IF Seal: What might encourage people to ask questions about my work?
I wish that my followers would send asks, and sometimes I get unreasonably worried that they aren't. I know comparison is the thief of joy, and all that, but still- when I see other blogs getting flooded with ones about their characters, their world, the story, my empty box seems a little discouraging. I also know that I'm a newer(relatively) IF, as well as a shorter one, but(and maybe I'm misjudging the amount of an audience that is engaged vs lurking) I feel like I have enough followers that at least a few should want to send stuff? It's just anxiety, but it makes me think sometimes that my characters/world aren't engaging enough, don't make people interested to learn about, etc etc.
Dear Yearning Friend,
I wish I could give you a hug, but unfortunately we are separated by space and the internet.
And also my flippers are too short and stubby for such things.
You are entirely right that comparison is the thief of joy, and that comparing one's inside to another's outside is never going to be accurate, and all of that. But aphorisms don't always help us feel better.
I do not believe that it's for lack of interest in your writing. I often observe in myself and in others that people sometimes feel awkward about sending messages, or do not know what to say.
I wonder whether it might help to post something that gives a structure for people to send messages, or help people come up with ideas about what to send you? I am thinking of posts like those meme questions where askers are invited to ask particular things about characters. Or perhaps YOU could ask your followers something - it could be about your IF or about games or writing in general. That can be a nice jumping-off point.
But I entirely understand. It can be so very hard to see others being so busy with flurries of messages (or even saying "I have so many messages that I don't know what to do with them!") when one is thinking "I'd love to have that problem..."
So, again, virtual flipper-hugs to you, and I hope you feel better.
I will add: if you are a reader and enjoy something about someone's writing, please do send a message - no matter how small or silly it might seem, everyone loves to get that and it might very much make someone's day!