How I Got My Scars... · 4:42am Oct 7th, 2019
Hey, folks.
This isn’t going to be a ‘woe is me, the suffering artist who doesn’t get the praise they deserve’ monologue, I promise.
This is partly an apology, partly explaining my problem and partly me explaining my idea of a solution.
I fucked up badly on Sunday. As I’ve told many, many people, I am passionate about the ‘Fallout: Equestria’s Scoundrels’ fic I am writing. Too passionate, bordering on narcissistic.
Sunday, I posted a new chapter up, then followed it with posts to several group forums advertising my story. The response back was angry, very angry, and I withdrew every single one of the adverts I made, with apologies to those I’d upset.
I could tell myself all kinds of things. It’s fallout, so it has that love/hate relationship. It might have been too pushy a message as I started with “have you read it yet? No? Well, here’s the link!” FIMFic and the internet at large has trolls all over, I just put myself in their way.
But overall? It’s feels like the dislike counter keeps rising because it is just a bad story, that I keep plugging my life into because I want it to be good. It won’t be, and I should stop, but I won’t. Because I don’t know what I’d do to myself if I did.
The story isn’t popular, nor am I as a writer. I write this knowing I’ll get a couple of glances and that’ll be it, and that’s fine. This isn’t for you, it’s for me.
I’m gonna keep writing my awful story. Why? Because somebody does like it. Me. I have learnt one thing from this experience; nobody is guaranteed to like, or even read, your stuff, so there’s only one real point to this and that is to write for yourself. Writing for anyone else is pointless, it hurts and it’s cruel.
So, I apologize for bothering you, and I’m going to go silent now. Not dead, I’ll still write and post stories, but it will be on my terms. You are allowed to read them, but they’re mine now.
This is how I get my scars.
All good things,
Scaramouch
I love scoundrels! I wont let you believe that it is a bad story or that you are a bad author. Being completely honest you are one of the best authors ive heard of!
Bah! Let the fart that complained be a fart, and you do you.Sure it was properly not the best idea to overdo the sharing, but we do all learn by our mistakes
https://youtu.be/EA68KUb4e7Q
I am enjoying Scoundrels right now. I find it a great concept and the characters are really well developed. Keep up the good work and I look forward to reading more of your writing.
As somebody with stories that range from a lot of hate to quite a bit of hate, let me give you some advice that's helped me along the way. Some of which you've touched on already.
1. You write for you. No one is going to make you stop except for you, and no one is going to write the stories in your head except for you. So until you stop enjoying what you're writing, keep at it.
2. More people are more willing to leave a negative comment than a positive one. I really hate that there are likes and dislikes on Fimfiction. If it were up to me, I'd get rid of them and leave it up to people reading the stories and making their own opinions. But that's me. Don't let the negativity get in the way of something you enjoy, because...
3. The people who enjoy your stories will follow you through the journey. Honestly, after reading a dozen bad comments, seeing someone genuinely intrigued by one of my stories is the highlight of my day. Don't let the thought that because there are fewer comments praising your work that there are fewer people enjoying it. Whether or not is true shouldn't really matter because of point 1.
4. And if all else fails, just remember. The people who scream the loudest, more often than not, haven't even tried themselves. At least you tried.
Brony on!
5141114
Thanks, Tallest, it means a lot to hear that, really.
I'll still write. It is what I love, it's what gets me in trouble and what makes me feel better.
If one person likes it, then I've succeeded in inspiring one person, and that makes me happy.
5139084
Thanks for supporting the story. It means a lot to me, really.
kind regards, Scar
5133662
Again, thanks for supporting the story. The new chapter is ready to be read whenever you get chance, I hope it lives up to expectations. All good things,
Scar
5133699
When I looked back, I did realize he was just being an ass for the sake of being an ass.
At the time, though, I only saw my own faults. I will try to do better, but not forget that sometimes I'm not the only one who needs to do so.