Post-Equinophobia · 5:00am Dec 17th, 2014
WARNING! DO NOT READ UNLES YOU'VE FINISHED EQUINOPHOBIA
I thank you all, you beautiful people!
Equinophobia has finally concluded and just three or more months later than I expected. Not that I’m complaining (mostly). It was a blast to write. Thanks for all your support this entire time! That said, I’m posting this blog as a sort of reflection and extended author’s notes for the entire story, as well as describing what’s coming up next. If you’re just here about sequel info and stuff, just skip to the bottom. Without further ado…
Let’s start from the beginning, eh? I’ve been reading fics since late January or so of this year and, although enjoying writing, never made a serious attempt to write until June, where I started writing a story I have yet to post (more on that later). As I’m sure some of you noticed some time back, I only made an account when I started writing. Now, I originally planned to start my writing on this site with the story I just mentioned, but I felt 1) it simply wasn’t polished enough at the moment and 2) I wanted to start with a bang. Of course, that means I need to find a bang.
I can’t remember what exactly gave me the idea for having an HiE story revolving around a protagonist with hippophobia, but it did come, and I knew I simply had to use the idea. Thus, Equinophobia was born. It originally was going to be called by the proper name of the phobia, but I chose to use the “equi-” prefix because readers are more familiar with it (Equestria, Equine, Draconequss). So, with a snappy description, I began writing.
Let me tell you, I was nervous to post just the first chapter and some of the earlier ones (the second one especially, due to not being sure how people would react to the wyvern incident). Then I logged on one day and I had literally over one hundred notifications. That was a tad bit surprising. So, I carried on.
Now, I’m just going to provide my general comments on the chapters, if I have any, starting with the first few chapters.
So… I have a confession. I can’t relate to Ryan. At all. The only phobias I have is a mellowed-out fear of heights and a fear of losing control, which I find hard to explain. Nothing actually tangible like spiders. So whenever I had to write moments where her fear comes into play, I would have to imagine how one of my friends would react to colorful, intelligent snakes (since they have a fear of snakes). When that didn’t work, I would look up how phobias work on the internet. I struggled to find the best course of actions at some points, but I think I did alright.
On a side note, a lot of you noticed how large I originally had the ponies be in comparison to humans (eye level). My thought process was originally that they would be the same size as real ones as to add to Ryan’s discomfort, but I had to backtrack later on. The reason for that would be for realizing how large a few characters would’ve been, such as Celestia. Though, I’m proud to say that’s my only mistake in the story I’ve had to directly backtrack on instead of working around it.
Moving on, the transformation of Fluttershy. This idea didn’t come to me until late (I’ve only had a rough outline of the story in my head that I change if something else works better), but it fit the story perfectly so I integrated it. It allowed Ryan to move forward without freaking out at Fluttershy constantly and created a certain drama scene.
You guys remember that language barrier? That was added for two reasons, the meta one being that it kept Fluttershy in the dark about the phobia long enough for some hijinks to ensue. The other reason was that it was part of a larger cloud, that being that I was purposefully breaking as many tropes and clichés in this story as I could. Uses a language barrier, female human protagonist in Equestria, no romance (in fact, doesn’t get along with ponies due to a fear), not self-insertion. Even on smaller details, like what attacking Ryan not being a Manticore or Timberwolf, was done purpose. I didn’t go too far in this thought process, as a lot of common elements like staying with Fluttershy are still present.
During the chapters leading up to Ryan snapping at Twilight and Fluttershy, a lot of people noticed how unlikeable Ryan was becoming. To be honest, that wasn’t on purpose. I wasn’t new to writing, but it was my first time getting real feedback, so I didn’t know how to take care of certain elements properly. I’ve learned from it since, and I’m glad it worked out.
That pretty much ends the first half of the story where the focus is on Ryan’s fear. If I regret one thing, it’s that I left the fear aspect behind too much. I know a lot of people started the story for that, and I almost feel like I abandoned it. Though, I was able to create some nice moments as a result, if there’s one good thing.
I’m not too keen on the chapters from Progress to after Celestia’s first meeting with Ryan. There’s too many mistakes, from foreshadowing Pinkie but then using her in a completely different way to Celestia coming off way too cold, more than I originally planned. In fact, she wasn’t supposed to be heartless at all, just saddened that she couldn’t help. The story would’ve followed a similar storyline, but I feel my mistake actually turned out for the best as it created a sort of subplot following Celestia and her own prejudice in parallel to Ryan’s.
Before that, though, was Ryan’s scene with Vinyl where she records music. This is one of the few scenes I had planned out completely from the start. In fact, it comes from another HiE I wrote about one chapter of back in February before cancelling due to turning into a self-insertion, which is something I didn’t want to write. I actually still have the draft of that chapter; maybe I’ll post it in a blog someday.
I don’t have much to say about the entire deal of Celestia getting over her prejudice other than it being a nice piece of parallelism. And yes, the student that died was Sunset Shimmer. Sue me.
Ah, Discord. Whose side is he on? I loved writing for this character as there were plenty humor opportunities from his wackiness and the dialogue just wrote itself. Most of my favorite moments come from his appearances (I think my favorite moment would be his first encounter with Ryan). Out of everyone, I feel like I can relate to him the most in his jolly, sometimes cynical sense of humor.
Also, Vinyl. The reason I chose to use her, funny enough, is entirely because of the recording scene I wanted to do. Even so, it was fun to develop a pretty blank character. She has to be my favorite character, even more than Discord, because of that carefree personality she’s rocking. Did anyone notice the catch phrase I had her say in almost every chapter she’s in?
To wrap up, here’s a few general things about the story. I don’t feel like the story ever goes “big.” Though not a bad thing, it keeps confined to the small space of Ryan’s circle of friends and a small portion of the Crystal Empire. Heck, she only met four out of the mane six, if you count Pinkie’s and Applejack’s brief encounters. I didn’t really plan that. It just worked like that, and I’m content with the result.
I think I did alright on this story, overall.
SEQUEL?
So, about a sequel… Yes, there will be one. I hinted at the end of the last chapter what it will be about as well as left a few loose ends here and there to be taken care of. I can already tell you that this story will be a bit more comedic and have about five times as much Lyra. Though, I haven’t planned it out enough to get started, nor do I want to get started on it yet. I need a break from Ryan! It’ll come sometime down the road after I get other stuff done.
Also, I have thought of at least two side stories to Equinophobia, both of them “what-if” scenarios; though, I can’t guarantee I’ll write them. The first is where Celestia take up Ryan’s “offer” on wiping her mind and turning her into a horse, then releases her into Ponyville to be friends with an uneasy Twilight and the others. The other story is simply where, instead of being dropped into the peaceful land of Equestria, Ryan lands in Fallout: Equestria. You figure out how that one goes.
As I said, none of these will be coming out for a while, as I have projects planned, the first of which is to finish up A Chromatic Scale, a comedy I’d recommend checking out.
Once that’s done, I’ll be shifting to writing two stories simultaneously, those being one long story and probably one-shots. The long story is the previously mentioned story I stared months ago which will be called Years (Set in Stone). The first one-shot will be called The Disgusting Romance of Blueblood and Flash Sentry. Look forward to them!
Well, that wraps up everything I gave to say. How’d I do for my first published story? I’d love all feedback.
Once again, I thank you all!
Until next time,
eLLen
Yeah! I got it on the featured list the day of the last chapter just as planned! *Evil laughter*
2658841 So evil
2658890 Disney Evil.
2658841 classic! Though we thought it had appeared there at least once before? If not it should have!
I really need to get around to reading fallout equestria.
2658841 ell.akamai.coub.com/get/bucket:22.31/p/coub/simple/cw_gif_big/bbf18908565/55dd4a97a4813016a69bc/1409453963_1386547293_fyz12s_rb21klc.gif
I really enjoyed reading this story, you showed a kind of originality that, sadly, many lack. I'll be waiting for the sequel.
Also...
I'm going to read the shit out of this. If Ryan already has problems with "normal"
. That said, it would also be nice to see her metting "good" horses of the wasteland.
ponieshorses, just imagine how she will react to raider horses and zombie horses... the possibilities are infiniteIt's been a wild ride and I loved it. Interesting how Celestia being so cold was a happy accident since Celestia's subplot was one of my favorite things in this story.
Wow, those two 'What-if' scenarios sound hilarious!
2659449
Actually, the one turning her into a permanent horse sounds rather dark to me... Hell,they both do.
Man I really liked this story. And I'm glad I could see it through.
2659168
and Yes you do. It's that good.
I kinda wanna kiss you, is that okay?
~OreoKookie
2660139
Dark, but I'm sure at least one funny thing will come of it.
2660388
static.comicvine.com/uploads/ignore_jpg_scale_super/11111/111119363/3771171-2429374263-fRVco.gif
Very.
2660412
I'd like to see it. I've never read any of the fallouts, though.
2660452
It VERY okay? I'm guessing Uranus is prepared for colonization then?
~OreoKookie
2660475
Most of them are pretty good. I still prefer the original though.
2660542
I've Pretty much avoided it since I'm not so keen on crossovers.