Applejack Fixes Everything Chapter 4 Sneak Peak · 9:29pm Jan 21st, 2017
I don't know about anyone else, but whenever I'm tracking a fanfic and I see that it hasn't updated in a year, I assume it's dead and un-track it.
Applejack Fixes Everything is approaching that dreaded twelve months between updates. I let myself get distracted with other stories (one of which was featured, so no regrets there), and I didn't start writing Chapter 4 until November. I know where I want the story to go, but it's hard to figure out exactly how to get the characters there, and what to leave in and what to gloss over.
I'm tempted to upload a quick chapter just to keep the story alive, but I think it would be better to wait until I produce a chapter with the best possible pacing and flow and characterization.
I wrote about 8000 words, decided I didn't like it, and now I'm halfway through the second draft of Chapter 4.
So please be patient and don't remove AJFE from your tracking just yet. Give it until the end of February. Until then, here is a preview to show you that I am actually working on it. Keep in mind that this is not the final draft and still in sort of a “talking heads” stage.
From Chapter 4:
“Hey Applejack!” Braeburn waved at me and broke into a gallop, almost tripping Cousin Goldie Delicious on his way toward me. He leaped over Rarity and me and spun round to face us.
“Braeburn, watch where you're galloping,” scolded Mom.
“Beg pardon Auntie,” said Braeburn. “Anyhow, there's a boatload of faces here that I ain't never seen before. Aren't you gonna introduce everyone?”
“That'd take almost an hour and nopony would remember all the names,” I told him.
“Well at least you can introduce me to your friend here.”
“Fine, I reckon I can do that much. Braeburn, this is Rarity, my friend from school. Rarity, this is my cousin Braeburn from Appleloosa.”
Braeburn tilted his head. “Apple-what-now?”
I cringed. How could I have been so careless? Appleloosa wouldn't even exist for seven years.
“What in the world are you talking about, Jackie?” Dad spoke up. “I've never even heard of Appleloosa. I have heard of an Appaloosa, a pony with a rare spotted coat pattern, but that's not a place.”
“Yeah, why'd you tell Rarity I was from a spotted pony?” asked Braeburn.
My face and neck felt sweaty. “Well, you were born in a place named after a coat pattern, weren't you? I must've gotten them mixed up.”
He nodded. “I was born in the San Palomino Desert, but I haven't lived there since I was a little foal. You'd think you'd remember that, seeing as how you're a palomino.”
I let out a nervous little chuckle. “Eyep, you'd think so. Oh would you look at that, Apple Bloom got crumbs all over her face and mane. I'd better hustle over there and clean her up.”
I stood, only to feel Dad's long tail wrap round my leg, holding me fast. “That was the clumsiest, most obvious pivot I've ever heard.”
“Uh, I'm sorry? AB really is messy though.” I pointed at my sister, who was letting Sweetie Belle chew on her front hoof. Sweetie let out muffled giggles while Bloom squealed with joy.
“In that case, you can help your mom and me take Bloom inside and clean her off.” Dad gave Mom a significant look.
“Oh. Right.” I could tell that Mom smelled what Dad was stepping in, so to speak. “You carry her inside, AJ, and we'll come with you.”
Speaking of stepping in it, I was up a manure creek without a paddle. Even if I came up with another distraction, I'd only be putting off the unavoidable.
For what it's worth, I never give up on a fic I've read just because it seems to be dead (I've seen enough two- and three- year revivals to hold some small hope, and it costs me next to nothing). But I will deprioritize or remove fics in my read-later lists if they are on hiatus (announced or otherwise).
Good to see you've still got this in mind!
4391788 Good to know. And yeah, the date last updated also has an influence on whether I'll add a fic to my read-it-later list.