The 1,000 Followers Massive Thank You Blog Post · 7:32pm Jan 17th, 2016
When I sit and think back on what I did to get to this place, it's hard to believe how much I've changed from the very beginning.
2013
In May of 2013, I was trying to recover from clinical depression and as a side comment, my therapist suggested I try writing as a means of therapy. I began writing short stories for Fluttershy threads on /mlp/ and eventually found a home in Flutterrape. Those same stories that I just released a few days ago that pushed me into this achievement. I can't deny I hoped that my roots would be what finally pushed me into 1k followers.
While I was in FR, I wrote my first few multiparts. A lot of shorts. And then slowly began to create things like My Special Somepony. Office Love. Whatcha Say. And many, many other stories that will end up going into 'Fluttershy Wants In Your Pants' on another day a different day.
After I became somewhat of a fixture in the Flutterrape threads, I began to meet some of the writers in the group and make new friends. /mlp/ gave me friends in a time in my life when I needed friends the most. I've been there ever since. Being friendly to new writers. Helping out old writers, and overall, being a friend.
Then, I began to notice that when I accidentally kept my name on when posting in other threads, my name was being recognized. People knew who I was from my stories. Other threads wanted me to write for them. I dabbled around everywhere, but found a second home in Anon in Equestria. The sister thread to FR. Once again, I met fantastic people and great friends who were all welcoming and very supportive of my writing. They helped me get better.
2014
So, I just kept making friends. It was almost a year later when I was told I didn't need anti-depressants anymore and even earlier than that when my therapist said I didn't need to see her anymore. I was smiling. I was happy. Life was good.
And, as I continued down the rabbit hole, it stayed that way. I opened the Fimfiction account. I began posting my first few stories and was generally surprised that they had such a widespread appeal. I think... maybe 5 of my total 28 stories have not been featured. That's not meant to be bragging. Just thinking out loud. I never had a goal to be featured. I never had a goal to get a ton of followers. The goal of my Fimfiction account was to practice converting to prose and writing in a prose format.
2015
So, then. the pattern continued. Write some stuff. Post some stuff. Freak out that people like said stuff. Then continue for a whole year. Around this point I began going to conventions and having completely unforgettable experiences with friends that I had only previously met through the internet. I met people from 4chan. From Fimfiction. I met fans I've never even heard of before, and I met people that I generally considered legends. I met people who worked on the show. Musicians, Artists. Fantastic people. Memories I will always cherish.
2016
So, now with a near unheard of 70k reads on my greentext pastebin, 1k followers on Fimfiction, 316k story reads on Fimfiction. I can't run away from the fact anymore. People have some idea of who I am. I've gone to three cons. One of which I had a writing panel at. I've met more readers than I've been able to count. And I realize I've made some sort of name for myself.
I have to sit back and wonder to myself what it was that got me here. I'd have to point to one little thing. Trying to be everyone's friend. Maybe it comes from a side effect of being clinically depressed, but I just want to make people happy. I want to help people be the best they can be. Make people smile. I suppose that's why I write. I want to make the world a little bit of a happier place. A little laugh here, A little silly here, A little random there. And a good cry to let all the bad feelings out, and let you know that it's okay.
I write these stories because I enjoy them. These are the stories I'd like to read. These are the lessons I want to teach. However, I write them for you guys. I write them for you to enjoy. The little pats on the head encourage me to keep going.
I'm still improving. I still make mistakes. Nothing I write is perfect. Nothing I ever write will probably ever be perfect in my eyes, but that's why I keep going. One day I might be able to write one of those "legendary stories" people always talk about, and when I do? I'll keep going.
So, is this the point that I become a massive jerk and become drunk on horse fame? The answer is no. At least, I sure as hell hope not.
The plan is to keep doing what I've been doing for almost three years. Writing for fun. Writing what I want to write, when I want to write it. Never asking money for it. And wanting to be all of your friend. I'm here for you guys.
Time for just a few thank yous. In no particular order.
Venates - I bet you didn't expect to be first on the thank you list, huh? This guy. People. Give this guy a chance. This guy did for me. This guy encouraged me to be more open about who I am. He was the first person in my 'real life' that I opened up about writing to. Before I joined a single skype chat ever, Venates was there for me. I know I could have probably just said all of this in person... but I kinda feel like I needed to say this here. I'm never good at feelsy talk, and if I tried to tell you in person, I'd clam up and push on to the next game of Smash, the next match of League, or the next episode of FireFly. Thank you. I couldn't have gotten here without you.
Nebulus - The first person to greet me into FR. Nebulus is an amazing comedy writer in ways that I can only aspire to be. When we talk in Skype, you've always managed to make me smile. Especially when I needed it most. I believe I opened up to you about my depression first. With a certain someone else coming up next following within the hour. You've instilled into me the desire to always be just a little bit better than the last story. I don't think my work would be quite the same right now if it wasn't for your constant feedback, editing, proofing, and friendship. I could keep going on and on about all the things you forced into me. Including my mess of apostrophes. Which I still mess up. But I guess what I'm trying to say is... Thanks Nebby. For being such an awesome friend.
Bolding Ramasama - I don't hate you. I never have. Never will. You welcomed me to AiE. To Fimfiction. To my branching out. You pretty much told me exactly how to market myself. You told me exactly what I had to do. "Keep writing, and be yourself." And since then, we've gone to cons together. Played Smash. Enjoyed hours in call that I couldn't possibly count. Play DnD. Trolled the hell out of Tetsuo. Talked till 4am in the hotel room with a bottle of whiskey. You're the best, man.
anonpencil - There! I spelled your name right! Does that work?! Hahaha. If I'm thanking people that have made a profound effect as me as a writer, made me smile, made me a better person, or even list of most supportive friends: It would be hard not to put the person who revived "Office Love When" at the top of every single list. It's almost a crime that I put pencil so low as it is. But, when Venates and I went to Babscon for the first time, Pencil was kind enough to take these two random guys from out of state and show them a good time around Con. Pencil still pushes me to be an even better writer, never stop writing, and usually ends up pointing out to me how terrible I am at tense changes. It's hard to believe it's been less than a year since I've met pencil, but I can't imagine a better, funnier, more supportive friend.
Swift_M0nkey - You. You loveable asshole. We never finished Borderlands 2. Of course, I'm joking. I gotta tip my hat to Swift as well as Violet while I'm here. This dynamic duo provided a constant challenge to me in the FR threads. Pushing me to write faster, get more content out the door. Write even better and never stop having fun. We played countless games together while on skype and had plenty of overnight skype calls just talking about life. I'll never forget those moments, and I cherish them.
GetMeOuttaHere - You nerd. You go and retire just as I'm about to start on Fimfiction. You create some of the greatest Anon In Equestria stories of all time, then leave me your shoes to fill? You answer my skype questions on occasion and help me become a better writer by helping my prose pop more. You. Well, you know what? You know what I have to say to you, bucko! The guy who's only been supportive of me as I tried to make sempai notice me?! Thank you. I hope I've done you proud.
Aetherpony - The one guy I know I'll never beat on pastebin. And I'm totally okay with that. You gave me a request. You saw something in me and told me "Write a Diamond Dog Story" and my only reply back was "Do you mind if it's sad?" Aether gave me the chance to make Ruby. My favorite OC. One that I wish I could commission people art for. Thanks for pushing me, friend.
Wuten - Wuten was a constant figure in my writing from day one. Appearing in almost every skype chat that I was in, and touting his spaghetti agenda. However, I didn't have the pleasure of really getting to know him or even considering him a close friend until very recently. I was very happy to help take care of him at our most recent Bronycon when a very unfortunate turn of events threatened to make his con a bad experience. But he's read a ton of my work on his (old) weekly livestreams. He directed and starred in the "Her Most Faithful Servant" audioplay, which was a magnificent gift for Pencil and I. I'm trying to keep all of these short, but I can see I'm failing.
In fact, Holy shit. I've written so much already and I feel like I haven't gotten through half the people I want to thank for making -some- effect on me. So, I'll make this quick.
Esplin, Chelis, Lasagna, 8th-Sin, Stegtorn, Raritan, Cerenth, Slasher_Science, JChallo, Gatorbait, Vinny, That_Happy_Guy, littlebigpony, FamousLastWords, DustyPwny, shortskirtsandexplosions, LawAbidingPony, RonGnome, Pickle, Urban, Noogai13, Collar, Akame, Pudding, Baratone, Driverbang, MDL, Raod, Monk, Shiggler, Smudgey, Theseus, Jibber, Taya, Disc Ward, M.M., mikesnipe, ABagOfVicodin, Pat, Missingno, Derpyous, Irish, Lulzies, NOF, Pogo, Rat, Skeeter the Lurker, TheVClaw, Zyrian
And to anyone else I could have possibly forgotten. And last but not least, you. The Reader. You. Anonymous. You. The constant main character in most of my stories and who's been there with me since day one. Thank you for laughing with me. Thank you for crying with me. And thank you for jumping aboard and coming along with me on a ride I'm sure we'll never forget.
In 2013, I used to wonder what friendship could be.
Then, you shared it's magic with me.
Thank you.
- Priest
I actually have tears in my eyes.
I would have temporarily de-followed you just to tease you, but someone already became follower 1,001 so I suppose it just wouldn't work the same anymore.
Congrats, dude.
3693046
Dude. Let's do it. Together.
We're all here to tag along for the ride.
It's been a privilege to be your friend, Priest.
Now stop being so dramatic and go write Office Love, we're on a tight schedule, chop chop.
aaawww man I thought I'd be on that list for sure.
...imma cry
I saw you were on 999 followers earlier when I was looking through your stories. I'd read a few before but decided to just have a gander at your library. Decided to give you a watch since I wanna see what else you pump out. Congrats on the 1000!
What a heartwarming post ;)
Good on ya friend!
You know what faggot? This is the last straw.
Have you ever had sunflower seeds, with the shells still on them? You know how if you're feeling lazy you don't bother taking off the shells and you just pop them in your mouth and eat them. However, if you don't chew them the have-broken shards of shells tear open your anal cavity. It hurts bad my friend.
You're becoming a sunflower seed. And it's my duty to chew you up right before you wreck my asshole and cause internal hemorrhaging.
Never in my entire life have I seen a more self centered egotistical fucker than I have in you. You boast and brag whilst ignoring all the friends that truly helped you and assisted you on your endeavors. Who stayed up late to edit those G-Docs? What about those midnight energy handies? What about the pipe cleaner hotel room incident? I couldn't sit straight for a fucking month on account of you, for you.
And no thanks, to me, who deserves it most.
COMEDY GOLD
A pleasure knowing you, dude.
~Skeeter The Lurker
Hey, thanks for the shoutout.
You're a genuinely talented individual priest, whether you had 1 follower or 10,000. Well, as it turns out you have 1,010 as of my writing this, which is pretty damn cool. So keep it up. Keep doing what you're doing. People will enjoy it, I'm sure. And of course, congratulations on the milestone, I know there are more to come.
Oh, and by the way...
There are tense change errors in your post.
Congratulations! I hope you continue feeling the magic of friendship in the years to come!
Keyframe wants actual clop to read after that audioplay. I have you and Pencil to blame for her newfound cravings.
I love you, breh. Looking forward to seeing you at another con real soon.
Or, y'know. Another Skype chat or something. ;)
Congratulations, FP! There was never any doubt in my mind that you could reach this milestone.
I have to say, reading about the positive impact all this stuff has had in your life is very heartwarming, and that positivity really shines through in what I've seen of your interactions with your readers. Even in our little conversations here and there, you always struck me as a person who's cheerful and excited about what they're doing, more so than anyone I've come across in this community. I'm definitely proud of you, and I think there are a lot of people out there, including other budding writers, that rightly view you as something to aspire to.
Best of luck to you on all your future endeavors, be they in 2016 or beyond. Oh, and before I forget, Office Love when? :^)
Good for you FP. Love to read your stuff, especially concerning a certain crazy pink princess horse.
i.imgur.com/fO8ldda.png
but you're not joking
we never finished playing borderlands 2