Site Changes and Why Do You Still Follow Me? · 11:44pm Dec 22nd, 2014
First of all, the new site's frontpage is fugly. I'm just going to say it. It looks terrible and this site needs a graphic designer really badly.
Now, on to the meat of the blog post. The question is, well, why do you all still follow me? As Christmas draws near without any major progress made on the RariLuna story, Silent Night, and a general feeling of sadness hanging over me. Mostly because, well, I feel like I've all let you down. I've spent so much time building you all up with my stories only to let you down time and time again, each time worse than the last. Hell, I got people to donate to me over the summer, then quit writing like a horrible person. It's weighed heavily on me since then.
Now I want to try to get Silent Night out at some point and write that new story...but I just don't know if I can. My heart's not in it, I suppose. When I was first writing Freeze Frame, I didn't worry about finishing it or deadlines or whatever. I was mostly just doing it for fun. Now, if I start writing I feel like I'm going to fuck up and let everyone down, which is hard to take.
So, I guess, I don't know what to do. I've got over 500 people following me that I've let down before, and I'm not sure I can again. Hell, I don't even watch the show anymore. It's like the light's gone out of it, and I'm not sure what to do. I'm sorry if it's all depressing and such, but that's just how it is.
Take care, everyone, and I'm sorry for all the times I've failed you.
Well, I follow you because I enjoyed Freeze Frame, and I wanted to see what other things you would post in the future, not to mention following someone costs literally nothing. And about you "failing" us, just write what you enjoy writing. It's your work, and you are sharing it with us, you don't have any obligation to continue if you aren't enjoying it. Not to say I want you to stop of course
.
I don't think you failed us, I'll stick around even to wait for months on end.
Because you haven't done anything worth unfollowing for? dl.dropbox.com/u/31471793/FiMFiction/Emoticons/shrug_Twilight_Sparkle.png
I dunno. I've got people I'm following that haven't even been online for over a year, but they're still there. Some people haven't posted a new story in even longer, but they're still there. There's always a chance that they will rise again, and that just makes it worth it.
Also you post really cute pictures in your blogs.
I follow you because I do want to see what you'll write next, even if it does take a while to arrive sometimes. But honestly, if there's no spark left there's no spark left. Don't try and force things like this to come, especially if you're not getting paid for it. I worry that this sounds callous, but honestly I'd really just prefer that you do what makes you happy.
...Shit I don't even know.
Because you're still a good writer, even if you haven't put out anything for a while.
Frankly, I think your outlook's all wrong. The best way to do poorly is to assume you will, and I think the very first mistake you made was to write for 'us.' Fuck us; write for you. If you were really letting people down, you wouldn't have 500+ followers.
Myself excluded (I'm a special case
), nobody really keeps deadlines and the like. If you're letting people down, so are 99% of the writers on this site. You shouldn't fret so much over it. What you should do is take a step back and reflect on what you like about writing.
For Christmas this year, I wish for you to rediscover the joy of literary creation. Do you remember the feeling you had when you wrote Freeze Frame? What changed? Forget about the petty expectations of the reader. Write for you, get that feeling back, and you'll find everything falling back into place.
I have hope that any story not cancelled will be completed at some time in the future. I also have hope that some canceled stories become uncanceled.
Because I do.
:|
Cuz I don't care how long it takes! :) Your writing is worth the wait.
Wear this, it'll make you feel better.
swseller.com/images/bu/cdvaderfailedbutton.jpg
How much can you manage to write on Silent Night a day? And is the problem you're facing just that you can't think of what happens next?
I follow you because you seem like a cool person. Anyone who designs alternate-universe political maps is my kind of nerd.
I'm patient. I haven't always liked your stories, but you always have interesting ideas and I consider that more important than good technical writing. I don't mind if it takes a few days, a few weeks, or a few months for more neat ideas to come out. I just hope you find joy in writing again. It's something I struggle with semi-regularly myself.
As for continuing to follow you, that's easy. It would take effort to unfollow you. Easier to just keep it up on the off chance you are feeling like creating again. As for letting your followers down, try not to worry about it. At least 10% of your followers haven't been around for a time measured in double-digit weeks. Some of them haven't been around in more than two years. So try not to put too much mental weight behind that number. If you could clear out the people not around anymore it would drop by a considerable amount.
Hello? This was in my feed, so...
Let me start with a simpler question: why am I following you? Because, to be honest, I don't know. But that story you linked this to looks familiar, even if your name doesn't; let me go take a look at your stories...
So I'd guess that I'm following you because I'm thinking you've got some stories I should maybe-probably get around to reading at some point. No particular reason.
"Sorry"/"no pressure"
2672064
AUGH SORRY WHAT
WHY WAS THIS IN MY FEED
I DON'T EVEN
Maybe I'm just a sappy, over-empathetic blockhead, but I follow you because you gave me something wonderful in the past. Getting more stories is a nice bonus, but the real reason for following you is so that every time you login, you have a reminder of some sort of that wonderful thing you gave me.
I can't speak for everyone, even though I suspect that I do, but you could never let me down, hon. Never, ever.
And, as for not watching the show anymore (and also to make sure you see this notification as well and don't miss it), I'll let you in on a secret. And I guess I'll let everyone here in on a secret, but it's kind of a crucial secret: I never watched the show to begin with. That's right, I joined the fandom for a television program that I only ever watch when I need to do research, and an episode summary or character biography doesn't cut it. So, why did I join the fandom at all, then?
Truthfully?
Honestly?
Because of stories like Transistance.
Transistance, which first debuted on this site one year to the day that I joined this fandom without reservation.
If that isn't a fated encounter, then I'm not sure I know what is.
Cause I like you and your stories. :)
I'm a simple asshat, I guess.
Freeze Frame was something I enjoyed reading when you first published it on the site and followed it to keep me updated on future chapters you would write. Your stories are always fun to read.
i think 2671425 worded it the best for me. i love reading your stories, and would love to read more of it even if it takes a while
I follow you because I see greatness in your work.
Greatness isn't something you can bring out and show whenever you want. It comes and goes whether you ask for it or not, and as you get better it appears more often. But, if you stop, if you give up, you'll never see that greatness again and neither will others. Unless, you keep trying.
So I stay, because even if you stop now, it doesn't mean that later you might want to try again. I stay, because I know you can do it again. I stay, because I saw it once before and I have faith and hope that I'll see it again.
I also stay for Taco Tuesday. We still have that around here, right?
2673552 Of course Taco Tuesday is still around!
WTF is wrong with moderately well known authors at the moment? Within the span of a week all of you snapped and turned into bawling teenagers.
Was it some kind of domino effect, or is it because of the holidays, or did the changes in the site freak you guys out or something?
Let's just say I'm optimistic.
2674482
Mine was more of a cumulative effect over the years compounded upon by a somewhat lengthy stay in a mental hospital a few months back, then added to with losing 10,000 words on a story I was writing that I promised to have done by Christmas that now won't be finished. So no, I did not turn into a "bawling teenager".
2674549
Well hey, I got a watch out of ya, so I guess that works.