Sunset Shimmer: Back and More in Love with her Girlfriend than Ever - Development Blog #2 · 8:29pm Mar 10th, 2020
Ooo-la-la! Someone's got a date. A date you'll be able to read in full!
I thought I'd give a few more details about the project, talk about where the ships are at in their relationships when we meet them, and go into what the process has been like in collaborating with an artist this closely.
So, to recap what this project is:
- Novel-length story
- Sunset Shimmer-focused
- Every chapter illustrated by Equestria Girls story board artist and fantastic human being Bevin Brand
- Gay
- Magical disasters for Sunset to feel guilty about (because of course, this is Equestria Girls)
- Dramedy (FIMFiction won't let me tag it as such, if I remember right, but it is a comedy-drama if I had to pick a genre)
And, hey, there's a new important member of the team!
The Editor: Welcome to the Stage the Editor of Losing Sunlight (2017)!
New editor, old friend. Space Jazz is ruthless, takes no prisoners, and is exactly the kind of editor you need to get damn good results. He also happens to be kind, thoughtful, and totally on the same wavelength as me about our pal Sunset so it only made sense to bring Space Jazz aboard as the official editor.
He's currently editing the early chapters while I write the five remaining ones.
The Shipping: Sciset, Mystery Ship, and... Flash/Timber?
But speaking of Losing Sunlight, part of the draw in that story was the shipping, right? Sciset/Sunlight still tops my personal list of OTPs.
In this upcoming story, Sunset and Twilight have been dating for a few months. They got together officially at the senior year Fall Formal and we pick up with them in early December, falling super hard. Since they were best friends before dating, they know each other better than almost anyone in the multiverse at this point, and there's a lot of security in that. When they're not in Twilight's lab working on magic-compatible technology or hanging out with their friends at school/in world saving scenarios, well... you saw the header image.
As to Timber and Flash (a ship established in The Exes Club), they're both pretty new to each other still. They've just recently decided to give dating a try and discovering each other would be exciting enough if they didn't also awaken magical powers in each other. Powers that they're still learning how to control.
The Process: Ideas, Inspiration, and Illustrations, oh my!
Current Total Word Count: 71,584
Estimated Final Word Count: 90,000 - 100,000
I've currently written 10 chapters with the 11th about halfway done. Since I outline my stories ahead of time, I know that there'll be 15 chapters total and hey, would you look at that: it's the chapter titles reveal!
So, this project started around September 2019, right after I published The Exes Club. Bevin and I gushed back and forth about ideas and jokes we really liked—like you do when you're total dorks having fun with your friend—which inspired me to put together an outline! I want to say I started writing the first chapter around October 2019.
All along, I've been giving Bevin access to each chapter as I finish them, partly because she's illustrating and designing cover art for each chapter but also mainly because we dork out. A lot. It's a total blast each time, the absolute best. And as an added bonus, it's gotta be the most helpful beta-reader/ideal reader experience I've ever had.
While Space Jazz is here to be strict and offer criticism to make the story better functionally, Bevin's role as a beta-reader maximizes the fun, character beats, and even heartbreak as I write. To the point that I'm personally more proud of the writing in this story than... well, anything I've ever written. Turns out enjoying what you write can lead to better writing. That's been the best lesson, I'd say.
I think that's about it for this blog post. Keep your eye on this blog in about two weeks... something fun this way comes.
- Marvel
Much hype gotten. Looking forward to it!
And thank Celestia for that!
My mind is ready, my watery manifestations are overflowing with anticipation, and having a tasty helping of SciSet with a side of FlashSpruce will no doubt be a lot of fun. I look forward to this so much.
And, oh Light, does SciTwi look good in that suit. Normally, I see Sunny rocking the bifauxnen look, but Twiggles pulls it off too.
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I am such a damn sucker for Sunset in a suit, holy hell. Partly because the girl knows she looks good in them. But yeah, since I've seen Sunset in a suit, I thought I'd mix it up, and give our bow-tie-lover a chance to strut herself (could've had both of them in suits, but I had the idea to base Sunset's dress off of her Daydream form and that made me happy, so I ran with it). Bevin rendered them gorgeously, like I can't even deal!
Romance/Drama/Comedy tag combo sounds about right for this!
I'm soooo looking forward to seeing more from you!
(Also, didn't Space Jazz retire?)
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Space Jazz is retired, but consider this one of those came out of retirement moments haha
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Aww darn I figured with their stories not being marked cancelled it was just a much needed extended hiatus for them
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Well, it's totally possible for him to come back to those stories! It's just my own understanding that Jazz needed that break and it'll be up to him if/when he's ready to return.
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That’s a good answer to me
Hope he’s well
Illustrated by an official storyboard artist? That's quite the catch.
I don't think I've come across a story that would have such high...production value I think🤔. Sci-Twi's not usually my preferred Twilight when reading Sunlight, but this sounds like it's worth keeping an eyed on.