Octavia's Story making-of · 9:25pm Jul 6th, 2019
Octavia’s Story Making-Of
I originally intended to make this a complete bare-bone story. As in, no outline, no character sketches or location analyses. I wanted to write without preparing anything. But, being the I-hate-editing-so-I-outline-every-single-thing kind of writer that I am, I wrote two quick pages of potential making-of material anyway. Sorry, I couldn’t help myself! But then again, now you have some interesting behind-the-scenes material to read.
This making-of starts with a small outline. I paid extra attention to POV because I knew that is an area where I can greatly improve myself. I also learned a lot about POV’s from the book Writing Fiction for Dummies by Randy Ingermanson and Peter Economy, which I was studying at the time I wrote this story.
The outline is a short summary of the scenes, the characters, and the things that happen. Notice that I didn’t write anything about Fermata hitting on Octavia in chapter two. That wasn’t planned at all. It just happened as I wrote. Writing works like that, if you don’t plan out every little detail in advance. Whether these spontaneous ideas work or not, I find them signs of pure creativity. Maybe you agree with that as well.
Then there are a few character sketches. Look at how short some of them are! Also, Fermata is nowhere to be found.
I did not have to think long about a location, which shows through the single-sentence location analysis.
Now, I did struggle a bit with names and titles, as usual. The working title of this story was “Octavia’s Confession,” but that began to sound a bit too religious the more I repeated it in my head. “Octavia’s Past” gave too much away; “Octavia’s Backstory” gave even more away; just her name, “Octavia,” was too vague; and “Octavia’s Secret” kept sounding a bit too much like “Victoria’s Secret,” and I did NOT want to give the wrong impression to my potential readers. “Octavia’s Story” created a nice balance for me, although there are probably a million other Vinyl-Octavia fanfictions with that name. I don’t mind. It doesn’t need to be unique—it just needs to be good.
The last part of this making-of is the most interesting to me. I needed Octavia to play a classical music piece for her cello solo, so I used my best friends Google and Wikipedia to find one. Chopin, of which I am a great fan, turned out to have composed an etude, which a cellist named Cassadó transcribed for the beautiful stringed instrument. It was perfect, because I could also turn Chopin’s name into Clopin, which sounded pretty funny in my head. The only problem was that I couldn’t find a recording of the piece played by a cello. I did find a piano version, complete with the sheet music, so I could hear AND see what was going on. For some extra inspiration, I watched a cello-piano duet, although that was another piece in another key entirely. The Clopin—eh, Chopin etude was in a major key and sounded kind of happy, which was another problem. Luckily I could make Octavia solve the problem for me by snapping one of her strings and letting her modulate the piece to a minor key. Thank you, Octy!
Once again, I hope you will learn something from this making-of. Don’t forget to leave a comment on the story itself if you feel like it. I always respond to great comments, and it would truly make my day to hear from you! :)
Octavia’s Confession
Outline:
3 scenes in 1st person omniscient (she tells these memories to Vinyl)
1. A cello lesson from her teacher Fortissimo
Oc doesn’t like lessons. Gets forced by her parents. Fo appears very strict and nervous. Parents are watching, as always. They retreat. Fo suddenly becomes very playful, gives compliments, and high-hoof. Maybe small conversation where Oc asks confronting questions and Fo admits he is forced too. Parents suddenly slam open door. Have been eavesdropping. Get mad at Fo. Fire him. Maybe Oc finds letter from Fo: “You will forever be my favorite student.”
2. Her orchestral and solo performance
Everyone gives her compliments during rehearsal. After the evening performance she hides from applause behind another cellist. She can’t hide from the applause after her solo performance.
3. A cello lesson to Treble
Oc is the sweetest, kindest teacher to the young, cello-playing filly Treble there is. She constantly gives compliments and respect and useful tips to improve. Treble was also forced to play but only got better when she met Oc. Tr finds is funny that her cutie mark is a treble clef, like Oc, but she plays the cello, which uses alto and bass clef. When Tr says her special talent is playing cello, Oc says her special talent is actually expressing herself.
Last scene a confession to Vinyl in 3rd person limited (Oc POV)
First sentence from Vi: ‘Why are you telling me all this?’ Start in bed. Vi finds that Oc behaved strange on their holiday (‘I know how to read other ponies, although they’re usually packed together in a crowd’) in a resort in the mountains, although it was Oc’s choice to go there. (actually I should be the one hating this, but it’s actually nice. It’s comfy—especially with you.’ Oc makes her confession. She doesn’t want praise from anyone, just from herself. She wants to be satisfied. She wants to be gentle to herself.
Characters:
Octavia Melody:
skilled. Pretends to be happy about compliments but finds it difficult. This creates awkward conversations and situations. Gets better and better at playing in hope of becoming satisfied but she never is.
Cold, calm, snooty, proper from the outside (this is an appearance that the ponies around her expect her to have and she uses it to protect herself as well), sensitive and torn from the inside.
Socially awkward when things get intimate.
Fortissimo:
nervous, scared, sensitive. Poor. Has to be strict to Oc from her parents otherwise he can’t teach and make a living. Loves Oc very much. Is sad about the way her parents treat her.
Vinyl Scratch (DJ Pon-3):
Skilled, famous, relaxed and careless, messy. Makes edgy jokes about everything. Just does what she likes to do. Does her thing.
Loves Oc very much but is a bit inexperienced and uncomfortable when things get intimate.
Treble:
Sad from the inside. But becomes happy when she’s with Oc. Enthusiastic and curious. Looks up to Oc.
Location:
A luxurious room in a mountain hotel and resort in the quiet, peaceful Unicorn Range (close to Vanhoover).
Chapter names:
1. Drama/dilemma/TORN/stroke/PIECES
2. Praise/applause
3. Lessons
Alternative title:
Octavia’s Story
Octavia’s Secret
Octavia’s Past
Octavia’s Backstory
Octavia
List of cello solo pieces:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_solo_cello_pieces
Chosen piece:
Frédéric Chopin
Etude in A♭ major, Op. 25, No. 1 (trans. Cassadó)
Performances:
Frédéric Chopin: Étude, Op. 25, No. 7 in C-Sharp Minor / Sol Gabetta CELLO + PIANO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lozoBnljUcg
F. Chopin : Etude op. 25 no. 1 in A flat major (Pollini) PIANO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3UzEuGJ4MXE
Long description:
Three bittersweet memories reveal the honest truth about Octavia Melody and what goes around in her heart.
Three unforgettable memories reveal the honest but gloomy truth about Octavia Melody and the struggle in her heart. Will her marefriend understand what she is trying to say?
A million thanks to Wireframe for prereading!
Short description:
Three bittersweet memories reveal Octavia’s inner struggle.
Possible groups:
Music
Octavia
Vinyl Scratch
Octascratch
Sad
Drama
Backstory
Long shots, long stories, short stories, etc.
Nope! At least, not on Fimfiction. Yours is the first.
What? Seriously! That's wonderful news. Thanks, Hawthorn. If anyone would know, it's you!
Also, it's nice to see that somepony actually reads my makin-of posts. That makes me feel warm inside!