Random Ramblings CCXXI · 8:15am Jan 10th, 2018
IN WHICH ONE IS ALWAYS LEARNING
Over the past week, I rented at the public library three of the greatest movies ever made -- the first two Godfather films and The Seven Samurai. I enjoyed the hell out of all of them. It makes me wonder what if anything they can teach me about how to improve my own writing. Let's find out...
If you're not spending at least some of your time learning and absorbing and synthesizing new information, you may as well be dead. I'm in my 30's; I've been out of school for nearly six years (and it took me a long time to get through college due to my broken brain). But just because I'm not sitting in a classroom doesn't mean I'm suddenly averse to new information. I'm a skeptical and inquisitive person by nature -- even though I've always sucked at asking questions. Y'know, that's one thing schools really ought to teach: how to ask questions. People don't want to because they're afraid they'll look stupid (or they just don't care). Critical thinking. As much as education reformers talk about its importance, I'm still not sure what it is. Whatever it is, it sure as fuck ain't filling in bubbles on a Scantron.
Anyway, I noticed that several of my stories have been reviewed lately. Comma Comma was deemed "hilarious" and "so insane the fourth wall can't take it", both of which are true. However, there was a criticism about how I characterize Twilight Sparkle, that I make her out to be meaner than her canon portrayal. Well thank the gods the reviewer hasn't read my Spike stories, where she's an outright antagonist. I've made no secret of my dislike for Twilight, a seed that started growing a year before she got herself Ascended. Sure there are episodes where she's tolerable -- and maybe they fixed her in the episodes I haven't seen yet -- but much of the time she comes off to me as preachy. I hate preachy. Living in the American South, you constantly deal with people who are so sure of their own beliefs and righteousness and get in your face about it.
Southerners are the friendliest people in the world… as long as you don't question their "way of life" (read: bigotry, religion, politics). Yankees can be assholes, but they're not as likely to stick their nose in your business.
So this reviewer also looked at the block of Sunny Redemption Arc stories. While he did find parts of it good -- apparently Sunset naming her personal possessions is something unique to my work -- he declared it just okay. That disappoints me more than it should. Not because I necessarily have any faith in my writing, but because the last three stories have yet to be published. It's like judging a book half-finished. He correctly pointed out the "heavy" stuff is in the first six stories -- Sasha, H&L, NoFS, L&H, RVSS@4, EM, Recon (that's seven; he must have missed the fact that Sasha is chronologically first). But to me, what happens after is just as important. Sunset didn't recover by simply going back to school. Lord no. She's still got demons to fight and scores to settle. One person and one Pony with whom she must reconcile. I've already written those stories and will resend my prereader the links to their Gdocs as soon as I can get to the library.
I also need to write the short that will bridge the gap between Rarity Reveals and The Rejected. It's not a big time gap, but it is something of a psychological one. As more than two years have passed since I published L&H and my own mind has healed somewhat from the hell that was 2016, Sunset has become sassier, more like her canon self. Since Sasha was written after the heavy stuff, I had to REALLY hold back and try to keep Sunset in her "broken" state, even though she had largely moved beyond it. Aside from Posh's (correct) criticism of Rarity's too-quick change of heart, I'm absolutely satisfied with that story and its characters; it was a challenge to have to go backwards like that.
Before that, Mayor Mare. Like I said before, I have a hard deadline of Jan.20th for that story. No matter what else I want to do, that comes first.
Hopefully, my recent intake of good film and storytelling will rub off on me and help my writing suck less. I want to become better. I'm not there yet. Hopefully I can be soon. I appreciate all y'all who continue to support me. While I could technically do this without you, it wouldn't be nearly as satisfying or rewarding. I'm so glad you've joined me on this crazy train. We've still got a few more stops before I reach Grand Central Terminal.
Peace out!
I've always liked your take on Sunset's struggle to deal with the deep problems that led her to where she was. The journey to self-forgiveness is a lot tougher than being given a group of friends by royal decree and humming happily along the path to salvation. Sure, the cartoons are aimed primarily at kids but as adults we know it very often just doesn't work that way.
And I love the Spike stories. It's not such a stretch to take some of Twilight's character traits and exaggerate them just a bit for purposes of comedy. Making her the antagonist of the stories is hilarious and thoroughly enjoyable; it's not like you went full "Cupcakes" or "Rainbow Factory" with her.
The fact that your work is being reviewed, as well as the fact that it has attracted the attention of some of the more talented users on this site should speak volumes for the quality of your work, criticism or not.
I, being very new at writing, have been influenced by your work—specifically the Sunset Recovery Arc—and I have been able to apply what I’ve learned from you to my own writing in a positive way. Be proud of what you do; it is good.
4770722, 4770806
Thank you both!