The King of Oneshots from Oneshot Island: One Hundred Oneshots, One Hundred Hits · 7:25am May 7th, 2014
Greetings fellow girl-horse enthusiasts.
Since some of my stories have experienced an unexpected groundswell, I have received a number of requests for sequels. I'm making this post as something to point to when asked for such a thing.
Getting this out of the way first: I only write oneshots.
You may be asking, "But why? Why only oneshots? They're so limiting when you're spending so much time creating personalities from whole cloth."
I write oneshots because I like them. I like the fact that there's no real pressure about them for me. I can get in, tell the story I want and play around with whatever themes or characters I want, and get out. I like that I can be fluid in my writing, and if I get an idea on page 47 that requires me to go back and change something on page 4, I can do that without telling people to go back and read the revised chapter. With oneshots, if I get hit by a bus, nobody is left wondering if Derpy ultimately chooses to give her heart to Cherilee or Fluttershy. I personally cannot stand when something I like and am following gets abandoned. I understand why it happens, but it doesn't make me feel any less cheated.
And besides, I never release anything until I feel I've completed some kind of story arc, so my oneshots are (mostly) the length of a short miniseries.
On the matter of sequels: It's a personal choice of mine to not do sequels, because I start a new story with the intention of trying new things. I like experimenting with new characters in new scenarios, or even new characters in old scenarios. I just like to keep moving forward, is all. Keeps me from getting bored and in the end gets you more stuff to read!
That said, I am considering a sequel to Lies and Lyres, not just because it got popular, but because I have an idea for a short continuation that might possibly not be terrible. I do not write things with the intention of ever continuing them. I will write a short treatment for myself when I get the chance (I'm writing several things at once and new projects may take priority), but if I am unsatisfied with it, it will go unreleased. Since I've made that news public, I will make a blog post announcing its cancellation or imminent arrival.
I do, however, have ideas to perhaps do a couple of collections, which will consist of short vignettes with shared themes or characters. If I do end up doing such collections, even if my endings may be somehow unsatisfying or open ended by choice, I will never write a cliffhanger.
I will never serve you something that leaves you hungrier than when you sat down, this I promise you.
Sorry this got a little long winded, and I hope you'll all join me for my next story.
So let me be clear on the definition of a "oneshot", is it a story with only one chapter that can have sequels or a story that can have multiple chapters but doesn't have sequels, or just one chapter without sequels?
I'm not a writer, but I can imagine the appeal of a "oneshot" as in a single-chapter story and the prospect of writing it one piece and being immeditely done with it, no more pressure. But I wouldn't dismiss sequels as in they wouldn't be expected by others and it would always leave the possibility open if the story felt like there's something more to tell. That's just my two cents.
2085056
Oneshots are just a complete story told all at once, in a single shot. You have a clear arc for the story and characters: beginning, middle, end. Essentially, it's just another word for a short story. You can totally do a series of oneshots if you wanted to, and the following chapters would be sequels.
Sorry if I didn't make myself clear on that. I think I'll clear up my meaning a little with a quick edit.
As long as you are happy with what you do that's all that really matters, best of luck on future writing projects.
2085071 That's great to hear. I agree with you on that oneshots do make for better quality of writing and plot, as a multiple-chapter story tends to convey a risk of producing diminishing returns as the story drags on, barring a number of talented writers who can keep a story going despite the longevity. You're a great writer yourself, as I don't think I've ever read stories that are as sober as yours, that have Spike as this intelligent guy or that 'Gater comedy as hilarious as you've written but you haven't done a multiple-chapter story so I don't know how you'd handle that, but if you feel like a longer story would be your weak point then by god don't you do it! At least you know where your strengths lie.
Yes! Lie and Lyre more!
I will be looking forward to whichever story you write next, as I am sure I will be entertained, but I would recommend finding an editor. In both stories I read, there were some small errors that could be cleaned right up with the help of a good editor.
Though . . . come to think of it, I'm not really sure why I didn't say that on the actual story.
I get that, it makes sense, at least you can't get burned by a sequel going south if there ain't one.
Seen plenty'a sequels try and try to pull the same magic that the first story pulled and it never lives up to expectations, but then again, all the stories you've written so far have been a great read, so you must have found the secret formula to the perfect fanfic somehow.
Signed,
--Pyro The Faithful Reader
Don't wanna be captain obvious... but I'm sure you will "sort things out".