"First Snow" and a recommendation for Chrysalis fans... · 6:47pm Apr 8th, 2013
"First Snow" has been up for a few days now. I always find DT and Filthy Rich fun to write, which is the main reason I decided to write the story in the first place. It was also fun to take DT out of the situations she is usually used in, to show her as a bit more ordinary filly (don't let her know I called her ordinary), going shopping with her dad in a CMC-free environment. Has not gotten too many views yet, but it has gotten some wonderful comments, so yay for quality fans. Not that I would object to quantity 
Hopefully it will garner more attention over time by other means, like this blog post, wee!
And for the fans of Chrysalis, might I recommend Untitled by MagerBlutooth? A chapter for the Diamond Cutter Anthology, featuring the queen dealing with spies. Good story, one I think could potentially have wound up featured if released by itself, but due to being in a DT anthology, overlooked by most of her fans. In any case, it deserves more than the forty views it currently has. Give it a whirl. And as long as you are there, read the rest of the anthology too ;)
Now, back to work on chapter 11 of P&P&S
Pony of the Mud, I just got an idea. Why don't we make the next prompt for The Diamond Cutter Anthology about Diamond's relations with her parents.
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Passed it on to Mager.
Considering I just wrote almost 8k on that, not sure what I'd have in me, but no doubt something would pop once I started to complain about not having any ideas
995918 You want ideas, I have plenty of them. I've had this one idea that hadn't put much thought into until I read First Snow. The story actually deals with Filthy Rich and Silver Spoon.
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Well, if Mager picks it, you just might have to write it ;) Knowing me, I'll come up with something when the time comes. If not, I might well hit you up.
Don't want to get my mind focused on anything else right now though. Just figured out how to make a scene that had been giving me trouble work for chapter 11 of P&P&S, so really want to stay focused on that right now. Approaching a month since I've updated it.
995954 Well the story I'm working on probably won't be for the prompts, it'll most likely be a stand alone story.
Also how do you deal with writers block, just curious. A little while ago I finally got back into writing again, and I was writing a story about Diamond Tiara and Trixie. I wrote over 10,000 words, and I was about halfway finished with the story. I was writing practically everyday, and then out of no where, it was like I could no longer work on it. I find it to be quite... Irritating.
Well, for me, I've found I generally have two types of writer's block:
1. Just not in the right mood.
For this, either have to wait it out, do something to put me in the right mood, or work on something that does fit the mood. "One Thousand Years Ago" and "With Apologies to the Moon" are examples of that. After the serious investment I put into ToT: Scrooged, a couple of silly one shots that I did not emotionally invest nearly as much into were a great way to unwind, to leave my mind free of clutter, ready to work on stuff again. Reading stories until you get inspired and such also works.
Burnout can be of this type. That you pretty much have to wait out. When you're ready to write again, you'll know.
2. There's something wrong with what I plan to write or have written.
I know it, either consciously or subconsciously, and because of that, the words just won't come. To get around it, I need the right solution to the problem. Sometimes, it is just a matter of actively thinking about the story, say while taking a walk or a shower. Other times (especially when I don't even know what the problem is), letting the subconscious work on it is best. Distract it with other things, preferably ones that encourage creativity. Writing a story you don't have to think that much about (like a short story for a prompt) can work great here. And sooner or later, the solution will hit you.
For this type, I can sometimes skip to another part of the chapter/story. The advantage of having a story outline. Sometimes, when I'm writing for that later part, it will give me an idea that then provides the solution I've been needing for earlier in the story.
Also, if the solution calls for reworking or scrapping a bunch of stuff, well, sometimes that is what has to be done. I scrapped my half-written chapter 8 and reworked it into 8, 9, and 10.
For both types though, don't overlook the value of reading other people's stories and of writing short one-shots. The former can be great at inspiring you to write, while the latter get you writing again. You don't have to care much about what you write (and I advise just writing them for fun, don't care beyond that), and being short, don't eat up tons of time. Besides, not like the main story is going to get written anyway, so you might as well write something.
Beyond that, when you do have momentum, do your best to keep it. Don't worry about perfection. The first draft is just that. Get the thoughts down, come back and polish it later. Some of my stories/chapters have grown by 25% or more between the first and second pass, as I fix things up and flesh things out. If I had tried to write it all on the first pass, they'd have taken me even longer than they do
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Oh, and to add another point to the #2 type: others can help.
Talking to people can help you think your way through a problem, even if they don't make a single suggestion. And a lot of times they can make suggestions. They might help you pinpoint what the problem is or come up with a solution.