As those of you who followed the Lowewood Academy Blog know, it came to an end last week. I founded the blog and as the Editor have nurtured it over the last three years, including writing for it myself as several different characters.
The ending feels very strange. We did it for all the right reasons – the workload was becoming unsustainable and it felt a little like we were running out of things to say. We wanted to go out while it was on a high, and not have it trickle away into nothing. But I cherished Lowewood and right now I feel….I don’t know, just empty, like I’ve lost something very special. It was my first foray into the blogsphere and I never thought it would last longer than six months at the most.
Although Lowewood was written by a group of friends, it hasn’t always been easy and there have been plenty of rows about direction, work, storylines etc. Sometimes I really resented having to impose the editorial guidelines on my very creative friends, nag about posts not appearing and sit up late into the night to post a late post for the following day – because it’s not something I could do at work.
I am aware through meeting people on the scene that they like and admire what we achieved with Lowewood. I have met people who really care about the characters and what happens to them. But I can’t help having a sneaking feeling that it wasn’t really worth it. Because what exactly did we do? Apart from post our own little pieces of vanity seven days a week?
They say that all good things come to an end and this thing has. We may, or may not do a book at some point in the future. I at least have the consolation of knowing that real-life Lowewood Academy, the play version, will continue as normal. But I’ll miss the stories. I wonder if anyone else will?
Sweetie it was a huge achievement and loads of people will miss it…even as a writer I’ll miss the stories, though perhaps not the weeks when I was struggling with my own. You did an amazing job bringing it all together and creating something so real that appealed to so many people and deserve mountains of credit and pink fizz
. Plus as you say it will live on inside all of us 
Er, you have read the comments on the final post, right? Where loads of people, previous commenters and new people alike, have said how much they enjoyed it, how good they thought it was, and how sorry they are to see it go?
Just checkin’.
Jessica, dear girl, please have no doubt what so ever, a large number of kinky pervs will miss Lowewood.
In my limited experience it was one of the finest fiction blogs on the net.
Jessica you were and are brilliant, you feel somewhat empty now, this will pass, having followed you daily I am also somewhat bereft.
You did a great job and believe me you have our gratitude.
Warm hugs.
Paul.
I’m with maidie – this better have been written before all the comments were left. You are allowed to feel bereft and empty, absolutely, but “But I can’t help having a sneaking feeling that it wasn’t really worth it. Because what exactly did we do? Apart from post our own little pieces of vanity seven days a week?” and “But I’ll miss the stories. I wonder if anyone else will?”??? Seriously woman, I may have to print out a copy of the comments and beat you round the head with them until you see sense, and neither of us will enjoy that.
Awww – I obviously haven’t expressed myself very well here! I was delighted and honoured by all the lovely comments that out lovely readers made and I salute them. What I meant was that on a personal level, I’m not sure exactly what it was that I did. I span a story. That’s good. But what do I have now?
Sigh.
But yes, the comments were lovely!
I’m not toppy but reading this makes me want to spank you
“But I can’t help having a sneaking feeling that it wasn’t really worth it. Because what exactly did we do? Apart from post our own little pieces of vanity seven days a week?”
Perhaps you should be made to re-write the last list of comments on Lowewood 50 times???
Or maybe you should have invited all the avid readers into a room, told them Lowewood was ending and watched their reactions. Like me crying my eyes out. Over a blog. A fictonal blog!
You have achieved acclaim, appreciation and the evidence of 3 years of hard work. Enjoy it!
You poor thing. You made a lot of people happier and more cheerful, and I (and many others) will miss the stories.
Can I suggest (wholly altruistically, of course) that what you need to get over this feeling is another project?
Nick
You also, um, kind of changed my life, so there’s that, too! Will anyone miss Lowewood, honestly… Yes please, someone beat some sense into this woman! : )
Wow! In only one day, you’ve figured out how to ask for a beating without falling into any of the categories you listed in the previous post!
I’m impressed.
OK, seriously, it seems only natural that you’d experience a sort of writerly sub-drop at the end of such a long project. I think you’ll look back on your Lowewood venture with pride, though. You have a knack for creating really interesting characters, and I hope the fun it doing it outweighed the frustration. I really enjoyed the virtual interactions with you writers and with your other readers. It was a lovely way to ‘meet’ literate kinky folks from all over, especially for those of us who began reading without any real life experience and felt we had little to say elsewhere.
OMG!!! I miss Lowewood SOOOOOOO much! Being in America it was what got me to pry my eyes open every morning knowing there was going to be a new and amazing post.
I spent 2 weeks not sleeping at the beginning of the year when i found Lowewood becasue I absolutely needed to read everything in every available minute I could! i even got spanked a few times for my manic Devouring of archived posts.
What an AMAZING world you created. Way better the Harry Potter or Twilight! as I mourned when i finished those amazing reality altering series I am doing the same for Lowewood.
THANK YOU for your passion and work.
Welllllll… if you’re feeling empty… you could always… start writing Lowewood again!
But seriously (okay, I was kind of serious above too… lol) … I, for one, will definitely miss the stories. I still check Lowewood every morning – it’s a habit! I’m also currently reading through the archives, so as to avoid withdrawal.
Lowewood has been an amazing story. It’s managed to hold my interest, passionately, for years – considering my attention span, that’s an amazing achievement
The plot was fascinating, the characters so well written I half expect to run into them IRL someday. I enjoy writing fiction myself and Lowewood has been a source of inspiration. I know how much work it is for me to write my own stories in my own worlds; I can’t even imagine how much effort went into creating something on the level of Lowewood!
And finally… Lowewood has been one of the few quality websites I’ve come across in my decade or so of searching which was really … well, it was really what I was searching for. Almost every morning, there was a story that matched my interests. … Does this even make sense? lol. I’m not sure I’m explaining this right at all
Suffice to say, thank you not only for sharing your wonderful stories, but also for letting me feel not weird for a little bit 