Random Ramblings CCXXVII · 9:30am Feb 6th, 2018
IN WHICH HO RICEVUTO UNA RICHIESTA
Hi. Sorry I haven't been around in awhile. You probably didn't notice. I've also been mostly absent from social media. I didn't want to make another post until I was further along in my Sunset story so I'd have something to share with y'all. I don't have that, but I do have something. Follow me!
First, the main reason for my lack of progress on story is that I've been legit busy recently -- doctor's appointments, errands, chores, general adulting, depression -- and it left me little time to sit back and write. The weather's also been crazy so I haven't had many chances to get to the park and recharge my batteries. I often talk out story plots to myself while walking the mile circuit, and this Sunset story was no different. Last week while on a walk, I finally figured out how the middle of this story should go, and CoffeeMinion - who is kindly helping me with the final two Recovery Arc stories - reminded me of important foreshadowing plot elements that will NEED to go in this story -- not unlike how I used Posh's crazy spider idea to foreshadow Rarity's photoshoot (that sh!t was still a blast to write). So regrettably, you'll have to wait longer for the last three stories.
Second, during my absence, I officially passed 275 Followers. Yay! That may be nothing compared to the big guys & gals, but it's nice that people are still finding my work and enjoying it enough to consider me worth a look. I'm happy y'all are along for the ride.
Third, you might be wondering why I wrote half my subtitle in broken Italian. That's because a few days ago, I received a PM from a follower from Italy who asked my permission to translate my stories into Italian. My reply was a no-brainer -- hell yeah! I consider it a tremendous honour that someone wants to take the time to try to translate me. I'm hoping my follower will follow through, as I'm curious to see how my work turns out in another language.
In my reply, in addition to the standard requesting linkbacks and such, I apologized that I don't speak any Italian -- in school I took French and New-World Spanish and am much more comfortable with the former -- so I wouldn't be much direct help. I'm no James Joyce (thank god) or William Faulkner (sadly; though as a fellow Southerner, I take influence from his style). However, my stories often have many references, some more obscure than others. When a kind German (I think) fellow did a reading of Adagio's burrito story, he did a great job on 99% of it, but didn't catch a reference to Sonata watching Sesame Street and counting like Count Von Count, so his laugh at that part kinda failed. But I was still stoked to get a reading at all.
I told this crazy well-meaning Italian to let me know if he had any questions -- what I meant was: if you hit a reference you don't understand, I'll be happy to explain it. You can either translate it verbatim OR my preference would be to stick a relevant Italian reference in instead. Translation is an art, not a science, and I believe it's more important to keep the spirit of a story than its verbatim language. Want to convert the Imperial measures I use to metric? Go ahead. Swap out US/UK song/TV references for Italian ones if need be. Readers have told me my stories are engaging and fun to read unless they bring forth the feels. I hope a translation or adaptation of my work can arouse the same feelings. That, of course, is up to the skill of the translator.
I pity any poor bastard who tries to translate "A Day In The Park". It's only 1600 words, but it's dense with references -- well over a dozen different acts and nearly thirty songs, plus an obscure shout-out to Cool Hand Luke.
I also hope that, unlike my English originals, Recovery Arc translations are actually done in GUIDE order rather than upload order. I've jerked y'all around so much with that and I'm so sorry. Rest assured the final three stories WILL be uploaded in their proper order. Anyway, it's 3:30 in the A.M. and I'm getting sleepy and I've probably blabbed enough. If you read this far, how's about leaving me a pony emote in the comments so I know I'm not just babbling to myself like I do IRL? I'd appreciate it.
Peace out!
THIS IS MY PONY EMOTE:
THERE ARE MANY LIKE IT BUT THIS ONE IS MINE