Writing of: Sunset after the Storm, Part 2 · 6:02pm Jan 25th, 2020
So, hello folks, SunlightRays here, and I am back with another blog post!
Yes, I know, I know, it's been a month since my last blog post. I seriously need to manage my time better than this.
Anyhow, I'm back with another episode of the "Writing of" series, where we take a look at how I came to write my chapters! So, let's dive right into it!
Writing of Chapter 3: Nightmares and Reliefs
At the beginning of this chapter, we get to see Lightning having a nightmare about Opera unforgiving him for "what he had done". While writing this chapter—which feels like forever ago—I just came up with the idea of Lightning having a nightmare and let my hands make up the details of the dream as I went along. To be honest about it, I'm quite satisfied with the results.
After that, I came up with the scene where Lightning hesitates to enter the music room and see his friends. While writing this scene, I wanted to show how Lightning was paranoid about making decisions, fearing that they might come back to stab him in the back. I also planned this scene as a way of showing how Lightning was still hesitant to become closer friends with Sunset and the others, although this scene inspired me for another scene way later in the story.
The part where Lightning opens the door and Pinkie Pie blows up a party cannon in his face was purely inspired on my own, although some comical scenes in other animations might have sparked the inspiration for it. Anyways, using this part, I wanted to show how Lightning manages to leave his doubt behind and enter the music room to join the Rainboom.
The next part, where Lightning sings a song(link can be found in the chapter itself) was planned with a particular song in mind. This song was going to be the main song for Lightning since it would have a significant meaning to him. How it has a meaning to him, you'll find out in the later chapters. 
Anyways, in this part, we get to see one of Lightning's ability: to carry his feelings in his lyrics and convey them to the audience.
And finally, the scene where Lightning thanks the Rainboom for their support was intended as a way of showing the feeling of insecurity Lightning had in his mind and him overcoming it.
The last part of the chapter was written as a sort of a weak foreshadowing, dropping more hints on Lightning's past. It also served the purpose of making the readers think that Lightning was getting done with his past before the dramatic crash in the next chapter.
Writing of Chapter 4: Meltdown
This chapter was planned from the beginning where Lightning would be having his panic attack. Yes, there have been signs that Lightning was going through some rough times, but this chapter was going to be the one where the severity would really surface.
As for the part where Sunset and Lightning have a race to Sugarcube Cafe, that part was intended to show the growing friendship between the two teenagers. Chapter 4 takes two months after chapter 3 does, so naturally, they are closer than they originally were in Chapter 3. That hand tremor is another hint into Lightning's past as well. At this point, I feel like I'm littering this story with these hints, but whatever.
Overall, the first part of chapter 4 was just like the previous ones, with some slice-of-life scenes coupled with a little bit of insight into what Lightning's thinking at the moment. It all changes when it gets to the second part.
In the second part, the part where Sunset cuts her wrist was done to lead up to the next scene where Lightning has his panic attack. Yes, I know, it is unlikely that this will happen in real life, but I had to do it. Come to think of it, there was this one case where a stack of dishes almost fell on top of my head from a high cabinet, so I guess it can happen.
Anyway, Lightning's panic attack shows a particular scene from his past, which will be explored in the later chapters. And, although it might have been slightly out of character for the Rainboom to just leave like that, I needed to do that as well to link it up with a scene that will come up in later chapters.
Alright, so that's about it, hope you enjoyed this blog, and thank you for reading!
Good night, and sweet dreams.
P.S. I wanted to put a Sunset emoji next to that finishing line, but there isn't one since Knighty apparently doesn't like them. (Jk) 
