Of mooses tend to be scribbled down on the back of party napkins. My blog titles never actually mean anything and any freudian imagery they suggest is strictly in your imagination.

One of the things I enjoy most about writing is doing little things in the background and then hoping people notice them. I like to put in details, small flicks of the literary wrist, or clues to future happenings. Some stories are pretty much based on that (i.e., Kaleidoscope), whereas others tend to only have it occasionally-- Fear of The Fall, for example, has a couple of paragraphs which were conciously designed to be funnier if you substituted one of the recurring words with 'penis'. It's usually safe to say, then, that there's usually more going on in my stories than appears, except in drabbles where there isn't much space to do stupid things like the above example. This, however, is neither here nor there and I don't know why I'm talking about it.

But, speaking of Kaleidoscope, good news! I've decided to take part in The Little Town project, which is a community attempt to make some darkfics worth looking at and discuss what makes a good darkfic. (Don't worry--there is also a no Cupcakes-style hammer horror gorefic clause, since there are far too many of those around already and they misrepresent the genre, somewhat). If all goes to plan (by which I mean I manage to not fail at writing stories), I'll be making a story for it that should have roughly the same approach to darkfics as Kaleidoscope did. Hopefully, it'll be something to enjoy, or not enjoy, or whatever it is you do with darkfics. So far, the group seems really friendly, although they're a bit smarter than I am (you must remember, bored reader, that I am book dumb when it comes to writing), and if anybody else wants to get involved it may well shape up to be a really fun challenge.  There are, reportedly, a couple of quite well known folks who've agreed to lend a hand, all of whom blow me out of the water in terms of fic quality and number of views, so you may well hear about this whole thing from them. I just thought I'd give anybody who was interested a bit of a heads-up.

Next blog post, if nothing monumental happens to change my mind, will be talking about various genres and types of fic, and why I don't write them, which may or may not be interesting.

Hope you guys had a nice change of year. I spent mine at a friend's house, playing boardgames and winning some of them. Risk is hilariously momentum based. I managed to get cards worth ten stars after the third or fourth turn, got 30 guys and went to town on Africa and Europe, which hadn't predicted it. I conqured so many territories that I got cards worth another ten stars when I was finished. Next turn, everybody else folded. (Also, we played Monopoly, which I didn't win in. We just kind've got to the stalemate position where someone owns everything in every sector so there's nothing to spend money on. We tried trading, but each time we played there was at least one player who wanted you to trade a navy and a green space for a single pink or something ridiculous like that.)

Because I was busy, I haven't done any work directly on stories (or answered my comments), but I'll be getting back to those shortly. I managed to whip up a rudimentary plan for the next chapter of Fear Of The Fall, so hopefully that won't take too long. I'm hoping that, if I knuckle down and everything goes well, I'll have a chapter within the next few days. I really want to make some progress on Music Makes The Heart, simply because I think I have an awesome idea for a Twilestia story, but since I find that particular relationship so hard to quantify, I'll probably need time to really sit down and get my act together before I write it. If I can do that, I think the result will be very satisfying. I've decided to put it off until after Music is finished, and then use the time I'd be spending on that.

If I find time before finished Music, I'll probably use it to brush up a comedy oneshot I found hanging around on my computer. It features Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Winona, a boat, and copious sarcasm.

In videogames news, I recently got The Binding Of Isaac (which I'm enjoying) and a weird little dating-sim-but-not-quite called Cherry Tree High Comedy Club. It's a very short game without much depth, but it's quite cute, and although the scripting is pretty mediocre it does manage to sneak in some witty references to pop culture and such. I think it's one of those games that doesn't quite manage to be great, but which tops out at endearing.

Since we're reaching towards the end of the year, I think I ought to say this, just for the record. For all those who have favourited or watched my stuff, and who have been perhaps disappointed that I didn't leave a comment on your page thanking you or something: traditionally, I thank faves and watchers by continuing to make new chapters and new stories for you to enjoy, and also continuing to hold myself to decent standards so what I make for you is good. Don't feel like I'm not grateful, because I am.

Also, just did a chapter of Music Makes The Heart, which contains all of the dramallama. Next chapter won't be quite as serious or talky.

I know I keep saying I'll quit doing stuff before Christmas, but this is really the last thing before I take my day or so of vacation. After Kaleidoscope went so well, I thought I should show you guys what happens when things don't go so well. In other words, I'm putting up a small collection of stuff that, for whatever reason, I didn't think was good enough to use when I wrote it. Usually I wouldn't bother, but I ended up going through all my work as a kind of personal 'end of year retrospective' dealie, so I thought I may as well. Some of the stuff in there is actually decent. There ARE a few pieces I've left out of it, like a certain RariJack oneshot I thought wasn't working and now think was, and an unfinished comedy oneshot featuring Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and a very small boat; I think those ones are quite salvageable and will be making attempts to touch them up in the New Year.

That really, really is the last thing I'm doing before Christmas. I promise.

Welp, Kaleidoscope has been up for coming on 24 hours, which is pretty much where I consider the cutoff point to be in terms of activity; usually, I find you can gauge opinion on the story (good, bad or indifferent) by then. So, what are my parting thoughts?

Well, it was a whole bunch of fun to write. I got into that weird zen state where you're thinking conciously about what you're doing, but not about the process of doing it-- that strange place between automatic and thought-out. This was one of the first stories I've planned on paper beforehand, and I have to say, once I found a planning method that worked for me (flow diagrams, apparently), it really helped. I deviated from the intended plan quite a bit as I wrote, but the adjustments, I think, worked well. Given how much it helped, I think I'll try to make a habit of writing plans in the future, and see if it's not a one-off.

Overall, I'm really, really pleased with how it turned out, and I think it's the best thing I've written in quite a while. Again, thanks to all the folks that pre-read or offered to pre-read; it was really useful, and very reassuring to know I wasn't barking up all the wrong trees.

With that, all that's left to do is wish all of you in the internet lands a pre-emptive winter-time holiday full of cheer, festivity, and so on and so forth. Also, congrats on miraculously not dying because of a 'prophecy' based entirely on the quirks of Mayan horology. If you have access to cookies, feel free to celebrate with one.

There are some projects where you beat your forehead against the glass, fruitlessly, trying to get to the core of the idea. There are other projects where the words fly like lightning from your fingers, arranging themselves in walls of detail that stand like towers on firm stone.

I'm pleased to announce that my 'secret' oneshot was one of the latter, and is now-- amazingly-- finished, after a single session of work. Of course, there's a price to all that speed: sloppiness. I'd like to publish asap in order to give you guys something you'll hopefully enjoy, but I don't have the distance to edit it, and won't for a while. So, in the interests of getting this out in time for Christmas, would anybody like to lend me a hand and pre-read? It'd really help, and the sooner I have this done, the sooner I can move on to other stuff and capitalise on my momentum. Please?

If you feel you can lend a hand, PM me to let me know. I'm so excited~ I don't know if what I've written is good or not, since I'm so rusty, but man! I have all of the good feelings.

Edit: Thanks to all the people who offered to pre-read at such short notice. You've all been really helpful, and I think the story is definitely worth submitting after the edits you guys suggested. I might do some more tweaking once I have a little distance (particularly around the ending), but for now, I think we're ready to go!

Edit to the edit: Submitted. I'm expecting it'll pass, since I don't think it broke any of the rules, but you never can tell on ye olde interwebs. When and if it goes up, I hope you guys enjoy it!

Just posted a new chapter of Fear Of The Fall. Next my plans are for my mysterious oneshot and maybe a short Flutterdash drabble collection if I feel like it. It's been way too long since I did any drabbles.

The newest update to FoTF: I don't like it especially much, since it focused more on 'dude, it's been ages now, get on with the damn plot'  than 'waste time being hilarious and stuff', but y'know. The irony of the Rainbow Dash/Rarity interactions might entertain a few of you. I'm really, really bad at doing that kind've stuff, though; I feel like I should have just pastiched Jane Austen as a better way of getting my point across, but for the fact that I find Jane Austen hideously boring and I'd rather not waste precious hours of my life analysing her style enough to pastiche it. I find that, due to its unplanned nature, FoTF constantly surprises me in how it develops; somehow, Rarity has wrestled the mantle of main character away from all the ponies who I ostensibly like much more, Pinkie (who was one half of the original pairing idea) has had much less time in the limelight than I thought she would, and, believe it or not, the story was originally concieved as just a quick, four or five chapter waste of my time until I thought of a better idea. That worked out well.

Elsewhere: expect a shorter than normal Music Makes The Heart when it appears, since it will contain all of the dramas, and I'd like to keep it seperate from the relatively jokey chapters that will surround it. The secret oneshot has been fully planned and is ready to be initialised; hopefully, depending on inspiration and schedule, I should do it quick since it's a one-off piece and the groundwork's already there.

Hope you're all doing well!

Well, it's time for the latest 'I'm still alive and working on updates, don't worry guys' blog entry!

Actually, I bring news of a prospective oneshot! And for once, it will contain not the slightest hint of fluff, shipping, or comedy. Much as I love to make you guys laugh, it's been a while since I actually did a more serious piece, and I ought to stretch that particular muscle once more. I can't really give you guys any details on the plot because that'll spoil it, but it's a type of story that practically every writer on fim has at least one of. Hint: It's not a self-insertion or a crossover, both of which I have no intentions of publishing ever. (I occasionally do dry runs for them out of boredom, then take any good bits and adapt them for real stories. I think the premier example is that one of the chapters for Music Makes The Heart was largely based on a prospective first chapter for a MLP/Gurren Lagann crossover. Hey, a good scene is a good scene.)

Also, this oneshot will be one of the first stories I've ever planned in advance. Generally, I don't do planning, for various boring personal reasons, but I thought that I'd try it out a few times and see if I can't use it to make my plotting tighter. I even did a diagram and everything! So, we'll see how it goes. I'll probably write it just after the next chapter of Fear Of The Fall (which is going pretty well, by the way. Includes amazing doors, pig latin, large amounts of jam, and opaque metaphors for sexual activity. Because what doesn't, nowadays?)

In other news, the other things that are a demand on my free time, Python and the Distorted Travesty 3 demo, are still going on, but I'll be reaching the end of DT3 soon so more time for all dat writing. By the way, do not expect any Christmas stories out of me. Traditionally, I write christmas stories in mid-August when people are less sick of Christmas.

Edit: Also, the more that Rainbow Dash and Twilight appear in the same scenes of FoTF, the more they begin to act like this sort've unspoken straight mare/funny mare comedy duo. I have absolutely no idea what could have possessed me to do such a thing, but I actually quite like it. I don't think I'll be shipping them yet, but oh man, I could.

Two days later than I said it would, the saga of Octamom has finally ended. That, I'm afraid, is all, folks. She won't be appearing again in MMtH unless I somehow get a concussion and forget all the story I have planned, none of which she's a part of. I have, however, decided that I'm definitely going to do a follow up piece, and that she'll play a part in that, so yeah. I haven't decided if she'll ever get a name yet, though. At this point, the fact that I never bothered to give her one is becoming part of the joke.

Now to ruin FoTF with my cack-handed efforts!

(As for why it was two days late: the house next door is unfortunately under renovations, which means builders. It's quite hard to focus on being all creative when all you can hear is drilling, radio stations you don't like and copious use of every profanity you can imagine. Now that it's the weekend and they've knocked off, I've had time to polish off the chapter. Hopefully I can do the same with FoTF.)

Also, merry advent-time to all those Christian folks out there. May your advent calenders not be pillaged by pets and relatives, and such. I dunno.

Basically, things were popping along at a nice (though not brilliant pace, since I'm still way rusty) when I hit a block. I basically arrived at a scene, and did not know how to continue; it was also a scene I felt was necessary. Having just found the solution to this block, I thought I'd let you all in on it.

Essentially, this was yet another one of those weird times when what I really needed to do was go out and do some research on a thing I thought I'd never have to do research on. One of the few shreds of artistic integrity that I still cling to is a refusal to write about things I have absolutely no knowledge of. Music Makes The Heart has been pretty much a prime victim of this; first, I sometimes have difficulty writing it because I don't know a lot about music (although, having actually heard music, I know enough to sort've dodge the issue whenever it comes up). Then, recently at that, I had to stop and go on a research binge about gardening, because I didn't know anything about that, either. Admittedly I didn't use any of that research, but research was done and that was the important thing. This time, I needed to do research about steam trains.

Luckily, my old buddy LiamsShadow happens to know quite a lot about steam trains and is my best friend irl, so I picked his brain, and we came up with not one, not two, but four steam engines, all in immaculate detail, that I could essentially use as stock footage whenever I needed to describe a train. It took us a couple of hours of discussion and then a late-night wikipedia binge for me; it will probably be used for about a paragraph of description and in-jokes.

(For those of you who like steam trains and wish for me to go into excruciating detail on the background we made for them, I will oblige, since I know that trainspotters in general are appreciative of fine details. The engine featured in the chapter is the No.1001 HRH Princess Celestia. In order to differentiate it from more common Equestrian trains (which I'm told are based more on small, American locomotives), we patterned it more after large, British steam locomotives employed in the industrial era; more specifically, after the LNER Class P2, more specifically than that, after No. 2001 Cock 'o the North, and even more specifically than that, No. 2001 Cock 'o the North after it had its front end altered into a streamlined wedge shape circa 1938. Much like the train it was patterned after, it has a 2-8-2 wheel wheel condfiguration, making it adept at pulling heavy loads at high speed.

The use of the LNER Class P2, a British engine with a wheel arrangement more suited for and more common in America, was not an accident. In backstory [yes, I gave the engines backstory, which is more than I do for most characters-- hell, Octamom doesn't even have a name], the HRH Princess Celestia, as well as its companion engine the No. 1002 HRH Princess Luna, were designed by Equestrian engineers after being sent on a trip to observe the train design of the Griffon Lands. The engines were built and presented to the princesses as, essentially, surprise gifts, and were immediately put to work in service of Equestrian citizens by providing them with high-speed, high comfort express travel and goods delivery on major lines such as those leading to Canterlot, Fillydelphia, Manehattan, and elsewhere. The names of the services were made by the Princesses themselves, who had fun.

There were two more engines presented as gifts to the Equestrian Royal Family, built in honour of the marriage between Shining Armour and Princess Cadence. These engines are, however, substantially less powerful and work double-headed on much smaller lines, including those going to and from small villages such as Ponyville, and even sometimes as far out as Appleoosa. Further details on these two engines are, as yet, unknown.)

So, yes. That's why Music Makes The Heart isn't up yet: because I spend ridiculous amounts of time making up background elements like that. Again, many thanks to LiamsShadow for helping me out; he did most of the concrete details and I made up most of the ridiculous backstory. Join us in the last chapter of MMTH, when I take six months off to learn the entirety of music theory in order to describe some composition you'd probably have been happier imagining for yourselves anyway! [/obnoxiousness]

But no, seriously, I'm taking the afternoon off from all my other hobbies in order to finish the chapter and get a head start on FoTF. Expect updates either today or tomorrow. (For anyone who still wants excuses on why my update has taken so long, I've also been playing the demo for Distorted Travesty 3 which is balls hard but super fun, and have been learning to program in Python in my off time. These are the hobbies I'm taking the afternoon off from.)