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I’m seeing a lot of people struggle with the ups and downs of sharing their creative work.
I’ve been sharing a number of years now, and I have some thoughts...some ideals, more like..that I strive for (sometimes more successfully than others).
I thought I’d share them with you
I’ve been sharing a number of years now, and I have some thoughts...some ideals, more like..that I strive for (sometimes more successfully than others).
I thought I’d share them with you
I normally wouldn’t share something like this, but Cait tells me take up my space and own it, so that is what I’m gonna do.
1st - Sucess/Failure
Creating something unique takes so much out of me that I often identify myself with the success or failure of my work.
I’ve learned I am NOT my stories. My stories are NOT me. If my story fails I am not a failure, I am just a person who failed.
i’m human.
Creating something unique takes so much out of me that I often identify myself with the success or failure of my work.
I’ve learned I am NOT my stories. My stories are NOT me. If my story fails I am not a failure, I am just a person who failed.
i’m human.
I’ve learned that success and failure are subjective.
Who decides what’s good and bad?
Look at the Emmy awards. Do you really think the Tiger King was better than Sam or Cait‘s performances in season five?
Fuuuuuck no.
Who decides what’s good and bad?
Look at the Emmy awards. Do you really think the Tiger King was better than Sam or Cait‘s performances in season five?
Fuuuuuck no.
‘Til Next We Dream is the story I wrote with the highest hit count, but all it was was a season three fix. 
TSOM has a very low hit count in comparison but it really is a much better story in my opinion.
TSOM has a very low hit count in comparison but it really is a much better story in my opinion.
2nd - Validation
Hit counts and kudos are like Emmys. They don’t matter.
Hit counts have more to do with how many chapters I post than the quality of my story.
I refuse to allow likes and hit counts to be a measure of my story’s value.
Hit counts and kudos are like Emmys. They don’t matter.
Hit counts have more to do with how many chapters I post than the quality of my story.
I refuse to allow likes and hit counts to be a measure of my story’s value.
I refuse to devalue my writing experience over 1 or 2 people or 5,000 people for that matter.
My stories aren’t for everyone.
My stories aren’t for everyone.
Comparisons to other people make the best writers feel insecure.
I try to compare the work I’m doing NOW to the cringeworthy work I did when I first started. I look at my growth. I hope to cringe 1 day when I look back at the work I’m doing now cuz I’ve gotten so much better.
I try to compare the work I’m doing NOW to the cringeworthy work I did when I first started. I look at my growth. I hope to cringe 1 day when I look back at the work I’m doing now cuz I’ve gotten so much better.
I’ve struggled before with figuring out who I am writing for.
I write for ME. I write for my friends. I write for my circle. I write for people who want to enjoy what I do.
I write for ME. I write for my friends. I write for my circle. I write for people who want to enjoy what I do.
A mantra that I repeat to myself when I’m going through a tough time is this:
“Focus on how your story makes YOU feel rather than how people make you feel for telling it.”
“Focus on how your story makes YOU feel rather than how people make you feel for telling it.”
3rd - Build a community of support
Enjoy other people’s work. It’s important for me to get out of my headspace and immerse myself in and cheerlead the stories I love that other people write.
Enjoy other people’s work. It’s important for me to get out of my headspace and immerse myself in and cheerlead the stories I love that other people write.
4th - Practice
I have posted over 1 million words on AO3. Sometimes, I still feel like a NOOB.
I force myself sometimes to go back and look at my old stories to prove to myself that I’m getting better.
My first story out wasn’t the be all end all of my fic writing career
I have posted over 1 million words on AO3. Sometimes, I still feel like a NOOB.
I force myself sometimes to go back and look at my old stories to prove to myself that I’m getting better.
My first story out wasn’t the be all end all of my fic writing career
5th - Notice Patterns
I noticed patterns that I go through and I write and share a story. Ups and downs that are like clockwork.
excitement, pride, disappointment, resentment, jealousy, acceptance, back to excitement and pride.
I noticed patterns that I go through and I write and share a story. Ups and downs that are like clockwork.
excitement, pride, disappointment, resentment, jealousy, acceptance, back to excitement and pride.
I have to tell myself to enjoy the pleasant feelings while they are there and ride the wave of the negative, because it will pass.
6th - Be Your Own Biggest Fan
As Caitríona says, own your space at the table!
I don’t rely on other people to promote for me, but when they do I thank them and retweet the shit out of it.
How can I expect other people to love and share my work if I won’t even do it myself?
As Caitríona says, own your space at the table!
I don’t rely on other people to promote for me, but when they do I thank them and retweet the shit out of it.
How can I expect other people to love and share my work if I won’t even do it myself?
Fuck modesty. It has no place in my soul when it comes to building my self-esteem and loving myself no matter what the external world has to say about what I do.
I hope this is helpful for some people, and if it’s not that’s OK. I love me anyway.
