Ten Years, Still Here · 1:31am Nov 22nd, 2023
I think back to my nascent days here, reading stories and typing out my own, hoping for the day where I could call myself a veteran of the fandom. My stories would be remembered and I would stand alongside authors like Pen stroke and Aragon.
And I look where I am now and go, ‘well, you got one big hit. Good enough.’
Self-deprecation aside, I have been here a long time. And I’ve done a lot. Never as much as I want, but a lot. But you know what? It feels like it’s been a long time since I’ve done something fun. Remember when I used to do episode reviews with Sunset?
No.
Me neither! It’s been years! But life got in the way and I am so tired all the time. I’m so determined to be a ‘good’ author.
Now, I had plans to write out my thoughts on what it means to be a ‘good’ author and balancing that with having fun and my imposter syndrome and blah blah blah. But, I’m just gonna cut to the chase. I’ve been here forever, I’ve earned my stripes, y’all know what I can do when I’m serious. So tomorrow, I’m throwing my seriousness out the window.
I’m gonna do something fun and dumb! Some of you might hate it, some of you might die laughing! Let’s flip that coin!
Long Road to Friendship turns ten years old tomorrow! And boy, do I have a treat for you!
Can't wait!
Long road was my first ever fanfiction that I read. Can't believe it's 10 years old already.
I'm excited for whatever surprise you got. Bring it on
Ooh yay treats! And congrats on ten years n_n
Cheers!
Looking forward to it Albi.
In my experience, doing fun and dumb things are an essential part of enjoying things. Looking forward to seeing what you have planned.
let's fuckin go! :D
So excited! Thank you for your wonderful story!
Here's a thought. Why not start up episode reviews again? Maybe getting into the shared headspace with Sunset will encourage you to do more! :)
(Heh.) I should talk. I wrote exactly one short story the whole time I"ve been here. My problem? Writer's block and massive depression, which rolls around in cycles. Unemployment and kidney disease will do that to you. Not that I'm complaining, despite the knuckleball I was thrown. Dialysis keeps me alive, so there's that. And there's always the promise someday of a replacement kidney. Gotta have hope, you know?
OH YEEEEES!!! Hard to believe it'll be five years in March since I first found it through Wubcake's reading videos. That story single handedly reignited my interest in the fandom
Going on a train journey today so I'm taking the hardback book along. Had a six hour trip at the start of the month, and managed from the beginning to Chapter 16 in one sitting... Its my eleventh read through of the story at this point, or is it twelfth? Not sure anymore
:D glad you're still around!
Honestly yes, perhaps you made one big hit, but even that one big hit has touched a lot of people. Focusing on the wider impact is nice, but it's important to remember that there are people who have laughed and cried reading your book is worth it.
And mayhap you could have done better, hell I know I could have but as I grow older, I try to focus on the good and the bright that happened whilst in the fandom and now I'm like "was this worth my participation?"
I can definitely say that and I think you can too :)
To think my first major big written story was five years ago. We too feel time slip away with you.
You've done amazing things during your long tenure with us, Albi, and I hope you fare well as you continue to do so.
And thank you for the surprise gift for LRTF! I give you my early thanks!
This is going to prove MOST interesting.
Looking forward to it! Long Road to Friendship was the story that got me to start reading EQG fics and the narrative landscape around here wouldn't be the same without you.
You started with a Sunset redemption story that looks at the canon material and asks "what if her redemption was not done too quickly?".
Now, that story has a sequel in progress and you have a whole bunch of other tales under your belt!
Time flies, am I right?
You have more than one big hit! You're one of the best out there and all your stories are soothing and inspiring. Thank you for all you've done and all the wonderful life you gave these characters, especially Sunset. I look forward to whatever fun thing you have planned!
Ooh, I still love when people just cut loose and write something fun! That's why we all were drawn here in the first place, as much as this site has also seen some genuinely great stories.
We’re still here, and you can’t get rid of us
I remember waiting in 7th period in middle school on Thursdays for you to upload a new chapter of long road, now I'm a working adult with a kid on the way. Kudos to you for sticking it out for this long, man. It's been a long time.
Mate, let me tell you something. Right here. Right now. You are one of the best. Top 3 in my book. You are number two actually.