Hi guys, Leaded-Pegasus here.
Over the past few weeks, I've been typing and re-typing this note out. I have a few things that I've been planning and have been meaning to say, but considering how serious and big they are, it's proved to be difficult. So, here goes nothing.
I'd like to first start off by thanking all of you for reading, following, or favoriting The Shallow Grave(s). Most of all, I'd like to thank those of you who have taken your precious time to review. Your gracious and kind words of support, critique, and suggestions have been fantastic, and you guys are the greatest readers a gal could ask for.
This gratitude doesn't just pertain to this story, either. It applies to each and every piece I've written over the past few years. Each and every one of you have shaped me into the writer that I am today, and I hope to have others as great as you guys to continue to guide me and help me the rest of the way.
When I first started this account, I expected to use it to save and review my favorite stories, and nothing more. But, a few months later, I posted the very first chapter to my very first story. And then, four years later, I've posted and finished my eighteenth story. And I'm so glad that I ultimately decided to do so, because it's changed my life...You guys have changed my life.
Four years ago, I was struggling a lot with my life. I was unsatisfied with my friendships, family life, school life, and countless other things. But finding something to project my unhappiness into led to so much more. It's led to something that I love to do, it's led to so many lovely and talented people, and most of all, it's led to so much more happiness in my life.
I'm not writing this to brag or gloat about how great my life is. Because I still have struggles, just as anyone does. But it's been enough to make me optimistic and hopeful to reach the other side of the fog that life can be at times.
Writing on this site will be an experience that I will never forget. I've been doing an extensive amount of thinking and planning for my future more recently, as I'm at the age where that's an especially big deal. While I've contemplated and gone through so many different plans and ideas as to what I wanted career-wise in life, I've ignored what was in front of me this whole time, and that's writing. And now, it's without a doubt I can say that I want to pursue a career in writing, particularly in writing novels. It's the only thing that has brought me so much happiness, and I hope that I can pass that happiness to other people with my writing in the future.
Over the past few months, while I finished up the last few chapters of The Shallow Grave(s), I began a new writing project. It's my own original story, with original characters, original everything. And writing it has been everything I could ask for. It's finally sparked some new life and goals into both me and my writing, and it's given me a new challenge to tackle...Something that I can't say I've felt or have felt as much in a long time from writing fanfiction, sadly. And with that being said, I think it would be best if I moved on from writing fanfiction, especially now that so much time has passed.
I hope this doesn't make me seem as though I'm ungrateful. Because it's far from that, and very much so. I would be here forever listing off all of the amazing and unforgettable things you guys have done for me, and I would be here forever if I tried to come up with the right words to say how grateful I am for that fact. I also hope that those of you who were hoping for additional stories from me aren't too disappointed, either. I really think this will be for the greater good, and lead to greater things. You guys are the biggest reason that I would continue to write stories on here. But, there's been a number of frustrating or negative factors alongside the good ones that have played a role in my decision to move on. One of the biggest is that I just simply need to move on to bigger, better things that are out there in the writing world. I need to harness more skills as a writer, ones that I can't get while writing fanfiction.
There would be a million reasons to stay on the site and continue to write fanfiction. But there's a million more as to why I need to go and do this. I can't put it into words how grateful I have been, and how grateful I am for you guys now. I also hope that those of you who were hoping for another story aren't too disappointed, either. Just know that for me, this is the better way.
Everything that I have learned from writing I owe to you guys. All of the hundreds of thousands of people that have read or viewed my stories from around the world, from India, from the UK, from Italy, from Canada, from Singapore, from Russia, from Greece, from the countless other countries...You've all been one collective mentor to me. Whether you loved or hated my stories, whether you read just one word or read to the very end, you've all taught me something. And for that, I thank all of you.
While I'll no longer be posting stories on here, there's no way in hell that I'm simply going to pack up and leave completely. I'll leave my profile up, so that new people can continue reading. Of course, for those of you who might want to go back, the stories will always be open for you to read, too. I also want to continue to correspond with you all, especially those of you who have been reading my stories for a while.
With that being said, I'm going to be looking for stories to read and review. Maybe to give back to the readers and writers in a way. So, if any of you have stories that you would like my opinion on, please, let me know! Send a PM my way, and I will consider reading through and posting one, depending on first impressions of the story summary and all that. I know it's not much, but it's something I could make time for without impeding my writing, and it's something I would love to do for you all.
With some luck and perseverance, you guys may one day see my stories or writing somewhere. But, taking into consideration my age and all, it may be a while. After all, I'm only sixteen years old, that leaves a lot of room for improvement! I promise you though, when I publish my first book, you, the lovely readers and writers, will be the first people it's dedicated to.
And with that, good luck, and goodbye (sort of),
With love, and all of the thanks in the world,
-Gwyn