Story Notes: 16 (Dewdrop Dazzle) · 4:37am Feb 1st, 2020
Source: https://derpibooru.org/images/164878
Ever have a chapter that decided to write itself in a completely different direction than the notes indicated? Confession time, I'm not a planner. I just start writing and see where the characters take me. This time, they took me on a ride that surpassed my expectations. I'm really happy with how this chapter turned out, from the adorable filly antics of Dewey & Snowy, to the world-building behind the scenes of season nine episodes.
Seriously, this is the entirety of my notes for this chapter: longtime friend of Snowcatcher's, lets SC do the thinking for them both
Like I said, I don't really plan. I know where I'm starting, and have a pretty good idea where the finish line is, and then I let the characters take me from point A to point B. Those who read the story notes for Mr. Jones Goes To Equestria will remember me saying I neither expected Mr. Jones' sister Samantha to become a character, nor did I expect them to end up at the Mareiott on their way to Equestria. I go back and reread constantly as I write, and tweak accordingly as the chapter progresses.
I've also mentioned previously that certain backstories for the characters have been in my head since Business Trip. 16 is letting me flesh those vague backstories out in ways that just seem to flow naturally. I sincerely hope all y'all are enjoying reading it just as much as I'm loving writing it.
Source: https://derpibooru.org/images/421
Dewey didn't want to be relegated to an also-ran in the story. She's no yes mare, instead providing a healthy dose of reality to Snowy every time her head gets stuck in the clouds. Though often 'What were you thinking?!?' is followed up with 'That was fun, can we do it again?'
As for her official backstory, courtesy the back of her toy's packaging: DEWDROP DAZZLE loves to splash in puddles.
She splashed her way through a lot of puddles here. So she's in character.
Snowcatcher's talent is catching snowflakes on her tongue and Dewdrop's is splashing through puddles. Useless special talents specifically related to inclement weather have united them as besties for life. Snow and rain can both be inconveniences, yet here are a pair of ponies who embrace it and find the silver lining to those storm clouds that send everypony else running indoors. Maybe that's what I find so endearing about both of these characters: an ability to persevere despite the deck being stacked against them. Together they can accomplish anything. They get knocked down, but they get up again, nopony's ever gonna keep 'em down.
Source: https://derpibooru.org/images/1730508
Like Snowcatcher, Dewdrop is a graduate of Princess Celestia's School For Gifted Unicorns. She also had no idea that Snowy was going to pull that stunt at the entrance exams. But hey, Snowcatcher never leaves her friends hanging. Or am I getting her confused with season 1 Rainbow Dash? I'm tempted to crop this image to remove Twilight. She looks out of place compared to the beautiful artwork of Dewey.
We also get the timeline for this series. The Mareiott was founded a little over seven years after The Battle of the Bell. Of note, our protagonists were approximately the same age as Cozy Glow at the time of her attack. And, of course, the racism seen earlier in this chapter is a direct result of the meddling she, Chrysalis, and Tirek did.
Source: https://derpibooru.org/images/139392
Unlike some of the other toy-only ponies featured, Dewdrop has at least captured some attention from bronies. Not all of it is positive, though, as a lot of early fandom hate was directed towards the 'recolor ponies'.
A search of FimFiction turns up exactly one other story featuring Dewey (I know there are more than that; said search doesn't turn up Mr. Jones Goes To Equestria, which she has a cameo in): https://www.fimfiction.net/story/5708/twilights-best-friend
A story in which Dewdrop's status as a recolor of Twilight Sparkle's vector is taken to the extreme.
But on the plus side, it's not at all challenging to find artwork of her.
Source: https://derpibooru.org/images/327394
Not all ducks quack. Mallards do, however. I do the research so you don't have to. The more you know...
Hmn, Barker's Gelding Spell? Remember folks, make sure to spay or neuter your talking pony pets. Snowy's just bluffing.
Probably.
Source: https://derpibooru.org/images/2129796
Rice with ketchup and rice with butter. Don't judge them.
Source: https://derpibooru.org/images/165267
Look who showed up! Snowy and Dewey together!
Karaoke night is a noodle incident. That's all I'm saying on the subject. Let us never speak of this again.
Next up is Diamond Rose. Once again, I've got a vague outline for her chapter, though in her case, I already know how she's going to get her cutie mark.
Source: From the collection of AlwaysDressesInStyle
Aye, what is Twilight even doing in that image?
And I also enjoyed the blog post. :)
Writing a story of my own, had it all planed out, two chapters later crumpled up and threw away the plan. So far I've replanned six times tried to force the plan once (that was a bad idea never do that) created four side characters that I realy wanted to use but just didn't fit into the story wrote myself into a corner twice and had to rewrite an entire chapter because of it.
Every time I write, the story takes on a life of its own, it's already longer than I wanted it to be now every chapter I write I keep telling myself last chapter man last chapter.
thank you
You've inspired me not to worry about the plan so much and just let the words flow.
Girls after my own heart. I love the snow, but come February, I'm sick of it and eagerly awaiting the cool mists and rains of late March-early April.
5195729
What works for me may not work for everyone (just like how the planning things out in great detail doesn't work for me), but it certainly couldn't hurt to try writing freestyle. Let the characters and their actions drive the story to the logical conclusion. Have side characters that you want to use, but just can't fit them in? Then don't. That's what sequels, side stories, or completely different stories are for (you don't have to get everything in one story, of course). Forcing things never works (square peg, round hole). If there are specific scenes you want to include, think from the characters' perspective and try to come up with how they'd most logically get from where they are, to where you want them to go next. And if the characters can't get from point A to point B on their own, what kind of external factors can assist them?
Keep in mind that with every additional word, the story changes and it's necessary to adapt to it. Without having a specific plan in mind, I go back and reread constantly, making revisions where necessary (it also helps from an editing standpoint, as every reread is also a trip through the editing process, searching for typos and culling/changing anything that doesn't flow naturally). The chapters that are already published won't be revised (except for any typos that may have escaped the editing process), but remaining chapters will go through this same process.
Life isn't planned out. Real life tends to be fairly spontaneous, and you know what they say about the best laid plans of mice and
menmares. It's also why I try to write from start to finish without jumping around a whole lot. It flows better when it comes naturally like that. Looking back on my 'incomplete' pile, all of those are stories I started writing later scenes for and never connected the dots. It's why I don't normally publish in progress stories - if those never get finished, the only person who'll be disappointed is me. This is only the second time I've done so. But I completed the first, and I fully intend to see this one through to the checkered flag too.My only 'must include' scenes for every chapter in the first arc is each characters' cutie mark acquisition & how each character ends up at the Mareiott. The former is an early scene (though not always the first), while the latter is the finish line; the destination the characters are trying to reach. Having that set end goal in sight helps direct the story. Like an open world video game, there's an objective that needs to be met, but how you do it is completely up to you.
My plan for 16 is more in depth than normal for me, but that's because when finished, this will be the longest thing I've ever written. For the first act, every character has a basic one or two sentence outline so there's no repetition of ideas. There are only so many good reasons for uprooting one's life and moving to a completely new world. There are no notes at all for act two. The characters will be established during the first arc, and they'll write their own side stories to Business Trip when the time comes, months from now. My plans for the third act are still being finalized. They're completely subject to change, but I have a vague destination in mind for each of our little ponies.
It's one of the reasons I enjoy writing characters like Pinkie Pie and Cozy Glow. The only things Pinkie Pie plans are parties, while Cozy Glow's plans change on the fly, as needed, taking any given situation and turning it to her advantage.
For example, I never expected this to be anything more than the original one-shot. Side characters I knew were present, but never showed up in the original story (like the focus of this most recent chapter, Dewdrop) were there in my head, but not necessary to include. Editing is the art of knowing what to leave on the cutting room floor and not include in the final product.
I'm not the best writer by a long shot, but I've learned from experience that what works for most people doesn't really work for me. Conversely, I wouldn't expect what I do to work for most people. But I've always done things radically different from most people. I like to say that while there may madness to my methods, there's always method to my madness.
Regardless, I really hope this helps. Give it a try, and if it works for you, that's awesome! If it hinders, it isn't the right way of writing for you.