Brief Memoirs Hiatus · 8:36pm Apr 27th, 2015
Hello everyone!
If you read the authors note for chapter 55 you'll know that it is, more or less, the end of the originally planned Memoirs of a Royal Guard story. I want to say very clearly that this isn't the end of Memoirs even though I left it with that finality feel (you'll forgive me, I am in love with the original ending)!
For the story I still have a few sub-plots to tie up, cameos to do, and more than a few plots to tell. I view 55 as more of the end of the first book.
I've already put together ten chapters beyond this and will be working on that for the foreseeable future. I do want to take a brief hiatus on the story though to make sure they're well put together and make sense. I also prefer to have a 15-20 chapter buffer before I start releasing work. I estimate I'll miss 4 - 6 updates. Three of Hearts will fill this Wednesday's and next Monday's updates.
Speaking of Three of Hearts, it is also drawing to a close and I find myself sad to be leaving Azurite. I really enjoy writing her and I'm not quite ready to give her up yet. I'm working on another Azurite story that isn't getting much attention because I haven't hit the comfortable Memoir's buffer yet.
That is something I'll be working on off and on. I also have a completed draft of a "What if" Memoirs story that is fun but not necessarily canon to the main story.
Now I have a few questions for you all:
1. Would you prefer that Memoirs continues in the current story wrapper or would you like a fresh new one for the "second book?"
2. Why?
3. Is there anything in particular you'd like to see more of in book two?
4. Any other comments?
Thank you all for reading and being fans. I truly appreciate it! I've had a wonderful time writing for you and plan to do so for quite a while longer.
1) I say keep it where it is if it is still following Silent Knight's story. That is the drive and the motivation. :P
2) Because a hiatus is sensible upon reaching the conclusion of your first uber arc. :P And it's not like we're going places. The characters are enjoyable... there are new things to explore on the horizon. Why might even be the wrong question. It's more like why the hell not?
3) You doing what you're doing is what makes your writing enjoyable. I don't really have anything that I want to see more. I just want to keep reading. That's why it's in the Can't Put It Down wing of Wing's Library. :P
4) Science!
1. Keep it where it is, unless you absolutely truly want to continue the story in a second story. Sequels are always nice to continue from extremely long stories, but one long story is nice as well. EDIT: Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't mind seeing a sequel too.
2. I don't know to be honest, its really your decision if you want to stop here and move on.
3. Well, I wouldn't mind seeing more minor conflicts leading up to a major one. Perhaps another Griffon Empire conflict, or something involving changelings. Or, even some kind of new enemy rising up.
Not to mention, some more guard OC cameos/roles?
4. hi
Hmm...
1 & 2) I would go with making a separate sequel to the first book. The first had an appropriate ending and it would be more fitting to create a second story.
3) I would just keep doing what you're doing. The tone is fine as is. I would like to see more interactions between Silent Knight and his parents, as well as some other high ups in the Equestrian Army.
4) This story was a real pleasure to read. :3
1) Second Book
2) I like to have focus and a sense of completion. I think that the idea of writing an acceptable ending focuses the author to make his theme and character development a high priority, whereas the lack of a definite end makes the author more plot driven to keep the story moving at all costs. I find less connection and emotional attachment to the characters in those stories.
There are stories out there whose authors have taken the never-ending story path, and I have avoided those on principle.
3) Can't say, I haven't finished book one, as I have resolved to only read where Crystal Wishes' story; "Crystal's Wishes" has reached in "Memoirs". But more of the excellent cameo character "Defender Bronzewing" is certain to improve any story
4) Do you have real life military experience? Or just good references/advisors?
1 & 2) His life and adventures as an officer are definitely more appropriate for a second book, as opposed to a continuation of the first. Because this is a new stage in his life, it feels only right that it be covered seperately from what has come before.
3) More Guard shennanigans. Any group that operates at that level of excellence and stress has to blow off steam eventually, or they break. And it seems fitting that the "best of the best" would draw a few highly-skilled oddballs into the ranks, their eccentricities overlooked due to their skills and loyalty.
4) Good stuff so far, wouldn't mind a little more interweaving of the side and main stories.
I say keep it in the same book. The main reason why would be so you don' t have to feel obligated to reintroduce Night again. A new story, needs introductions. Also this will let your readers know more quickly when you start updating again. That is my opinion. Good luck.
Jeebus, you're a machine! I thought I had a cushion with four chapters!
As for your questions:
1+2) I can see benefits to both, but the con for keeping the 'books' together is that you'll amass a higher chapter count which might, unfortunately, intimidate viewers. I'll admit, I was one of them for a time, but I took a chance and am happier for it. Now, the con to making a separate fic for book two is that you may suffer from a loss of viewers that many sequels on this site deal with. It's a bit of a tradeoff. Personally, I'll stick around either way. I just binged 55 chapters in less than a week, dammit!
3) Hmm. Guard antics, Iridescence and Winterspear teasing Knight/making sure his date(s?) with Crystal go smooth, some more from Runic would always be welcome, and I really wanna see how Dot interacts with the household.
4) Uh, random thing. Did you get the name "Dot" from Animaniacs? If not, I'll chalk it up to me watching it for the past several days... I just finished my last undergrad project, I have all of the free time >.>
1+2) I believe a fresh wrapper would be appropriate (and appreciated) for the second book. The first book had a full, comfortable ending that felt right, and continuing the story in the same place would feel a little strange.
3) More of the other populations like the frost ponies, zebras, griffons, and maybe even changelings would be fun.
4) You are an awesome writer, and I will be sad to see Three of Hearts end.
1. Either way works for me, it's more important that it is what works for you.
2. See above.
3. More on the 'lost ponies' search (unless that is one of the side arcs your doing). You might also have Cobalt or Onyx start up a correspondence with Silent....
4. Can't wait to see where it all goes!
I'd like to see more of the lost ponies you had going on as well as the continuing romance
1 & 2. While it doesn't matter to me either way, I believe it would be better for the story and future readers to start a second installment given the natural break you have in the latest chapter.
:luna: Some of the peasantry get skittish around large stories.
3. I would like you to further delve into the mental anguish that Silent Knight feels upon learning that he is the object of desire to a group of mares who are fans of C. W. Step.
4. Give yourself a high-five for writing a story filled primarily with OCs that is quite good.
1/ Another story feel more appropriate, you write the chap 55 as SK becoming a new stallion, so I propose 'Memoirs of an Officer' as the new title (even if you probably have a buffer of 15 titles x))
2/ It's kinda like the *of the hive series. There is a clear cut in each story with various character evolution. And personaly seeing a 5x+ chapter story can be overwhelming sometime for new reader.
3/ Maybe SK traveling to different city for vacation (Yes like the crystal empire)
4/ Write a story focused on Dot !
I'm thinking your story could do well with your additional chapters you have planned. Perhaps, it be in this same story, but each chapter say "Book Two". However, you do what you want to do with your story. My only suggestion is if you feel you must put your story on hiatus, you could tag it to be on hiatus. That way it is less confusing for your readers.
It's a perfect ending. I'd start a new book.
"The Three Musketeers" ended on a officer's commission. Didn't stop Dumas from writing "The Man in the Iron Mask."
I'm really glad to hear that we'll be getting another Azurite story. She's so much fun.
I'm mixed on continuing the existing story versus starting a new one. New stories have the chance of making the featured box for an extended period of time, and that can be a great shot in the arm for pulling new readers in. Also, if you keep extending an existing story, it makes for an ever increasing barrier of entry for new folks compared to multiple shorter stories (even if the overall text length is the same). On the other hand, a new story also makes for a convenient jumping off spot for readers that are losing interest, not to mention the possibility of readers who miss the new story simply due to not being around when it is posted. There's a (formerly) popular series I follow that had thousands of readers and views on the first few stories but has fallen to dozens at most on the most recent story.
My advice would probably be a new story and a brief epilogue chapter added to the old with a link to the new in the final author's note (a completely textless chapter to promote a new story is a no-no according to site rules, but including one with some actual story content makes it okay). This way you get the best of both worlds, including a means of notifying readers who are absent for the release.
3023169
Anzel is the Brandon Sanderson of pony fanfiction.
1: write a sequel
2: because the ending is fitting, he's literally ending his career as a guard, and starting a new career. Plus, I want a new cover story.
3: I want to see how Silent and Crystal relationship goes from here, not to mention the whole lost pony culture thing.
4: 9 animals are being used in the military, how interesting is that.
3023795 Ah, I wish I knew that reference. It's probably hilarious and fitting :/
1/2 That was a hell of an ending for this chapter in SK's life. If I'm honest I would add an epilogue of the party celebration and maybe Silent spending time with Crystal during that to start a fresh. But I do believe doing a sequel would probably be better than just continuing Memoirs.
3. I would like to see how Silent's relationship with Crystal develops as well as Silent being sent off by Luna to recover the where abouts of the bat ponies and the mystery that surrounds them
4. Other than those things it has been an honour to read Memoirs and I hope to see you continue the awesome work you've done with Memoirs in the next instalment of this story
1. Yes.
2. I think because a series looks nicer than one enormous tome.
EDIT: It you EVER will consider a reboot of your series, SK's promotions are great places to end a story and start the next one. By that thinking you'll be at story 5 with the academy...
Sometimes big word count can scare away some mid-core readers.
It also sometimes eliminates problems with the classyfication of the masterpice.
[I forgot the last part but it focuses abaut orderly segragation]
3. Mayby you could switch the protagonist a bit often. I want to know how Runic Phial... hell, how Miley Hooves sees the world. We don't really know her categories and aside from her signature clumsyness we don't know her more private side. It'e eather mine subspictions she hides something or she is just a simple character like SK but as someone out-of-the-spotlights it shows more as we think abaut it?
4.Hmemememeemmm..... 4 words: Name. Drops. When. Next?
[Name Drop is actually a good name for an OC...]
1) I believe it would be a good idea to start a second book.
2) The reason is because in book 1, Silent Knight had just gotten out of the academy for the fist time to start his brand new life as an enlisted Royal Guard. Now that he has completed his second guard academy, he is going to be starting a new section of his life as a "freshman" again, since he is now an officer. Both books would basically start with Silent Knight fresh out of the academy.
3) There were three things that I still had questions about at the end of book 1. a) The missions that Silent Knight was going on for Princess Luna. b) Exemplar Ferral and the Temple Guard. c) The status of the Gryphon Kingdom. I hope that these topics will be covered in book 2 along with the rest of Silent Knight's new life.
4) You that you have a very good talent for writing and storytelling, and I love the original ideas that you had in this amazing story. I can't wait to see more. Thank you for sharing this with the world!
1) and 2) In my own personal opinion, i would like to see Memoirs continued. It's one of the best stories I've ever read and i can't bear the thought of it being ended, even if there is going to be a second book. So... nostalgia over, I would prefer if you kept adding to Memoirs, but hey! You don't have to listen to me! :P
3) I don't really know... but maybe this random thought that flew into my head...
Could we have the guards interact with some/a dragon(s)? That would be awesome...
4) I think the only things I can think of saying is simply this:
This is spectacular. I think this is the most emotionally attached I've been to a story since I read Eragon. I even think I should stop calling it a 'story' and refer to Memoirs as a book. I wish I could write as well are you, Anzel. Whatever you choose, keep it up. I'll keep readin'.
*Brohoof*
Thank you all very much for your feedback! It was insightful and helpful. This has been a difficult decision but ultimately the right thing to do felt like starting a separate sequel story. When I read that ending I see an ending. More importantly, as I've written past it, things feel similar but different. It is a whole new chapter in Silent Knight's life and I think separating that out is for the best.
I also want to thank those of you that came to check out the mirror and registered. That has been appreciated and we're enjoying having our own space. A little treat for you all: I put all of the ranks and rank insignia in one spot.
Beyond that I also want to thank those of you that immediately jumped into our Patreon. Truly appreciated! I hope you'll enjoy the little peak you get.
Once again, I hope you all know how much I appreciate you. The level of discussion and feedback that comes with writing this story has made it immensely interested in continuing on. I'm taking next week off (I finished the first 15 draft chapters and the first 3 of Azurite's new piece) and we're ready to launch on Monday. Don't worry, I'll remind you with a little epilogue in Memoirs. I think you'll like it.
See you then!
3035688 Thank you very much for the kind words. I know the feeling about nostalgia. The idea of switching to a "new story" at first seemed completely foreign. Honestly it was really frightening for me (it still is). It is just one of those things I think I have to do. The ending was too... well final.
3025525 I'll absolutely be answering all of those questions in the sequel. They've been on the books and I really do want to share them with you. I really appreciate you reading and commenting!
3025463 You're right about the word count. I doubt I'll break up Memoirs though. I couldn't do that ;) As far as name drops go they'll come where they make sense for the story. Four of the six already appear in the first 15 chapters of the new start.
3023983 Thank you =D I think we'll see more Crystal and Silent Knight in the near future!
3023856 Another vote for Crystal and Silent Knight =) Can do!
3023782 I can't give up Azurite. I love her ;) I've been putting effort into her new story since I'm all caught up on the second half of Memoirs.
3023463 That is a very valid point! I'm also super honored to even be loosely mentioned in the same company ;)
3023431 I seriously considered the book two route. I initially started writing it out as 2.1, 2.2 etc. Eventually it just seemed like if I was going to go to that much effort I may as well actually split it.
3023430 Hmm, a Dot story. That could be fun. I don't have anything on the books for that but I could.
3023404 You mean him figuring out he is actually the Knight in the book? He'd never believe it ;D
3023255 That will be done for sure.
3023243 I do have plans for one of those two ponies ;)
3023224 I think it is safe to say we might see a bit more from at least one or two of those groups!
3023169 What can I say, I'm a super planner. Dot came from a brainstorming session. She had to be different from her three sisters who all have long grandiose names. What is as far away from Iridescence as possible? Dot ;)
3023110 That is one of my concerns. Reintroducing every pony, explaining things, etc. I'm going to do the minimal amount of it. It is going to be a direct sequel instead of an off shoot. That may make it unpopular for newer readers but at least you'll all be in the know.
3023090 Thank you and you're right. They do have to cut loose and have fun.
3023085 I grew up in a military town and had a military career planned out. I chose to go to college for a commission instead of enlisting. Midway through I found out I have a heart defect that disqualified me from everything. Such is life. It didn't really stop me though. I took a military contracting job and traveled all over the US and Europe with the Army and Airforce doing my part where I could. My minor is also in History which focused almost solely on military history and affairs. I love it, its a part of me, and maybe that shows in the writing.
3022999 Very much appreciated. I like where Secrets has been going thus far. I'm keeping it about the same but things are also a little different. Silent Knight is different because he grew up so to speak.
3022928 I think I'll be addressing some of the topics you're looking for ;)
3022771 Very much appreciated sir!
3035866 Heh, I'm also super impatient. I got a few chapters done, thought about posting, mentioned it to a few friends who then started in on me, going "Why the hell haven't you posted yet?!"
Anyway.
Well, I've heard of stranger origins for names. Wasn't expecting this one to be so simplistic though
Time to sign up for this site. ;)
3035866 Okay.