art by PonyEcho

It's been several months since I last took a blog to just say "thank you" to all my fans and friends, and to the Fallout: Equestria community as a whole. Since then, I've gotten a whole lot of new watchers. (I now have more followers than Knighty!? How did that happen?!) As usual for these blogs, I want to thank all you -- for the wonderful comments and favorites, for sharing your kindness and your friendship with both myself and others, and especially for all the labors of love that through which you have added to this wonderful community. But this time, I want to do just a little something more. A while ago, one of you sent me this beautiful quote:

Truer words have rarely been spoken. In the Equestrian Wasteland, these words ring true for every hero who stands up for what's right. It speaks of every character we have drawn, written, or otherwise imagined and shared who has been willing to light a candle in the darkness. To every character who has drawn a line in the sand.

art by Pinkuh

full resolution available here

But even more so, it speaks about each of you who have drawn, written, sculpted and sewn. Everyone who has composed, sang, read and voice-acted. Every one of you who has created, and then been brave enough to share those creations openly, regardless of the slings and arrows that might come your way.

Several days ago, a fan who was struggling with his own writing asked me for encouragement. I told him to keep practicing. I advised him to focus on improving his grammar, spelling and punctuation. (Perfection isn't required -- not even professional writers are perfect; that's what they have professional editors for -- but clear and effective communication is.) I told him not to allow himself to give up, or to become frustrated even if it takes years to be able to really express what he wants to through his medium. I told him that hard work and dedication will pay off.

It was good advice. But as encouragement, it could have been better. As encouragement, I should have included the quote above.

So now I'm passing that quote on to all of you.

Thank you.

"Littlepip's Approval Clap" by Teschk

P.S.: Barring something unusual, next week's journal should be the next piece of "Origin Story". I've got four "pads" written of what I suspect to be about ten -- each being the most crucial part of what would have been a story chapter. (And for those who pointed out that pieces of a Daring Do rough draft would make a far from ideal OTP, you're absolutely right. But it's a framing gimmick. And besides, this is the universe of Fallout: Equestria, where a wasteland pony with sufficient know-how, a lab coat and a tin of Mint-Als could hack Twilight Sparkle's personal terminal... cryptography was clearly not the ponies' most advanced science. ) I and hope to have the fifth finished before posting the next.

Until then: