estee

New one-shot story: Tales Of The Canterlot Deportation Agency: Soul Survivor

I'm exhausted.

I'm allowed to be exhausted, because I have been writing this story for three straight days.

So I'm only going to say four things.

* It's nearly 34,000 words.

*  As it's a CDA story, it will probably have less than two hundred people finishing it.

*  Don't tell me I don't occasionally provide decent verbiage-per-pledge-buck.

*  However, the next one is going to be a whole lot shorter.

G'night.

Update: Anchor Foal

The next chapter will be the date.  This one -- roughly 6400 words, because I post word count as a matter of course now -- is mostly about Fleur getting to know the Belles a little better.  Because if it's a first date and a dress to suit, then as Fluttershy insisted in the chapter prior to this one, we must be heading for the Boutique.  And when you put Fleur and Rarity in the same room...

...note the chapter title.

If I stay on the current schedule, I'l...

Update: Triptych

This is an odd sort of chapter, because it's mostly setup.  There's nearly 7k here, but the verbiage is concerning where nearly everyone is, what they know (or believe they do), and something of what they're planning to do next.  The pieces are scattered all over the game board, and now they have to get moving.

Which means they're getting into locations from which they can directly attack each other.

You might suspect we're on the verge of hitting some action sequences...

New one-shot story: One Remove

Somewhere over 10k on this one, and...  I'd normally be going into detail about the why of the story, maybe a teaser detail or two, but -- see my blog.  I wrote a story on the same day where I had to deal with the strangeness of having one part of my car stolen.  I'm still trying to work that one out.

So the short form on this one is that it's a semi-sequel to a few prior stories:  it works with 2018-06-20 00:06:08 +0000 UTC View Post

New one-shot story: Sandalous!

 For me, this one's on the short side:  a little over 5200 words.  I wanted to do something a little lighter in tone after everything which just took place on Triptych, and sometimes a Rarity story just hits the spot.  Because on the day after a marathon, you take a walk around the track and let your body cool down. 

The day after that is mostly spent in a mild coma.

I'm currently having trouble using the Link Post function on Patreon: &...

Update: Triptych

So that promise is kept:  two chapters this month.  And now we start to move...

If I have the strength remaining, I'll try to close out tomorrow with a lighthearted one-shot.  (I hope I have strength:  the word count on this chapter was just short of a 10k run.)  Beyond that, we reach June, and my next concern is...

...actually, given the weather lately, I think my next concern is getting the window AC unit placed, insulted, taped down, and foam...

New one-shot story: Mint Condition

I'm oddly tired right now, which often happens after working on a story.  (Writing through what should have been lunch probably didn't help.)  So I'll keep this short:  I had the idea yesterday and wanted to clear the queue, it's a semi-sequel to Good For All Princess Labor, Public And Private and as such, this isn't about collectibles.  There ...

Update: Triptych

This is the first of what should be two chapters for this month, clocking in at just under 7500 on the word count.  As promised, this is about what Spike was up to during the latter part of the conference, and it brings us that much closer to Whatever It Is That's Going To Happen Next.

(One story comment recently asked if I'd said anything about how many chapters were still to come.  I don't have an exact number.  I know what the events are and that we're into the endga...

New one-shot story: Horsefeathers! (or: I'll Say She Isn't.)

First off:  as promised, because I didn't get one posted in April, next month will see two new Triptych chapters.  I wasn't sure I was in the right mental place to attempt a fresh advance on that plot today, and so I dropped back to a retreat point.

This story concept isn't completely new:  you can see the start of it in one of the blog posts where I asked people to vote on the next effort.  But the last hours before I started had it feel like everything wa...

New one-shot story: Enduriance

This is one of those cases where you have the idea and write the story just to get it out of your head.  I wasn't going much of anywhere until I got this out of the way, and it turned out to take 12k of words before that was done.  It's a comedy, it's a little bit random, and it's also a love/hate letter to one of the worst things ever created by nature.  Approach at your own risk, and preferably while holding your nose.

So as far as the scant rest of the month goes, th...

Ongoing story conclusion: Tales of the CDA: Jack

It ends with a name.

So this particular tale has come to a close with a 10k concluding chapter, which frees me up to think about writing Bree's sequel at some point in the future.  However, I'm aiming for (and will probably miss) making five postings this month -- take what warning/adjustments you wish -- and so the next piece up just might be a one-shot.  It's been a while since Luna had a story focused on her, and so the world may need to meet the only thing more inherently terrify...

New one-shot crackfic: The Pot Of Gold At The End Of (The) Rainbow

Over 8k words of I'm Not Sorry.

(Well, maybe a little sorry.)

(Actual sorryness may be variable by downvote storm level.)

What can I say?  Sometimes it's Crackfic Week.  And when it's Crackfic Week, you've just gotta write a crackfic.  So I've gotten this out of my system:  the silliness is up, the 'verse status on this story is '@#$$ no,' and I can focus on something else -- which, for the next posting, will probably be finishing Jack's tale. ...

New one-shot: Department Of Madness Vindication

Because ponies may not have cars, but there's still a chance for government offices dedicated (mostly) to driving them insane...

This one came in over 12k, and gives Mr. Rich his third story.  (He's developing his own little corner around here.  Well, that's what you get for using a pony who's used to creating branch operations.)  It's pure Slice Of Life, and far too much of what happens within was taken directly from my last trip to the local torture center. &...

Triptych: second update.

The last chapter was the shortest in the story's history:  just over five thousand words.

This one is in the rough vicinity of 17,000.

So I guess there's an argument to be made that on the average, I occasionally try to manage some degree of value-per-post-charge.  However, right now, I'm so tired that I think the previous sentence has some degree of sense about it, so let's not have that argument:  I'll probably lose.

This leaves two things to say ...

Update: Triptych

If all goes well -- pause for audience laughter -- this will be the first of two chapters this month:  I'm going to do my best to have the second one up before April, even if I have to post it at two minutes before midnight.  It's also the shortest chapter in the story's history:  just over 5100 words.  However, the next chapter is likely going to be Long As @#$$. 

Basically, I had originally thought that the contents of this segment and what will (hopefully) ...

New one-shot story: Bangception

Let's get this out of the way immediately:  this is a Mature work -- to wit, a sex comedy.  As such, I'll understand if some people are uncomfortable with it.  I put up a blog post asking if I should even write this one at all and the majority of respondents indicated approval, but...  if anyone here doesn't want to read it because of the material and rating, I'm not going to be offended.    

For whatever it's worth, it's also OC-focused:  I wasn't going...

Update: Anchor Foal

Made it.

This one's a little under 5k on the word count -- but the other chapter posted today was a little under 10k, so I'm going to go with the aggregate number.  This is a chapter which sets up a few things -- including our next swing back into comedy, as Fleur finally winds up having to directly deal with that bitch.  Please stand well back while social fu is in progress, and keep any easily-wounded egos behind the barriers at all times.

The questions whic...

Update: Triptych

I guess I'm feeling a little better now.

I still have something of a cold:  the more minor virus used the opportunity to strike after the flu had disabled me for pretty much all of February.  (Details in the blog.)  As such, I'm aware I still have patron blog subject requests to fulfill -- but now I should be capable of completing them, if the universe will spare me from an episode of relapse.  In any case, I'll keep everyone up to date about what's happening there.

I...

Triptych: second update

A little under 7k on the word count for this one -- but after what happened with the previous two postings, going for five digits again this soon just wasn't going to work out, and the scene also happened to have reached a natural break point.  Still -- we move forward.

Which may be a little too close to Gentlespeak for comfort.

I'll also say this in my blog tomorrow, but some of the Patreon blog dictation requests will roll over into February.  This month has been an unexpecte...

New one-shot short story: Natural Conducters

(Yes, that's the spelling for this usage.)

This is the promised companion piece for the new Triptych chapter.  It takes place at just about the same time as that chapter, and -- that's been planned for a while.  Trying to execute the story postings as a simulcast was my more recent horrible mistake.

It's nearly 12k on the word count, and that was done all in one day.  Which means that reading it is going to take a while, along with reading that chapter, and...  maybe ...

Triptych: update

This is one of the big ones.

Literally.

It's a 14k chapter.  There's a lot being said and once people are done reading it, there may be just about as much being screamed, mostly at me.  I'm expecting...  a fairly active comments section.  Also a few possible trope edits and possibly a minor riot on the Wild Mass Guessing page.  It's a chapter which (put mildly) has been a long time coming, and the backlash may be directly proportionate to its length.

As pro...

Micro-update: Mr. Rich And The Barnyard Bargains Go Experience

Let's just call this what it is:  a micro-fic inspired by the Seattle debut of Amazon's first physical convenience store.  It's less than six hundred words, and that means I would never hit the Charge Patrons button on it -- but I did want to get it out of my system.

Also, I've been up against something of a fearwall on the next Triptych chapter.  Hopefully this put a crack in it.

With any luck, that story -- and another TEOE piece -- will go up next. &nbs...

Triptych: second update.

And with that, I've kept my promise:  a pair of chapters this month, updates on other pieces, and a holiday freebie one-shot.  

Yes, I've been writing for hours.  (I remembered to eat -- rice.  I didn't want to stop for more than that.  The Energy Drink Of Last Resort was removed from the refrigerator.)  This chapter worked out to just over 9800 words, and it brings us to the absolute border of the endgame.  There's still some distance to go -- but t...

Update: Your Alicorn Is In Another Castle

I promised we'd get back to this one, and so roughly 3600 words just went up on a fresh chapter.  It's a little more serious than the previous portions, but it almost had to be:  this is where Things Get Explained (Or At Least, Certain Things Do) and so portions of the talk had to be semi-solemn.  But the next section will swing back to comedy, because our Hero has arrived -- and he may need a little time to adjust.

As also promised, this particular update comes with no...

Update: Triptych

I've noticed that when I try to use the link form of post for an established story, it'll go through -- but if I attempt to do so on a freshly-written one-shot (or first chapter of a new ongoing piece), it fails and forces me to use the text option.

There's absolutely nothing I can do about or with this information, but I was writing this out, so...  might as well share.

At any rate -- this is the first of the two promised December chapters for Triptych:  the s...

Update: Anchor Foal

Roughly 6700 words on this chapter, in which the social beehive which had been previously dropped into Ponyville starts to sting in multiple directions.  The next chapter on this one is going to focus on the beginnings of Karmic Payback -- no, that's not a pony name (although it could be) -- along with getting some insight into a typical fall day at the cottage.  I'm also guessing that we're going back to the mill, but I may have some inside information on that one.

One spec...

Update: Tales Of The Canterlot Deportation Agency: Jack

Two chapters went up on this one today, totaling out to just over 7k on the word count.  (This actually brings us within view of the finish line on this particular story.)  I know a few people have been curious to see more of this particular AU's incursion world, and hopefully this both helps and provides proof that I have every intention of completing the tale.  And before that story wraps (hopefully) in January, there will be a few more characters to meet.

(I've alway...

Your holiday freebie: Lootspheres

https://www.fimfiction.net/story/394371/lootspheres 

Yes, this is still Story Update Month, and said Updates will begin appearing soon.  But I like to do something special at this time of year, and thus a sub-3k piece about why gathering six Elements isn't as simple as you might want it to be.  There's no post charge for this one, because it's the holidays -- and frankly, because don't fe...

Update: Anchor Foal

And this one's moving again, just in time to close out the month.  Just under 8k for the word count on this chapter, which includes a few meetings -- and what just might be a step forward.

Now:  I know we missed a Triptych chapter in November, and I also know there's probably going to be some upset about that.  That's why I'm announcing December as Story Update Month.  There will be two chapters on Triptych in December, along with ...

New one-shot story: Yellow Immortality

This is all FanOfMostEverything's fault.  He made a comment on a blog post which got me thinking, gave me permission to use the idea, and...  well, less than a day from concept to what's just over a 6k story on the word count.  It happens that way sometimes:  you think of something, and then you immediately clear the queue in...