Interview with Schattendrache · 5:37pm Aug 19th, 2019
Interview with Schattendrache
by Nailah
“Alright, now tell me my dear friend, what inspired your username?
Response:
Well, I started to get interested in Russian and German as a kid since I always found the spoken languages to sound like you were two seconds away from tearing someone's head off. And since Russian uses the cerilic system of writing I settled on using German. I had the name Drache schatten for the first four years on the site because I looked up what the German words were for dragon of shadow and just went with it. It wasn't till I met Azure, who actually speaks German, that the name was changed to the proper German word for shadow dragon Schattendrache.
“What drew you into Mlp?
Response:
I was in highschool and the first season of the show had been going on for a few weeks. I had a friend that found the show and liked it and eventually convinced me to watch it. I always tried to catch the shows when they aired up until season 7 since the writing was fairly solid, and I am a bit of a completionist and need to finish everything I start.
“Who is your favorite pony and why?
Response:
If the question is strictly in regards to ponies then I would have to say Luna as I have been a bit of an outcast for most of my life and her first return episode was aces in my book. If you are referring to any character in MLP then my favorite would have to be Gallus. I resonate more with griffins because they are assholes and are not too concerned with hurting others feelings, something I admire in people.
“Favorite episode and why?”
Response:
It Ain't Easy Being Breezies is probably the closest thing I have to a favorite episode as I have issues with just about all of them for reasons that might be obvious from my griffin comment. I like this one simply because Fluttershy is forced to grow some balls and tell the hard, uncomfortable, unpleasant truth.
“What inspires you to write?”
Response:
I have always loved to tell stories, I wrote a few short stories as a kid but I mostly just read. And, well, as a kid I read, like, a lot. I read about the most books in my first grade class, I preferred to read over most everything but playing video games, and I have always been arrogant as shit. So, one day at a middle school book fair I picked up a children's book, started to read it, then for some unknown reason I thought to myself, “Hey, I can write this good. I’ll write my own book and sell it.” I have a more detailed description on what got me started on my blog here, but to answer what inspires me now it's about telling either A) my own version of a story I didn't think the author did a good enough job telling or B) I just had an idea pop into my head. Getting inspired to write isn’t an issue for me, it's more so my crippling anxiety of writing crap (and the dreaded sub 5K word chapters) that has kept me from putting out 20-30K words a month.
“Tell us about your favorite story, and why it inspires you to write. It doesn't have to be mlp specifically!”
Response:
The Thran by J. Robert King. This story is by far one of my favorites, but to be honest most MTG stories written before Magic Origins ret-coned the lore are in my top favorite best books, The Thran just has the best protagonist/villain and was the first MTG story I read. I love the head games that get played in the story and how the Yawgmoth is basically Kira from Death Note. I gained an appreciation for character studies and long ones at that because of that book. It's why I almost always start with the character(s) when I write, and why when I review, characters always end up being put under a microscope, and also why I write and encourage others to write long, slow burn stories that don't necessarily need to have some grand conflict.
“Give us the background of the author! Tell us all about you. Well in a short summary.
Response:
Well, to put it simply, I am a barely functional renaissance man in a way. I was in the Boy Scouts so I know a little bit of a lot of things, I want to write a lot, I edit for people, I review, I like to play videogames, I play magic, I cook, I’m trying to get into woodworking, and I find enjoyment in designing biological creatures and debating. If I never had to sleep or work there still wouldn't be enough time in a day to do what I want. Because my dad pushed me to diversify my knowledge and find things I enjoy I may have over committed to my interests to the point that burn out isn't a matter of ‘if’ and ‘how severe’ but ‘what time this week’.
“With Mlp coming to an end, tell us one thing you have learned from your experiences, and how it has helped you to grow?
response:
Well, if we are talking about the show then the best thing I can say is that it has taught me what I can and can't tolerate in a story and how deeply entrenched in dark and depressing concepts I am. Most of what I have learned has come from the fandom and has been how to better write and some skill with editing and reviewing.
“Is there anything else you'd like to say?
response:
If you could get the boss to stop poking me that would be great. I already had a debate with him about my productivity and I would really like that to stop.
Thank you for allowing me the pleasure of interviewing you, you have truly been a pleasure to talk too. I hope you continue being awesome.
-Nailah.
*pokes Schattendrache*
That was interesting
He edited a chapter of one of my stories, that’s probably the only good one
.
And I know a German who wrote, Adolf Hitler, yeah he wrote Mein Kampf
5108539
What does Mein Kampf translate to?
Uh..... Is this a serious answer?
5108589
My fight
5108594
Oh, thanks
5108588 For what it's worth, while Hitler was chancellor and then fuhrer of Germany, he wasn't German. He was Austrian.
The old joke is that Austria's greatest achievement was convincing the world Hitler was German and Beethoven was Austrian. It's not true, of course; their greatest achievement is Arnold Schwarzenegger.
The Germans you might have heard of who wrote are the Brothers Grimm, whose collection of folk tales included Snow White, Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel, Sleeping Beauty and Rumpelstiltskin.
5108591
yes, yes it is.