Most writers (not all) love to know that their work is being read and appreciated. This is a perfectly normal desire, not just for writers but for all humanity. To see something we have written, built, taught, healed, fixed, discovered, rescued or produced, (you get the gist) appreciated and sometimes praised is a natural longing found within us all.
Unfortunately, we live in a world that isn't perfect, where hard work and achievements are not always recognised. Often, things go unnoticed and unseen, no matter how much effort has been made by an individual or a group. This is not likely to change any time soon.
Perhaps, writers experience these cravings even more intensely? An idea is hatched and then formulated and words spill forth. Hours, days, weeks' even years pass before a final product is unveiled. The hope, is that after all that toil, others will share your vision or rejoice in the secret you have now revealed, but what happens when the glory falls a bit flat and the fanfare fails to sound?
Writers (especially if their words are their livelihood) can often feel rejected, lonely or left on the shelf, along with a million other writers feeling the same way. This is sad and unfortunate but writing is a massively competitive arena and usually only the very best rise to the top.
The internet age however has offered hope to a multitude of other writers, who all have their own unique voice, a style of their own and, yes, a craving to be heard. Thanks to blogs, forums and websites such as Searchwarp, writers like you and me have another chance, another window of opportunity and a chance to put our writing "out there".
Despite this new found hope and this fresh platform, lurking just around the corner is yet more disappointment and more struggle. Why? That latest article we wrote about that really exciting subject has been posted a few days now, and no matter how many times we visit the website to see all the fantastic reaction to our latest masterpiece, nothing has happened! A handful of reads and even less comments make our hearts sink and think about quitting, again!
Please don't quit though, because surely we are writing because we love to write and love to express ourselves with words? We love to share our feelings and thoughts about all kinds of subjects and in ways we never thought we would be able. If we are passionate and willing to learn, then each piece or each article we write can be better than the last, as our skills sharpen with every fingerprint we leave on the keyboard.
Please don't quit if there are barely any comments on your work. Most readers, (I would suggest a seriously high percentage) wish only to read about the things they have found interesting in our writings. They arrive at our article with no obligation and take from it what they will. The fact we receive little feedback from most of our readers doesn't necessarily mean they gained naught from reading our words. They might go about their day and remember fondly a sentence or two that may shed light on something they had been thinking about. Most readers leave it there, and that's okay.
Of course, there will be others who
will be inspired by what we have written and go on to do something inspirational themselves and there will be some who
do love to leave some feedback, especially if the piece of writing has struck an emotional chord and has them bubbling over in agreement, amazement or anger!
If you are writing because you love to, just keep going and keep enjoying, regardless of your "ratings" or "popularity". Then, if and when your work does increase in popularity, and praise is pouring upon you, it would probably be wise to remember your struggles, remember the loneliness you felt and remember others just like you, will
still be feeling what you felt as they strive to be seen and heard.
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