unrelated to the post: shiny professional facebook! facebook.com/alexconall.sjb

[alexconall]

perfectworry, aldersprig, itsamellama, ysabetwordsmith, sharpeningthebones: I owe the five of you an apology. I promised you fiction in response to the prompts you gave for my October and December Fiction Fishbowls, I (explicitly, in words you saw) promised fiction to those of you who linked back to my fishbowl, and here it is April and no fiction in sight.

You may have noticed I have done no fishbowls since December. I've been feeling as though I am obligated to finish (okay, tell the truth, to start) the fiction I owe you before I attempt to collect prompts and crowdfunding money for new fiction. With your permission (especially perfectworry and ysabetwordsmith, because you two told me you linked to the fishbowls), I'd like a release from that obligation.

I'm not saying the fiction from your prompts will never appear; I don't like saying 'never'. I'm saying I'd like to do a fishbowl this weekend and my brain won't let me unless I can mark 'October Fiction Fishbowl story' and 'December Fiction Fishbowl story' x4 off my to-do list. (Funny things, brains.) I'm saying your prompts haven't inspired me—problem's on my end not yours, I don't doubt—and I'd like to try again with new prompts, new potential, new possibilities. I'm saying I'm sorry, and thank you, and please.

Comments

[aldersprig]

Release granted! I've definitely had that feels.

[alexconall]

Thank you.

[itsamellama]

Absolutely no problem! :) Please go ahead. I have definitely been in that position myself and understand completely. (Also, it is not like you are contracted to give me something you so kindly offered w/o expecting anything in return from me, so!)

I hope your new fishbowl goes well!

[alexconall]

Thank you.

Okay...

[ysabetwordsmith]

Wish granted! Sometimes ideas just don't grab you. I would enjoy seeing another fishbowl.

Re: Okay...

[alexconall]

Thank you.

[sharpeningthebones]

Oh hon, it's fine. <3 Do what you gotta do and fishbowl whatever you wanna fishbowl. I am totally fine waiting around or never getting it or whatever happens. <3333 No fretting allowed.

[alexconall]

Thank you. ("No fretting allowed" is something I have lots of trouble with, though.)

[perfectworry]

Of course! It's not a problem. Sometimes a prompt doesn't "fit" you, and that's okay. You're a writer, not a writing machine.

[alexconall]

Thank you. And this is true!