Spectrum of Gray Inducted into the Royal Canterlot Library · 12:18am Mar 4th, 2019
I’ve written and rewritten the beginning of this blog about a dozen times now. I couldn't seem to get it right. So, let’s just get honest and real.
As you’ve probably seen, I was just inducted into the Royal Canterlot Library with Spectrum of Gray. I’ve known about this for a few weeks, but that victory hasn’t tarnished in the slightest.
For years, I have wanted to get a story into RCL, widely renowned as the Hall of Fame of FimFiction. I’ve seen friend after friend join those ranks and I’ll admit I was jealous. Don’t get me wrong. Every one of those people deserved it and then some! But I wanted in. I wanted to earn that award.
That being said, I never once aimed for it. I wrote the stories I wrote. In fact, someone once told me that Spectrum of Gray wouldn’t win the AppleDash contest because it wasn’t what shippers normally want (namely, cute fluffy shippy stuff). I fully agreed with them (being a shipper to the core). I believed it either wouldn’t place or all… or it would probably claim second or so.
I never imagined it would not only claim first place, but also become the story immortalized for the RCL.
My Kind of Crazy, my wonderfully fluffy SkyPie story which I still love because it’s so friggin’ cute, was recommended last year, but sadly didn’t make the nomination.
Which story would I rather have in the RCL? Part of me says Crazy because it’s easier for me to read and it's so cute and it's like... so amazingly Pinkie. But… if I had to choose which story was more important, I would choose Gray.
I know I have a huge interview up there (and yeah, I let myself go way too far with that… probably). So I’m not going to keep going on and on.
I want to say this though: I’m crazy happy to have this. It was my last major FimFic Bucket List Item. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not done by a long shot. But now… I can relax a little. And I can better celebrate when my friends land a RCL entry, something I should have been able to do in the first place.
So… thank you. To everyone. To my readers, to my editors, to everyone. Thank you for helping make this happen. Thank you to RBDash47 for the nomination and Undome Twine for the recommendation.
Thank you for making easily the most brutal story I have ever lived become part of my legacy. If it helps a single person, then it’s all worthwhile.
-Novel
I'm gonna stop reposting my comment about Spectrum being important. I think I've made my thoughts on that abundantly clear. I'm just going to say congratulations once again, and that you absolutely deserved the induction.
I know the feeling of wanting it but not aiming for it. (especially on the jealousy front, sadly) I've been seeing story upon story put there, and now it's even encompassed writer's I'm coming to know. While I don't aim directly for it, I do think it would be nice to stand among you and the other amazing writers up there. But I doubt a long-winded romp like mine would be their cup of tea anyway.
Needless to say, I'm probably gonna be giving this story a read in the future. You deserve the induction!
I try not to be bitter as well.
Congratulations! You definitely deserve this victory.
Seriously well deserved, Novel. You're incredible, you've done incredible things for the community, and you write incredible stories. The RCL is better off with your inclusion
I'll have to read that one.
It's a problem, finding time to read all the interesting things on this site... >_>
Congrats!
Congrats!! Very happy for you! :D
Congrats!
I should go and read it now.
Congrats. Speaking from experience, getting in the RCL's a big thrill!
That's the way you gotta do it. Write the stories you want to write. Nothing else ends up feeling as real.
5022655
Thank you, Mel. A thousand times thank you.
5022666
I've seen authors both new and old join the ranks of the RCL. While my experience is that they don't tend to like very long stories (they do try and get a new one out every week after all), focus on you and your writing. The honor isn't the goal, a good story is!
Thank you so much!
5022709
It's not easy, but it's worth it to hold out and focus on telling a good story. The bitterness won't help. It just hurts you.
5022734
Thank you, Briar!
5022736
Wow, that's high praise indeed. Some of it has been for a taste of fame, but most of my crazy ideas are "Wouldn't it be cool if..." Then I just ask if people want to help... and I'm usually shocked when they do.
As for my stories, I'm happy people enjoy them (and still a bit shocked). So thank you!
5022746
It took me a very long time to figure out that I actually had way more time to read than I thought, but they were always bite-sized pieces during my day. That's the only way I've found to make it work!
Thank you!
5022790
Thank you so much, GMP! That means a lot!
5022853
Yes, yes you should.Nah, I'm kidding (mostly). Thank you!
5022854
Thanks Winston. I knew you'd get it. Aiming for reward with a story just taints it somehow. To borrow from the Kingkiller Chronicles, the goal is to "play a beautiful game," not to win.
5030253
I've always loved the scene where the beautiful game is explained.
Hell, I just love Kingkiller, and can't wait for Doors of Stone.
5030348
Me too. Assuming he ever gets around to the darn thing!
5032097
I may or may not have adopted and adapted parts of the first two novels and the novella.
5032109
Oooh. Now that's a shiny idea!
5032472
To me, Earth pony magitech has always either been engineering or sygaldry.