Still alive! · 5:46am Dec 21st, 2012
Hey y'all!
Just wanted to write a quick note to let you know that I'm both still alive, and still working on "Excerpts." I think a bit of an explanation is in order:
Beyond the usual unexpected happenings in life (ie. unanticipated workplace stresses, new girlfriend, etc.) I realized as I sat down to write the next couple of chapters that I really needed to do some research before I would be able to do justice to Filthy's story (as I see it in my mind) and particularly some secondary characters who will be introduced. I have something I want to say in this story that I think is applicable in the human world in which we live, and if I'm to make the kind of impact I want to make, then how I represent the ideas in my story (especially those with which I don't agree) needs to be fair and realistic. So in the last months I've read through Atlas Shrugged, parts of the auto biography of Andrew Carnegie (including the Gospel of Wealth), interviewed several people who I know give significant sums of money to charities (and are community leaders to boot), and have even gotten my hooves on the unpublished biography of a multimillionaire who actually did make his fortune through retail.
Another reason this has been taking so long is that once season 3 synopses started coming out and I found out there was going to be another Apple Family episode, and specifically a "reunion" episode, I realized that my entire story here might be jossed. This was scary and disappointing. I delve deeply into the history of Ponyville in my story (dangerous, I know), and I'd very much like what I write to be compatible with canon. As the episode is airing on Saturday, I guess I'll have my definitive answer as to where things are going with it. But in any case, regardless of what new canon is introduced this week, I've now decided to go ahead and see my story through the way I want to see it through, canon-compatible or not.
Beyond this... well, what can I say? I'm an extremely slow reader and an even slower writer. Writing is hard, and I typically need large blocks of time free of distractions in which to do it effectively. As interrupted as our lives are in this crazy information age, I've had a hard time actually making such blocks of time. C'est la vie!
As a final note, in a couple weeks I shall be leaving the country for about three weeks. While on this trip, I expect there to be a significant amount of downtime in which I will be able to work on the next couple of chapters. Wish me luck!
For those still sticking with me on this, thanks for your patience! 
SR
I am extremely happy to hear the story wasn't abandoned.
Although my private correspondence with you has already given me fairly recent assurance that you are not dead, it hasn't focused on this story specifically. Good to hear!
And, yes, this episode has the slim potential to annihilate a huge swath of fan stuff.
Yay! It didn't get jossed! Plus, now I have a whole lot more Apple family to make subtle and not-so-subtle references about. Muahahaha!
mm...is this still holding true?
1243044 Yep, though the next couple chapters are coming out rather slowly. I know what needs to be said, it's a matter of making time in a chaotic "real life" and also trusting myself not to totally screw up the next chapter.
1245771
yay! i'm so glad :D