ART BY:
 Nishi

As an aspiring author of many years I cannot help but analyze those comments in which I receive for my works. The one below is from FiM Fiction and definitely worth some discussion.

"You made a sequel, and another one for a set if stories that seemingly no one likes. in total, you written over 11.000 words, and I can make a wild guess I can do only two-thousand words and it be liked. It's not hard. If I may make a suggestion? No diapers. You're wholesomely disrespecting Spike's potential by giving him the image of a child."

There is a lot to think about with this statement. Let's start with "You made a sequel, and another one for a set if stories that seemingly no one likes."

First of all this is not entirely true. In fact the collection of stories in question are some of my biggest successes here on FA. Not to mention the fine folks in Pony World have it marked at nearly just as many likes as dislikes.

Though the main point here is how the statement notes I made sequels to stories in which are not liked. If I were to stop writing stories on the basis of interest I wouldn't write anything at all. Most of my work goes largely unrecognized. Particularly the work in which I would like to have recognized which is the Welcome to Saurral Manor series, Silmaria, Project: Ezil, and the Further Realms: Creative Campaign series.

Most of the above mentioned works are lucky to get even 20 views and even more fortunate if they get a single favorite let alone a comment. But that doesn't matter. I write because I like to write. I also write because even one view is better than no views. I also write because it is a special part of myself in which I like to share with others. Fame or not I feel it is important to share what I feel even one other person in this world may genuinely enjoy.

Now let's look at another part of the comment I received.
"...and I can make a wild guess I can do only two-thousand words and it be liked. It's not hard."

The arts are extremely subjective. Especially if you do works in which go against the grain. One could easily go Hollywood with their works by coping other successful works, utilize shock value, or a whole host of other mainstream tricks to create a successful work of art. But I ask is doing something like that truly you? Is it something you'd genuinely be proud in sharing? Is it something you could say you are doing for more than just the sake of attention?

Sometimes those of us in the arts sacrifice self for attention. Though the arts are meant as a form of expression. More importantly they are for Self Expression.

If you read my work I want you to do so because it is something that only I can do in which you feel is worth your time. If you want to read what everyone else out there is doing you can go to a bookstore and pick up a copy of Twilight, The Hunger Games, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, etc.

This is not to say I don't have media that inspires me. But if you're looking for something that is mainstream in design you will not find it from me. Nor will you find it from anyone else in the arts who genuinely crafts their own ideas with the hopes of finding others to whom they can relate with and grow alongside.

One more thing from the statement...
"You're wholesomely disrespecting Spike's potential by giving him the image of a child."

What a lot of folks fail to realize is that fiction is just that, fiction. When one writes fan fiction it is his or her own take on a concept. Their way of personalizing it. This freedom should only grow when you are writing fiction about fiction.

I'm all for feedback on my work but I know I'm not the only one who runs into the situation where folks try to tell you how you should portray a fictional character in which you are writing about that already exists in a fictional world.

Do I get frustrated that my work fails to get recognized? Yes. But so do so many other aspiring artists who put hours of love into making original or fan based pieces that fail to garner any interest. Should this stop us from trying? No. We can only learn from what genuine constructive criticism we can get and keep on plugging away. Most of us may never be recognized in the slightest for our efforts but the point is we tried while continually learning from our past efforts. We also build bonds with people whom inspire us while gaining wisdom from those who provide genuine feedback that can be applied towards our ambitions of being successful.

So if you are an artist who is frustrated with how one person may get more attention than you I encourage you to remember the following. This being the arts are subjective. There is no magic formula to be successful beyond being yourself, learning from your mistakes, and never giving up.