that feeling that you'll never be able to top your previous successful fic

You ever have that feeling when you experience this? 

Not comparing myself to this person but Makoto Shinkai said in an interview somewhere that he wanted people to stop watching his anime movie 'Your Name' nor even win the Oscar (he doesn't want it to be a major success) since he is afraid that his future works will always be compared to that award-winning, tear-jerking film.

I'm on his boat on this but fame comes with troubles (not that I'm that famous or anything but still)

Anyone feel me?

For me, it's like:

"Woah this chapter had so many comments and positive reactions"

...and then after an hour or two, it haunts me whenever I write the following chapter; thinking to myself that it will go down the drain if I ever write a ty one after that successful chapter with positive reactions. Hence my unnanounced hiatus and boring influx of posting up fics and then later on bringing them down because I don't want people to expect that much yet at the same time I want to make them give out a reaction to the fic I'm writing. I know it's somewhat confusing but that's how I can put it into words.

There's that constant fear eating me up whole and it's making me crazy, scared- even.

I apologize for making my readers wait and have false hopes so I can't promise you updates on a basis. I would just update whenever I feel like it. Maybe if I overcome that mindset, I would be able to update on a basis, who knows. 

I can promise you I won't discontinue the fics that are still up right now (though updating them would take long) and that I won't deactivate so if I ever leave you would still have something to read :)

Hopefully I wouldn't have any reason to leave this place.

I love you all.

-M

Comments

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goopeculiar
#1
yeah, I often feel the same way... about not living up to your previous fic, not so much discontinuing fics or taking long between updates. I purposely refrain from posting (chaptered) fics on here until they're fully or almost fully completed. or, if it's a fic with a LOT of chapters, until I've written a lot of chapters in advance. I know myself and I know I often struggle to complete fics in a timely manner or even at all, and I don't want to post something I can never complete. ah, this turned into a rant. ignore me. OTL
lalophobia #2
it's only normal tho, and everyone feels that way, like psy said he's afraid he can never get past gangnam style and other artists, actors, etc have said the same. everyone is known for something, good or bad, and will always be compared to it. it's up to the person to let the worry eat them alive or get past it and keep doing what they love doing.
mknsdncrsrpprs #3
this so relatable askldjlkasjal
Madchen
#4
Well, that's only natural. After getting featured, there was some pressure to write a better fic. But as I made an unofficial hiatus with writing stuff on this site, I realized that there are more important things to worry about. Now, I just post fics that I want to post, regardless of the feedback I get. Though it's nice to get a lot of comments and those upvotes for a well-developed plot, things have changed for the past two years. Many authors have retired, and I'm pretty sure that a lot of young writers here will follow their footsteps. Try making a collection of drabbles whenever you feel like posting something. It helps to prevent your thoughts from being stagnant. Have a great day ahead :)
PrincessVivi
#5
YEUP YEUP YEUP THIS IS LITERALLY ME LMAOOO