Random Ramblings LXXXIV · 9:19pm Sep 17th, 2016
IN WHICH VICTORY IS CLOSE BUT NOT
Well, I think I'm almost finished with my Dazzlings story. In terms of quality, it could be the worst story I've ever written, maybe not worth the effort I put into it, especially considering its shortness, but it's one I really wanted to do. It's been quite a challenge too. Nearly every line of dialog has a music reference. Except from Aria. I almost feel bad for her, because her "sisters" are nuts.
I'm wondering if I ought to tie this in to the "Burritoverse" (my god I can't believe I'm using that phrase seriously), or should I leave this fever dream's relation to those fever dreams ambiguous?
Should I make public my story where Spike ends up in a YTP? I posted it months ago and never did anything with it, mostly because I had no idea how to rate it (I settled on "M") but also because it's so out-of-character for a writer whose oeuvre - especially the stuff I haven't put up on here - consists largely of heartfelt stories about Sunset Shimmer being mentally broken.
Although, BOTH of my current longest public stories feature the Mayor. Weird how that happens. I like her, sure, but she does not make my dozen favourite ponies list. I guess she's just fun for me to write. So is Aria. Sunset is different; she's almost my muse. I also enjoy writing Apple Bloom (my favourite Crusader).
Look forward to a story or two from me in the future about the interpersonal dynamic between Sunset Shimmer and Apple Bloom. But before that, I think I will write "The Hotel". It'll be the first story from me that actually features all the main Equestria Girls (minus Twilight) and not just Sunset and Rarity.
I dunno, basically all of that sounds like good stuff.
One thing I find fascinating is when an author settles on a character or relatively small set of characters and keeps finding new and interesting material to bring forward from them. Kind of the muse effect, as you might describe it. I suppose I envy it a little, given that early on I thought I might gravitate toward a couple of characters and try to do that, but as time's gone by I've just been all over the map.
There's something to be said for offering your audience diversity, but there's also a great deal to be said for offering consistency--thematic or otherwise.
4214833 - Really, I just write what I want to write. I think, absent actual money at stake -- which there obviously isn't in fanfic -- that's the best way to keep sane... or in my case a reasonable approximation. Going back through my MLP-centric works, there's a lot of diversity in terms of characters.
1 story starring the Mayor
1 story starring the Mayor and Spike
1 story starring Spike (finished but unpublished)
1 story starring Granny Smith (unfinished)
1 story starring Pinkie Pie (unfinished and unpublished; don't expect it)
1 story starring Vinyl Scratch (with assist from CMC)
1 story starring Twilight Sparkle
1 story apiece starring each of the Dazzlings (+1 more with all 3)
1 story starring Sunset Shimmer
2 connected stories starring Sunset Shimmer and Rarity, with a 3rd planned
2 outlined but unwritten stories starring Sunset Shimmer and Apple Bloom
Even thematically there isn't much consistency on the surface -- it's a mishmash of Slice-Of-Life, Dark and/or Sad, Random, Comedy, and even Adventure or Mystery. And yet under the surface, most of my stories feature a character going through some sort of mental trauma or anguish. Poor Sunset gets the worst of it, of course, probably because I identify so much with her.
I do admire writers who can do multiple fresh stories about one or two characters. I'm looking forward to trying my hand at that. I'm really excited to hopefully finally write a Sunset story where she's not severely in need of a trip to the psych ward.