Writer’s Block

by Nova Starlace

Rating: everyone
Tags: Twilight Velvet, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 1006

Velvet has writer's block. She finds this tiring.

Velvet has writer's block. She finds this tiring.

Written for the A Thousand Words Contest II

Published 2023-06-02 02:20:00 UTC
Last updated 2023-06-02 02:20:00 UTC

Writer's Block

Writer’s Block

DING!

A bitter winter morning in Canterlot, the chirping of the birds outside of the household gave Twilight Velvet a bit of peace for herself. It’s not much, but it did give her time to think of something. A something, something. Either words, or visuals.

Her eyes glanced outside the frost-covered window, a gentle hue of golden yellow from the sun casting a beautiful shadow to the bedroom window against the tree in front of her home. Enough to illuminate the room with a gentle warmth.

Tap-Tap-Tap-Tap-Tap-Tap

She stopped typing and laid back on her chair, it’s not everyday for something to be this uneventful. And yet here she was, type typing away on a typewriter, fighting a stalemate in her cerebrum. With one hoof tapping on a table, and two hind hooves on the ground sitting in place; she doesn’t know where to start.

Sigh...

Well screw it. Might as well do something, probably will find whatever I can think of.

With a gentle push, Twilight Velvet guided her swivel chair towards her magnificent bookshelf that commanded attention as a proud centrepiece in her household. Large stacks of books from her mundane foalhood years to her more recent additions acquired in her now and equally mundane parental years.

Well this is too much.

The shelf itself, a marvellous and exquisite wooden oak, made from the tribes of Zebrica. Well.. The wood was imported from there, and it certainly wasn’t cheap, but-

Her horn lit up in a glow and picked one from the many, many books that tempted her.

The Chronicles of Zenyx Fiber : Forgotten Lands

Written by Sal Chronyx

Action-adventure at its peak!

Velvet smiled, remembering getting this book for her Shining at his 8th birthday last year. The hugs he gave her and the countless thank yous and promises he made to her.

Of course, she had to confiscate it a few months ago after he got in trouble for reading it in Math Class. And a stern lecturing followed with a series of silent time-outs.

Needless to say, she could use this- a perfect source of inspiration. Action-adventure, awesome characters, great scenes and above all; written by one of the most notable authors in the writing industry, Sal Chronyx. The King of Action-Narrative. It’s all there, and again, way too much for her.

Carefully returning the book to its place on the shelf, putting out a sigh as she stood up from her chair. She could find something else to read about, something less exciting would help. And encyclopaedias and references won’t do. Not even her great collection of documentary books.

Walking up to the window and resting her head on the window sill, she looked outside. Her Shining Armor was out there with his younger sister, Twilight Sparkle in the snow; both of them having fun and playing snowballs. Well, mostly Shining was having fun as he had thrown TONS snowballs at her while the younger filly just ended up making a snow/bookfort, complete with a book moat.

Velvet chuckled to herself, with a touch of amusement in herself, before making her way downstairs.

Downstairs, she glanced her eyes to a framed picture on the wall near the stairs; herself in the centre, enveloping her daughter and son in a loving embrace as they sat with content smiles. From two years ago after receiving her columnist job for the Canterlot Herald.

She bit her lips, an empty space next to her in the photograph could have not been more visible but nevertheless; it’s not hers to speak for fate. Her eyes moved away from the picture to the morning newspaper on her coffee table. Opening a page to her usual column of book reviews, all with an attempted mix of mild satire, a bit of self-deprecation but just enough seriousness but appeal wise? Uncertain, no doubt.

“I’ve been drinking coffee way before I started writing columns for the newspaper, and now I’m addicted and working late nights every day and week. And of course the youths called us Overcaffes? A bit fitting, sure, but why; It’s not that bad-”

This is horrible, HAHAHA!

Her column was weird, THAT she can guarantee. She read her column again.

“Anyways, I got this book called Under Due by Feather Point, a writer from New Cloudsdale. Tells about a service agent from Manehatten searching ways to pay his back taxes ; you can see why I enjoy this, being mostly dark-comedy. I've read this once with my foals, well filly actually since my son wasn't really into dark-comedy. Still a good read nonetheless.”

Her eyes slightly narrowed, taking a pen on the coffee table and crossed out the part of her foals. She didn't want that either.

Of course THAT part got through with the editors.

As she laid there, Velvet heard the door opening and turned her gaze towards the doorway. Shining and Twilight stood there, covered in snow, one with a large smile on his face.

“Come on mom!” Shining said excitedly, jumping up and down while Twilight was reading a book in her magic. "There's an ice cream cart there and I'm starving!"

As she smiled and grabbed her scarf near the door, she stopped before taking a step outside, realising something that she was supposed to be doing earlier.

Wait, what was I doing again?

Shining looked at her worriedly, “There’s something wrong mom?” he asked sweetly .

She turned to her son, a gentle chuckle and a soft shake of the head. “Nothing, Shining. Let’s go for some ice cream, okay?” she smiled, affectionately patting his mane.

Her son smiled, and jumped to his hooves in excitement towards the ice cream cart. Leaving the house with her daughter still reading, she's absolutely craving some good chocolate ice cream.

Her eyes turned to Shining, already ordering one for himself and her thoughts came surging back to her, momentarily.

She smiled for herself.

Well, I'll do it later. But I guess I'm alright for now.