So-called "writer's block" / obligatory progress update / thoughts on loose ends · 1:36am Nov 8th, 2013
So-called "writer's block"
You'd have to be pretty new to following me to not know that I can take a while to write at the best of times, and that there have been a number of periods that were not, strictly speaking, the best of times. It'd be a lot easier, though, to not realize that I've never (to my knowledge) used the phrase "writer's block."
Sure, I've said I've been "having difficulty" with this or that scene, and "not able to get in the mood" or "too distracted" happen often enough, but I feel that as soon as you call it "writer's block," you've given up. "Writer's block" is implied to be a condition you have, something that "just happens," and that encourages its use as an excuse.
Even if one doesn't use it as an excuse, though, it's still a rather defeatist way of looking at it. It's true that sometimes, what you need to do is take a break, go out and have experiences to fuel your creativity, but at the same time, disavowing responsibility and completely ignoring the issue isn't the way to go about doing that. You'll never have that brilliant epiphany that bars, bistros, bathrooms and beds are famous for if you're completely content with your lack of progress.
Besides, when you can't call it "writer's block," you have to examine it more to figure out what it really is, which can help you figure out what to do about it. Sometimes it's a break you need, but sometimes what you should really do is just power through it and write something—anything. Sometimes, you'll realize that the problem isn't in what to write next at all, but in an issue with what you've already written. Whatever the answer, you should pay attention to it and always, always try to understand yourself better.
Obligatory progress update
What does any of this mean for Sharing the Night? Nothing, really. Though for the obligatory update: Chapter 9 is 5,000* words and I have a fair plan for how 10 and 11 are going to go—which, I should note, are not the end quite yet. I know that even mentioning that Sharing the Night has an ending planned might shock some, especially for what has turned into such a "long term" project, but hey, the big revelations and payoffs have to come sometime, and Sharing the Night has never been the kind of story that could easily last through a myriad of adventures like, say, Rites of Ascension or Myths and Birthrights. The point was, though, that we're not quite there yet, so... yeah.
*: Obligatory reminder that the second half of chapters tend to go much faster than the first.
Thoughts on loose ends
Now that I mention it, though, I wonder how many loose ends there are that people are expecting resolution on. Well, not loose ends, exactly, but orphaned themes and lines of thought that didn't seem to lead anywhere. I know I'm probably overthinking it, but for instance, Twilight's lack of fear of the everfree forest mostly served for contrast when she actually was afraid, but that's more overshadowing the issue than really resolving it.
Similarly, in the same chapter, Twilight has some thoughts on trust vs. knowledge, realizing that she wants something different than Celestia. I've continued inserting little bits of her drifting away from Celestia, but I'm not sure if these things are creating enough tension in readers' minds to require a solid resolution or not. (Edit: That is, specifically, the trust vs. knowledge thing deserving more resolution, NOT Celestia as a whole. Obviously she's not going to just fade away.) More than that, I wonder even more about other seeds like them that I might not realize exist.
The comments I get are great in helping me find out which parts of the story people are paying attention to and require more attention, but I know I can't rely only on the vocal minority, let alone let them actually direct the way I take things. 
Good to know where Sharing the Night is at.
yay he's not dead
I have a huge smile on my face right now, both from the prospect of more StN and from the link
Your story was literally the first thing I checked up on after coming back to this site.
Sure, I might be deranged, depressed, and see all of time as a twisted map in my head, but that doesn't mean I can't enjoy stories!
I must go acquire the muffins now.
Personally, I've never used the phrase "writer's block" to describe the state where I don't know what to write next. I do enough prewriting that I always know what to write next --- for me, writer's block is what happens when "what's next" isn't as interesting as I thought it would be, and I have to keep rewriting until it doesn't suck anymore.
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Well that was part of the point. People call different things writer's block when they're actually different problems that have different solutions
I definitely noticed how Twilight was getting wrapped up in things and her new relationship with Luna and how her old "adoring student" relationship with Celestia was falling away. But it seems kind-of natural with all the big changes going on. I'd like to see more, like get a feel for what their relationship becomes over time as it evolves more and more, but I don't have any specific expectations beyond that.
What I like about this whole story is exploring all the changes inherent in becoming basically a demi-god personification of nature. All the weirdness of a mortal coming to grips with a total perspective shift. How does she cope, how do her friends cope, how does she get along with her new "sisters" and handle her responsibilities, etc.
(By the way... I haven't read those other stories you mention, but I really think if you made up some other subplots or new story arcs or...somesuch...you could keep the story going. I'd be entertained.
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