Sad Things · 5:04am Oct 11th, 2021
Hi y’all. I have two things to say/ask. First of all, is there any specific fan fiction that makes you cry every time you read it? I have two. Vanishing Act by Axe IV, and Scars in the Sky by ToriandtheHorse. They make me ugly cry every time I read them. My best friend(who is very much outside the fandom) will get a video of me sobbing and trying to explain these stories. It’s funny really, and I laugh every time I catch myself getting too emotionally invested in the story. There are a few art sequences on Deviantart that do this to me as well. If anyone has any recommendations for these mega tearjerkers, that would be amazing.
SECOND OF ALL, I think I have a problem. I’m good at writing sad, or hurt/comfort stories and chapters, but happy chapters are MUCH harder to write for me. But my question lies within my thought process for trying to characterize someone. An example of this being that I gave Lightning Streak a kind of traumatic past. This wouldn’t be that big of an issue, except for the fact that whenever I try to make a backstory for someone else, it always had some sort of trauma in it. Then I’m sitting there thinking, “well I can’t give them all horrible pasts” so then I have to each my brain to think of normal backgrounds for ponies. I feel bad especially because most of my favorite characters are the ones i give the harshest backgrounds to(ex.
Lightning, Rainbow, and Sun). It’s frustrating sometimes, to have such a “perfect” backstory, then feel too guilty to write it, or not be able to write it in order to have a healthy balance.
Anywho, if you have any recommendations, please let me know. It would be much appreciated. Thank you!
~Crystalline :)
You could try not bringing up the other backgrounds and just implying that their lives weren't that bad
I think a lot of the time what helps is bringing humour into it. Create a sense of not essentially a 'perfect' backstory, but a sense of fondness, of normality- arguing with siblings, getting in mega trouble with mum, sneaking out, getting caught, learning lessons. Relate from your own experiences, and know that not every life is perfect and it's the little challenges and the little successes that really matter.
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I think that's actually very helpful advice! I am actually planning on basing one of my characters off of my life and experiences, and I do plan on taking inspiration from events and people around me.
Thank you! :)
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No problem! Can't wait to read
i think what helps is to include memories of their happiness and maybe bring up some ponies from their past! just because they don’t have mental health issues doesn’t mean they don’t have feelings, and you can still make them aware to serious things that other people (ponies) are going or have gone through! (depression, anxiety, personality disorders, eating disorders)
idk it’s hard for me too i always seem to make up some character with trauma and it’s so hard not to do it !