you still feel you need more time. then keep writing something else.
Writing should never feel like a chore. it should never feel like a heavy task. it should never feel like a weight on your shoulders. writing should be something that you enjoy doing. it should be something that your mind constantly churns and roils with ideas that want to be written about. it should be something that brings you joy, makes you smile, and leaves you breathless with anticipation when you sit down at your keyboard to begin typing.
i look forward to reading anything at all that you might put to pen.