I've got 99 followers... · 3:50am Nov 9th, 2012
... but a -
You know, there's not really a good way to make this joke in a tasteful manner, so I'll leave it at that.
Anyways, I'm taking a break (intentionally, vice my previous occasions) from tMiaHM so that I can work of PG, of which I just posted ch3. Private Gig is a pleasant sort of break for me - it has a strange sweetness to it (in my mind), the chapters are nice and short (which means I hit milestones more often, and therefore tend to get more satisfaction), and it's a nice exercise in moving the story along vice portraying every little thing. Also, it's a ship. I love ships => navy.
As I was saying, Private Gig. You see the image for it? It was originally two separate drawings - one of Twi and one of Octy (and you can see subtle differences between them, if you look closely) - and by pure chance I put them in a pile such that this general pose came out. I was immediately struck by the urge to write a Twitavia story, and I've played with three to five different variations of style and premise since then, and this was the ultimate outcome. It covers some kind of adult themes (portraying Octavia as a companion/escort), but it's neither clop nor sexual comedy (think Friendly Uncle). There's not much a niche in the fandom for this sort of thing, I think, and it'd probably get a better reaction had I gone one these other routes, or simply done a fluffy romantic piece between them (which was one of my considerations). Nonetheless, PG became what it was, and it's what I want to do with it. I have a lot of wiggle room with this piece and I like it.
On the subject of which, Octy might be one of my favorite background ponies for one particular reason - she's so undefined. All we know about her is that she plays the cello, and she played at the GGG. Beyond that, nothing. There's so much to play with! Did she come from the middle class, taking orchestra all through school until she got a musical scholarship? Is she the scioness to a family of wealthy nobles? If so, does she act it, or is she the prodigal daughter? Or, as I wonder with PG, could she just use her music to supplement her real business - she could be a refined attendant/escort (ala the companions from Firefly).
Honestly, I think this character has so much potential that's untapped.
I was this close to rating it mature, but my primary prereader, editor, and sometimes-director (DirePony, who deserves thanks for always helping me) convinced me to do otherwise. The issue is in the precise definitions of what makes something rated 'Teen' versus 'Mature' on FimFic, and the keyword in the descriptions was 'graphic'. While I consider some of this story's themes mature (cough cough prostitution cough), PG won't be sexually or violently graphic, so according to FimFic itself, it should hypothetically be rated 'Teen'. It does not, however, address the subject of language/swearing, and I don't want to discomfit my audience. If I start getting comments or PMs that I should change the rating, I'll keep them in mind; I read all the comments on all my stories, even if I don't respond to them all.
So thanks much to DirePony, everyone who's enjoyed (or even just read) my stories, and of course my 99 followers.
Authors do their best and are now preparing. Please wait warmly until it is ready.
~NavyPony
And you deserve so many more.
After just over 13k words on TMiaHM, you could use a break. I still hope you'll continue Harsh Moon (nick name? ) once you've gotten some other things done I hope.
Read your whole talk about Tavi... Makes me wish more writers didn't pander to memes as such and try more at making their own Octavia. I'll pick up Private Gig once I finish sorting through my mail and these last few paragraphs of a DT story I'm on.
Love your Luna so far by the way, hope to see some more after the holidays perhaps
486425 That would require writing 1k ships and or an OctaPie :P
But seriously, yes, yes he does!
I'm very interested to see what you do with PG precisely for the reason you describe: Octavia is very undefined, and she offers so many unexplored possibilities. Considering that she's most often paired with Vinyl (understandably, IMO), shipping her with Twilight is going to be a unique change of pace.