An Update: My Plans for A Shy ‘Sparrow’
Hello all!
I’m sure you’ve all noticed that despite my plans to give A Shy ‘Sparrow’ (how I wish I could abbreviate that) a regular update schedule, I have not.
This is because I couldn’t find the inspiration to. Writing it always felt forced, not at all the way With Time was.
A few days ago, I was like ‘okay, Panda, take a step back and find the source’.
So I did that. I took a step back, and I looked at the story, and I realized that I’m not happy with it.
I started the story very quickly, I had an idea and I ran with it, and that’s great! But I also didn’t give it time to grow. All I have is a suffocated little seedling that I keep telling to become a tree.
And that’s not fair to the seedling.
I began the story, planning for it to be short, because I was in the middle of With Time. Then, by the time I had the time to write it, I had other ideas I wanted to get to. I tried to cram all my ideas for A Shy ‘Sparrow’ into it all at once, to finish quickly, and move on. But now, I realize the reason that I was more excited about those other stories was because I’d given them the time to grow. There was more there! It was exciting and fun! That is, believe it or not, how I originally felt about this story!
As the creator, I am in charge. If I am not satisfied with my work, then that means I’m not done with it. I have full control of what I do. No one is stopping me from fixing things.
I am not abandoning this work.
As of right now, A Shy ‘Sparrow’ is officially on hiatus for an undetermined amount of time. It will be going under heavy editing and revision to make it into a story that I am proud of calling my own, and then I will begin posting it again.
Currently, I think that the already existing chapters will be left as they are. I think it’s important to show that even if you’ve already started writing, there’s no shame in changing the story. It’s your story!! Make sure it feels that way! Besides, as an author, this feels like a moment of growth that I don’t want to erase. When updates continue, it will be a separate work on Ao3, likely marked as a reboot or similar term.
In addition!
Because I have already began posting it, this story belongs, in part, to all of you! If there is something you think I could add, or that you had hoped to see, or that you’d wondered about - anything - feel free to tell me! I make no guarantees on if I’ll use all your ideas, but hearing your feedback will be both interesting and helpful.
I will not be gone during this time! The story is going on hiatus I am not.
If you have any questions, let me know! All input, ideas, constructive criticism, etc, is welcome!