(This is obviously not part of the story, it is my reflections of my experience writing it, and if you’re going to talk about spoilers, make sure you put them all in this chapter’s comments, you have been warned)
For a first attempt at writing, well anything, I am happy about how this turned out. Maybe it’s because I didn’t do a generic HiE like half of this website’s first time writers. Maybe it’s because I put some work into it to make it a little better written then if I hadn't. All I know is I believe the last chapter and epilogue are far better than previous chapters. Since you can see from the release dates how I have slowly gotten better at writing, with the exception of the terrible third chapter, Wasteland, and the alternate ending I made for people who didn’t want the sad ending.
Perhaps this story isn’t the most well written, but for a first time effort ever, I think I did pretty good, I didn’t expect Short Skirts & Explosions level praise, although if he had commented I probably would have broken my computer screen in the resulting excitement. I also know that just because a story is unknown, didn’t get many views is simply wasn’t well known, doesn’t mean it’s terrible. I learned that from the absolutely INCREDIBLE fan fic The End of Ponies, which has recently had a side fic named Red Wings that even with a blog post that can only be described as “Swagadelic” by SS&E himself, only had about 350 views last time I checked (few days after release).
What can I say about writing? I’m a new writer, I can’t exactly make an English lesson on how to make a good story, but I can give you one good and slightly obvious tip: Imagine the entire scene In your head before you write, then try to write, I don’t mean figure out what will happen, that’s something you should always be doing, I mean fully imagine it in all its beauty and colour. (or in cupcakes case all its horror and fear)
When you want to try and make a character emotional, try and imagine yourself in the same situation, removing all bullshit about how you wouldn’t be affected and would keep on rolling. The idea that James (yes, obvious self-insert) becomes less talkative and general distant when sad is based off what I do when something saddens me. The only time I ever have burst out in tears from something was chapter 7 of Background Pony.
On the topic of self inserts, I believe there is nothing wrong with them if you aren’t using it to create “OH I MEET FAVOURITE PONY AND WE LOVE EACH OTHER AND FUCK A LOT LOLOLOLOL” bullshit. No one wants to read that. I put me and my friend Scott into this story because I find creating characters hard, of course with Scott, I didn’t base anything off him really aside from the name, since naming people is HARD.
Oh and before I end these notes, I was completely bullshiting about me hiding sadness under an asshole exterior, I’m really an asshole because it’s really fun.