State of the Author · 5:59pm Aug 27th, 2021
Hello everyone, it’s been some time since I’ve posted anything. So I figured now was as good a time as any to blog about what I’m currently up to.
It’s not hard to notice that I haven’t done any story updates in quite a while. That’s been for a variety of reasons. 2019 was a rough year for me, mainly because of work due to management issues and having to work a growing number of hours each week. Those issues were compounded by Friendship is Magic coming to an end, and to a point my enthusiasm for the show had waned. I’d been a fan of the show for the better part of a decade, and I’d been writing fanfic for MLP for most of that time.
Unfortunately, I didn’t love the show as much after season 5 due to a variety of reasons (some of the episodes being bombs, the direction of the show, repeat lessons for the characters, etc.). That didn’t exactly help my enthusiasm for writing fanfic, and over time I found myself increasingly wanting to explore original characters and concepts instead of being constrained by the show. This wasn't helped by the show itself ending. I still like the show, it will always have a place in my heart. Though there's a difference between liking a show and having the motivation to write about it every single day so that you can post at least a couple of chapters every month as I had for years.
So I was considering what I really wanted to do with my life and my writing by the end of 2019. At the end of the day you’ve only got so many words in you. There are only so many hours in the day you can write, and only so much energy I can commit to it. In the end I decided that I wanted to work on other writing projects, specifically on becoming an independent author. I think it’d be great if I could become a full-time writer someday, but that’s going to require a lot of time and effort. In fact, that’s what I’ve been pouring myself into for the better part of the past two years.
Now you’re probably asking what that means for things like the Winningverse, Midnight’s Shadow, and Freeport Venture. As of this moment I don’t have any plans to write for any of those storylines. That's something I say with a heavy heart, but my current writing projects are eating up all my present free time and energy. Especially when my job continues to be pretty crazy and is absolutely hammering me with up to 55 hours a week. I won’t say I won’t return to those stories, but they just aren’t my priority at the moment. Maybe I’ll post what some of my plans were for those storylines in a separate blog post, especially if people want that.
I realize this might not be what everyone wants to hear, but I feel this is the right decision for me. It was a wild decade with ponies, but all good things come to an end. At the end of the day I need to do what's good for me, and follow my interests instead of feeling like I'm chained to one thing for the rest of my life. It’s entirely possible I might get bit by the pony bug again, but I can’t make any promises at this juncture.
I do plan on announcing my new upcoming novels here on FIMFic when I finish them. You guys will be among the first to know about that, that I can assure you. It’s my sincere hope to have some finished products within a few months, though we’ll see how the exact timing of that goes. I’m really looking forward to that day, and I hope you’ll all join me on the next step of my writing career and the new stories I have to tell.
I’ll be happy to answer any question anyone has, and I hope you all have a great day!
Sad to hear, but entirely understandable. Thanks for all the horses; here’s hoping you do revisit Equestria. Best of luck with your future projects!
I was wondering what was up with Sunset and Midnight a few months back. So sorry to see you go for now, but you need to do you. This is something that should only be done for fun and, since it's also unpaid, you are under no obligation to any of us for anything. But like you said above, still hoping that you'll come back one day.
And speaking of Sunset and Midnight, have you heard anything from Chengar Qordath lately? I haven't seen anything from them either for a long time as well.
What FoME said. Sad to hear we won't be expecting updates, but do what makes you happy!
It hurts to here this but I hope you have a great time writing, here's hoping you become a successful or at least happy author.
For me I personally don't want to hear your plans, the write up will never match the story and I think its better to leave it to our imaginations rather then getting the wiki version.
Thanks for an update so we don't wonder forever. You've written many stories I enjoyed greatly. No series finale to them but that's just the way sometimes.
Good luck with your future writings and yes, vi would love to have a cliff notes version of your timeline and thoughts that hadn't yet saw light.
Thanks for the great stories and take a vacation from that intense job!
I look forward to hear about your upcoming projects, off site or on.
I've said this to Bucking Nonsense and ChenGath, please post links and don't forget about us! Please stop in now and then if you would...
As for me, the show is cool and all, but I was here for the fandom and the lore.
So many things you can do with the show, it's a great place to start.
And the fandom is a great place to connect.
And remember, you always have friends here if you want!
I'll be here even after they turn out the lights.
Best of luck with your future writing. Midnight Sparkle has been one of my favorite OCs to be spun up on this site.
Speaking as someone who did call off a story and post my outlines for how it would've ended, I'd say only do that if you're absolutely sure that you are ending it. There's a world of difference between cancelling something by choice, and cancelling it because circumstances forced you to, because circumstances can change. I personally have no regrets about my decision, but it means that I can never return to that story and actually write those ideas now, even if I wanted to, because I already spoiled it all. If you choose to cancel and post your plans, then sure, I'd appreciate the closure, but it closes doors for you as well. It's something you might regret it later, is what I'm getting at.
So the question you need to ask yourself is, do you earnestly see yourself wanting to return to these stories one day and finish them off? Is this really a cancellation in your mind, or are you thinking of it as an indefinite hiatus? Either is fine. Just know what you want.
While I would have loved to see Compatibly Incompatible done, I get it. I love Gargoyles (Hence icon) but have not been active in fandom activities for some time. I wish you the best and that you bring the same love and energy to your original works that I have seen in your stories here.
I was holding out for more. It was great stuff. Nevertheless, I wish you all the best. Good luck with your other writing!
5574534
https://www.fimfiction.net/blog/944905/state-of-the-author
I kind of figured something like this was coming after updates stopped happening. I kept holding out hope that it was just Covid affecting you like it has everyone else, and that you'd eventually return to telling your stories. I'm sad to see you stop writing MLP, but I'm glad you'll keep writing even if it's no longer the Winningverse stories we've all come to love you for.
If your goal is to get paid for your work, have you considered doing a Patreon/SubscribeStar for your pony work as a way to keep that going? This seems to have worked out well for some of the other Authors here. I know I'd be willing to pony up some dough for more Midnight Sparkle and her adorkable descendant, and I doubt I'm alone in that sentiment.
Good luck! I hope that your writing ambitions work out.
THE WINNINGVERSE IS DEAD .LONG LIVE THE WINNINGVERSE
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=enAWCQDMpEc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dM0d9uUgVSc
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImsTS1Kb9ww
good luck and godspeed on your next chapter through life
so long and thanks for all the ponies
Your stories have been an absolute enjoyment. Thank you for the effort you've invested here. I wish you all the luck in the world!
Best of luck in the future, thank you for the amazing stories you have written.
I am a little sad there will be more, but you need to do what is best for your life and future. I will look out for your novels if you let us know your pen name :)
Best of luck to you in your future endeavors. I only semi-recently discovered Winning-verse and haven't even gotten into the others yet. Like others have already said, I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little sad that the Winning-verse has more or less reached the end of its lifespan. That being said, I am at least able to move on (plenty of stories yet to be told especially with G5 coming around) since you and CQ communicated the facts to us.
There are more stories than I can count, especially older stories from the early days of the fandom, that just one day stopped, poof, no rhyme or reason, no communications, not even a tiny farewell blog. That makes me more sad/upset than anything because we'll never know. Did they move on, did they get bored, are they even still alive?
I hope in the future, if you do plan to completely leave you leave a small outline of what would have happened with Midnight and Twilight both. But I am also excited to see your future original stories whenever they may come.
te moriste?
Any plans for posting outlines still?
[And / also an update on original works possibly?]