Growing Pains is Cancelled · 10:23pm May 2nd, 2015
At the behest of a reader, I've decided to give you lot some peace of mind.
Growing Pains is officially cancelled, and I do not foresee myself going back to it anytime soon.
What began as a simple test of my writing skills quickly blew up into something truly impressive, at least for me. I didn't think I had all of that in me, and I do yearn to go back to it to tie up the plot points. However, going through the earlier chapters to now, I see far too many problems. My writing style and sense of plot direction has improved, and looking at all the loose threads, technical errors, and narmtastic situations I left behind makes my head hurt.
At this point I don't have the interest or the motivation to commit to a total rewrite and then keep updating. Real life is a bit of a cunt sometimes and it's keeping me from really committing to any hobbies.
However, I still have an interest in writing, but until I get more free time I'm going to focus on stories that are a little more low speed. Generally speaking, this means slice of life, romance, and sexual situations, but I may attempt a more small-scale adventure in the future.
Until then, thank you for sticking around this long. Growing Pains was a big event for me, and the support you gave it really lifted my spirits, but this is the final nail in the coffin for now.
~ Peroth.
NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
/cry
Any chance we could get a summary or brief outline as to how it would have ended? Would Dash ever get her flight back? I'm still imagining the scene of six simultaneous rainbooms.
Well, not much of a surprise after all this time, but it is nice to have a definitive statement on it. Growing Pains was, IIRC, the first Epic-Adventure-type story of MLP fanfiction I read and it was a great ride, so thanks for that.
Given that you do have somewhat of an interest in tying up lose ends: Any chance we might see a blog post about some of the things you had planned for the story, like what was in the end going on with Twilight, what the hell is that damn clown pony, or other major plot points? I found myself going back to speculating about it from time to time, so getting some info on that would be nice.
W-wha... but..
Well it was a pleasure to have read it, a really nice story, when I saw the title I thought it was an update on the story but... yeah.
And good luck to you with any possible stories in the future, will make sure to read those too
Well, since GP is my number one favourite story on the entire site... it's a sad day today.
But hey, if you feel you wouldn't be able to reasonably continue, who am I to complain. Plus, the closure is a good thing after so long.
And it's funny, when you say it's a final nail "for now". Nice open ending.
Good luck in real life and have all the fun you could ever want!
P.S. This was written in the middle of the night, past midnight. If it makes no sense, that's probably the reason.
well, i'm glad that we at least have some closure now. thank you for responding to my message about this situation. i'm just sad that it's being cancelled. although i did notice a 'for now' at the end there. let us hope that it's a sign of good things to come.
and for what it's worth, i thought your writing was excellent. i didn't see any of the things you claimed, outside of the usual typos and what-not. but if it really did seem that bad to you, then i guess there's nothing i can say that will change your mind. good luck with your RL and future writings!
Like others have asked for, a great big optional spoiler would be most welcome. The way you put things, I doubt you would be willing to let someone else pick up where you left off so a spoiler would be the best bit of closure that I can think of getting within the next few years.
well at least we know now, but now i wanna know what was going to happen. Will "Arranged Disaster" be meeting the same fate?
Rocks fall and they all die.
Well gee, thanks... I'll go cross out another one.
Nice to be sure it's done, I guess.
Hope you write something else, or continue Arranged Disaster.
This makes me feel sad. I understand the reason behind it, but ouch; this was the standard I used to compare other world-building stories.
This makes me very sad, but at least it's a definitive answer, so thank you for that. This was one of the first stories I ever read on this site and is still one of my favorite, even today, closing in on 1000 stories later.
Damn. There aren't quite enough stories out there that do for me what Growing Pains did. Of course, I imagine hearing people talk about how much they're going to miss something you want to move on from probably doesn't feel all that great. Still, though. It's going to be a tough hole to fill.
Well, it sucks that it won't be finished, but I completely understand your reasons. It is nice to have a definitive answer on whether or not it was going to continue.
— I tried to find a funny picture of a vampire to put here as the punch line, but all I could find was stuff about Twilight (the movies, not the pony). This made me sad, but not as sad as the Ultimate Final For-Real Cancellation of one of the first fics I'd read in this fandom. But at least an official cancellation is better than an official disappear-forever-without-saying-anything.
Looking at it it's a massive story, and one of my favourites.
It's sad to see it go but as has been said, better to know than not.
3038307 I had a lot planned for the rest of the fic, it'd be a whole blog post in and of itself.
Thank you for the update... even though it is a really sad update. And thank you for the portion of a wonderful fiction that you did give us. I still come back and reread growing pains occasionally and enjoy it greatly... and will probably do so again now that it has been brought back to my attention again. I look forward to reading whatever you come up with yet, and will hold out hope for an eventual revival. In the mean time, I look forward to whatever you do write and am glad to hear from you.
F
I...I can't believe it. This was the first fanfiction I ever read after joining the fandom and it always held a special place in my heart for that reason. I held on for so long, waiting patiently for 2 years for an update and now we have an update but it's a very sad piece of news.
I will echo djthomp and ask if we could have a summary or plot outline for how the remainder of the story would have gone even if it takes a whole blog post of its own this story, this epic adventure, deserves nothing less.
And I'm going to cling to this like a drowning man hanging onto a life raft. The same thing I have with a few authors I follow. I will always hold out hope, even if it takes years.
Well, I can't say I'm not sad, but I understand where you're coming from. I look forward to whatever else you put out.
Least you told us.
Granted, most could kinda see that already, but...
~Skeeter The Lurker
:( :(
3038762 i would also like to read that, loved the story i faved it when you where around chapter 5 or 6, so it would be amaing to at least see where it was going to end at, it is sad to see it die like that, but at the same time i ddnt saw you ending it anytime soon, all the story had to offer would at least taken another 30 or so chapters of at least 10k words, still it was an amazing read.
I respect your decision, though it is the first story I read that got me into fan fiction and it hurts to know you are done with it. I also understand how big it as, and I know that for its size it would have been a pain to fix some of the loos ends...
thank you for finally putting it to rest... it will always have a place in my heart.
Well jeez. I've already accepted that you're dead... this changes things
. But seriously, I'm glad that's not the case. Sucks that it had to end that way too, Growing Pains has been one of my favorite world-building stories since I've started on this site. One of the first good stories I came across too, if I remember correctly. But... what's that? The thing I see in the distance?
Is that...?
Is that a glimmer of hope I see!?
I think it is!
...but just in case, would you give us another blog post detailing what would have happened in the rest of the story?
Please?
I'll always remember this story as one of the strangest narative experiences I've ever read. In the best possible way, of course.
I'll also remember it for having a title that became progressively less and less relevant to the context of the plot the more it continued...
The important thing is that I'll remember it.
Whelp, it was a long time coming. Just want to say that this remains my all time favourite fic on the site, and the fic that got me into fanfiction in general. You are damn good at worldbuilding.
Press F to pay respects.
Welp, I'm super bummed out. Still, I second what others have said; I'd like to at least get a summary of what was going to happen, at least for some closure.
I kinda figured, its a shame though. It's Obviously one of the best fics on the site.
Oh well, as you said your writing has improved so if you do come back to writing on this site we are no doubt in for a treat.
Regardless I have to say thank you for writing it. Thank you for letting me experience it.
i0.kym-cdn.com/entries/icons/original/000/013/974/clap.gif
3038358
I think the fact that it hasn't been updated in well over 2 years answers that question for us... as sad as that statement makes me...
3040219 just wish he would give us closure on that as well instead of taunting us with the incomplete label a hiatus label would at least be bearable
Well this is depressing...
The truth is, Your story caught the admiration of so many readers because it was GREAT!!! So your writing style changed and improved over time... We still accepted the older chapters for what they were, AMAZING! We are not offended if they don't carry the same skill level as later work. It just means you get better with time!
I can never stress this enough... Authors are their own worst critics. The fact that you keep looking backwards is the reason you never moved forwards. It's okay to have some early imperfections. It's fanfic. We'd forgive you. As a reader... I don't care about re-writes... I always care about the next chapter. Authors care about re-writes. so much so, that time and time again, it plagues them into stalling.
I think if you'd tell yourself... "I will not worry about the past work, and simply move forward", that you could! What I'm saying... Is DON'T commit to a total re-write! Commit to IGNORING that feeling. Commit to ONLY looking forward! That's the one thing you could do that would make me happier than anything else! No one wants to trudge over reworking what's already done! Creativity needs freshness! I just wish you could let go of your worry over the old chapters, and look forward to what you could still create!
I just wish we could see the completion of this story...
... 
*sobs*
Even if nothing can be done to change your stance on this... Any chance of getting a breakdown of where you would have headed with it, or even consider offering it (and possibly the before mentioned outline of story intent) to another author with the will to try to do you justice? While It wouldn't be the same without you, I'd accept story adoption as a pittance... if any authors consider themselves worthy of rising up to the occasion...
3038762
I still can't give up on wanting to see this stuff done. At this point I don't care a ton about rewrites for what's already written. I just miss the wonder and scope of it all. No other story has taken me places you have. So I still hope to see it done one day. I certainly don't hold it to a professional standard. Even if you posted detailed synopses for any interested writers to do for exercise then I think it would be fun. Sorry life gets so prickly as to stop you from doing what interests you.
I remember when I found this on Fanfiction.net by chance. Good times...
This is unacceptably depressing. I've always checked nearly every day since the third chapter came out, to see if it updated.
Sad to hear, but you're the author. If you feel it's best to set the story aside for now, then it probably is.
For what it's worth, I just want to say that I consider Growing Pains one of my favorite stories, not just of MLP. It was probably the first adventure-scale I read of the show, and convinced me that there was so much potential in this setting. From Spike standing in front of a closed door, to the introduction of some fascinating OCs (especially Cloppin, that thing is a terror), I always enjoy pulling up the first chapter and starting again. I certainly can't write anything this good! If it's not too much trouble, it would be nice to read a summary of what would have happened.
Thank you for sharing your writing with us up to this point, and best of luck with your future!
3038762
And what of "Arranged Disaster"? That one hasn't updated in a coon's age, either.
...but yeah, I'm with everypony else, with Darth Vader screams of "Do not want!" and other such things. I still say to not worry about how your early chapters compare with your current style. With long running stories like this, subtle and not-so-subtle changes are inevitable. Don't worry about rewrites unless earlier chapters contradict where you actually want or need the plot to go. As I believe I have mentioned to you before, rewriting a long work such as this runs the risk of the author's style and skill to change enough that by the time they are back to where they were, they are compelled to do another rewrite. Take it from somepony who finally gave up on a webcomic after it's fourth reboot: Fans who have stuck with you from the beginning want to see the story reach it's natural conclusion. Rewrites and reboots, while they have their place, are more likely to loose you old readers than gain you new ones.
...which is all a moot point, since the story has been axed outright, which is sad. It just seems that you are throwing the proverbial baby out with the bathwater here. If you truly are insistent on leaving Growing Pains by the wayside, then take my advice to heart for future projects: As long as there isn't a huge plothole or contradicting facts, then save worrying about rewrites until AFTER the story has a Completed tag.
That's a disappointment to be sure, but I'd also be another interested in a blog post about what might have been.
On a semi-related note, what about Arranged Disaster? Are there any plans to go back to that anytime soon, especially since, if I understand correctly, it was a collaboration?
Growing Pain was an inspiration and a testimony of how much we can accomplish over time, even cancelled will it inspire others. As for now do I hold onto the belief that this is for the best, for better for it to become a martyr than a forgotten masterpiece. By this is the seekage of the story become apparent to be blessed in design, as shall it be.
Well, real life is really hard sometimes. I just can't even think about writing anymore, glad you can still do it. Thanks for the story, it was a blast, really, one of the best I've read ever, even if unfinished. If you ever give us a summary of how it was going to go, it would be very much appreciated.
Peroth E.,
I honestly do not know what to think. I'm not upset to finally notice this post and read it's contents, I'm just upset that you feel that you had to take this course of action. After so long without an update to return and see my beginning has been 'Canceled' is a disappointment. Though many see glimmers of hope in your blog post, I will stand with them and cheer for a closing.
Be proud of what you have done with this glorious piece of art and use it as an inspiration for your future endeavors and keep in mind that you have what it takes to convert someone to a brony. I am not saying this to "Suck Up", I'm merely voicing a fact due to the fact that I'm a self-proclaimed brutal reader. I wish you luck and I look forward to the future work you push out.
Okamiluver
of the Satoru Blue Tribe .
Well, it was somewhat expected and the long time before this softened the blow. It's still somewhat sad.
This was one of the first fanfics ever that I read, and still holds a dear place in my heart. Among the ponyfics I've read it's even one of my favorites. While I agree that there were some bad places, overall the feel of the adventure and the relationships (especially the TwiDash+Fluttershy stuff[The bar chapter is still hilarious]) just gets to me.
Also, I liked the old magic/blessing mechanics.
Also, Laputa. Just... Laputa. The rise and arrival of it in Canterlot is propably the part I read the most.
All in all, I just want to express how much I liked GP and thank you for writing as much of it as you did.
Thank you
P.S. I'd be all for getting that blogpost with how it was supposed to go.
Someday it'll return