State of the... Writer? That sounds a little formal, but oookay, 2018 · 7:53pm Jan 1st, 2019
My mom used to ask me if all of my friends jumped off a bridge, would I jump as well? That question was always pretty easy for me to answer, because I could just laugh and say "Oh, mom, you know I don't have friends." Still, the question behind the question remains: will I do what everyone else is doing just because they're doing it? And the answer, dear readers, is sure, if it looks like fun and doesn't cause anyone any sort of harm. And what harm could happen from writing an end-of-the-year review?
Well, you could all get increasingly tired of my pedantic introductions and just chant en mass "get on with it!" And honestly? That's fair. And I had a very long year, with a whopping total of 14 stories published here, so buckle in for an unnecessarily detailed recount of the life of a stranger you see on the interwebs!
This year didn't start off well for me. I was at my parent's house, doing community college and debating getting a part-time job. Mentally, I was at a pretty low point, but I did publish quite a few stories I had partially written up! Less responsibility meant more time for creativity, apparently, and I was eager to submit story after story.
For January, we had:
A story that all of you found charming, and found its way to the feature box, much to my surprise
A sequel to that one TwiDash fic I wrote a while back, this time with more fluff
A story for that Wonderbolts contest that I failed to win but still enjoyed writing. Spitfire is fun to write for, everyone! Who knew?
A mature story that is slowly gaining comments that I should write a second chapter... that's still a maybe, I do have a draft in the works
[Adult story embed hidden]
February, for me, was pretty much the same. I was getting comfortable with classes, and trying to get my life back on track. It was another busy story month.
This story was totally not a ponyfication of a story I submitted for my creative writing class (to which my teacher said I need to write something else, because mental hospitals are always portrayed as bad, and there are a lot of stories about it. To which I thought, yeah, there's a reason for that, though.)
Remember that unnecessary mature story about Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo getting funky & creative with items they use to do things with? And its unnecessary sequel? Well, here's another one.
[Adult story embed hidden]
And we have... honestly, the story I'm most proud of here. I wish more people would read it. I submitted it to Equestria Daily, and still haven't heard back, which may be a blessing since they aren't usually fans of my writing style.
And that was February. Then came March... Okay. In March, I ran away from home. Had a pretty rough disagreement with my parents (culminating in my dad trying to run an investigation on my girlfriend, and getting a detective on the phone to try to convince me to stay) and decided enough was enough. Took a plane the next morning, and went to live with said girlfriend and her gracious boyfriend.
It was the best decision I've ever made in my life. Still, life got a whole lot rougher, and with that, my story output suffered. I didn't write anything in March. In April, I think I got sick? As it turns out, job hunting without having a job currently is really really difficult, especially with little experience. You all got one story, though. Thanks for sticking with me.
I published a story I'd been sitting on for a while, and immediately got flooded with comments about me telling people not to take their mental health meds. Surprisingly, this story was a thought experiment for me, and not about that at all. Oh well.
In May, I was still looking for a job, and funds were getting low, but I still found the time to write a few stories. And for some unfathomable reason, my editors and readers alike stuck with me and encouraged me.
This one was my first LGBTQ+ -focused story, and I think it went pretty well!
And this story was an unfinished project: to write a chapter with each of the Mane 6 comforting you. Second person is tricky, and I ultimately abandoned the project for the time being.
In June, I went to visit my parents at a beach house (partially because they paid for the tickets; I was somehow still on speaking terms with them), got sand in unmentionable places, and had an alright time. I also found out that when you run away from home, you have this barrier between you and your family, and that's something I'm not sure if I can break, at least with the youngest member I impacted. Brother, if you're somehow reading this, I'm truly sorry.
Still wrote some stories, though! This one, I wrote in the car while half awake, posted it, and fell asleep. Imagine my shock when I woke up the next morning and it was featured!
Obscure fluffy cute shipfic is obscure. The few that read it seemed to enjoy it, so I'd still say it's a win
And then, in July, I got a job. It wasn't a very fun job; call centers usually aren't, and this one was horrible. But it paid, and I stuck with it until November. During that period, I published one story, which is pretty good considering I was slowly getting my soul crushed.
Remember that TwiDash story I mentioned earlier in this? Have a rewrite of the first story, from Rainbow Dash's perspective!
After November, I got a better offer at a bank call center and quit my job. It was terrifying. How do people just walk up and say "I quit?" I don't know how I did. But I did write a story in the time between jobs!
This is one of those stories where I'm still not sure what the point of it is, despite being the one who wrote it. Enough of you enjoyed it that it was featured, which was nice. Thank you all for a wonderful ending to my year of stories!
And then... I started training in early December, and have been working hard to adjust to my new job ever since. This year has been one of change, and I hope that the new year brings only the good sort of changes to come. I hope all of your new years bring you happiness and comfort, and that you continue to push onward as well. Happy New Year, everypony!
This... sounds so much like someone I know. She left her family to live with girlfriends, and ended up moving across the country. She is doing well now, and actually visits her family sometimes, even if they don't get along super well. I'm glad you're happy with your partner(s). That must have been pretty scary leaving home to find a new one.
I will read some more of your work, because it is quite good. I just don't read a ton. I did enjoy this post though, even the tags.
I wish you the best in 2019 and all the years to follow.
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Thank you so much! Also, thanks for reading some of my stories. I love seeing you in my notifications! ♥
The fact that you read some of the things I write means the world to me. I hope you have a wonderful 2019, filled with many wonderful things.
4989396
Awww~ I will make sure to comment on what I do read. So far, your stories (and this blog post) have resonated with me so much. Like, feelings and experiences I've had or know someone who had, being put into words in the totally different context of someone else's life, while feeling so familiar. I don't know, it just feels wonderful to feel a little less alone in that respect, I guess. I'm not really sure how else to phrase it.
I'm super glad you commented on my story, because that was how I found you, and I'm glad I did. Your writing just feels so relatable to me so far.
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I'm honored that you read my stories. I loved your story, by the way. I was so delighted to read the extra chapters. You have a gift for writing, and I can't wait to read everything else!
I'm happy it seems relatable. It's comforting to know that other people have similar experiences as well.
4989396
I may not being into all the kinks you are, but I am a proud member of cts and we have spoken a bit on the server, and I just wanted you to know im happy things are slowly getting better for you, and that even if it gets worse again, there is ALWAYS hope, I have been in and out terrible situations in life like you have, so I know how it feels *hugs* happy new year, everything is gonna be oki
Happy new year! Hopefully this year will be a bit less crazy for you and lend itself to allowing you to write more of your amazing stories. Thanks for being inspiring and awesome!
That beginning really had me worried about you! I'm so happy that things are working out for the better! Things can be tough in life, yah' know? It can be a messy tangle of knots and frayed ends, but I know you can make it through it with a little work and endurance! You made it through such stress and still managed to see another year, after all, you know? Running takes a lot of bravery, more than staying ever could. You just have to make sure you never stop striving for what you believe in! After all, you're not you if you don't believe in yourself!
Is it really "running away from home" if you're already an adult? Wouldn't that just be "moving out"? Regardless, I'm glad you were able to escape from a toxic living situation and go be with the ones you truly love. I hope that there will be more happiness in your future :)