2018, a year come and gone... · 5:59am Dec 24th, 2018
Where to start, where to start? Well, I guess first things first is to thank each and every one of you; Yes, I do mean YOU, the one reading these words right now, for taking the time to check out my stories, supporting me over the past year and even taking the time to read this blog post. It will be a year ago tomorrow, December 25th, 2017 that I really decided I had something here and posted my first Christmas story as a sort of "thanks" to give back to you all.
After hitting a small roadblock, with me and my now fiancee trying to get a place to all home for just the two of us, as living with my parents wasn't working for anyone. And so, we did just that. It was a weird start to live on our own, the cost, the time, and the energy required for us to make that large jump took my focus away from here and for good reason. But we did it, a few scraped knees and skinned fingers during the learning process but we made it out on top.
It was around the end of May, when I came back with A Sparkle of Love (a story I know I need to get back into...) chapter 2 and it blew me out of the water. That was the first time I felt really noticed, and I use the term here loosely, "popular" mostly because even though I deeply enjoyed that feeling, I realized that wasn't everything. It warmed my heart to see that people read my stories, the words I wove had gotten people interested and I knew I was on a roll. So with that under my belt, I quickly put out a calling for my 5 year anniversary. I figured, I'd write something someone requested to celebrate.... Little did I realize just how a simple idea would pretty much take off like a rocket.
Plundering Cadence's Cavern, aside from the multiple people who told me I spelled her name wrong (Not going to get into that today) the majority of people LOVED it. I mean, it blew up and just recently passed 10k views. Riding the high off that, I quickly started on a follow up as people demanded more. Though putting a small idea from my then editor out, I threw the second story up in about a months time. That was when I was close to 200 followers, now at the time of writing this, I have just over 300. That was insane to me, to have my notifications almost blowing up in my face for the first time, where both stories ALMOST got featured at the same time. It was here where I made my own Discord server, for fans of my work and mlp in general, could find a safe haven to just relax and enjoy themselves. It's turned into a tight little community that has helped shaped many souls into what they are today, including mine.
Taking a few weeks to let it all sink in, my brain continued to think of new and wonderful ideas, and in about middle August, it came to me. Write a story about the little Amazon pony, Kiva. It was perfect! I searched for days, trying to find out as much as I could about the little robot, but when I turned up empty handed I had to get creative.
And this is where I dropped the ball a bit. I wanted the full story written by November, edited and ready to go so I quickly got started on a rough draft to help keep my thoughts on track. It was a poor move on my part, I'd always just kinda went by the seat of my ass when it came to writing stories. So now that I was tired back to this draft, I felt almost stuck in a way. With my work not really helping me, almost leading to me just walking out on them, I knew something was not going to go right. A few months passed by before I realized it was really suffering, so I pulled the plug, but kept the remains hidden away, waiting for the time that I could re-awaken it once more.
Then I got another silly idea, one inspired by a simple picture of Scootaloo playing the bass, and nothing more. It spoke to me, being a musician myself, and I came up with the idea behind Searching for the Beat. Managing to get down a few chapters, and with a quick story written for a good friend of mine for his birthday, that pretty much brings me to the current time. This month I've posted even a quick gayclop fic, the first one I'd have ever done, and it really kind of opened the boundaries of what I could write. But I kept up with at least one new thing every month, though it was quite difficult though rewarding to do.
This brings only my outlook on the future, and my plans for 2019. Write, write more, and boy wouldn't you guess it, I'ma write some more dammit! Because I enjoy this, all of this. Reading, writing and just being able to share stories for those that want to see them...
Now, I guess there should be what to expect? I'm going to finish off Searching for the Beat within the first two months of the year, update Sparkle of Love as well. Post another chapter to A Shot of Scotch as people need that cutie Butterscotch ;3 In this time frame, I have my hand in rebooting a story with a friend of mine named Duskhoof. A little old story called Luna Switched that he and I are co-writing together and already have a few chapters in the bag to give to those that wanted that story to make a comeback. There are a few more clop shots, maybe even a few short stories I'd like to write between now and this time next year. But I want to write MORE, I want to POST more, and I sure as hell aren't going to stop now. So I hope you're buckled in, 'cause this year might just get a little bit, screwy!
Expect the new story featuring YOU and Tempest Shadow to slide into your feed Christmas morning. So excuse yourself to the bathroom and spend a good thirty minutes in there reading this saucy, and story filled.... Well, story! I've put a lot of work into it, and hope you all enjoy. I hope you all have a wonderful holidays, Christmas, Hearth's Warming, whatever. Know that this year WILL go out with a bang, and come in with some smooth jazz and a laid back groove. Until then, see you all in the next update!
P.S. Stay safe everypony!~
have a great and safe 2019, and I hope your Hearth's Warming is great, hopefully you get some more totally awesome fics out
Keep at it Syn, you have your Entire Discord Server backing you! Have a Happy New Years, Christmas and an Even Better Boxing Day (yes this lowly american knows what Boxing Day is) cous boy with your job you sure need all the time off you can get
Also I can't wait for the Tempest story! She get's so little love
Happy Holidays bro.
Have a happy and prosperous ‘Hearth’s Warming’ and New Year, I can never wait nor cease to be astounded by what you produce next.
Should you ever feel like you don’t have the skill, intellect or charisma to keep writing and pulling off successful stories, look back at this year and say ‘I can. I will.’
Always, your brother from a British Mother,
~Dusky
Merry Christmas and Happy Hearths Warming. And write on!