Regarding Chapter 7 · 7:27pm Dec 1st, 2012
This started off rather fast and I was pushing through it, but there were two moments that slowed me down while writing it. One was the interaction with Skye. I had planned to have it run longer and also add a lullaby that I wrote, but It felt forced. I tried different ways of Applejack approaching Skye and asking him where he came from in anger, but that seemed to fly in the face of what I've established before: That it was his business. I did want to establish Skye more before now, but it really did feel like I was trying to pound too much at once with a balpine hammer.
The next was the scene with Dash and the Phantom. See, I had this meeting in my head for a while, but part of what has been a problem was my lack of planning. I did not have even a slight outline when starting this story, and I believe it started to show. I've improved since then, in my writing and in my planning, but this story takes a hit. I believe I could have done this better if I planned it accordingly. There was a near full week where I felt quite a bit of animosity at my story while powering through those paragraphs. That animosity started to wane a little bit, but it did effect the story and how long it took to complete.
But I promised myself I would complete something, that I would complete this story, and I shall. I think the true casualty of my failure to plan is this story. I think it could have been better. Much better. I crippled it. I found an old notebook of mine and found myself flipping through, reviewing old notes while looking for the original name I had planned for Manifest. It was an interesting experience, because I didn't remember having good ideas like that. Seems like I was smarter in my initial planning than I am right now. Retrospective in my past that is positive is rather rare for me.
As for what's to come? I've got at least 2 chapters planned, this includes an Epilogue. We're almost done, and I should have it done quickly. Then I can move on to the newest idea I've received.
For those bored out of your skull, here's a pony picture: 
The scene with Dash and the ghost was terrific. And I think it's a great thing that you're completing this. (Abandoned fics are terrible, terrible things...) I might have told you before that when I wrote my first fic, the long one, I had, like, two people reading it.
I was really discouraged during the last three chapters, feeling like I was sending them out into the void where they would sit, unread, in some black corner of FIMfiction. *Sigh* But your story has only improved with every passing chapter, and I'm really looking forward to how you're going to end it.
571830 It may end a little unexpectadly. Tell you the truth, I've had several endings in mind which I'll share after the fiction is done. This thing has actually gone through quite a few changes before I decided on what is occuring right now.
Been extremely busy the past little while with work and other things. I finally made real good progress last night, and will try and write at least a few pages a day within the little free time that I have (I should be sleeping right now, something woke me up an hour early
).