But I am giving serious consideration to closing the blog at the end of this month. I haven’t decided for sure, but no option is off the table. At times, to be honest, I have found it to be burdensome to come up with a flash to post here. Let alone months of flashes. And it seems it’s almost impossible not to spend time repeating myself because I have written so many.
I’ll be also honest and tell you all I am paying for this blog. That’s right I am paying an annual fee. It’s not a huge amount but it’s not nothing either. So that’s also a consideration. Do I want to continue to pay?
So another option rather than outright killing would be one flash a week instead of three to five (or more). Or a few a month. Or just when inspiration hits. That would require people to get email notification here but I think most of you here anyway.
The other thing I want to say is as a treat, there will be a flash MTWTHF 19-23.
Anyway, we’ll see. But hopefully you can enjoy what’s coming up the rest of this month

December 12, 2022 at 6:46 pm
Good grief. I would be soooooooo willing to pay a subscription for your blog. So much a month or year, whatever. I don’t know how often you pay.
But what you’ve already given us? Definitely is worth so much to us.
Even if you just write when the mood hits you, I’d be willing to pay a subscription.
You absolutely have written your ass off for years here and on ao3. Seriously – look in the mirror behind you! No ass left!
Just let us/me know. Even if no one else is willing to pay, I absolutely am. Or donate. Whatever works!
And thank you for all the hours/days/weeks/months/years all that writing adds up to that you’ve handed to us for free.
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December 12, 2022 at 6:52 pm
oh no no, I would never charge you guys, that’s not right. It started, I think this is the second or third year, they charge you an annual fee to keep your domain url/name basically. I want to say it’s like $60 a year, so honestly it’s NOT a lot (and I have it set on auto renew), it’s just they make you if you don’t want anyone else to use the name or title or whatever the heck it is. It’s just another thing that I just threw out there because it was just a consideration in the scheme of things. But I would never ever push that cost off to ANYONE else. It’s a cost of doing business as it were and really writing this fanfiction is a business of sort.
And thank you, I really really appreciate you saying that. If even a few times a month is enough for you guys I would probably keep it. I promise
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December 12, 2022 at 6:50 pm
You’ve gone above and beyond for years, my friend. And I would be sad to see it go bc it brings me joy, but I completely understand where you’re coming from.
Do what’s best for you. I, for one, never want it to be a burden.
And yay that is a treat! One I will thank you in advance for 🙂
You’ve written us so very many stories. If you’re ready to stop or slow way down, then I support you.
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December 12, 2022 at 6:56 pm
thank you, I know you would. and like I said if a few times a month is acceptable I’d probably keep it
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December 12, 2022 at 6:51 pm
I certainly hope you don’t stop. You have literally hundreds of thousands of hits/kudo’s/etc. at least on ao3. I have no idea about here. Too non-user-friendly to search.) You’d be greatly missed here. I hope even if you let the blog go, you’d still write on ao3 as the inspiration hit you, as you did for years before this blog.
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December 12, 2022 at 6:55 pm
oh I think I would continue on A03.
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December 13, 2022 at 8:15 am
You know, Evening’s right and I didn’t even think of it that way. If you end the blog, you lose literally HUNDREDS of flashes you’ve written. Well – YOU don’t lose them because I’m guessing they’re all on your computer or phone or a thumbdrive. And that would be hard. I’m just being honest.
BUT if you choose to do that, I would ask, since I’m the retired one with all the time, that you open an additional ao3 called something like “IvanWLegacy” and mail me thumbdrives of all your flashes here and not on AO3 and let me add them on your legacy name – formatting is the only thing that takes time, and tags, etc.. And when I finish – you simply change the password and it’s all yours. BUT we can all still access them because there are lots and lots of jewels there. But even if not, they’re still all precious to your readers.
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December 13, 2022 at 8:16 am
(If WP’s search was better, I’d not need a thumbdrive. I mean they’re all here. Just sometimes WP is such a B**** and we can’t find stuff)
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December 13, 2022 at 8:39 am
You’d be surprised. Many of these flashes (not all) I never kept a copy. I often, once I add it to the blog, don’t hit save on my word document, so the only copy of it is here or if I posted it on AO3 there also. If I ultimately close the whole blog now or even later at some point, I will do that. And yes, WP is, uh, challenging!!
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December 12, 2022 at 8:33 pm
I sincerely hope that you don’t delete or close (if that’s different) the blog. It’s not the most user friendly system to search through, but the stories and photos on here are priceless and I have scrolled back through it to reread them.
Definitely write whatever, whenever, however often your muse inspired you too. I’ve often said to you that you don’t owe us a certain quantity of flashes or stories on any self-imposed schedule. Follow your own desire to write and share.
❤️💚❤️💚❤️💚❤️💚
I agree with j I’d pay a subscription if that was a thing that could be done.
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December 12, 2022 at 9:20 pm
Yeah it would be closed and then eventually delete were I to do that but it’s looking like/sounding like most would rather I keep it open and post at my whim 🙂
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December 13, 2022 at 5:33 am
Dammit – you know I like lurking, stop making me come out of my (incredibly cold) British shell and post!!
I find it fun to log in and see what posts you have, be it stories or the odd set of pictures from a walk. That said I completely understand the need to have a break, I think we all need that.
The fact you’ve swayed backwards and forwards would suggest you don’t want to get rid of it completely (and it’s amazing what you’ve written, you should be so proud), but that the pressure is too much to keep it as is.
So do what you’ve said and write when inspiration hits, I think deep down it’s what you want to do. You probably started writing because you enjoyed it, now it’s becoming a chore, it’s no longer creatively fun. So it’s important to get that back, if it means days/weeks/months in between, we will all cope. You don’t owe anyone anything – if you want to perform and write then do, if you don’t then go get a glass of wine.
Do what works for you
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December 13, 2022 at 7:08 am
thank you for your words of kindness Elouesa and I am hope you are well there in Britain. And I may have to have more glasses of wine for sure!
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December 13, 2022 at 7:09 pm
I love your blogs and any update you grace us with. We’d still be here if updates were few. You’ve spoiled us with so much on here the past few years.
❤
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December 13, 2022 at 7:14 pm
Yes I suppose I have 🙂
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December 15, 2022 at 9:15 am
I can certainly understand how you feel, though I must say I’d find it very disappointing if you stopped completely, especially since I’ve only recently found your blog. It would certainly be a shame to lose everything here. Perhaps you could try cutting back until you reach a point that works for you? Besides, I wouldn’t worry so much about repeating material; it’s like fairy tales, they may be told a thousand times each yet each time is still enjoyable and can often be just what you needed to read at that time. It’s rather comforting that way 🙂
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December 16, 2022 at 6:52 am
I never thought of it that way, your fairytale analogy. Thank you!
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December 21, 2022 at 4:41 pm
You’re quite welcome 😊 I’m so glad that I could help.
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