Keep sending it out...please. Write what you like, how you like, when you like, and not for the reader. If what you've written is true to you, I guarantee you'll connect with someone...specifically yourself. And now me... Steve
Keep going!! ❤️ Stay true to your writing and keep putting it into the world! Even if you don’t know with whom it resonates or whose lives are shaped by sending your creativity out there, we’re out here! 🥂🥂🥂🍾🍾🍾
Aw, Meg. There’s so much to stress about when it comes to writing. And it’s so hard to fathom how exhausting being in the wuery trenches is until you’re in it. I’m glad you’re finding comfort in The Practice, it’s the best! You also failed to mention that you wrote FORTY FIVE THOUSAND words for NaNo, with plenty of days to go! That’s something to be crazy proud of! Try to focus on the things you can control. You can’t control subscribers or likes or agents or editors. But you can control your writing! One day at a time, friend.
(Don’t mind me ignoring my own words as I stalk querytracker. 😂)
Thanks for the shoutout, Meg! There's a lot to digest in this post, but know your feelings are valid and shared by many writers struggling to get attention on (and validation from) their work.
It might help you think differently about the whole newsletter ecosystem.
Consistency is the key to this whole shebang. When the readers know what to expect they'll invest and stick with you. Keep taking big swings and don't fear the results.
I liked this! Liked the bouncy clarity of your voice. It made me reflect on this bizarre, lucky gift I gave myself when I started my ‘Stack back about 10 months ago. I told myself I would not care—correct that, WOULD NOT CARE—about subscriber count in any way for one year. It just couldn’t be any sort of focus until I got my voice and my rhythm sorted out. And somehow I’ve managed to stick with that, to just blithely ignore the numbers going up and down, and focus on the things I can control: my writing and my attitude. Even when I say it, I can’t believe how lucky I was to have seen how helpful this would be to me.
I can surely relate to what you've expressed so nicely and eloquently. I saw my subscriber graph point downward one day and it gave me a goodly pain. For a short while at least.
That said, I'm doing what I do for myself. If others want to come along on the journey, that's great and all are welcome. But I also understand quite well that my odd fiction is not for everyone. I like to provoke thought whereas the prevailing winds are more about providing entertainment and provoking feeling.
That's okay. I love me some entertainment too! But for my creative endeavors, I have a path and a vision and way of approaching those endeavors that's mine - and that's the way I want to keep it.
Thank you for pointing me in the direction of this post ( August 6). I saw myself in every word here, Meg. I am often so disappointed in myself for feeling "rejected", for letting lukewarm comments (or no comments) affect me. I tell myself that I don't write for praise. I write because I have to write. I like to think that. Yet it is ludicrous how quickly the shift from champagne to stale beer can take place. After 21 months on Substack, and becoming part of an absolutely amazing tribe of writers, I am getting over it! Thanks for expressing what ( I believe) most of us feel.
Thank you for reading, Sharron! I'm glad this piece spoke to your journey. And thank you for reminding me that people DO CLICK the link feathers I leave behind. Sometimes. 🙂
Keep sending it out...please. Write what you like, how you like, when you like, and not for the reader. If what you've written is true to you, I guarantee you'll connect with someone...specifically yourself. And now me... Steve
Keep going!! ❤️ Stay true to your writing and keep putting it into the world! Even if you don’t know with whom it resonates or whose lives are shaped by sending your creativity out there, we’re out here! 🥂🥂🥂🍾🍾🍾
Aw, Meg. There’s so much to stress about when it comes to writing. And it’s so hard to fathom how exhausting being in the wuery trenches is until you’re in it. I’m glad you’re finding comfort in The Practice, it’s the best! You also failed to mention that you wrote FORTY FIVE THOUSAND words for NaNo, with plenty of days to go! That’s something to be crazy proud of! Try to focus on the things you can control. You can’t control subscribers or likes or agents or editors. But you can control your writing! One day at a time, friend.
(Don’t mind me ignoring my own words as I stalk querytracker. 😂)
Thanks for the shoutout, Meg! There's a lot to digest in this post, but know your feelings are valid and shared by many writers struggling to get attention on (and validation from) their work.
Regarding that soul-crushing feeling of seeing someone unsubscribe, check out this post from Tom Pendergast: https://tompendergast.substack.com/p/please-unsubscribe
It might help you think differently about the whole newsletter ecosystem.
Consistency is the key to this whole shebang. When the readers know what to expect they'll invest and stick with you. Keep taking big swings and don't fear the results.
Thank you for the spot on post recommendation from Tom P.
You guys are alright. 👍🏻
I liked this! Liked the bouncy clarity of your voice. It made me reflect on this bizarre, lucky gift I gave myself when I started my ‘Stack back about 10 months ago. I told myself I would not care—correct that, WOULD NOT CARE—about subscriber count in any way for one year. It just couldn’t be any sort of focus until I got my voice and my rhythm sorted out. And somehow I’ve managed to stick with that, to just blithely ignore the numbers going up and down, and focus on the things I can control: my writing and my attitude. Even when I say it, I can’t believe how lucky I was to have seen how helpful this would be to me.
I can surely relate to what you've expressed so nicely and eloquently. I saw my subscriber graph point downward one day and it gave me a goodly pain. For a short while at least.
That said, I'm doing what I do for myself. If others want to come along on the journey, that's great and all are welcome. But I also understand quite well that my odd fiction is not for everyone. I like to provoke thought whereas the prevailing winds are more about providing entertainment and provoking feeling.
That's okay. I love me some entertainment too! But for my creative endeavors, I have a path and a vision and way of approaching those endeavors that's mine - and that's the way I want to keep it.
Thanks for the article Meg. Keep at it.
Thank you for pointing me in the direction of this post ( August 6). I saw myself in every word here, Meg. I am often so disappointed in myself for feeling "rejected", for letting lukewarm comments (or no comments) affect me. I tell myself that I don't write for praise. I write because I have to write. I like to think that. Yet it is ludicrous how quickly the shift from champagne to stale beer can take place. After 21 months on Substack, and becoming part of an absolutely amazing tribe of writers, I am getting over it! Thanks for expressing what ( I believe) most of us feel.
Thank you for reading, Sharron! I'm glad this piece spoke to your journey. And thank you for reminding me that people DO CLICK the link feathers I leave behind. Sometimes. 🙂