Behind the Story: A Single Seed · 9:14pm Jul 12th, 2021
I haven’t done one of these in a while, I didn’t do one for The Nightmare Procession because it’s unfinished, didn’t do one for Not Who I Thought I’d Be because I frankly didn’t want to deal with the fallout that story caused twice over, and didn’t do one for The Butterfly Effect because it’s also unfinished.
That means this story is probably the first one in a month or so the readers of my blogs get any background information on.
So, I think I’ve found out how to intersect my ‘pony stories’ with my ‘Author’s Academy stories’ by retroactively adding in a significant pony element that makes the story seem ponylike.
This story happens to have come from that, it all started while I was reading Paradise Inn as mentioned in the author’s note, because I found it in the popular tab somehow. It very much reminded me of the stories I used to write with its tone and overall vibe. It’s mysterious, but in a more controlled, tragic way.
Somehow, while I was reading Paradise Inn, I got this idea in my mind for a story about a pony making a difference by himself. The only thing that stayed consistent was it being about the Golden Oaks Library, but first it was a single brick, then it was a single log (the opening Break is actually reminiscent of the single log concept), then, as I was writing it, it became a single seed based around what Redwood planted.
I did some research on how long oak trees take to grow, and I got a 30-40 year mark. Let it be known that I wrote Redwood as being precisely 30 years old when planting the seed. He’s 60-65 in the outro of the story.
The OC names came while I was writing the story, mainly because they were secondary to the story I was telling. Several edits were made while writing to slip First Class, Redwood, and Steel Girder’s names in there.
I was also deadset on actually giving this story a plot, like a full exposition/rising action/climax/falling action/resolution plot. Except... I didn’t really include a resolution, more on that later.
I could’ve included more story, but I decided against it, because that’s not really what the story is about. It’s about the Golden Oaks Library and one stallion’s unending dedication to it. It can mean several things, but personally, I wrote it as meaning that all you need is dedication to make a difference, but Death of the Author applies, so have at it.
Readers of the story may notice that there’s no exact ending, Redwood goes to sleep, and then there’s a horizontal rule with nothing after it. I was debating what ending I should add, if I should have Redwood die peacefully in his sleep and have some other pony later come along and finish up the library, if I should have him die peacefully, then have the tree stay there untouched until it’s torn down again, or if I should have him peacefully serve as a new librarian.
Then, after debating this for a good five minutes, I decided on none of those things.
I took a page out of Soul’s book, and had him just fall asleep, leaving the fate up to the reader. Just like the meaning, I personally believe that he dies in his sleep due to overexertion, and somepony later comes along and fixes it up fully, but like I’ve said, Death of the Author applies here.
That’s really all I have to say about A Single Seed, other than it took about an hour and a half to write.
Also, thanks for getting the story onto the popular tab, it’s still there, as far as I know. I appreciate it.
And until next time; be awesome!
-Dashie
If you have no clue what I’m talking about, the story’s right here.
Good blog, kiddo! It's nice to know a story's backstory!