Wintermist, where art thou · 7:20am Nov 21st, 2019
Hi, everypony. Let's talk.
It's been nearly five years since I posted the first chapter of Friendship is Mind Control. I wrote the first three chapters for my own amusement, and I didn't have much of a plan behind them. I found fimfic as a place that would be willing to take the story, and made an account here. I was amazed by the response. People really enjoyed the stuff, and they had fun speculating about it, and they wanted more. Writing is both fun and deeply challenging, and I would have kept going with something, but it was finding an audience here that drew me into developing FiMC into the genuinely novel-length story it became. It's been the same with the short stories, and the sequels - people are amazingly positive about my work, and it makes me want to write more. I love these stories, and these characters, each of whom have their own distinct voices.
So let's talk about why things have gotten so quiet.
The short version is that I am a trans woman. Back in October 2017, I applied to begin formally transitioning. Now, the British NHS is hugely underfunded when it comes to that sort of thing, so I've had to partially go private since. It's been a long fight to get treatment, involving many months of strife and heartache (not to mention the unspeakable costs). Toughest part of my life. I've been on HRT since June. At the end of October, I came out at work, and went femme full time, which I had been dreading for a long time, but needed to do. ...turns out, somewhat anticlimactically, that it was fine, and everyone was cool with it.
That's where I am, currently. The stress of the process has devastated my ability to write, but the important thing is, I still want to. I still have so much to tell, and so much planned out. Times will improve, and there will be more from me here, I promise.
Thank you for enjoying my work, and showing that you want more.
~Wintermist
Always sortta figured you're from the English/Ireland/Spain timezone, and the style of your articulate writing leaned me to believe you to be male, and from Europe. (don't fault me for this, but the smut-tacularness dictate it that way.)
I and your fans will
seizure-spaz the fuck outpatiently await future story updates....and sorry about you free British health care, the wait-time must be atrocious.
Congrats on coming out, and I’m glad it was as anticlimactic as you said. And thanks for the update, it’s always nice to know an author hasn’t just disappeared into the aether. I mean, I’m not going to lie; we’d love to have more of your stuff to read, but if you aren’t in the right place, you aren’t in the right place.
Don't fret and congratulations on the transition! Let us hope the stress goes down and you bring us more of that delicious brand of Mind control of yours, it's positively delicious.
congratulations on the transition, i hope it goes well for you.
Congratulations on doing something incredibly hard and incredibly brave. I promise you, your fans are still here, still patient, and support you all the way. Plus, as excuses go? That's a goddamn good one.
You take all the time you need. We'll be here.
Congratulations on your transition, I've been through similar on the NHS and it really is a struggle, I'm glad that you were so well accepted by your peer, it can be really scary to come out and it's a remarkable thing when someone has the courage to say who they are!
Congratulations and welcome back!
Congrats! Hope things are looking up for you. ^^
Congratulations on your transition, NHS sucks for it, so I am glad you could go elsewhere for that!
Look, if this changed anything for anyone else, than that person was never really your friend. Glad to hear that it didn't.
Congrats on your transition. The process may have been stressful but you've gotten over the hill and can now look out over the land. Don't feel obligated to write if you don't want to, get a handle on your stress first if you can. As you say, it will get better. Much better. ;)
Wait, hold up. You're British?
Congratulations on your transition and thanks for keeping us in the loop. I'm excited to know you still have both will and plans to write more, I'll be looking forward to your content
Heh, that’s two of the writers I follow here that transitioned! Can’t imagine caring enough about gender either way to go to such a huge amount of trouble, but I suppose different things are important to different people. Good on ya for knowing yourself and following your dreams. Do you suppose there’s something about the brony fandom that attracts that sort of thing? Always assumed you were a girl anyway, even before I noticed your avatar pic; you just have a feminine tone of voice. Do you think the new perspective will change your style? Your many fans will still be patiently (actually not patiently at all!) waiting for you when your ready to continue.
Congratulations on your transition! That's not an easy thing to do, and I'm glad that it was received well! I appreciate the update, and take all the time you need to get everything sorted out. We'll still be here.
Hug?
Woo! Congratulations!
5158408 Well, you were half-right!
5158485 Pip pip tally ho, etc. I'm actually Welsh, but I live in England.
5158490 I don't expect it to change my writing style; it's more a case of finally being seen for who I am, rather than changing my outlook.
5158538 Hug!
5158587 yay
Thank you, everyone, for your kind words. It really means a lot
Thank you for the update. Brava at embracing who you are and sharing it with the world. Take all the time you need for yourself; we'll wait patiently.
The title and first few sentences had me dreading an “I’ve lost the desire to write” sort of thing for a moment, but I’m quite glad with where that post went. Good to hear you’re doing well and that the folks around you are embracing who you are. Take care of yourself.
Woo! Congrats on coming out! And yeah, transition on NHS sucks. I couldn't afford to go private, but I am transitioning now and out at work full time too ^.^
5158634
Bloody hell, Welsh too? Snap!
Oh hey, good to hear you're still kickin'! And kudos for being brave and establishing who you are and stuff.
Here's to hoping things settle down soon so you can get back to writing smut. That's what
fimfictionthe internet is for, after all!I hope the best for you and im glad to hear that everything is working out with the transition. :) stay strong and keep moving forward!
That is a MASSIVE amount of bravery sharing this with us. Thank you for that peek into your life, and my dearest hopes for you.
I admit, I recently registered here to follow you specifically because of FiMC.... And see about my own writing as I can.
Take your time and know that we are here for you... not just as your fans, but as your own personal cheering section.
(*WING SALUTE*)
MAY LUNA WATCH OVER YOU!
FimFiction is such a bizarre corner of the internet, not a single reader is going to judge. Fact is, you're a talented writer. So you do you man.
I salute you, and look forward to more work from you in the future
Huh, kinda always thought you were a woman but the British part is a surprise. Well good luck with your transition and I hope things work out well for you. Love your writing!
Echoing HeroicNonsense's comment, because I couldn't have put it better myself.
Take care of yourself, kick back and enjoy the holidays with your loved ones :)
5158408
Seconded!
Also sorry for delayed reply.
Also, fuck anyone that gives you shit about your choice.
Not literally, though.
Let them have blue-balls.
Just found this because it was referenced from your
deadresurrected story. And I actually had thought you were female before this as well.Well, glad to have you writing again.