There was nothing quite like a good story. Any author worth their salt knows this fact. If you can’t write something that will entertain the audience, you’re not going to be a very successful author. So how does one write a good story? Is it the characters? The setting? The style? If one were to ask Twilight Velvet, a seasoned writer from Canterlot, she’d likely say it was a combination of all those things, but with a hint of originality mixed in. If you manage to find that perfect balance, the sky's the limit.
Of course, none of that matters if you don’t finish your manuscript.
The unicorn mother of two sat in her study, jotting down along the latest of many sheets of paper. Every once in awhile, she took the time to dab the tip of her quill into a pot of ink while attempting to maintain her focus. As she wrote, she tried her best to print as legibly as possible, despite her instincts to stray into her normal hoof writing.
After an hour passed, Velvet placed the quill down to stretch out her hoof. If one were to ask why she didn’t just use her magic, she’d likely respond with a statement about how difficult it actually is to keep her dexterity. Sure, magic wasn’t exactly mundane to her. Advanced magical skills run in the family, after all. But being so used to a typewriter and the fact that stress was taking a toll on her mind did little to improve her focus.
On that thought, it had to be today of all days that her own typewriter, her main livelihood, decided to malfunction and destroy one page of her work. Gazing at it across the room where she had put it, the typewriter was a gift given to her by none other than A.K. Yearling, her longtime partner, for her contributions in the famous Daring Do novels.
It was thanks to her that Velvet was able to get into the business with little issue. She was not only a writer, but an editor as well, for which Ms. Yearling was grateful for. Along with those contributions and editor experience, Velvet boasted a number of short stories for high school literature books, even holding an academic honor award which hung on the wall of her family photos. She had accomplished many things during her career.
Yet…. There was something she had yet to achieve, a merit she had yet to earn: Her first solo novel. A story she could entirely call her own. In fact, she had an idea for a novel long ago when she was still in high school and even wrote snippets of it from time to time. But with her work on Daring Do, her other short stories, and her eventual marriage with Doctor Night Light of the Canterlot Research Society, she never had much of an opportunity to do anything with it. She long forgot about it over the years until just recently after a visit to her sister in Las Pegasus.
That is why she sat here now, working her flank off and wracking her brain to no end. She had her old notes with her, but as she aged, so did her old ideas. Updating was necessary and crucial before even thinking about her current manuscript. It had been nearly a whole month, but it was almost done. Even with her typewriter out of commission, she was determined to get it done today, hoof cramps be damned.
“Whew, done….”
Velvet let out a tired sigh as she put down her quill for the final time that afternoon. It had been a long road, but it was finally finished. She leaned back in her seat and stretched her back, popping her neck and just shaking off the fatigue that accumulated. Stretching more as she stood up, she glanced at the clock.
“I’d better get dinner started. The kids will be home soon,” she giggled to herself. “I can’t wait to for them to hear this.”
Velvet heard the door open almost as soon as she finished setting the table. Whether by coincidence or simply habit, she and her family had impeccable timing. The next part was definitely habit as Velvet sat down and opened her forelegs to accept the purple blur that pounced into them.
“Hi mommy!” Twilight Sparkle chirped as she happily nuzzled her mother’s chest.
Her daughter’s excitement never failed to put a smile on Velvet’s face. “Hello sweetie. Did you have a good day at school?”
Breaking off the hug, the little unicorn nodded excitedly and began regaling her mother with tales of academic achievement as she took her seat and the other two family members entered the dining room. Shining Armor’s eyebrows raised as he caught a whiff of dinner.
“Wow Mom, that smells amazing!” he said as his father nodded in agreement. Night Light walked over and gave his wife a quick peck on the lips.
“I have to agree, you certainly pulled out all the stops for this one, dear. What’s the occasion?” Night inquired.
Velvet smiled knowingly. “Well, I do have a bit of an announcement to make” she explained, chuckling inwardly as her children’s heads immediately spun to face her, “But let’s all get comfortable first. I imagine we’re all very hungry.”
The family began to eat, though the two younger ponies never took their eyes off their mother, and even Night Light couldn’t help but throw glances at his wife now and then. Once she felt that enough suspense had been built up, Velvet cleared her throat and instantly gained her family’s full and undivided attention.
“Well everypony, I am happy to report that as of an hour or two ago, I finished writing the manuscript for the first Pseudo Facade book.”
As one, Velvet’s family erupted in cheers and applause.
“Congratulations, dear!
“That’s awesome, mom!”
“Hooray! That’s so great, Mommy! It’s gonna be the bestest book ever!”
Velvet couldn’t help but laugh out of pure giddiness. “Well I’m not sure if it’ll be a success, but I definitely consider it to be my biggest personal victory.”
Night Light scoffed. “Not sure? Nonsense, it’s going to be a great success. The foals and I wouldn’t have encouraged you to write it as strongly as we did if we thought otherwise.”
It was Shining Armor’s turn to nod in agreement. “Absolutely, mom. I really love how quickly Sleuth adapted to the situation. He’s definitely my favorite character.”
“I like Facade himself! It’s really amazing how much thought he puts into his heists, and how he just leaves everypony so stumped!” Spoke up Twilight, who was now standing on her seat in excitement.
Velvet smiled at her children’s heartfelt praise. “It was definitely a challenge to think it all through. I’m really glad you like it.”
“More than that,” Night Light added, “I’m quite intrigued to see what you do with the Jade Kings. I have a feeling we’ll be seeing quite a lot of them.”
Velvet chuckled darkly, smirking. “Honey, you don’t even know the half of it.”
The family continued to talk and laugh over dinner, trading thoughts on the story and ultimately praising Velvet for thinking of them. While she still thought that celebrating her story’s success was rather premature, she couldn’t help but revel in the pure joy of actually having finished the book. It was done. The only thing left to do was to go to the publishing office and-
Velvet suddenly caught a glimpse of a clock, and noticed that the hands indicated a time much later than she had expected.
“Oh my gosh, it’s late! The publisher will be closing up shop soon!” Velvet exclaimed, panic starting to tug at her senses.
Night Light’s eyebrows raised. “Wait, you haven’t turned in the manuscript yet?”
Velvet shook her head. Not only to indicate the negative, but to clear her thoughts. She set her jaw and focused on the task at hand. “Not yet, but there’s still time. I can still make it!”
Velvet dashed to her study, snatched up the manuscript in her magic, and then turned around to head for the door in one fluid motion. She quickly bade her family goodbye as she dashed out the door, their cheers of encouragement still ringing in her ears.
It was a lively day at the Barns and No Bell book shop. Twilight Velvet’s first solo novel had just been released, and while the customers may not have lined up around the block for it like they did for a certain other book series, it still gathered a respectable crowd and was selling quite well. Indeed, at that very moment a sale was being made.
“I know she works on Daring Do, but you do know that Twilight Velvet’s style is rather different from A.K. Yearling’s, right?” The clerk reminded the prospective customer, a young filly. However, the filly simply rolled her eyes and adjusted her glasses.
“Please, I’m a fan of Twilight Velvet herself. I’ve read every one of her short stories. Her coming out with a full novel is a dream come true for me!”
The clerk raised an eyebrow. Given that Velvet’s stories tended to skew towards older audiences, such a young yet devoted fan was a little uncommon. Still, a sale was a sale, and it wasn’t long before the filly galloped home and plopped down onto her bed with her newest purchase. It was the weekend, her numerous studies were complete, and nothing was going to stop the little unicorn from reading her favorite author’s newest story cover-to-cover. She opened the book and read the title page aloud with a huge grin.
“Pseudo Facade: the Heart of Stained Glass, by Twilight Velvet.”