Wait, Eileen Still Writes Stories? + Special Announcement · 9:23pm May 13th
The muse is cruel and unforgiving.
Yeah. Lately I've had ideas for the next chapter of Together from Canterlot to Canterlot. Ideas for the Shining is a Terrible Dad contest. Ideas in general. And I keep bombing out of actually writing them. Or reading. I've had a bit of a rough year, mentally.
Thankfully, I'm working on it. And over the past week, I managed to pull off what felt genuinely impossible not even two weeks earlier -- completing a full story. And not just a story, but my biggest one-shot (and singular chapter) ever.
Cover art self-assembled
Yes, this is Faulty Connection, my dual entry into the Science Fiction Contest and the May Pairings contest. The specific pairing for the latter is Wallflower Blush and Moondancer, and like I told my pre-readers, this just felt like an idea I absolutely could not leave to just die in my imagination. It's definitely longer than my norm, and a bit of a step outside my usual genres, but overall I'm pretty satisfied (for now) with how it turned out.
Anyway, the story is available here, and I really hope you can give it a read and, if you like it, a vote or comment. Feedback is always appreciated.
It's been a long while since I last blogged, so I'll also cite the other stories I've published this year: Twilight's Blåhaj, back in January, and my very short Sunset x Villains contest winner, Snapshot of a Wedding.
As for what's next? In the short-term, reading. I am so, so far behind on reading stories on this website it's not even funny. And that honestly feels like it affects my writing; when I'm not reading others' work, I feel like I have less confidence in my own writing, and whether it feels natural and readable. So I need to get back on that. I'm also still doing a lot of editing work for people: ongoing stories I've edited of late include daOtterGuy's Midnight Rail, The Sleepless Beholder's The Goddess of Empathy, and Sledge115 and VoxAdam's Spectrum.
Also, I'm officially going to Everfree Northwest 2024, so if you want to meet me there, you'll almost certainly run into me in the writing workshops.
I am still working on Together from Canterlot to Canterlot, slowly. It's been hard to focus on it, but my goal is to force that to change. But that might not be until later this summer. Rest assured, though, the story is not abandoned. I do still dream of it one day being perched on the shelves at EFNW.
Lastly, speaking of EqG shipping stories, May Pairings might not be the only shipping contest starting this month. Lots of you contributed to last year's Spring Fling contest for the 10th Anniversary of the Equestria Girls movies. And we judges were so thrilled with the response that it was all but guaranteed we would come together again. Anyway, details are forthcoming, but you can expect the sequel contest to start before the end of the month.
Thank you so much for following!
~Eileen
Woah, more Eileen-brand not-quite-horsewords!
Sympaties and vibes for having had a rough year. Hope things are looking up for you, and that you will find the energy and excitement to write more!