IF Seal: I'm discouraged because my story feels invisible
Dear Seal, How do you feel with the feelings of discouragement and depression at having your story be invisible? I keep getting followers but all the interaction and discussion comes from my friends. I know my demo should be longer but then I think about WIPs which don't have a demo and gain more traction. How? Maybe there is nothing I can do and I should move on with another WIP.
Cheers
Neurotic in Seattle
Dear Neurotic in Seattle,
I am sending you a flippery hug right now across the internet. I am so sorry that you feel discouraged or depressed, it is very hard to push back those feelings when also trying to be creative and it does make it more difficult to get into the writing frame of mind.
Questions along these lines are some of the most common theme that I see, so I will say that you are very much not alone in this, even if you are feeling alone <3
Here are some questions and answers that I have given before on this subject:
- How can I feel less isolated when writing?
- Lack of audience engagement makes me want to quit
- What might encourage people to ask questions about my work?
And a little more about engagement, and comparisons with other blogs below:
So much about audience enthusiasm it is about random luck. A blog with a large following happens to mention your project. A popular artist happens to draw one of your characters. Your project happens to do something a bit different that gets people fired up. Your project happens to crest a wave of enthusiasm about a common theme.
It is not just about the length or quality of your writing. It simply isn't. We know this because blogs describing a writer's idea, with no game present, sometimes get a lot of buzz. It is so tempting to be disheartened about this and I want you to know that I understand.
I wonder if you might benefit from filtering some words or phrases from your dashboard so that you do not feel so downcast by these hype cycles going by about nonexistent WIPs (or outlier-level-wildly-popular existing ones). There is nothing to be ashamed of about doing this if it improves how you're feeling.
I do not necessarily suggest moving onto a different WIP, as that's a major decision, but perhaps taking some time offline to focus on writing that brings you joy in yourself might help also.
And I would also say: it is truly lovely that you have friends who are excited about your work! Do listen to them and pay attention to the fact that they're hyped as well. They may have a better perspective about the quality of your work than you do when you are feeling low.
Take care, Neurotic in Seattle, and I wish you all the best with your writing wherever it takes you.