Regarding this Whole Thing

Hey everypony,
So as you all probably know, I've been inactive. For a while now.
Other than publishing My Little Secret, I haven't done much here at all in 2019. And, quite frankly, a number of things contributed to that, not just me procrastinating (which I am just as likely to do, but still.)
At the beginning of the year, I had high hopes which quickly went down the toilet. College became far more intense than anticipated, and it looked like I was going to fail quite a few classes. Additionally, my personality had begun to change for the poorer; I clearly wasn't myself anymore, and was in a dark place emotionally. I dropped out of college amid health concerns. Around a month later, my grandfather, to whom I was very close, and who had been in and out of hospitals since last fall, passed away. It was a time of great sadness for the whole family, but he went peacefully, and lived a very good 83 years. Losing him was hard enough, but it didn't help that not long prior, I had started writing Death has a Cutie Mark Problem. That... that messed with me. A lot. I had to put the story down. I felt bad because it's probably my most popular fic here, but I needed some time away from it.
Other than publishing some one-offs here or there, I was absent from this site for quite a while. After familial business was taken care of, I picked up a regular job and started earning a paycheck. Naturally, that takes up a lot of one's time as well, and FimFiction slipped further and further out of my mind.
Now, it's the latter half of the year. I just returned from Bronycon 2019, feeling inspired to write again and share my love of ponies and the wonderful lessons the show has to impart. However, things are going to work a bit differently now. Aside from me holding a regular job, making plans to start online classes next year, and spending a lot more time with my family, I've decided to change up how I contribute to FimFiction.

• I don't plan on starting any new multi-chapter stories until the show has ended and I can work with the FiM canon in its entirety. Anything I've already started I'm going to finish without retcons.
• BloodLust: I'll be honest, I sort of write this story as I come up with it. Though it's not my favorite thing I've written, I still like the concept and intend to finish it, since it too was a big success upon release. However, be aware it may take a while, per the norm.
• Death has a Cutie Mark Problem: My other big success, and still a favorite of mine despite the circumstances surrounding its inception. I have the course of the entire story laid out already, so it will definitely see completion. How soon has yet to be determined, most likely on days I feel good. Writing my version of Death, much like reading Terry Pratchett's version of Death, helps me cope with it as a concept and a reality. I won't say any more than that to avoid starting a flame war, but just know that I do like this story and fully intend on laying it to rest.
• Zecora's Redemption: My baby. Among everything I've written for FimFic, I think this is my favorite. I've wanted to work on this one for a while now, but have lacked the creative inspiration to do so. Now with a bit of a better idea on how the story will reach its conclusion, I have a feeling this will probably be the first thing I update. Keep an eye open.
• Rainbow Dash: Prisoner of War: Another story I love to work on. I also have a pretty good idea on the course of this story, though its updates may also be a bit slower. Stay tuned.
• Smells Like Teen Angst: Much like the previous three, I have a good plan laid out for this story and intend to see it through, though it will be much shorter than those previously mentioned. I hope you'll stay tuned for it as well.
• The Derpy Series: Yes. I love these things, mostly because they're funny and short. I'd wanted badly to write one this spring/early summer, but was preoccupied with work and grief. I have a few more of these I'd like to write before calling an end to this series at the end of the year. Expect the first two sometime this month and/or the next, followed by ones for Nightmare Night, Hearth's Warming, and New Year's again.
• Other One-offs: Maybe. If I have an idea I really like, I may just have to get it out there, but mostly, I want to focus on finishing what I've already started.

Thanks to everypony who took the time to read this. I know I didn't need to let you all in on my personal life, but I felt the best way to justify my staggering lack of activity was to just tell the truth.
I appreciate all your support and readership, and would appreciate you sharing my work with a friend who may like it. It means a lot to me that so many of you actually enjoy what I write and want to read more. I hope you'll stick around, my friends; great things are to come.

Peace, Love, and Friendship
The Mountaineer Brony

Comments

[RevinReady]

It's alright, I think we all understand why you haven't been posting, that is horrendously tragic that you had to go through all that.