What I've Learned: Five Years on FIMFiction · 1:08am Jun 24th, 2019
Dear Bronies and Pegasisters,
with the anniversary of my five years of writing stories on this website, gaining over five-hundred followers from different walks of life and across the world, I have indeed grown as a storyteller. Not only have I gained the respectability of writers that I have looked up to and read, but I have learned several life lessons on a site that focuses on fan fiction about colorful ponies. Looking back to the ups and downs of my time writing an astounding 75 stories that, at this moment in time, all add up to a total of 1,719,732 words, with the people I've made contact with, I've decided that now would be the time to share the wisdom of my experience on FIMFiction. Although there are many lessons that I could name, these are the few that easily come to mind and I thought I should share.
1: Fame and Satisfaction
I confess that when I started out, I couldn't imagine that I would have gained a following at all. Even before I knew anything about Bronies and My Little Pony, I have spent years of experimenting since I was eleven to figure out what kind of stories I wanted to tell. The reason has been consistent all these years that I wanted to gain fame as a writer. I wanted to publish books, to be a muse to someone out there. I wanted to be remembered for the stories I put out. Because I had felt that my voice wasn't being heard. For a while, however, there was a time that I fell into a kind of depression in thinking that nobody would want to read what I've created to the point where I couldn't finish my short stories.
That was... until I discovered a muse in an unexpected place - My Little Pony. When I saw first the creation of what the fans have made from comics to animations and later to the stories they told, it got me interested enough to look into the show itself. From there, when I had thought my well of inspiration had run dry, suddenly there was a cornucopia of ideas that sprung into mind. When I've discovered FIMFiction, I didn't write straight away as at first, I was just reading the stories. But what convinced me was that although there were indeed some good stories, there weren't any of the kind that I wanted to read. It took a long time for me to decide to finally get an account and to start posting stories. Then, slowly at first, the stories that I thought nobody would read became noticed by complete strangers.
I admit, there are times that I got greedy with the attention I was getting. Each story that I post has been in hopes that they would get noticed, with comments to give feedback on; even hoping to get a comment to say that this story is indeed good. Of course, there have been times in which got a surprisingly large amount of attention from "My Little Girl," to "Discord Teaches Philosophy," while at others they're hardly viewed at all. When my stories don't get enough attention, it's often a disheartening experience.
However, recently I've remembered back when I started and realized something. Perhaps, I had my idea of success backward all along. I've come to realize that getting attention is nice, it shouldn't define success. Being a writer, although getting attention is nice, I've learned that regardless if it gets praised or none at all, the only audience you must satisfy above all else, is yourself. The stories I've written are the kind that I wanted to read. I'd rather have my best work go unnoticed than to have my worst to become popular. The fact that I wrote over a million words dedicated to a fandom that maybe will never be well known isn't a cause for defeat - but a victory. Although I got the audience that I've wanted, I will not go against the creed of creating art for its own sake. In a way, it's my version of therapy. It's my way of challenging my mind to use my imagination in ways that are entertaining and thought-provoking. For any of it to become popular isn't the point, I am proud for creating the stories and seeing them to completion.
The truth is that as much as I could accommodate and adapt, not everyone is going to be satisfied with what I put out there, but that's okay. Even with the most popular of stories, not everyone will like them for whatever reason and realize that this is normal. If a comment or two says that this sucks, it's best to leave it be and focus on what kind of story you want to tell.
2: Humility and Critisim
Believe it or not, out of all the classes I've taken in both High School and College from English to Creative Writing, I would still have to say that I've learned more about writing on this site than any other. I've learned so much during these five years from how to make a narrative sound natural to know when a story has gone too long. It's all comes down to the readers leaving comments. Most of the time, you, the readers, have been the biggest guide from your blunt but honest statements. Now, I won't lie in saying that when I started out, I was quite sensitive to criticism. Even with my early works, just hearing the feedback from my parents was enough to get me angry or outright cry. This kind of extended to the early stories that have been posted; that I would get depressed not over the grammar or punctuation errors, but pointing out the flaws of the story. I admit that there was a point that I took the stuff too much to heart to where I almost gave up writing altogether. That was until I've learned another lesson: focus on the criticism that you can use. If a comment is completely negative and doesn't give so much as a suggestion of how to improve, I've found that they're not worth listening to. However, the criticism from those that, despite sounding harsh, if they have a way or a point where the story could benefit from, I use it. Since then, my writing has improved beyond my expectations. From you, I've learned about how to frame a natural sounding narrative, using common sense, focus my writing on what's really important, and most important of all - that although you're not a genius at the art, it is wise to listen to your audience.
3: Characters and World Building
Another thing I've learned on FIMFiction is the importance of balance. Be it from the show of them showing examples of extreme to find that middle ground in friendships, or even just reading stories on this site, what drew me in every time is how imaginative it all is between the endless possibilities of the characters and the places they lived in. Of course, even for someone as experienced as I am, it's always a tightrope that us writers must walk across. For it there's too much description, explaining, and world-building, the work becomes cluttered and messy. If anything, if the writer takes too much time in the first five paragraphs to set up a situation to explain something before giving a single line of dialogue, then it's very rare for me to continue because I often find it boring. On the other hand, however, if the characters are established but never once given the audience a hint as to where it's all taken place, then your readers will be left confused.
It's a difficult tight rope walk, but's one that we must walk across. Sometimes my readers would complain that I focus too much on the characters and not enough to explain how this place they're in works. Again, if it's useful to the story, I would often time listen to it, but when it gets to the point they want to know about where they get their food, for example, more than wanting to know what the characters are going through; then that's where I draw the line. I had to ask the question: would you rather read an encyclopedia of a world that goes into detail of how a fictional place functions including the production of nails; or a book about a fictional character that's experiencing this world with you? Not to say that stories shouldn't have a setting to paint the scene to give the reader an idea where and when it's taken place, it should never trump over the presence of the characters. The characters in the foreground should never be in the background, and the setting background should not be the foreground.
While I'm on the topic of characters, it should be noted that while I do describe at times what they look like, their movements or their emotions, you might notice that there's still plenty of dialogue in every story I've written. If anything, I consider this to be the most important part, especially how they interact with other characters. On this site, the best stories I've come across are often times when there's a conversation. If they're done right, they can be interesting, funny, thought-provoking, deep, heart-warming, heart-wrenching, and is a useful tool in character development than any other. It's a philosophy that I follow from my favorite book, "Alice in Wonderland," that puts it perfectly. "What is the use of a book without pictures or conversations?"
Again, the conversation shouldn't solely be about giving out expansion. Using what your character says should be dedicated to what they think and feel. In this way, it helps readers be connected to them, not just by their charm, but from their wide range of emotions of how they handle ever-changing situations. Every time I write a character, I often have to think of how would a person as this character would react to a situation like this. The best way to do it is to listen to what they have to say.
4: What the Audience Wants
You might notice by now that I don't often express what goes on in my real life other than telling you, the reader, except when I'm on vacation and not to expect some updates for a few weeks. I've learned early on a harsh but important lesson when it comes to my audience. The audience doesn't give a damn about you or what problems you're going through, the only thing they want to read is your fictional stories. As blunt, if not insensitive as this is, there is a hard truth to be learned from. I've often seen people on this site who would write about their OC's that is just a thinly veiled version of themselves and their problems they're dealing with. In the end, they often suffer because although they seek help, getting it from a site like this isn't always the wisest choice. If anything, it might only sour their reputation as a writer. Often times writers would beg for help to the problems they're facing.
Often times, in my personal opinion, a writer shouldn't reveal everything about themselves to the public. Because I already know about my audience and what you're really after. No one is here to read a novel's length of my doubts or insecurities. Nor are you the reader are here to listen about the daily complaints that I have. So, I've learned the proper etiquette that whatever opinions that I have about someone or ideas that would be considered political, or my thoughts about episodes of the show, or even how I'm doing - should be banned altogether. The audience is here to be entertained; not to be belittled, lectured, made powerless, or overly depressed by you. What is a storyteller, but a performer? As such, regardless of what happens, it is proper etiquette to never let those onlookers know of your troubles and stick to the old motto: The show must go on.
It is for this too, that I made a promise that I will never ask for money for my stories. Ever. Although I can sympathize with several authors as to why they have a patron to finance them through their stories, I, however, will never ask a penny from anyone to motivate me to write. In truth, I have never made a cent writing these stories. The only time I write it because somebody wanted me to, is if they suggest it, ask me, or dare me into writing a certain story; or even by a favor. (Side note: I can do favors, but I don't take them.)
5: The AU Tag
It is wise to try to keep current with what goes on with the show. Often times, from season to season, the show has been known for doing something unexpected. From Twilight becoming an alicorn, to destroying the Golden Oaks Library, to Flurry Heart being born, and even recently with the School of Friendship, none of us have seen these coming. With this unpredictability, always use the "Alternative Universe" tag. Because in the show, movies or comics, there will always be something to pop up that will cause readers to say "Hey, this isn't canon." That's the point. The point isn't to be canon to show, but to tell a story at a unique angle by asking "What if...?" The AU tag is probably the most useful thing on this site when writing stories, that will give any writer peace of mind when creating.
6: Trusting in Your Audience
Now I don't exactly mean to just listen to the constructive criticism. Rather, it is to trust the readers that they can handle a range of topics maturely. Here's what I mean, when I started out, I wasn't sure if you the reader would want to read about something as touchy as sexual orientation. I was unsure that you would bother to read a story about classical music, or philosophy, or even with some clop ideas. However, I have been proven time and time again that I shouldn't worry about that. I've learned that the audience does have a wide palate of taste as much as I the writer has. That I could do these sophisticated and down-to-earth subjects for an audience that might very well be interested. It's best that even if you the reader wouldn't bother to read something, I shouldn't be the one to underestimate what all of you might find interesting.
Perhaps all of you might find something that would prove insightful, regardless if you're a newcomer or one that has been at this site for years. With my birthday coming up and the big anniversary in July, I hope that you all will stick around even with the show itself takes a bow.
Signed, your fellow writer and student,
- CrackedInkWell
Well this was an interesting read, and insightful to see how you deal with your public,, nice to know. Keep up the good work.
On my end I discovered MLP thorugh Doctor Whooves, but I really got into it through it's radio play and then there was that fun little readings of something called Fallout Equetria that made me discover that fans could actually write great stories and that you don't need a masters degree to do it, which massively helped with improving my writing and give me a want to actually write a story.
I never realized if the things I've been doing in my own stories have ever been the "right" thing. I'm always second guessing myself a little, but it's rather validating to see things that I've come to realize in yours too.
Do you have any advice on how to keep motivation up, to keep new ideas flowing? Because personally, I've got a pair of different ideas in progress for over a year, and a lot of the time I just stall because of a...it's hard to say, a lack of compelling ideas. I have an end point, so the challenge is filling in the in-between to make it interesting. Immediately I can see one or two ways to do it, but none of it feels...'right'. Like it would be ooc, or it's not a meaningful development path, but either way I blank out and from experience I know it's not a good idea to force things because I'll just be unhappy with the result.
But with how long I go between writing periods, I start to feel, well, guilty for not writing whenever I can. They're ideas I've held in mind for a long time. I want to see them completed, but it's been feeling more like an obligation lately instead of a passion project, which just makes things worse.
Everyone seems to have a different opinion to tackle this kinda thing, so I'm curious what yours is.
5079120 Before you read any further, keep in mind that I don't think there's a right or wrong answer to this, and I know that it's different from writer to writer. In fact, I can't say if what I'm going to say would even help at all as I don't fully know your situation. All I can do is to give my two cents on the subject of motivation.
But let's deal with one thing at a time.
I confess I might be interpreting this wrong, but if I'm reading this right, it would appear that underneath all of this, it would seem that you are worried of having an idea good enough to which you can complete it from start to finish. That you worry that inspiration would get bored and fly off to someplace else.
There's a reason why I have the quote from Tchaikovsky that's underneath my name. "Inspiration does not come to the lazy, it only comes to those who call it." In other words, if you just wait around until the right idea comes by to carry you off to artistic heights, then you're gonna end up waiting for a very long time. The ideas that I end up using in my stories tend to come around because they are interesting to me. For example, I came up with the whole Beethoven story because I not only love his music but I find his life's story inspirational to the point I tried to research what I could about him to figure out how he would fair in Equestria. Or that I came up with the idea of Celestia making a Bucket list because partly it's funny and partly I want to figure out what would an immortal like her would do if she was tricked into thinking she wasn't.
My secret to my writing is that often times, I hardly have a plan for my story, if at all. If anything, I tend to make it all up as I go. But there is a method to the madness. I set up a situation in the form of a question. For example, what of Lauren Faust, with all the knowledge that the show is about to end, would do if she were in Equestria? From there, I try to figure out her personality, her motivations and then start the story. The key is that regardless of the character, I treat them like a real person in a way that I empathize with them; often asking myself "What would a person do in this situation? What would I do?" For you see, there's no right or wrong way to write it. It's all action and reaction.
Believe it or not, sometimes I often feel that I'm in the same boat as you are to a degree. Sure, I have made a habit to write as often as I could. but there are times that I think I haven't done enough. Since my method is writing by interest, I have found that I tend to stop writing a story and leave it untouched for months while I focus on something else. The trick here is that you must come to the realization that you will be distracted, lose interest in a story if you write long enough, and ask yourself if you have done enough when you feel like you haven't - is completely normal. There's nothing wrong with stopping on a project to do something different. It's natural. Every writer and artist has gone through this. Even the great Beethoven himself near the end of his life had this to say near the end of his life: "I feel like I scarcely written a note."
But you don't have to wait around for the right ideas to come. If you think of yourself as lazy, you don't do it just because, rather out of the fear of doing something bad right off the bat. Don't let the fear of humiliation of writing something bad trump you of not writing a word at all. The first draft, for all authors, for all writers, will be crap; its the editing that would help clean it up. The trick is to write a reasonable amount per day, to be comfortable in the knowledge that the imperfection you'll be spewing out is the perfect material you'll need to make a wonderful story. Write it in a way that you would want to read it.
I doubt that anything I just put here would help, but that's more or less my thoughts on the subject.
5079140
My god
...its just like exercise, isn't it?
5079236
(Shrugs) Probably.
To the author - Oh my god I can relate some of what you said...
on number 2: I was comfortable with telling people my stories until fanfiction came around due to the content I read which was yaoi. ya probably already have heard this saying before that guys/boys don't read yaoi! started writing it then became self-conscious about sharing it (only found a select few pals who didn't judge) but my dad never minded and always loved to hear what I was writing. mom well...there has always been a problem with me and sex in general. hell she doesn't even know about various writing accounts I have!
number 5: ugh...I feel like when finally publish my set of stories (although i've kept them within cannon of the show. on the exception of scootaloo's parents and spike's wings...in other stories he'll have them!) the hype will be gone. but i don't mind that really not at all i'm still gonna write for 4th gen series no matter what anyways it will be more of nostalgic trip! just wanted to give my cents on those issues.
lastly happy b-lated birthday from me...7 days later!;)