Yesterday I finally finished my project for NaNoWriMo 2012: Shetlander, a My Little Pony fanfiction that ended up as a crossover with Lovecraft’s Cthulhu Mythos.
tl;dr is that there are four things I’d have done differently. Number five: don’t even try National Novel Writing Month again.
This is it. The end of what should have been a quickie sideways story from Magic, as Opposed to Magic for Christmas 2012, but instead spiralled out of control for over a year. Some of this is spun from whole cloth, but then again little is described about Saturalia in TES lore.
[23:52] Alex Yheng (al3x.yheng): Pinkie Pie has found the Loki’s Green Mask from “the Mask”
[23:52] Alex Yheng (al3x.yheng): your reponse?
[23:53] Firefly Doo (tina.highmist): RUN!!!!!!!
[23:53] Firefly Doo (tina.highmist): DEAR CELESTIA, RUN!
A new chapter up, involving the Cutie Mark Crusaders and the Cake family. I still need to work on the following hoofball match.
In this exciting update: Ra'jirra and Haines save Big Town. Ra'jirra philosophises a bit as well.
tywinning asked you:
2012-08-09 03:37As a professor, may I ask you what you think about fanfiction?
I think fanfiction is literature and literature, for the most part, is fanfiction, and that anyone that dismisses it simply on the grounds…
Later onlyalittlelion goes on to say:
Here’s what fanfic authors/fans need to remember when anyone gives them shit: the idea that originality is somehow a good thing, an innately preferable thing, is a completely modern notion.
Being a fanfic author, I agree with this post.
via FanFiction.Net - The Rev. Cardboard Box’s stories
The new Laird is stopping in Ponyville en route to Canterlot. However, he and his herd are only the first to arrive. The second arrival will be bad enough. As for the third herd of visitors…
This is the story I began in NaNoWriMo 2012. Eventually updates will slow as I get into writing the damn thing from scratch.
via FanFiction.Net - The Rev. Cardboard Box’s stories
I think the negative reinforcement is working. Even though I’ve cheated a bit by giving myself Wednesdays off, and I’ve also given myself a pass on this weekend, I’ve been exceeding the 200-word minimum daily.
Shetlander is getting bogged down in a hoofball game, which is probably more detailed than anypony needs. However I’m assuming that future readers won’t know much about rugby league in general (which hoofball is based on) and Sevens matches in particular. This chapter in fact is getting longer than I like, so I might make it a chappy of two halves.
In fact, there isn’t enough local colour yet. Maybe what I need is to just step to the side and write some other scenes elsewhere just for fun.
Friendship is Escape Velocity is stalled. I really need to write the Mane Six’s reaction to saving Primm, and I’m unsure how to go about it.
Magic, As Opposed to Magic got a new chapter up. It didn’t go where I intended, but it should work. The thing is, I know Ra'jirra is becoming very leery of Earth wizards, but I need to maintain some of the Chekovs on the mantelpiece.
Speaking of Ra'jirra, I’ve posted part of a chapter on the chorrol.com forums. He’s going to save Big Town.
Goodnight creative writers anywhere.
Currently I have several fanfictions on the go, and I need to clear my plate and get on with them now that NaNoWriMo is over for 2012.
The Chronicles of Ra'jirra: The Wasteland Affair (73,257 words) needs a decent kickstart, and once I’ve caught up I have to finish the game again so I can finish the story. Also I’ve had a couple of reviews begging for me to finish it. I can’t resist those big soft wet chewy puppy eyes. Even though they bloat me something horrid.
Magic, as Opposed to Magic (38,590 words) hit a snag some months ago and it’s time to bull through it. This is what happens when you publish a little drabble; it becomes a millstone.
Friendship is Escape Velocity (6,049 words) also needs a rark-up, and I’m thinking of simply having the Mane 6 return to Equestria once the Bright Brotherhood take off. Sod Old World Blues.
And then there’s my NaNo project, Shetlander. With the time limit gone and 21,082 words of manuscript so far, I can expand the plot more and spend time getting details right, including a spreadsheet of names.
All of which means I’m going to institute a penalty for every day I don’t write down a meaningful number of words on at least one of them without having a good reason. When this happens - say, I get lost in Minecraft, or slope off to the pub because I cannot stand to stay in the house anymore, or go tramping - $10 gets set aside for when I finish one of them. Not before, unless it’s an emergency.
I’m hoping this will do two things: help me cut down my indiscretionary spending and get these things done, dusted and well received.
This piece was posted to alt.fan.goons after some cheeky chap suggested a script be written about The Affair of the etc. etc. Where etc. etc is of course the Prime Minister’s Trousers.
One other fellow stepped up to bat, but what was produced was too repetitive, rather like I was when I was in primary school and repeating obscure comedy pieces or Warner Brothers cartoon scenes.
Oh - it was very well received.
In 1997 a Quake map maker by the name of Marcus Dromowicz (aka “Mexx”) released a medieval single player map; the storyline hinting that you were hunting an evil being known only as “the Bishop”. Some people liked it.
Then Mexx released a two-map package, including some special effects, that continued the chase. People sat up and took notice.
Then in 1998 Mexx wound up what became known as “the Bishop trilogy” with a pack containing all sorts of new stuff, scary sounds and the Bishop himself. If Mexx could have heard the roars of acclaimation he’d have probably gone deaf.
Some time back I began to write a Quake story, being impressed by the works at the Quake Literary Guild. Admittedly the prologue is by far the best part, only dimly related to Steve Rescoe’s map of the same name. The narrative degenerates into a travelogue from there, spiced up with the appearance of another marine halfway towards the end of Chapter 2.
So, what will happen to Oliver Petrovsky #5681279 and Jack “Raw Meat” Collins? Will they continue onward in pursuit of the Bishop? Will they remain in limbo forever?
Dunno.
Rob “Fat Controller” Cruickshank
Over 4000 words of more story! I load yet another Chekov’s Gun, and we learn just why Harry runs around with a bloody great dagger. You’ll like this chapter if you like the rough-as-guts Arch-Mage Ra'jirra.
In 1997 a Quake map maker by the name of Marcus Dromowicz (aka “Mexx”) released a medieval single player map; the storyline hinting that you were hunting an evil being known only as “the Bishop”. Some people liked it.
Then Mexx released a two-map package, including some special effects, that continued the chase. People sat up and took notice.
Then in 1998 Mexx wound up what became known as “the Bishop trilogy” with a pack containing all sorts of new stuff, scary sounds and the Bishop himself. If Mexx could have heard the roars of acclaimation he’d have probably gone deaf.
Some time back I began to write a Quake story, being impressed by the works at the Quake Literary Guild. Admittedly the prologue is by far the best part, only dimly related to Steve Rescoe’s map of the same name. The narrative degenerates into a travelogue from there, spiced up with the appearance of another marine halfway towards the end of Chapter 2.
So, what will happen to Oliver Petrovsky #5681279 and Jack “Raw Meat” Collins? Will they continue onward in pursuit of the Bishop? Will they remain in limbo forever?
Dunno.
Rob “Fat Controller” Cruickshank
This fanfic piece for id Software’s Quake (yes, the original) was originally spun off for a message board competition circa 2001/2002, I think. It didn’t place.
There was an article in a copy of Time I was reading about the use of acid in “honour attacks” on women in some Asian countries. It seriously affected what came out.
