What's Your Writing Method Like? · 8:44pm Sep 27th, 2016
Since I'm procrastinating like a madman at the moment, I thought I might as well make one random blog post to keep my hands from freezing solid. (I live in Canada, remember? The film "Snowpiercer" was based on the place. 
)
The question of the day is basically: what is your preferred writing method? Not why you write, just how you write. I'll start.
1. What style/genre works best for you?
It took some time to realize this, but my biggest strengths seem to be dialogue-heavy, high concept stories consisting of a lot of banter between characters. Mostly random comedy.
It honestly should come as no surprise to me. In real life, I'm deadpan sarcastic almost always and I riff on TV and film whenever I can. I make fun of myself and others, but hopefully know when not to cross the line with someone. I like to make people laugh along with myself.
In terms of story ideas, they can basically be boiled down to: What if?
What if King Sombra shot out of some human's toaster after his defeat?
What if there was a reverse Nightmare Night?
What if someone got stuck in a time loop but continued to age?
What if I told a ghost story from the ghost's point of view?
I guess I like asking questions and then working backwards from it. And, I guess, the weirder/sillier the better. 
2. Stories you rarely try to write.
I'm not very good with romance. Maybe that has to do with my ex-girlfriend being a complete psycho, but... hey! Let's not go there! We're talking about ponies, aren't we!?
Smaller more dramatic stories are hard for me, too. Like "Applejack sits next to Big Mac underneath a tree and contemplates the future of their farm once Granny Smith passes away."
3. How much do you prepare before writing?
I almost always have some notes or an outline before beginning a one-shot or a chapter. I also like to know how it ends, so I have a clear goal in mind.
Some outlines have been as short as two or three lines and some as long as a thousand words for a 3k story.
Since my job is mainly physical in nature, I tend to daydream and get my best material there -- laughing to myself like an idiot. Then I scribble down notes to keep in my pocket. (Has anyone found these notes, you ask? Thankfully, no!)
4. Favorite time of day to write?
I'm a morning person, so days off work the best. I don't get a lot done late at night. I'd rather be reading most of the time. I also like having lots of time to write/screw around. I know some people write only fifteen minutes a day, but I hate feeling rushed.
5. Drink of choice?
Very sugary coffee. With cream. In one of my thirty-seven various mugs from the States.
6. Ever drink and write?
I once drank a beer while reading a final draft of something. I can't drink and write, apparently.
7. How many drafts do you do?
First draft -- messy and terrible. I shoot it out as fast as possible and don't look back. Once you're in the zone, you should stay there! Or something like that!
Second draft -- once you understand how your chapter/story begins and ends, you should be able to go back and correct anything that doesn't make sense. Also, add any extra material that you thought of later. Also, correct all those "their, there, they're" parts. 
Final draft -- read it aloud and see if it flows. Try and cut out anything unnecessary. Look for any last minute mistakes. I know Steven King likes to cut out 10% on his final draft, but I'm more like 5%.
8. Do you listen to music while you write?
I know a lot of people do, but I can't listen to anything during that first draft. I need complete silence to have colorful ponies tell terrible jokes.
Editing is a different story. Once the words are in place and set (more or less) in stone, I can listen to some tunes and fine tune what I've made.
For the last few weeks, I've been listening to this particular band. Yes, I like heavy. Yes, I worship Santa.
9. Least and most you've ever written in a day?
Least (besides nothing): one word. The word was "ADVENTURE".
Most: around 7k, unedited. It was the last two parts to "Sombra the Highly Unmotivated" and I just wanted it done. I remember feeling a little sick after being in front of the comp for so long. (Still not as much as Skirts does in a single day, though. 
)
10. Ever made yourself cry while writing?
Yes. My writing is that bad.
Seriously, though, I recall tearing up hardest during "Dinner with the King", "The Only Day", "Please Open the Door", and worst of all during the epilogue to "Sombra the Highly Unmotivated". Seriously, I was a wreck. Then I cried again later in bed when I realized I didn't have a pet Sombra to call my own. 
11. Do you ever pitch story material?
I've become rather superstitious as of late.
I used to make blog posts about stories I was thinking about doing, and each and every one of those stories has either never been made or deleted or cancelled due to lack of interest.
I might make mention of something with my old editor or through private PMs, but have started releasing stuff with no warning whatsoever. It seems to be working-ish.
12. Do you use an editor?
More superstition.
My best (most polished) work has come through editors. Having said that, I've never gotten a story featured that has gone through an editor. Only in the bottom three (long stories).
I really don't know what that all means. Although I will say I have a small fear about using editors. Not that I think that they'll be mean, but because I don't want to waste their time with uninteresting material. Perhaps that puts unnecessary pressure on myself -- "I'd better make this good because someone's going to be spending their own free time on it later!"
Again, that's only my stupid way of thinking. And superstition. 
13. How do you handle critique?
Terribly.
Whenever I release something new, I leave the site for a good twenty-four hours and check up on things later. If a few notifications show up (or if something gets featured), then there's obviously more of a chance something's done all right.
I'm also a bitch to the difference between story views and likes. I'd call one of my stories a success if there's a 10/1 view to like ratio. So 100 views should equal ten likes.
Sadly, I've deleted a lot of stories that haven't done that well. 
(Even if I liked them!)
I'm regretfully very thin-skinned to most things.
Well, this went way longer than I thought it would. So give me some answers, damn it!
ah Canada the land of cold, geese, cold, some ducks, freezing cold, people who survive in the cold, damn near space levels of cold sometimes, and a lot of kindness.
4229771 Heavier.
Just not Cannibal Corpse heavy. I have absolutely no idea what's going on in those songs.
Sure, I have 20 minutes to kill.
1) Best Genre?
My best is probably science fiction or fantasy.Those let my creativity shine through the most. Because on quality of prose alone, I'm certainly not taking home any awards.
2) Least Written Genre?
I have yet to finish a pure Romance, only adding those elements to larger pieces. I do have one in the works, however.
3) Preparations?
For longer stories, I use a full outline. For shorter ones, just a few notes. I always begin with something, though.
4) Time of Day?
I get my best ideas in the shower, so usually right after that.
5) Beverage?
Water. It has the fewest calories, and is refershing. I'm sitting in a chair, so taking in more would just make me fat. Plus, I don't really exercise.
6) Drunk?
No.
7) Number of Drafts?
Just the one. I'm that weird guy who edits his own stuff as he writes it, so it comes out well the first time. The downside, obviously, is that it takes a while for me to finish anything.
8) Music?
No, I find it too distracting.
9) Most and Least?
I don't keep track, really.
10) Crying?
Nope. I've come close, though. I'm not a very sad person.
11) Idea Pitching?
Yes. If you want any prompts, nobody's picked up these yet, I think.
12) Editor?
No. I'm the guy who edits other people's stuff.
13) Critique?
I've gotten pretty good at dismissing the opinions of stupid people over the years. But if somebody posts a well-composed argument as to why I suck ass, then yes, I am effected. I don't go so far as to delete my stuff, though. (If you want to be traumatized, read Bueno Excellente.)
I prefer writing comedy. Something to keep me in a fun mood.
Being on fimfiction, I'm limited to mlp settings and characters. As for planning well...
"I've got a story idea."
"Let's start."
*writes a quick dash of about 300 words*
If it's meant to be I come back to it. I almost write like improv, but a little more planned out.
1. What style/genre works best for you?
I seem skilled at dark stories. Specifically ponies facing dark aspects of reality such as war, death and destruction and reacting to it in a realistic way. Most of my fics though do center around soldiers and fall under dark military adventures and may have random bits of humor(of a dark nature) thrown in simply to offset the more horrible things that seem to happen.
2. Stories you rarely try to write.
Slice of life I'd say. I can have slice of life momnests in stories but for the life of me I simply cannot write a dedicated slice of life story it ends up mutating into some form of adve ture fic with dark elements.
3. How much do you prepare before writing?
I always have most of the major plot points planed out, I know what I want to do and plan out a few minor points as well as think of characters. Though I have found I male my characters a little too well as they have a habit of ignoring me and going off on their own while I'm dragged along for the ride.
4. Favorite time of day to write?
Whenever I can really or when the mood strikes me is more accurate.
5. Drink of choice?
Soda or orange juice
6. Ever drink and write?
Nope, though I'd probably post what ever story came about that if I did do it just to see how it could go over.
7. How many drafts do you do?£
Usually one as I have issues writing something I already wrote as the drive to write does not trasffer over to something I wrote already.
8. Do you listen to music while you write?
All the time as my mind needs something to do other wise it moves faster then my hands do and it will be done with the chapter when I've only typed a third of it out.
Mostly listen to Sabaton
9. Least and most you've ever written in a day?
Least, the chapter number and title.
Most, almost 10,000 words for a single chapter.
10. Ever made yourself cry while writing?
All the damn time when it comes to the emotional scenes in my stories. Hell thinking about them causes me to tear up even months after the fact.
11. Do you ever pitch story material?
To other people not really, if I make a plot I tend to keep her or post it in my blog as something I'll write later so as to get feed back on it.
However I do help people work out plot ideas for their stories as I always approach stories from a realistic stand point and try to male characters and events behave how they most likely would.
Unless its comedy or random. Then go nuts.
12. Do you use an editor?
Working on getting one as I seriously need one to fix the mess that are my stories.
13. How do you handle critique?
I love hearing what people think of my work both good or bad, though o don't like when I receive criticism that says art of the story is wrong or broken when it was explained in the story. Other then that I live for criticism.
Aneays wasn't sure if you wanted us to actually answer these as well but I did and may toss this into my blog in a couple of days.
I just spew words onto a page.
I usually lean more towards dialogue-heavy things, but I've been recently trying to balance it a bit more.
...and my writing styles are all over the place. Especially with my earlier stories.
Allow me to answer your questions in order.
1: On this site, as a freelance writer, I tend to write whatever I want. These days, I tend to lean towards Alternative Universes, Romance, Slice of Life and Unique ideas for HIE stories. I guess it depends whatever I'm interested at the time.
2: I've attempted to write Adventure... turns out that I'm not exactly cut out for that sort of thing. Science Fiction I have no desire to do.
3: Prepare? Well I guess it all depends on the subject, but if it comes to something like say my current Beethoven story, then I try to watch whatever documentary, movie, quotes and facts I could about him, the time period and country in which he lived, personality, what his works were, etc... and incorporate them into the story whenever it's the most appropriate.
4: I prefer the afternoons, sometime between one to four o'clock (as long as school, family, yard work, house work, errands, etc... aren't interrupting me).
5: Orange cream soda.
6: No.
7: I tend to review the draft twice, the first is that I tend to look back at every few paragraphs or so, the second to see if I've misspelled anything.
8: Of course, I've made a playlist made up of calming classical music from the Gregorian Chants to movie soundtracks like "The Red Violin."
9: Least... probably 150 words. Most? I'm assuming it's around 3,000 on a really good day.
10: I admit that there were a few times where I did cry a bit when I was writing really emotionally charged passages.
11: It's very rare that I've ever pitched my stories outside of my blogs (which that in itself hardly happens.) I never self promote on any group forum because I wanted the stories to speak for themselves.
12: As regarding editors/proofreaders, and even cover artists, since I have no idea how to pay anyone through Paypal, Patrion or whatever, all the editing and art were done by volunteers in which I ask for. At the same time, given the revelation that I'm cursed, I now try to warn anyone who wants to help me for whatever reason.
13: Whenever I post a new story, I tend to wait to see how many up vs down votes it gets to see if that story is worth continuing. If a story I posted is doing so badly that there are more down votes then up (by 2/3), then I delete it immediately. However, if most of the readers do enjoy it, then I think it's worth continuing. From there, whenever someone points out a grammatical mistake or a misspelled word, I change it as soon as I can. If someone points out a plot hole in the story, then I use their critique as a guideline and weave it into the story.
I'll have to answer this when I get home. Before then: generally writing looks like a distracted trance.
I was thinking about answering this over our PM, but decided that's too much work to switch tabs.
Plus, you still haven't answered me you lazy fu--The Penguin was gunned down.Next time you answer, I have an important proposition for you. No rush though.
My biggest strength--by far--as a writer is being a storyteller. So, anything longer works best for me. Only thing is I don't have the stamina to write longer works... welll... longer pony works, because horse!words! won't make me a best seller!
I'm good with drama. Drama stories are my cup of tea so to speak. I enjoy writing them, and I'm unncannily good at developing them. Not the best writer, far from it, but I'm really good with developing characters and story and making their miserable realities lifelike. Or, I've been told. Even if I'm not, it's fun.
Clop. I know two words for Penis. Cock and dick, so I don't really think I could if I tried... It'll still make the featured box th-- *shot*
I also can't write horror. I'm not a messed up person, so I fail to write messed up things. Props though to whoever wrote the 2016 election. Best horror/comedy I've ever seen.
Really depends on the story. If it's a one shot I don't plan. Simple as that. If it's a long shot. I plan a long time. Not that I stick to the plan... or the story... but hey! Planning is fun.
When it's pouring down rain at night. There is no better time to write in my opinion. Or sing a Disney song, but to each their own.
Arnold Palmer.
Or anything from Starbucks, because I'm white and stereotypes exist for reasons. Sue me.
The finest of scotches and the hardest of liquors, of course.
Technically two. The bad one. Then the ones my editors got ahold of.
All the time.
Coldplay, Avenged Sevenfold, Queen, Ed Sheeran, Imagine Dragons, RHCP, Taylor Swift (you can fight me) and a bunch others.
Besides none, three... or one. Most likely one.
Most I've written though is wayward of 13k
Oh yeah, all the time. At first it's because I find them to be the most hilarious things ever, then I remember it wasn't a comedy fic, then I'm crying for a totally different reason.
Legitimately, I've made people cry over one piece that I don't really like. Scrapped it. Came back to it ten months later and thought it was kind of touching. Tear welled up then through back in the scrap bin. But I will be making a story on it, so it's okay!
Yes. All the time. Then annoy the unfortunate people who I pitched it to.
Love you Monochromatic and NorrisUsed and abused...
with kindness, gratitude and outstretched arms.
My editors are amazing.
Unbelieveably well. I'm generally my harshest critic so when someone says something negative about something I've done I usually respond with "glad someone else noticed." I've been told I've way too optimistic about recieving critique, and I seem like I'm wearing a mask, because I take it in such good stride, but I just love all the help I can get now, because when I'm writing for real for real, I'll need the hard critique I've gotten.
Now if it's nasty critique I try to respond respectfully, may not agree, but eh, such is life. I try my best to understand and stay positive, and if I don't, then I've got more issues than the person who said "Fuck you, not enough Spike, DOWNVOTED!" Well fuck you too.
That's that and
answer my PM you son of a bitch, I actually have something real to talk to you about for onceTake care and au revoir!
That is literally me in every way
4229795
This one's pretty straightforward:
For me writing is a crash course of chaos with some shouting and groaning along the way. Me I have to write in sections and it slowly forms it's self together into a story. I normally write from a mess of word i sneezed out and called it a drafted which then somehow forms into an ok story.
I haven't uploaded on here as of yet but that's soon to change (I hope) but the stuff I write is dark themed and personal to me, it just helps me get on with life. I also seem to have a good knack though for putting comedy into a tory when I don't mean too. I also do stuff like romance and just stupid crap.
Also i'm like you with the "What if's" but mine are more in the realms of war and destruction becasue i'm such a positive person.
Heh, sure why not I got time to kill.
1. What style/genre works best for you?
Adventure/Suspense. It's what I've always loved writing and what I feel I can work best with. I like weaving stories out of tense situations and making whoever is reading along with it wonder how the main peoples are gonna escape or handle what happens.
2. Stories you rarely try to write.
Romance. I can't quite hack it as far as I've figured. If only because being empathetic is a bit difficult for me. So if I can't do it, how in the heck and I gonna make someone else and have it be believable.
3. How much do you prepare before writing?
I always have an outline of the over arching story written. Beginning and middle but not always the end depending. I also write key points to keep a decent direction of where I want to go so I know where to lead things in case I feel like I'm getting off track.
4. Favorite time of day to write?
Mid afternoon and Past midnight. I'm always bogged down by either gaming/netflix or work but I've noticed (due to that one story I have up) that if I start writing during the mid afternoon I stick with it. And since I pull graveyard shifts at my job. I bring my laptop sometimes and wrote on that as well whenever I can pull myself away from whatever now tv series I start up.
5. Drink of choice?
Lemonade or Tea
6. Ever drink and write?
Nah, not much an alcohol guy. Fam has too much background with the stuff
7. How many drafts do you do?
Not as many as I should. What happens more often than not is I write and consistently clean in the middle of it. I know I shouldn't because it makes things muddled. But I guess if I had to separate it. First Draft transitions into the final one in creation. But I, more often than not, run it with a fine tooth comb once more.
8. Do you listen to music while you write?
I have too, silence has never worked well with me. If it's not music I'll put on a comedy that I've seen before. Something the gives background noise that I know I only have to listen too and not watch.
9. Least and most you've ever written in a day?
Least would be around 250 words while I was trying to do a minific contest. The most would actually be 18,147. Why so specific. Because it is an entire story I wrote in one go for a contest that was ending in around 5 hours lol. I hammered it out and sent it too the person right at the deadline lol.
10. Ever made yourself cry while writing?
Nopes. However I know if I went through with some of my ideas I'd probably get angry at my own characters.
11. Do you ever pitch story material?
I don't write blogs but I have bounced ideas off a few of the people I can talk to on here. Getting ideas or building on them at times.
12. Do you use an editor?
I should, but I don't. If only because when I write something I know if I don't get it out there it never will. Though I've been known to have someone take a look at it and over polish it as soon as possible.
13. How do you handle critique?
It varies. I don't handle vague critique well. I have to know what the problem was, "It just didn't resonate/click/etc." Never sits well with me because then I don't know what I did wrong. I had someone comment on my story once and it just said "boo". That was it, nothing explaining anything. Drove me mad for nearly a week. Not even because it was a negative comment, but because I had no idea what he/she was booing. If it's something I can understand why they said it then I rarely get issues. I'd only have minor problems if something came across not the way I wanted it to be explained and they feel the need to broadcast it as bad and not merely different from what they expected. But at the end of the day you can't expect others to know what's going on in your head right?
-----------------------------------------------------------
Woo, that was fun. Thanks for the experience.
1. What style/genre works best for you?
Honestly, I have no clue. Pretty much the only thing I know I'm good at is overthinking the logistics of a universe, and emotions. The rest, you'd have to ask someone else about.
2. Stories you rarely try to write.
Episode responses. They need to be hammered out within days, hours optimally, or else they lose basically all relevance and everyone just becomes tired of seeing them. But I perform horribly on such a deadline under the best of circumstances, and when I have to hammer out a completely new idea basically as I'm writing? I'm surprised at how good it turned out the few times I tried.
3. How much do you prepare before writing?
That varies greatly from project to project, but I tend to spend a day or so basically writing the story in my head and bouncing around various lines before I ever put pen to paper.
4. Favorite time of day to write?
Late at night, when my entire household is sleeping and sitting in my office chair would be too loud, so I have to lounge in bed, where my brain has a tendency to stop working because it thinks it should be asleep.
5. Drink of choice?
Orange cream soda.
6. Ever drink and write?
Not yet. I'm sure it will be a horrifying experience when I eventually do.
7. How many drafts do you do?
Usually one with a bit of proofreading, maybe a second draft if I bother to put it past an editor first.
8. Do you listen to music while you write?
All the time. But it can be really frustrating when there's nothing on my playlist that matches the mood I feel I need to be in for the story to be properly written.
9. Least and most you've ever written in a day?
I don't count anything under 300 words as actually having written something for the day.
As for most... 2,376 words. Not counting original fiction.
10. Ever made yourself cry while writing?
Oh, several times. Not anything on this site, I don't think, but I've definitely written stuff that moved me to tears as I was making it.
11. Do you ever pitch story material?
Incessantly in PM. I'm pretty sure it's actually medically annoying my friends at this point, especially with how few of the stories ever see the light of day, but they're too nice to say anything.
12. Do you use an editor?
Sometimes. I often shoot myself in the foot with this one, though, because the person I go to most often for editing help is also the person whose uncontaminated reaction I'm always the most excited for, so a lot of time I don't want to spoil the story for my most reliable editor. It gets very frustrating.
13. How do you handle critique?
Eagerly. I want people to rip my stuff apart. Every time I offer anything for consideration, I desperately hope that someone will pick apart every single flaw, but also tell me every single thing I got right. I've just got this... thing for thoroughness.
It's actually insanely frustrating to have so few comments, when I know a load of people have read my stuff.
This was fun.
1. What style/genre works best for you?
It depends on what I am writing. For my own original work, I love to write medieval fantasy with some of my own little twists and turns. (Which of course is needed, being how popular the genre is there needs to be something that stands out.)
When it comes to fanfiction, I find I tend to suck at comedy, but *cough* am good at writing clop. Maybe not the best at it, but I find I do enjoy it which is surprising as I never read that kind of stuff other than when it is in a MLP 'verse. But that is just a side thing I recently tried out. What I put my main focus on is changelings and their relationships with ponies. Queen Chrysalis and her changelings are easily my favorite characters in the show(and the type of fanfiction that probably makes up 75% or more of what I read on here?) and since we still know so little about them canon wise, I love to explore my own ideas on what makes them tick.
2. Stories you rarely try to write.
Horror, absolutely. Or Grimdark. I read a little bit of it, but don't like writing it as just gets too gruesome for me? Things like Cupcakes or Rainbow Factory, though I have read them to see why everyone was crazy about them, just are... bad enough to almost give me nightmares and thinking of writing something like those? Yeah that would just make the nightmares actually happen!
3. How much do you prepare before writing?
Like you, I often daydream how chapters/stories will go, especially on the chapters that are important to the story or just ones where a spark of an idea for the chapter makes me want to really think out the idea before I put it to paper(or well heh screen). Besides that and just talking with some of my offline/online friends about ideas I plan on using in the future, I am more a 'write by the seat of your pants' kind of writer and just go with where my fingers take me.
4. Favorite time of day to write?
I can't always stay up late so have adjusted to TRYING to write during the day. Still doesn't always give me the best stuff but I still get some decent stuff.
Usually in the middle of the night. I'm always telling others that 'my muse is awake from 1am-5am, so if I want to write I must write during that time'. Of course with school and all
5. Drink of choice?
Depends on the time of year
In General:
Chocolate Milk, Water, or Apple Juice
In Winter:
Hot Chocolate Or Hot Apple Cider(non-alcoholic)
6. Ever drink and write?
Nope, I might get 'drunk' in that 'sleepy drunk' way when writiting where one hasn't gotten enough sleep but must still write and starts to be a little funny from lack of sleep, but nope I never touch the stuff.
7. How many drafts do you do?
Heh not nearly as many as I should.
1st draft- writing everything down as it comes to me, smirking at funny lines or tearing up a little at sad ones
2nd draft- go back through, fixing the little things, adding more or taking away where ideas changed during the chapter
3rd draft- after having sent it to my pre-readers to read, changing things they had problems with, fixing things they pointed out.
Final- One last read through to make sure I have it saying what I want it to say, fixing typos missed in the other drafts
8. Do you listen to music while you write?
Sometimes. If I don't know the songs very well or have heard them a million times I can often tune them out and just pay attention to the sound that keeps me in my own little world. But if it is a much loved song or one I have memorized that makes it harder to listen to and I can lose my concentration. When I work on my fanfics for here, I have a playlist of a bunch of fanmade Queen Chrysalis/changeling themed stuff I listen to to get me in that mood...
9. Least and most you've ever written in a day?
One word, not sure of the word though
And most? I think I pulled out 10k once, that was for NaNoWriMo and the stuff for that day was ehhh so-so but ended up going back and fixing soooo much later on. (But then that is NaNo for you.)
10. Ever made yourself cry while writing?
Oh yes, plenty of times. After all like they say, 'no tears in the writer, no tears in the reader'. Especially with some of the things I have planned and kind of pre-written (did an RP set in the future of my main story on here, and I was NOT nice to my characters in it.) A lot of what I had them go through in the RP I plan on using in the story itself when I get to that point, and just makes me cry with all the crap I put the poor things through.
11. Do you ever pitch story material?
Only to some of my 'main fans/friends' I talk to over PM. I get SO many crazy ideas I have to share them with someone. Even if they never end up becoming real or I never actually work on them, getting them out there, somewhere that I could go back and look and be all 'oh yeah! That was a cool idea, I should totally do that.' Helps me clear my brain so I can work better on what I am currently writing.
12. Do you use an editor?
Heh if I was to find one I would but heh haven't yet. (Course I haven't looked 'very hard' yet, but being an English major I feel I have a decent enough grasp on it that even though I could 'use' one it might not be 100% necessary?) Course I wouldn't turn down an offer from someone wanting to do so.
13. How do you handle critique?
I am okay with light-medium-wavering into the harsh area of critique. As long as it is constructive I try to take it as it comes.
As for when it comes to the # of likes/views/comments, thaaaat is where I get more critical of myself. I like to see a lot of green with this, and seeing a lot of red disheartens me. Though with my clop stories, I take that a little more as it will, since with those there is always going to be somebody that likes X kink/fetish and totally hates Y kink/fetish. But with my regular stories? Those ones if I don't get comments or the red bar grows larger or not a lot of people view each new chapter, it kind of depresses me, wondering what I am doing wrong that this x person is doing write who gets featured or whatever.
Whoo your right that was a lot! Nice to be able to explain myself to others though. ^.^
Also, mind if I snag this for a blog of my own? (The questions, not your answers of course heh.) *cough* though I think we have a few of the same followers who would end up replying, still want to know what the rest of my followers/readers think/do. *cough*
4230686 Yeah, go right ahead.
4230677 That would've been another good question -- the story ideas to reality ratio. For me: 1/6.
4230611 I agree completely on episode reactions. I sort of hate Saturday afternoons around here. I don't think I've ever written a story based on a specific episode (maybe mentioning).
4230224 So many midnight people around here.
I'm so old! (Although when I was 12, people said I was 12 going on 40.) And 18k in one day? I wanna puke. 
Did your fingers bleed?
4230171 "What ifs" are the best.
4230127 Is it the audience that's suffering?
(I... half-kid.)
Thanks for replying!
4229990 I don't think horror writers are weird. People have claimed I'm the nicest guy they know, but for some reasons I tend to write dark, dark, dark material. Stephen King seems like a nice enough guy.
And over 10k? You guys are sick. After 8k, doesn't it just turn to gibberish? "And the spaceship dropped the chocolate chips onto the mountaintop and Jesus said, 'Hey, that's cool', and it turns out the entire story was inside a snow globe."
4229871 Cream soda? Where are all the coffee drinkers anymore?
I use a lot of movie soundtracks to get into a more "serious" mood. "The Social Network", "Girl with the Dragon Tattoo", "Assassination of Jesse James", "28 Days Later", "Inception". Even some "Godspeed: You Black Emperor".
4229818 A lot of my stories are tagged "Slice of Life", but I'm the absolute worst at it. Real life is boring!
4229804 The shower. Such a magical place. There should be a book called "The 101 Best Shower Ideas of All Time". Number 1: Shampoo.
Thanks for the replies! This has been rather interesting! Seems like I'm the only person that drinks coffee anymore! Or writes before noon!
4231733
Actually (funny you should ask), in the live YT versions, Corpsegrinder opens by telling the audience to throw people into the pit and ... you know the rest
4231749
From how much I talked to you, you're basically a teddy bear.
That or your Sombra character has deluded my vision of you so much, I see you as him, haha 
Also, you're not the only person who drinks coffee anymore! Or writes before noon! Join the
I just can't often find time to write in the morning so it doesn't always happen.
cultclub."Then Harambe said, 'Trump or Clinton," and they shot him, and Kim Jong learned a valuable lesson that day: ponies don't pop out of toasters, and the cake is a lie but cupcakes are better than muffins. Then, in the end, they figured out it was Scooby Doo all the long. And it was good.
Author's Note: I was originally going to put something about Lyra and hands or Luna and falling in love with an OC, but it didn't really fit."
4231733
Awesome thanks! I shall do so tomorrow when this queenie is more awake.
For me right now oh... I am at like... 1/10 maybe that make it to the page? *I just have too much fun coming up with ideas heh.*
1. What style/genre works best for you?
Either random comedy or slice of life mixed with adventure. Also tend to focus more on worldbuilding than plot, and it suffers.
2. Stories you rarely try to write.
Romance, Gore, comedy. I'm not actually all that good at comedy.
3. How much do you prepare before writing?
Usually, I try to make an outline first. Otherwise it is more shit than normal
4. Favorite time of day to write?
Whenever I actually feel like it.
5. Drink of choice?
Water
6. Ever drink and write?
I drink lots of water
7. How many drafts do you do?
Varies. Rarely more than 2.
8. Do you listen to music while you write?
Sometimes
9. Least and most you've ever written in a day?
Least? A sentence or so. Most? no idea.
10. Ever made yourself cry while writing?
No.
11. Do you ever pitch story material?
That assumes people listen to me.
12. Do you use an editor?
That assumes people read my things in the first place
13. How do you handle critique?
I would have said no idea, because I never actually got one, but 2 months back someone put up several really good points, and now I'm overhauling everything.
1. What style/genre works best for you?
I would say writing from the narrative perspective works best for me. Interactive dialog is my kryptonite because I will get bogged down with trying to write each sentence realistically from the perspective of the character that is speaking. When I do write with an original character, I'll sit down and try to imagine him fully formed in my head. What is his personality like, what drives him, his goals, his interests, how does he see the world, etc. Then I will put him inside the world I am creating and just write down what he would do as he progresses. More often than not a well imagined protagonist will take the story down paths I never thought of or intended. I've heard that writers like King and Pratchett have had this happen to them as well.
As to genre, I'll try anything. I've tried several comedies, and they have been hit and miss. They are either very well liked like my 'Story Time With Zecora' series, or flat out bombs, like 'Her Majesty's Assassin'.(Which I STILL think is hilarious). But so far my best received story is in the horror genre 'The Longest Night'. ED said they would feature it once I do some revision. Which I plan to get around to...eventually.
2. Stories you rarely try to write.
Well, I don't write clop. Not that I couldn't, I just choose not to. Other than that, I can't think of anything I wouldn't try off the top of my head, if a good enough idea came along.
3. How much do you prepare before writing?
Not at all. When inspiration hits I've learned you have to get it down as fast as possible before it's gone. If I'm at work, I'll jot down notes in my phone on the spot so I can get to it when I get home.
4. Favorite time of day to write?
Early morning. For some reason as soon as I wake up, before the world hardens around me, ideas seem to flow best.
5. Drink of choice?
Non-alchoholic? Homemade lemonade. Alcohol? There are several depending on the type. Best Cider is J.K. Scrumpy's http://jksfarmhouseciders.com/ciders/ . Best beer (although I rarely drink beer), Spaten Oktoberfest http://spatenbeer.com/biers-oktoberfest.html . Best overall booze? Pallini Peachcello. https://www.pallini.com/en/products/peachcello . It can be chilled and drank straight, or it makes an excellent mixed drink either frozen or over ice.
6. Ever drink and write?
On rare occasions. I wrote 'Her Majesty's Assassin' very drunk while binge watching Ultimate Hellsing Abridged. https://sites.google.com/site/quixoticsstudy/home/the-cellar/her-magesty-s-assassin . It's a gory little splatterpunk comedy, that went over on this site like a lead balloon filled with dwarf star material.
Rofl.
7. How many drafts do you do?
One and a half. I'll write the first draft, let it sit and cool off, then go back over the whole thing and see how it reads, making changes as necessary. Usually those changes will be flushing things out more as I tend to write quickly and don't add enough details the first time around.
8. Do you listen to music while you write?
Only when I need to stay in a specific mood while writing. When I did 'Longest Night', I needed to keep that sense of growing unease that Apple Bloom needed to feel. So I kept a couple songs on a loop that preserved that feeling.
9. Least and most you've ever written in a day?
Least? One sentence. Most? When I am fully insipred I'll just keep going until it runs out. I think a little over 9k one time.
10. Ever made yourself cry while writing?
Yes. Several moments on several of my stories I got 'just right'. Tiny moments of perfect beauty. I'm most proud of those.
11. Do you ever pitch story material?
Only to you and PussPuss.
12. Do you use an editor?
Nope. A few people have told me I should, to which I replied, "I'm cool with that, are you volunteering?" To which they reply "Nope!" and vanish. Funny thing that...
13. How do you handle critique?
I curl up under the covers an- {Ahem}, I mean, it depends. If it is well thought out and sincere I'll listen to it, take it seriously, and respond. Bleeding Raindrops I will take seriously if she has anything to say. Same with you and Pusspuss, because I respect your opinions. However if it's just someone posting stuff like "Worst piece of crap I've ever seen," I'll just ignore it.(They obviously haven't read Enchanter by Robin W. Baily{Bleh}). If it's crass and inflammatory enough I'll just delete it. I respect people's opinions, and if they have an honest critique I'll listen to it, but I deal with enough trolls on Warcraft, I don't need anymore here.
4234801 One thing I tend not to do is let things cool. Meaning that in a single day, I would start a chapter, edit it, and then release it. Then the next day I would think on it and come up with six more things I wanted to add to it.
Speaking of bombs! I'm very, very slowly working on a couple of stories that aren't dumb comedy! Meaning they might be met with harsh reactions!
Let's see what happens!
4235847 Go for it amigo!
The only time to be ashamed, is if you yourself aren't satisfied with your work. You can't let yourself be shackled by other people's expectations. It will limit what you feel a story could be. Write for yourself first. Long, short, deep, silly, you'll know when it's the best you can make it, then let the chips fall where they may. 
To me, writing is like a form of digital telepathy. When someone reads something I wrote, if I did my job properly, then by looking though the eyes of my characters, they will be able to see and feel the emotions I am trying to convey. Feelings that all of us have deep down. They will have a chill run up their spine when Apple Bloom is huddling under her sheets as the creatures from the Everfree roam past her farm in the night. They will feel that moment of joy when Trixie guides a young filly home on Hearthswarming eve. Given the content of the stories you put out on a regular basis, I don't think you'll have anything to worry about if you try something new.
Go be you, NBD, I'll be waiting with the popcorn.
1. What style/genre works best for you?
I tend to favor dialogue heavy stories, especially since I used to write scripts. I'm one of those that enjoys mixing drama and comedy into this weird, mercurial glob.
2. Stories you rarely try to write.
Straight up grimdark stuff. Just miserable angsty prose really puts me off as it just comes off as trying to impress your friends who just feel awkward for you.
3. How much do you prepare before writing?
I'm an research and outline kind of guy, I want all my ingredients and chapters laid before me. Though when handling a chapter, I can be pretty freeform. In my fic An Ancient First Love Returns, the chapter where Luna debuts is an example of this.
4. Favorite time of day to write?
Night, I feel crazier at night.
5. Drink of choice?
Scotch. Yep. Or water. Depends.
6. Ever drink and write?
... see above?
7. How many drafts do you do?
As many as I need, I've some experience as an editor and man will I cleave.
8. Do you listen to music while you write?
Only when necessary; one of my stories have songs in it, so I try to get the 'beat' down. Otherwise, not really.
9. Least and most you've ever written in a day?
Least (besides nothing): A short paragraph.
Most: around 5k
10. Ever made yourself cry while writing?
No. And I feel bad that I don't.
11. Do you ever pitch story material?
My tales are my own dammit. Unless copyrighted by Hasbro, they've got some say in this I think.
12. Do you use an editor?
No. I don't know anyone. I know my right hand, does that count?
13. How do you handle critique?
Wonderfully! I've learnt to be unafraid to take in insults as well, comes with the trade. It makes me feel good in a bad way, oh yes... mmm...
Offical naturalbornderpy writing flowchart:
<-------------------------------------------
V ^
Does it have Sombra? > No > ^
V Yes ^
Is it funny > No > -----------------^
V Yes
Make it sad
V
Story!
4245081 If only I could add "PROFIT" somewhere into my equation.
4247962
You could branch out into fetish porn, I guess? I hear The Abyss makes a pretty nice penny from Patreon donations.
4247969 Very true. But I'd have to be good at it. You know... make it erotic and stimulating and all. Knowing me, it would start out mildly awkward before characters start making jokes and then decide they don't actually feel like having sex because they had too big a breakfast that morning.
Or characters would simply question all these impossible fetishes. "Why am I expanding due to cum? How can you have that much in your body? If your dick is three feet long, is there any blood left in your body? If Cadence secretly has a dick, how did she give birth to Flurry Heart?"
4247974
You know, I'd read that story. Self-awareness or any kind of ability to laugh at themselves is one thing most people who are into that stuff really haven't got a whole lot of. It would be a pretty funny take on that kind of story.
I think for me none of the questions you asked are interesting so much as how I actually write. We're talking materials used. I write long handed on paper, these days I have a notebook, but in the past I used whatever was handy. I have a picture somewhere around here of stories written on order books when I worked at a pizzeria, or tiny pads of paper barely bigger than a post-a-note, and many other odd things.
Stories are or at least were written when they come to me, but its been a struggle to motivate m'self to do any for a while. About all I write these days is porn, though I do have something pony churning in my head, a post FoE story, non-canon and clean, though it'll likely take a fair amount of research into the characters, Equestria, FoE and more.
When I write, like I said, its done long hand. The next step is to type it up, at that point I tweak it, from the minor to the major. Imp's Impossible Impalement as I recall was almost completely rewritten at that stage for an extreme example. From there it gets run through the spell checker, and then another reading or two where I try to fix all of my mistakes, failing badly as there are many and I've never been good at English (my native tongue, I only speak two languages, English and Bad English, more often the latter).