Takka Takka Takka: July 2017 - BronyCon, Contests & Releases! · 7:14pm Jul 31st, 2017
Death by cute. Egophiliac's latest “puppet” set? Death by cute! I can't handle it. I can't handle it! Halp! HALP!!!
Happy end of the month folks! I'll admit, it has been a hell of a month. But, first thing’s first, right?
Word Count: 41,284
That’s actually way higher than I originally was going for! I set my Camp NaNoWriMo goal to 25,000 at first. Then I decided I needed to do better. So I cranked it to 35,000. My final goal I think was 40,000, but it did change a few times. No matter what, I definitely made my goal!
Okay, time for the usual assortment of things before we get to the good stuff. Patreon here. You now know about that. Moving on!
Let’s see… oh right! We need a quote from a story I’m working on, don’t we?
Maybe it was the teleportation. Maybe it was the insane turn the night had gone. Maybe it was something else entirely, but only one idea occurred to Sunset. However, it required using a skill she had never really mastered.
Sunset took a deep breath, cleared her mind and focused. She allowed her magic to simply flow into her horn—and was rather surprised when a lot more magic came to her. It was a heady sensation, but she didn’t question it. Instead, she did her best to restore her magical reserves and then let the magic flow back into her horn.
Then, she imagined her target. It wasn’t easy. But she still was Sunset Shimmer. No matter what else happened, she was Princess Celestia’s personal student in the field of magic.
Sunset released the magic and heard a pop of something coming into existence. Then she opened her eyes. Conjuration was the only type of magic that ever gave her any sort of trouble—ironic that Twilight seemed to be a natural at it.
However, for the moment, this would do nicely. Sunset levitated the metal object over Twilight’s prone form and took a breath.
Then she upended the water bucket right on Twilight’s head.
Twilight sputtered and coughed, jumping to her hooves, her mane plastered over her face and her glasses streaked with rivulets of water.
“What in Equestria?” she shrieked and looked up to see the bucket floating in Sunset’s magic. Twilight turned a furious stare at Sunset. “What was that for?”
“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe to get your flank in gear!”
I know. I’m hysterical. It’s a burden I’ve learned to live with.
Reviews & Contest Entries
One nice big thing on the Review front this month. Paul Asaran finished his review of Princess Celestia: A Brief History! And it landed in his “Pretty Good” category! I won’t give you the whole review here (you’ve got to head over there to see that!), but I will give you the summary!
Still, I enjoyed this story. It’s pleasant, decently paced (if a little slow), full of fun characters with equally fun antics, a great showcase of character understanding regarding Twilight and Sunset, and was just a nice read. It’s not as fascinating as its predecessor, which I honestly liked a lot more, but it held its own and keeps me interested in the series. I’ll be reading The Cloudsdale Report before too long, that I assure you.
While not exactly a glowing, raving review, I’m still really happy with it. These were early stories, so I hope they progress well from one another (and I’m still convinced I need to go back through and do a remastered version of Bell Curve & Applications. Apparently though, I should add History! to that list).
In other news, sadly Unexpected Hazards of Interdimensional Transit did not place in Jake’s Obscure Shipping Contest. But that’s just fine! I’ve enjoyed many of BlazzingInferno’s stories (and done covers for a great many of them too!) and I’ve heard very good things about AugieDog. I admit to not knowing Propmaster’s work, but I’ll be investigating it because honestly? Cheerilee and Rarity sounds adorable. So, congratulations to all of you!
July’s Writing Bookshelf:
How Not to Use Your Royal Prerogative - In Ongoing Redline Phase!
As you all can finally see, the first chapter of Prerogative is—at long last—finally live! I can’t tell you how much I’ve wanted to freaking get this story out and done. And now I finally have it up! We’re still working on the edits for the next few chapters, but I hope to have at least two more chapters out during the month of August. More if possible!
Let me tell you that the editing process for this story was simply brutal. The stuff of nightmares. That's one of the reasons it took so long. Both better and worse than Bards of the Badlands.
The Tarnished Crown - Complete and Published!
I wrote this story in less than a week… and I learned a few things from it. A few very important things. First of all, that my most powerful stuff comes from my own life. This is a story about the ongoing war with the demons in your head. About fighting against the things people say and not letting one person’s salt and vitriol poison your well of creativity. About the drastic and potentially tragic things we can do when it happens. Because it’s going to happen. For these situations, we must depend on those we love and those who love us. It’s critical.
I wrote this story for a specific individual. I knew it wouldn’t fix the problems they’re dealing with. Nothing will. That’s why the story ends the way it does. This sort of battle never ends. But sometimes, it’ll be easier. Of course, the perfect irony is that I ended up needing the story myself in the coming week for different reasons.
Crown surprised me on how well it was received. In fact, it quickly took first place in the Feature Box and kept it for three whole days. I guess it spoke to a lot of people. For that, I’m glad. I hope it helped, if only for a moment. One of my beta readers told me that it was difficult to read… because there was too much of me in it. Heh. Well, that means I did a good job, I think.
I think the best stories come from when we pour a little piece of our soul into a character’s mold, allowing that character’s personality, history, beliefs and relationships to color and help shape the piece. Then, we release the piece to do what it needs to do.
More than anything, I remember being shocked when Twilight suddenly turned on Rarity during the first act. I remember going “what the hell just happened.” I even stopped and asked my editors “hey, what’s going on?” They said, “keep going.”
I did. And you saw the result. I’m happy you folks enjoyed it.
A special thank you to Adge/Little-Tweenframes (the creator of SciSetDaily) for creating the amazing cover. I didn't do a thing but add text to it. It was perfect.
Judging for Monochromatic’s Interwoven Colours Contest - Complete!
Phew. This turned out to be a hell of a lot more work than I anticipated. That being said, it was definitely worth it. I read through a majority of the stories twice, which turned out to be a very good call. A few stories I thought were epic turned out to be not-so-epic on the second readthrough, while one story in particular crystallized into something truly exceptional on second glance.
For those wondering, my scores were almost a bang-on match for what the overall scoring ended up being.
Personal First Place: “We Will Become Silhouettes” by Cynewulf
Personal Second Place: “SQUIRM!!!” by King of Beggars
Personal Third Place: “Lights of Love” by Timaeus
Personal Fourth Place: “404: Romance Not Found” by Oroboro
I’m not going to bore the rest of you with my rankings of all the other stories. In the next few days, I’ll be posting reviews on the individual stories or sending PMs. I’m not going to do them all (seriously, that’s too much), but if you’re interested in my opinion on your entry. I should warn you though… Commenter Novel is a much nicer person than Critique Novel. That guy’s a bit of a jerk. So, there’s a reason I don’t post everything. Heh. 
I also want to thank each and every writer for their hard work. Submitting to contests is often very stressful. Sometimes when you don’t place, it can be disappointing or even frustrating. The best thing you can do is ask for honest, open feedback and be willing to take it (the second part of that is always the hardest for me). I remember being pretty bummed when I didn’t place in FoME’s contest earlier this year, but that being said, the ones who did win were impressive indeed. Never take it as a reason to stop writing. Always push yourself.
Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can only see as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.
– E. L. Doctorow
Outlining for the Infatuations and Other Lies Arc - Complete!
Believe it or not, I’m actually trying my hand at real outlining. Seriously! I know I’m a diehard discovery writer, but the scope of Infatuations required a much better path. I needed to know where Sunset is going for this coming story. It’s a big deal that her arc end up being well-told, because all of this leads right into the massive climax of the first volume of the Wavelengths Timeline, Sparks.
I may have expanded the scope of Infatuations to something like 20 stories though.
August’s Writing Bookshelf:
BronyCon!
Time for the big news. This will be my very first year at Bronycon! I’m kinda scared out of my wits and kind crazy excited. Wait… I’m pretty sure Pinkie came up with something for that!
Yeah, not only will I get the chance to meet Adge from SciSetDaily and the legendary bookplayer in person (plus many, many, many others including Deathscar and hopefully hanging out with Mono and company), but I’ll also be hosting a panel for Gardens of Equestria: This Coming Storm!
In fact, this is none other than the World Premiere of Gardens of Equestria’s version of Calamity! In fact, less than half a dozen people have even see our rugged Deadshot’s face! I completely redesigned him just yesterday! Velvet’s going to just completely pass out when she sees him. I might need to add a fainting animation when we first come across Velvet. Hmm…
I don’t yet have the time and date for the panel (schedule isn't out yet), but don’t worry, I intend to let you all know! Not only that, but we’re hoping also to have the amazing Ebon Quill and our new PR Director, Mercury, at the panel as well (there still some things up in the air for scheduling with them).
And yes, I’m quite aware that a vast majority of you all follow me not for the GoE stuff, but for my fiction, but believe it or not, GoE is what led me here to FimFiction in the first place. You should totally come by and check out this thing I’ve been slaving over for over two years! A ton of work went into this presentation and who knows? You may get a chance to see me make a total idiot out of myself when I play the first two levels of Chapter 1 live without any cheats enabled!
So, no matter the reason, I hope you’ll stop by and see what the fuss is about!
AppleDash Contest Entry - In Progress!
Yup. It’s happening. AppleDash Contest. I’m doing it. And it’s going to be hard. I can’t tell you why is going to be hard, save for the obvious reasons: Applejack and Rainbow Dash are two characters you’ve never seen from me before. Believe it or not, I think I have a fairly good handle on Dash. AJ? Not so sure.
So basically, I’m reading a bunch of AppleDash stories. Hopefully, that’ll help me figure out what the hell I’m doing in this contest. Also, have to admit, that prize pool is pretty appealing. That being said, I have to keep reminding myself that if I write for that, the story’s going to turn out awful. I need to write from passion and with heart.
While I very much enjoy AppleDash stories (actually, I just enjoy well-written ships in general), writing a romance between these two types of characters is something very different for me. As you can probably tell, I write characters that resonate with me. Applejack and Rainbow? They just don’t come naturally.
That being said, I had never written Rarity before Diamonds. And I like to think she came out freaking epic. Maybe lightning will strike thrice!
Either way, I’m going to give it my best shot, but I’m definitely going to put my own spin on it. I’d tell you more… but I don’t want to spoil the surprise. 
Unannounced Unofficial Contest Entry - Coming Soon!
I happen to know of another contest that’s going live tomorrow, hosted by someone you all know quite well! Since I’ll be judging, I can’t actually enter the contest properly (which is fine!), but I still want to participate a lot like I did with Interwoven Colours. And I have a really fun idea for a story. One that might actually end up being canon to another story universe I’m working on somewhat quietly. Maybe? Not sure. Maybe it’ll be just a few dimensions over from that universe. Say… a calibration or two?
Honestly, I only have the vaguest idea of this. We'll have to see what happens!
On the Brewing of Saddle Arabian Teas - In Progress!
The next story set after Chaos Theory, this is designed to be a bit of fun. Well, it does now after Cursori and Beltorn saved my tail by helping me brainstorm what the story was about until I landed on the main subject.
Basically, the premise is that Sunset—after her original gift to Princess Celestia for Hearth’s Warming gets wrecked in shipping—decides to go out and get a book about Saddle Arabian Teas. However, the rest of her friends are in the midst of their holiday preparations, so Sunset ends up with Twilight as they explore the secret society of Canterlot Used Bookstores!
Seriously, it’s a crazy, silly romp with some of the most fun characters I’ve ever written. People who run used bookstores are not entirely sane. I know, because really? That’s my dream retirement job.
“Books bend space and time. One reason the owners of those aforesaid little rambling, poky secondhand bookshops always seem slightly unearthly is that many of them really are, having strayed into this world after taking a wrong turning in their own bookshops in worlds where it is considered commendable business practice to wear carpet slippers all the time and open your shop only when you feel like it.”
-Terry Pratchett, Guards! Guards!
Basically, the whole premise is based around this. But even cooler? I’ll be slowly setting up some very important elements for Wavelengths as a whole. So, you’ll have to dig through this story and find out what’s a red herring and what’s just me being silly… and what’s terrifyingly real.
Wait, I used that already. Oh well. Whatever.
The "Currently Reading" Bookshelf
Well, I’m happy to say that I actually finished The Enchanted Library. I did it in a few days, too. And I did over three hundred pages of comments just for Monochromatic. THREE HUNDRED PAGES!!!
Guys, you need to read this book. Seriously. Read it. It’s a fantastic ride from beginning to end. This is how you craft an AU. I have never before come across an AU with such sheer depth of history and mystery before. It’ll be a while until I can create a comment and review that will give this story justice, but I’ll give you my best shot:
Mono created not just a good story, but a masterpiece, of emotion, of mystery, of kindness, of guilt, of demons, of questions, of worth and a dozen other things.
More than anything, Mono created a story of love. An epic saga that cries out to be continued.
Mono should be proud of what she’s accomplished. While it'll take me time to process all of this... you all should know that I stayed up until one thirty in the morning to finish this story.
Mono is a brilliant author, a gifted storyteller and a genius mystery writer. And I am honored to have been able to experience this in one massive burst.
It was worth every second. And it will be worth all the seconds to come.
I loved it.
So, with The Enchanted Library now securely on my “Completed” list (plus my second readthrough of Spectacular Seven, which I also highly recommend) I find myself looking for something big and expansive for my journey to BronyCon.
And in the end, since we’re talking about journies… time to head back on that special journey. One east, to precise. Yup. I think it’s time to continue with the second book of Austraeoh.
At least I know there’s plenty of material to keep me going. Yeah, I’ve had a few friends who aren’t fans, but I’m still going to read it. Though I’ll confess… onomatopoeia (I think I’m using that word right, it’s basically the use of “heheheheheh” in dialogue instead of saying “character laughed”) drives me a little nuts (and by a little, I mean a lot). Still, the sheer amount of worldbuilding I’m seeing in this story is amazing.
Still, this is a story I’m probably going to take in pieces. I’ll need breaks. I tend to write what I read, so when I read plenty of adventure, doing a slice of life piece is really hard. Vice versa as well. There are always exceptions, but still.
I’ve also got a ton of AppleDash stories on my shelf. For obvious reasons. After all, I’m going to be writing one!
Monthly Story Recommendation
Okay, folks. This time, I’m doing something a bit different for my monthly story recommendation. And it’s one that will probably get a ton of upvotes and views and stuff before too long… but it needs to be enjoyed all the same.
And that’s Cynewulf’s We Will Become Silhouettes, the first place winner for Interwoven Colours.
It’s been a full year since a story hit me in such a powerful and personal way. This is a perfect representation of a married couple who've been together long enough to start to lose their passion, question the future and, in some ways, hate the present. The daily drain of the farce, the rut and the routine, leaving them feeling dry and empty.
Rarity and Twilight are both just so tired. Both so worn out from their daily lives that they have nothing left when they come home but empty smiles and empty hearts. Rarity’s tired and running out of things to say. Twilight’s tired and worried that she deserves to not be loved anymore.
The best part? It ends with hope. It’s a subtle hope, created from a single small choice. The issue isn’t fixed. It’s going to be a long road to find themselves again. But they’re going to try. In the end… that’s all they can do.
This story kicked my tail and stabbed me in the heart… but all truly great stories do that. Cynewulf did it with such beauty and grace that it still gives me shivers.
By the way, as an addenum, I'd like to say that Cynewulf may very well be one of the most brilliant minds I've had the pleasure of encountering. And yet, she never uses it like a cudgel. She writes with humility and respect, stories from reality that speak into the inner parts of our lives. We could all learn a great deal from her. I plan to.
Okay, folks! That's it for me today! Worked my tail off on this stuff and I'm glad you folks are still enjoying my stories! May you continue to do so! As usual, shoutouts to my amazing editing team of Ebon Quill, Beltorn, Cursori and Little Tinker. Without these brave souls, you wouldn't be getting such epic stories (and I may or may not be saner. I haven't decided).
And please, if you're coming to BronyCon, let me know! I'd love to meet you! Best way is to just come to the Gardens of Equestria panel!
Until next time, have fun out there!
-Novel
(By the way, I happened to have been there for the inception of Justice's story inspired by this Don't Drink and Science. It was glorious. Oroboro, Albi and I all are going to eventually take cracks at it just like Justice3442)
It's been a great month. Thanks for hosting Camp NaNo for us and for cracking the whip when necessary. As soon as the welts heal we'll be really grateful for it.
Also, good to see that you'll be unofficially entering that contest. Hopefully you blow it out of the park like you did with Diamonds and give us a great story about [REDACTED] and [REDACTED] doing [REDACTED] that we wish was eligible so that we could cheer for it.
(The contest is gonna be great. Everyone get hyped!)
Hmm...
All things considered, I see no reason why I can't join in the fun with the scientific lesbian spawn. This bears further consideration.
You wrote words, they have bent time, and as a result that gif appeared a second time. Just as the other quote by Pratchett says,
Big thanks for the stories, blogs and anything you throw our way. As always, glad to be of help.
Woo! Congrats on making your word count goal this month! And on the pretty good review as well. Shame about not placing in the contest, but, well, there'll always be more.
Absolutely fantastic to see Prerogative finally going live. Great job to all involved; it still boggles my mind that the editing process was apparently so brutal for you all
Not much to say about The Tarnished Crown that I haven't already said I think, but good job on that as well. Not sure if I'll be looking into any of the other RariTwi stories, but who knows.
I'm glad to hear that not only do you have a solid plan for the Infatuations arc and that it's been expanded as well; more stories to look forward to reading!
Not going to BronyCon myself as I'm flat broke, but have fun at it. Same with your contest entries! I'm not really an AppleDash girl myself, but I don't mind it and with your quality of writing I'll be sure to check it out when it's done.
Super, super excited for Saddle Arabian Teas, of course. I'm a big fan of the Discworld series, and the power of words and books within it and so applying that to Ponies strikes a major chord with me. I hope it is less of a monster to edit than Prerogative was.
As for your story recs...well, I put The Enchanted Library on my to-read list at least. I'm a sucker for depth of history in an AU; it's something I've been workings towards with my own stories.
Anyway, here's to another wonderful month of writing!
May the next be just as good, and may you and your editors make it through in one piece.