Going through my favorite stories · 3:28pm Feb 22nd, 2017
As the title says, I've been going through my favorite stories, and re-reading many of them. There are a few where I honestly can't remember why I faved them; they clearly spoke to me at the time, but now, possibly years later, I don't know why or what they meant to me. (It's not as if they're bad stories, generally, just ones that don't amuse or impress or touch me any more.)
But most of them are just as good as I remember. Some are even better than they were when I first read them, perhaps because I've changed and grown; or because of the way the characters and the world of Friendship is Magic have changed and grown; or because of the changes in fandom and fanon and common understanding of the ponies; or for all of these reasons.
And I am, once again, awed by how many writers there are in this fandom with all this talent, and creativity, and sense of humor, or sense of pathos, or love of dark melodrama. Ponies aren't my first fandom rodeo, not by a long shot, but I don't think I've been part of another fandom that has produced quite so much quality fiction in such a (relatively) short time. And then there's all the fanart, and animations, and custom ponies, and plushies, and pony cosplay, and more!
So, uh. If I have a point here, it is this: rejoice, everyone! For all the occasional fandom crises and worries about the show's direction and future, we have created something here, and elsewhere, something good and bright and beautiful! And in the end, it is worth a lot.
I've never been one for fandom crisis...es? crisi? hullabaloo? What I've noticed is that I've not read as many fics as I used to, but even that has been coming back. What I'm saying is: poni is good, FIMFic is good, life is good.
Also you never answered my PM. I don't blame you; I wouldn't answer my PM's either. That'd be totally weird. Talking to yourself that is.
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I'm terrible at answering PMs, here and elsewhere. Sorry about that.
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Your post reminds me of something that I've been meaning to do for a long time now: setting up a bookshelf titled "The Stories That Made Me Follow You". Which would contain exactly what it says, the story from every writer I'm following that convinced me they were someone I wanted to keep track of.
What do you think, does the idea have potential?
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It would certainly be flattering as an author. As a fellow reader, I don't know if it would be particularly more useful than just knowing who you follow, though browsing through the list might be a good way to get some reading suggestions. I imagine that it would be super useful for you for nostalgia purposes. It certainly wouldn't hurt anything!