When planning my next fanfiction, I came to the point where I needed to decide on a conflict on the story, until it was there any then that I Remember why I struggle so much with writing, it’s because I struggle so much with conflict. It’s no secret that I’m a rather sensitive person, thus I struggled to put characters in my fiction into these scenarios, just want to write about uplifting moments, of triumph, solace, and hope. But apparently everyone’s number one rule for writing is conflict, conflict, conflict, “it’s what drives the story forward.” While I don’t disagree with that, it does make my job a lot harder since I hate writing conflict, I hate putting characters through turmoil, even if their just fictional characters on paper, I hate conflict in real life, so why would I want to drag it into my stories. But conflict has become an absolute rule in the world of writing, to the point where there is no working around it, and thinking about this sent me into a fit.

There are so many rules for so many people these days, even creatives. Although we’re told to just make whatever we want, there are so many standards that we’re told that we’re supposed to live up to. Whatever art form you do, there’s are so many things that people demand that you take into consideration, and with it comes mountains of double-standards. And although they say “you can’t please everyone” critics act like that’s what your supposed to do, and they tear you apart for even the slightest flaws that they feel the need to nitpick. People have become more interested in scrutinizing art rather than enjoying art, going with the flow has become a thing of the past at this point. And I couldn’t take the pressure, I can’t stand the feeling of having to live up to others expectations, especially if they’re going to expect nothing but perfection, and crush your spirit if your passion project has even the most minor flaw that no one should care about, or realize that a flaw in a piece of art can be part of the appeal.

The words shown in the image come from the song Atychipobia by Vylet Pony (well, technically it’s a remix of a song by TCB), and it’s one that I’ve been coming back to over the past few weeks because of how fitting it is for this whole scenario (as well as the rest of the Cutiemarks album by Vylet Pony). These lyrics have been repeating in my head, hence why I felt the need to include them despite being mildly out of place.
You can listen to the song that inspired this piece here, and show Vylet some love, she’s a fantastic musician: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vv2MhrIngYo