State of the Scribe: September 2023 · 11:41pm Sep 1st, 2023
Hello pones! Hope you all had a great summer, at least if you're in the northern hemisphere. If not, guess you have that to look forward to.
Lots has changed in my life--the end of one chapter, and beginning of another. Still feels a little like a dream I'm going to wake up from, writing full time like I do. I don't want to get into too much of my non-pony plans, at least not until I have definitive launch dates and cool things to show off.
No stories are changing this month, we're still on course with everything. Though most of the stories on my usual update list have now been finished (or close to finished) behind the scenes. They may have a few months left until they run down, and reach what I hope is a satisfying conclusion.
But once they do, we'll be seeing new stories join the roster. None this month, since none have ended yet, though I can perhaps give some hints. Deep below will soon be replaced with a pony story, an urban fantasy adventure where Lyra discovers the hidden world of magic. But can she keep from being discovered by her girlfriend Bon Bon, who works in secret as a hunter named Sweetie Drops? This story takes place on earth with a human cast, or at least more human than usual. Lots of excitement planned!
Don't Bug me is also moving towards its conclusion, though it hasn't reached it yet. This one is an interesting story, because Amie's journey could easily continue for much longer--it could show us more of the hidden changeling cultures, and all they've done to survive. We could see what her eggs are like, what kind of people they become, and how human civilization develops and rebuilds.
But all stories must reach an ending sooner or later. I'm sure we'll be seeing that one reach its conclusion before the end of the year, like with Deep Below.
Spirits of Change still has many chapters to go. This story inspired by His Dark Materials, but with Pokemon instead of animals as the daemons. There the legendary pokemon rule the world with an adorable but iron grip. When Hayden settles as a mew instead of an eevee, their life is turned upside down, as they're swept up into the dangerous world of legendary politics. Think My Fair Lady and Game of Thrones with pokemon and you're in the right zip code. This thing is one of my longest running passion projects, something I never thought I'd get to write, so the chapters really get crazy. You can check it out here: [url=https://www.patreon.com/RealStarscribe/posts?filters[tag]=Spirits%20of%20Change&sort=published_at]https://www.patreon.com/RealStarscribe/posts?filters[tag]=Spirits%20of%20Change&sort=published_at
Of course there's also Deep Below. In this story, the last survivors of humanity are stored away in an ancient bunker, until a team of squids on a salmon run wakes one of them up. Soon the bunker's watchful stewart has become a squid, and has to discover the truth of what happened to humanity--while healing from the horrors of the apocalypse they still remember vividly. Read here: https://www.patreon.com/RealStarscribe/posts?filters%5Btag%5D=Deep%20Below&sort=published_at
Both of those can't be posted here, since of course only pony stories are allowed on Fimfiction. But anyone can read them at those links, without a need to donate to me. I'll also post links to the finished stories here once they are complete.
We saw the launch of Beyond the Veil of Sleep, which now continues as a weekly story here on Fimfiction. In this tale, we see one of the last bats in Equestria struggling to protect her dwindling tribe. If she wants them to survive, she'll need to do the unthinkable and find a way to release Nightmare Moon from her prison.
Of course Words of Power continues--showing the struggle of a former human, now Kirin named Lotus, who needs to learn enough magic to get to Equestria and get a cure. Now that she finally created the portal to Equestria where help could be found, she travels through with her best friend Gus and the guardspony Iron, to finally put an end to the danger and trap the evil Searing Gale. If they're lucky, they may even get their humanity back. Thematically, I view this story as about half done as they reach Equestria. Expect lots of awesome art as we continue towards the conclusion, now without my wordcount restriction. I'll still only be writing two chapters a month--it takes time to coordinate artists, to say nothing of the budget. I hope you all enjoy it as much as I have.
Lastly there's the usual group of Patreon stories updating each week. When they're complete (or nearly so) they'll make it to fimfiction, as usual.
Second String, the tale of earth's brave football warriors turned Equestrian liberators, can be explored here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/new-story-in-78044865
Legio IX Hispania, our historical journey into the question of what if the lost Roman legion ended up in Equestria, unravels here: https://www.patreon.com/posts/new-story-legio-78027950
A huge thanks to everyone who continues to support me--either financial, or by reading and enjoying my work. You're the reason I'm still doing this. Maybe I shouldn't still be writing these, but here I am again, year after year. Thanks for sticking with me!
-Starscribe
My Discord, a hub of fun writing activities and lots of other pony-related shenanigans: https://discord.gg/J8hq6MX
Obligatory Patreon Link: https://www.patreon.com/RealStarscribe
Want a copy of one of my books? You can see what I've printed and buy a copy here: https://starscribe.net/
Cheers to another month of stories!
I mean, you could just open up the setting and ideas to other authors, à la Ponies After People.
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I would have no problem whatsoever if other authors wanted to write in the setting.