See You Later | Nighttime Monologue

I see. So you're really going. You've already made up your mind. We won't be able to see each other like we used to, will we?
I see. But you've been saying that since way back, haven't you?
It's been your dream for a long time, hasn't it?

Since this Dreams Come True song is surely about the feelings of the person sending someone off, the roles are reversed here, but... (laughs)

Tomorrow marks 365 days since I started note.
(Thank you all so much for the many likes, comments, and follows up to this point.)

Since I'll be entering my second year starting April 28th, this would normally be the place for a talk about "my future aspirations as I take off my beginner's mark and face note with a fresh mindset," butI will be taking a break from note for the time being.

I had thought of "about three weeks" as a target for the break, but if I want to spend more time on my creative work, I might extend the period.

It's not that I've gotten bored of note and want to quit, or that I can't write anymore due to my own mental health issues; it is a"strategic break" to take my creative activities to the next level.

I once took a one-week break from note during the New Year's holidays.

Back then, the goal was to spend time relaxing, but this time is different.

Since last autumn, I have consistently worked toward the goal of"becoming a short-short story writer," thinking that I should just write as much as possible on note to gain experience, butmy goal for this year is "to submit to literary awards."

I have been creating works for submission since the beginning of the year, but balancing work and family has been unexpectedly difficult, and I don't have the time resources to write works and articles for note while also working on pieces for public submission in between.

As I wrote earlier, my goal for this year is strictly to "submit to a literary award."
I don't want to give up on this early, and it's not the time to give up either.

Therefore, in a situation where balancing things is difficult, I have decided to take a break from note.

One might suggest, "Wouldn't once a week be fine instead of taking a break?" but given my personality, I know for a fact that when I'm pouring myself into something, I cannot write a piece I'm satisfied with if I'm multitasking.

I could just simply say "I submitted it!" but if I do that, I will surely be sending a half-baked piece out into the world.

Since I am submitting to a literary award, I want to aim for the prize and compete with the best work I can write right now!

My spirits are high, which is exactly why this is the right time.

On the other hand, it is a shame that taking a break from note will cause me to lose touch with the creators I have interacted with so far... but I want to face my creative work stoically, even if it means making this sacrifice.

It is important to broaden your perspective, but at the same time, one must not forget to keep their "viewpoint = peak" high.

By aiming for the heights, you will see a different view than the one you see now. I hope to gain such new perspectives during my break.

There is one more concern about taking a break from note.

"Has anyone ever actually come back after saying they were taking a break from note!?"

It is true that it is common for various creators to appear and then disappear within a year, and I have never heard of anyone coming back after saying, "I'm taking a break for a while."

Many of the creators who have been active continuously throughout this past year since I started note either "post every day" or "post once every two days."

None of these creators have chosen to take a break of more than a week along the way.

Creators who disappeared after saying they were taking a break for a while mostly either got bored or burned out from writing too much; the reasons vary, but once they stop coming, most creators probably never return.

On the other hand, what about me?

I have multiple concepts for short-shorts for public submissions, and I also have a mountain of stories I want to write as short-shorts for note posts (around 2,000 characters).

Since it was obvious that I would get burnout if I wrote with all my might every day, I have been able to keep this up because I decided to challenge myself with project-based posts (like #WeeklyShortShortNote or #ShirokumaLiteratureClub) while posting my own short-shorts once every two weeks without pushing myself too hard (I'm a naturally fickle person, so I'm surprised I kept it up this long... haha).

Therefore, I have plenty of motivation to return here, and above all, it is a comfortable platform. I feel like I can resume my activities on note even if there is a gap (I am thinking about it positively).

I will be away from note for the time being, but I plan to spend the time I have been dedicating to it by calmly savoring the things I want to do, such as creative work, spending time with my family, and reading.

I will be away during that time, so I think I will ask this character to house-sit starting April 28th.

I'm leaving the house in the care of "Nekomaro", a character born quite a while ago when I asked Copilot to "draw Yoshimaru."

...Though when I say "house-sitting," it really just means they won't be doing any likes, comments, or follow-backs (lol).

I'm heading off for a while—maybe to the mountains? Or on a journey of training?—so that I can present even more polished short-shorts than ever before. It's a temporary farewell, but I look forward to the day we meet again 🍀

Oh, I don't intend for this to be the end, so please look forward to my return when I start back up again 🎵 See you later 👋

The lord of this castle is this person