Interview with FlutterPriest · 3:56pm Oct 28th, 2019
Interview with Flutterpriest
by Nailah
“Alright, now tell me my dear friend, what inspired your username?”
Response:
Inspired is a heck of a word. I’d say that I ‘cobbled together’ my username with help of a good friend of mine at 2am. I knew my friend was up, cause of his weird work shifts, and after I spent all day working on a greentext story for /mlp/ I realized that I had no name (or tripcode) to put it under. So, we put together various horse names with metal band names. So after several duds, (Sparkledeth, Metallidash) we settled on Flutterpriest (Fluttershy and Judas Priest) and it just stuck. It’s funny to watch the journey go full circle as I drug this same friend to the last bronycon.
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“What drew you into Mlp?”
Response:
I encountered pastel horse show at a time in my life where I needed some positivity. College was hard, and with limited mobility, access to friends, and other personal issues, “Our Tiny Horse Drama” was a source of positivity for me. For the lack of a better word: Eyebleach.
“Who is your favorite pony and why?
Response:
I’d have to say Princess Cadance, and that’s purely how wonderful she is to write around for me. I love the ability to take a character that doesn’t have a lot of pre-established background or personality and really flesh them out. The main thing we know about Cadance is, well, she’s nice. And a mother. There’s SO many things you can do with that. You could have her be a supportive friend, brutal enemy, manipulative player, or innocent sunshine. It’s so much fun to write with her.
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“Favorite episode and why?”
Response:
While my stock answer to this is usually ‘Lesson Zero’, because it’s a classic, and what I like to consider the show at it’s prime, I have to honestly say that the episode that means the most to me is the “Magical Mystery Cure” episode. That episode had parts in it that spoke to me personally at the lowest point in my life. It may be, for many, the episode where the show made a critical mistake and forever changed the shape of the series, but something about “I’ve Got To Find a Way” connected with me personally.
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“What inspires you to write?”
Response:
This question has so many facets. I barely even know where to start! Haha.
Well when it comes to comedy, then it’s usually just for a laugh. Not even the audience's laughter. Sometimes just because I laughed at a dumb joke I thought of, and just had to write.
When it comes to my more serious writing, it’s way deeper than that. Maybe it’s out of some sort of selfish desire to believe I can have a greater impact or lasting impression of the world at large? Where I can make people think, and through their thinking, come to open other people's minds and draw their own conclusions on the human condition? To inherently create a sense of comfort, or more profoundly, discomfort. I want to make something I can call mine. To be effective.
But even greater than that? I want to have some sort of proof that I’ve done something. That I’ve created something I can be proud of by my own standards. Of course, the standards I set for myself fall victim to the ‘Moving the Flagposts’ fallacy, but I can make myself happy. Even if just for a little while. And if I make others happy or think along the way, then I think that’s a win.
That, or I read some of anonpencil’s stories. She never fails to inspire me to write.
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“Tell us about your favorite story, and why it inspires you to write. It doesn't have to be mlp specifically!”
Response:
My favorite story period? Not even one I wrote? My goodness. I’m currently reading through ‘The Troop’ by Nick Cutter but I’d hardly consider it the pinnacle of horror. I would say Harry Potter, but my fear ever grows that the literature doesn’t hold up to my analytical eye that it does today. Or at very least, the early books don’t. So I haven’t read them much.
I have a lot of love for “1984” by George Orwell and his fairy story “Animal Farm”. They have a wonderful degree of cultural relevance and timeless value that I heavily admire in his writing. I’d also love to shout out to Stephanie Meyer for inspiring me to “write better than this shit.” and Susanne Collins for showing me how much a bad ending can ruin a good thing.
I also want to shout out J.K. Rowling’s The Casual Vacancy, which I understand is a better television show than a book? I haven’t watched it yet, but that book is a serious thinker and really comes to life in a discussion setting. This is one of the many books that makes me like books that make you think, including Brave New World by Alduous Huxley.
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“Give us the background of the author! Tell us all about you. Well in a short summary.
Response:
Well, I’m a normal midwest dude who has been a community guest at multiple horse cons, is a recording studio drummer, application developer, published author, podcaster, general handyman and EDC enthusiast. But, you know, totally normal dude.
“Is there anything else you'd like to say?
Response:
First, thank you Nailah for inviting me on top of your soapbox. I promise I won’t stay much longer. Also, if you enjoy what I have to say about writing and stuff, you need to check out anonpencil. In addition to being an extremely talented writer (and great girlfriend) she helped me become most of what I’ve become as an author through her mentorship. I always value her vast knowledge and insight when it comes to story writing.
Also, if you like what I write, but want to see someone write it, well, GOOD. You should probably check out ShortSkirtsAndExplosions, who is also an amazingly talented writer. In addition: Enigmatic Otaku, Flammenwerfer, ROBcakeran53, Lucky Seven (Seventh Heaven) and getmeouttahere.
If folks would be interested in checking out some of my stories, I’d suggest checking out “Feathers” which won a whole ton of awards and accolades and is also featured in my book of horse fiction which sold out at Bronycon 2019. It’s purchasable on my lulu store. Also, be sure to check out thebarcast.net for the podcast I’m on where we talk with various community celebs. It’s a super fun time and we even had the chance to interview V.A.’s from the show! Links to everything are on my fimfiction page.
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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.
Link to FlutterPriest's fimfiction page: https://www.fimfiction.net/user/177150/Flutterpriest
Aw. You didn't ask him who worst pony is.
5146946
It's you. You're worst pony.
<3
Pencil is best Bar Cast pony!