Curiosity, are people still complaining that PH is stealing the spotlight for other fanfics?
Yes, they are. It’s very discouraging, because I want there to be tons of FoE fics. I don’t want the fandom to dwindle away. So for people to say Horizons is responsible is very... depressing. It makes me feel like I shouldn’t write anymore.
Sorry everyone. I know it's been a while since Requiem updated. The problem is the season 4 finale kinda stuck in my craw a little. I really didn't expect them to be using tartarus so soon. So yeah... I dunno... hopefully I can work something out.
On Horizons front, things continue slowly. Hopefully something good will be out this weekend. I wish I could just paraphrase things. It'd make them so much easier. Instead, I have talking, and more talking... and more talking. Ugh... too much talking!
It seems to me you get a lot of flak for PH. but I can't understand why! I recently started reading it, and I am very much enjoying your story. In fact, I started an RP on a pony role playing site based off your story! And since I wasn't finished reading it at the time, I went and came up with a bunch of things to put in the rp. and you know what? More often than not, an idea I came up with, you had already done something similar! But instead of getting upset, I though it was awesome! I was like, 'gee wilikers batman! I had an idea that a really good writer, who IS a really good writer and shouldn't be so hard on himself, came up with!' and it made me feel happy. Just wanted you to know that people still love your story, and I know many others who love it just as much as I do. So for every person who says stop, remember that there are at least fifty who will tell you to keep going.
Also, I checked out Requiem as soon as I saw the link in chapter 54. She is such a sweet pony, and I love her story.
....umm....I never really know how to end messages to people...uhh...Shoo Be do, Shoo Shoo Be Doo?
Folks were asking what I was sorry about in regards to Horizons. This was due to some drama that occurred in the Fallout Equestria IRC. It started with some rather standard Horizon's bashing. Nothing new. About how my religious inflection was poorly done and my symbolism was heavy hooved. Fair enough criticisms, I suppose, though they didn't really delve into what they think I should have done instead. That's often the way of things. "I think _____ is horrible." "Oh. I'm sorry to hear that. Why and what do you think I should have done instead?" "_____ is horrible too!" "...Sorry to hear that. What would you have preferred?" "And ____ is bad! I hate it..."
Anyway, this lead to a comment by another author of something that I thought was unfair. First: I can't do anything because Somber does it first. Second: No one reads my stories because every reads Horizons. Thirdly: People are going to think my story is wrong because Horizons did it another way. Fourth: I make too many references.
Sigh...
In regards to the first. I do not have a magical check list of every idea ever used that I check off. I have a story. Things happen in it. Lots of these things have happened in other stories too. And since my story is so ridiculously big, a lot happens in it. I don't read other fan fics because I don't want to steal ideas that other folks are using. This has actually come up before with Morningstar turning into a mare and another protagonist of another story turning into a mare. The author actually contacted me, asking if I'd intentionally copied him. I didn't even know his story existed, but then, I don't read any. I've read the main fic, the first chapter of pink eyes, MN7, and Treasure Hunting, and that's it.
Secondly: People won't read X because they're reading Horizons. This is one that REALLY gets me hot under the collar. Replace Horizons with MN7, Heroes, or any other fic and you'll see why. Folks, despite everything I ever expected, like to read my fic. I don't know why, but they do. If, for some horrible reason, Horizons magically disappeared from the internet it would not guarantee that anyone would read your fic. There's a lot of them out there. I wish they'd read your fic. I wish they'd read LOTS of fics. That investment is the thing that keeps the FoE sub fandom going.
Thirdly: "Horizons did X so if I do X people will say I'm ripping off Horizons." Two things. First, the only story that is canon to Fallout Equestria IS Fallout Equestia. Nothing that I have done in Horizons is canon to anything. Kkat approved the story getting its own page on EQD. That's it. I've written a big old honkin fan fic, but that's it. I'm glad folks like it. But it's not 'true'. It's just my story for people to enjoy. Two... you can not rip off an idea. You want your main character to be an augmented to the eyeballs cyberpony? Go for it! If it suits your character and your story, sure! Be aware that you'll get some comparisons to Horizons. That's inevitable. But you can't 'steal' an idea. You an steal a character, but something like 'cyberpony' isn't a character. So Horizons relies heavily on star metal. So what? Do something different. Make it fit your story.
Fourth: too many references. This is fair. I get an idea. I think it's a cool idea. I put it in. Anime. Movies. Literature. I like referencing outside work. It's a flaw in my writing, something I'll do much less of in my next project. Sometimes it works. Sometimes it doesn't. No one seemed to recognize the V for vendetta reference I made last chapter. Ah well... the point is I add references because I like them. It's fan fic, so it's the only place I can use them, and since I've used so many, I may use others as they occur to me. Yes, I know they don't work as well as they should... but the story is what it is at this point.
Anyway... that's why I said 'sorry for Horizons'.
Now that the holidays are past and things are a little more stable, we're going to try and get Requiem going too. Sorry for the long delay. Also, thanks ever so much to everyone that helped with donations. I really was afraid I'd have to pack it in here. Thank you.
Its been a long time since your last post, are you still alive?
Some times I wonder...
I uhm, don't have much to say, but do hope that everything is alright with you? Or at least within tolerable parameters, eh?
It's just been a lousy couple of weeks. The plan was I move to vegas, get a job subbing, and sub while I find a permanent position somewhere else. I can't get unemployment because I was stupid and convinced to resign for a worthless letter of recommendation (seriously. Nothing positive in it at all). So money has been exceptionally tight. I've been working temp jobs, but they pay almost nothing and are really stressful.
Add to that, the anti depressant I take has some very nasty side effects. So nasty that I'm not taking it as often as I should. So I'm stuck in a knot trying to get my life in some sort of direction while fighting the impulse to check out constantly. In addition, it's winter and coming towards christmas, the worse time of the year for me. Thank goodness, thanksgiving was just me, mom, and her friends.
I don't know anyone in vegas, I don't know what to do in vegas, and I couldn't afford to do it even if I did. There's a gaming store, but going there to hang out and to try and find a group is just sad to me. So yeah. The normal things I wanted to do like wow, I just don't anymore. My brother got me some games and I don't want to play any of them. Most of the time I'm not working, I just loiter on the internet. And oddly, while I'm exhausted all the time, I barely sleep when I can.
So no. It's not. But I finally got my job going this week, so if nothing else that will end the shitty temp assignments. I have no idea if it will be better, but I can't imagine it will be worse. Unless, of course, one my students kill me. Wouldn't that be nice?
I should also apologize for Horizons 62 part b being late. I haven't been productive, as I said, and last week was thanksgiving, and this week is finals for my editors. Still, it's good to work on something that other folks enjoy. Mech has a new Requiem to go up too. And new episodes of Pony. So yay!
I have hopes of getting the next chapter out this weekend. Hopefully it will be okay...
Writing is wierd. It's like a game of connect the dots for me, only there's not any numbers and I'm not sure where things go. For instance, last chapter, I knew I wanted Lancer to have that little history lesson. I also wanted the scene with the raptors. I wasn't really sure which would come first, and so I swapped things around more than once. It's the same thing with 60. I have things I want to happen in Thunderhead, but I'm not really sure the best way to string them together. It's all kinda a wibbly wobbly mess.
Sorry. I'll try and make it better.
I have more Requiem pages sent to Mech and I hope to answer some questions soon. Some folks have been great helping me out right now with money and it's hugely appreciated. I'll be in Vegas for good next week and hope to start subbing in October, provided magic doesn't happen and I get a job somewhere else.
So, hope to get 60 out soon. If not this weekend then next weekend. I hope. Sigh...
*hugs you gently* I really hope things will be okay for you, sir. Please just try to take care of yourself, and remember that you're not alone, we all care about you. - Ryx
I'm at Page 30. Horrible chapter. Just frigging boring... ugh... but I should be able to leave off at a good place. I hope my editors can work some magic...
Vegas plan fell apart. My application doesn't transfer to subs like I was told. So now I have to wait till the tenth to become a sub down there. Mom is going to be pissed...
Sigh...
Okay. I did it. Here is Somber's mod blog. It's a place where I can post stuff and you can ask questions and... stuff. It's a tumblr... what else can I say?
Anyway, going to Vegas tomorrow to find an appartment. Going to get out ch 59 next week... I hope. Going to be broke and homeless in two months I'm guessing... Sigh...
So. Any questions?
