Plans For The Upcoming Year · 3:46pm Jan 5th, 2017
So at first I was planning on writing a rather long and sarcastic blog post.
In it, I was going to say how I was changing writing directions, focusing solely on the stories that seemed most popular right now: Anonymous and Clop. I was then going to say how relieved I was not needing to ponder up any new human names to use (because I can barely remember my own name anymore) and how excited I was to break out my freshly made "Spinning Wheel of Clop" which contained the names of each and every character on the show plus random fetishes (because it's easier to come up with new clop stories that way), but... I guess I just did, didn't I?
No, I really don't want to start this brand spanking new year being negative. I'm Canadian after all; the human equivalent of a jolly punching bag. So I think it's better to talk about what I plan on doing (and not doing) over the next while.
1. More one shots.
My mind seems to be wandering a lot more than usual lately. I'm not sure what it means. Brain damage? Sure, let's go with that.
Over the last couple of months, I released "What Remains of the Chaos King", "What's In the Box?", and "Another Day In Paradise", as well as a few more of my normal-type stories. I'd like to keep trying out weirder stuff like "Chaos King" and "Box", but keep them limited to a one shot-like format. That doesn't mean that I'll be keeping them short, however. Lately, I've been tempted to try my hand at something over 10 or 20k (perhaps divided into two parts), or a story that begins and ends like a real episode (cold opening, first act, second act, resolution, ect.).
So let's see if any of this type of stuff actually sees the light of day over the next year...
2. Only one single multi-chapter story.
Recently, I added the COMPLETED tag to both "Turns Out We're All Changelings!" and "Starlight Glimmer's Cutie Mark Removal Shop". I think "Changelings" works just fine as a single chapter and "Removal Shop" really has no need for a proper ending. (It's just random interactions, mostly.)
Having said that, I do plan on finishing "King Sombra Wants Back Inside His Empire". I like King Sombra. I like the absurd premise. And I still have a lot of stupid ideas on how to continue it. Also... it's a story that could end at any time. There's no secret deathbed scene hiding in wait. Now the only question becomes whether it ends with a whimper or a bang? Or both?
That leaves "Bad Dude", the last remaining multi-chapter story of mine. Let it be known that I have no plans on cancelling it. The next chapter is even half-way written... although that was several months ago. Perhaps having it as my only large project standing will give me more confidence in continuing it.
3. And just for kicks, here's my list of potential stories, ripped straight from my notes collection with no corrections. It should make very little sense to you. Mostly because you're not me.
Stories to work on/finish:
The Last Day of School
The Backwards Party
Forever Young
The Mare That Saved The World
Allergic To Cuteness: The Game
(Book that outlines the future, word for word.)
The Life and Times of Discord the Draconequus
Twilight is infected by an ancient demon, slowly taking over her
Fields of Ash
Berry Punch: Drunk Detective
You face might get stuck like that if you’re not careful. (Rainbow Dash’s New Face) Or someone uses that picture as her profile pic or rescue pic or obituary pic. “Why would you use that pic!?”
Someone’s father is sucked into Equestria for close to a year. Comes back insane and with white hair. Placed in mental institution. Later dies. Leaves notes about how to get back there.
Fluttershy Decides To Become a Background Pony
Stuck (dark/tragedy/sad)
Chrysalis finds one of her drones writing fan fiction involving her. With Celestia? Or Twilight?
Discord’s Teddybear
Musings of a Dungeon Boss (Nightmare Moon perhaps?) (Short journal entries?)
Never Break Character!
Discord isn’t real. He’s someone imaginary friend. Reason they do bad things sometimes. Human story? People think he’s insane, but actually not?
Sombra and Fluttershy Switch Bodies For Some Reason
Avenues (Berry Punch and the choices we make. Struck by lightning.)
I Am A Good Pony (Psychopath that believes they’re only doing what is right.)
The Doorway Into Discord (door inside Twilight’s castle that leads into Discord’s head. To use him or not?)
The Princess Games (Poor average ponies are selected to go on dates with the Princesses.)
I Knew She Was Important (OC main character that doesn’t want to become a main character. Even her cutie mark says so.)
Operation Sunburst. Celestia creates Sunburst to date Twilight. Also creates Blueberry Muffin to date Luna. Perfect stallions/partners. “He’s a stallion that literally tastes like blueberry muffins, Luna, and it never occurred to you that something was off?” “But he was my morning snack, Celestia.”
The Town Of Joy (dark—perhaps darkest. Mayor of town has book that can control weak ponies. Whatever he writes in it comes true. Sort of. Kill off main character first chapter?)
To Protect And To Serve (Discord refuses to take off his cop uniform. “I am the law!” Puts ponies under arrest for being nice? For making sense?) Officer Cord. Detective Shy.
The Girl In The Graveyard
Discord Goes To Heaven
That's about it. Hope to have a new story up later today. Happy 2017 everyone! 
That entire list is made up of awesome story ideas.
The entire thing.
Heh, yeah well you know what they say. Sex sells. Or attracts views in this case.
The choice of how the 'featured' algorithm works doesn't help. By focusing on number of likes (I think?) in a particular time frame, it's going to favor clop, which is usually short one-shots and stuff the reader hasn't already seen is the name of the game.
Sounds like a busy year.
4370293 Well, I'm not planning on writing them all. Or even ten percent of them, most likely.
4370290 From what I understand it also has to do with the length of the story (and perhaps comments, too, I'm not completely sure). Clop stories are usually longer; I guess they're more descriptive (I thought the cock just went in the hole?). I had a 7k story at the top of the feature box once with not so many views or likes.
4370261 It's made up of a lot of "midnight ideas". Meaning ideas the awake you thinks are terrible, but the asleep you thinks have potential.
4370455 By story or by chapter? I've never had anything in the feature box: I've only noted about what does get in there. I admit, though, I've not paid attention to length as I didn't think about that being a possible criterion.
Heh, I don't know if dry Canadian humor is a thing, but with that 'in the hole' comment it should be. XP To add my own commentary, if that's all it is, you're doing it wrong.
While smut, to use a different term, has its place, for general literary purposes I prefer what's been termed a 'boot scene' by the authors of the original Dragonlance trilogy. It's named for a Star Trek convention: Kirk kisses alien woman, cut to Spock and McCoy arguing, then cut back to Kirk pulling on his boots. You get the general idea without having to show anything X-rated.
Berry Punch: Drunk Detective sounds a lot like Dick Whiskey: Drunk Cop, a popular series on Cracked that I believe is actually written by a popular author on this site (seriously).
This was the first thing I thought of when I read that:
...and now I want this story more than ever.
Quite a few of those one-shot ideas stuck out as awesome so this year outta be pretty fun. That wheel sure was scary though, but that certainly doesn't mean we won't see it somewhere else. I know how you roll mister.
Here's to a new year of writing and junk. I shall wish you all the success.
4371903 Thanks bud!
Most of those stories probably won't be done (some are years old already), but you never know! Btw... that secret account has been officially dead for some time. I barely update this account as is.
4370779 It's basically the same. And nice avatar pic!