Sequels? Future works? · 12:56am May 7th, 2013
Since I've hit some sort of milestone in finishing up Evening Flames, I figure I should get a few announcements off my chest that I've been waiting for for a long time.
First, and probably the easiest to announce: Summer Days has a sequel, Evening Flames. Which, I sincerely hope this isn't news for many people; however, one person didn't know about it, so I figured I'd take a little time to restate that.
Next, and slightly harder to announce: I don't know what, if anything, I'm going to write after I'm done with Evening Flames.
Now, I've said this maybe four or five times over the past few years I've spent writing my Gilda stuff, but that was always with an understanding in my mind of, "Oh, that's... a few months away, I'll answer that when I get there." Then, a few months turned into "a rewrite," the rewrite turned (indirectly) into the clusterfuck that my life became between August and November of 2012, and that turned into, "one last push, then fuck the stylistic weaknesses in here."
So, now that I'm here, staring down the possibility of being done with that final push, I figured it's time to ask myself some of the hard questions about myself and my writing. And all I can come up with, in terms of committing to a continuation or sequel, is that I'm not committing to anything. Less pressure might make it easier for me to do something, if I decide to do it.
It's a non-answer, yes. But seeing how I've spent the last few years under steady pressure of "when's the next chapter?" I think it'll be for my best interest to work on anything of substantial length from the shadows, and only begin releasing once it's already finished. Which, as much as I dislike how that will appear to my readers, that's how it's done in a lot of industries—something gets made, and maybe some previews get released once they're at that point, but in general, production isn't as open as I've made my process out to be.
All I can say for certain, at this point, is that when Evening Flames is done, I'm probably going to take a good long break from writing anything other than online correspondence.
I'll end on the note that I might have some smaller stories in the works (and will quite possibly be opening up commissions), and I might start up some sort of a writer's workshop again, so I'm not going anywhere for now. I'd just like to tell everyone this news now, so that any negative edge this news has might wear off before Evening Flames: Epilogue is posted.
I think you should write a believable crack shipfic. Something like SombraXFluttershy, Starswirl the bearded X Rainbow Dash, or Spike X Diamond Tiara. Or just do anything with Starswirl the bearded.
Well, I'm sad to see you still haven't considered what you're going to do after you finished the story you've been working on for two years. I would be upset, but I tried my hand and writing updating ponyfics and that went horribly due to many, many circumstances. So, I totally undertsnad you not wanting to get involved.
However, I bet you don't want to stop writing, even with your Farrington continuity. If I were you (which I am not), if I were to continue the story, I would make perhaps a collection of vignettes I would update whenever in short-story-sized chapters, writing new bits whenever inspirations strikes me. For example, Gilda celebrating her 3rd year anniversary on the guard, recalling important developments between EF and then and letting the changed locales and character interactions show the progress.
Well, that's my piece. What prices are those commissions, again?
Don't sweat it dude. If your hobby is giving stress instead of relieving it then you need to change the pace. Post whenever, we'll hope you do at all and we'll hope the fandom doesn't die. But we'll certainly read.
I'd suggest writing something similar to your Gilda trilogy. That way you'll get new readers for that who then might checkout Heart of Gold, Feathers of Steel. But, hey, it's up to you.
A quick check showed no links in Summer Days to the sequel. (To clarify, there are no hyper-links.) Putting a link at the end of the last chapter, or even in the story's description, would help you with that problem. Also, if you want to be extra-sure, I think you can send out a blog notification to everyone who has a favorite on Summer Days.
Well, you gotta do what you gotta do.
But no matter what eventually happens, there will always be a place in my heart for Mininack.
Will you still be doing blog posts? If you want to take a brake and/or stay silent from writing I say you deserve it from all the work you've don on these fics but I would like to know you are still around every once and a while.
also thanks for the great stories
if it were me, oneshots of the minor members of the farington crew's pasts and futures might be fun, and being one shots there's no 'next chapter' issue. but it's up to you.
Aye, everyone needs a break after completing a large project.
However, forgive me for hoping you continue writing. I'll admit I would be especially pleased if you write more Gilda and Farrington (as in same universe as that story).
As for only publishing if story is complete... well, I've got mixed sentiments on that matter (as a writer).
On one side, you will have little to no pressure to writing the story. You can write it at your own leisurely pace and not have anyone press on you for it.
On the other, if no one knows it exists, then unless you're really invested in writing said story, you may not be so motivated to continue writing it after a while, and it's easier to stop writing it because you won't anger anyone doing that.
Ultimately it's your choice, but what I personally would do is ensure I have written a large portion of the story already before posting it, not necessarily have it to the point of completion. Granted... that's not quite what I've done with my current story...
Don't burn yourself out of writing. I look forward to the end of Evening Flames and will be following your work form here on out.
Take your break enjoy every minute of it. Write a side story in the same universe or have a dalek invade canterlot, what ever floats your boat.
Keep strong and carry on.
Weird, this didn't appear in my feed. Anyway, it's good to see that you're gonna take a well earned break, after this project.
Oh, I'm one of those guilty of doing that. Sorry man. Either way whatever you do, or don't, I'm pretty sure your readers will be fine with it.
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Oh, please don't blame yourself. I've always had issues with dealing with stress and pressure, especially in social situations. The main problem I've got is dealing with the pressure, not that the pressure is there.
See, I should feel happy that people like this story and have demand. But in reality, I just feel bad that I can't keep up with the immediacy of said demand.
See the difference?
Take a break, recharge, I'm sure your fans will be here waiting for whatever you come up with next.