Are You Discouraging Writers from Writing?

If you're reading this you're either:

• Curious (It's a topic you never thought about)?

• Worried (You don't want to discourage a writer from writing)?

• Or you're simply bored (It's alright.  It's understandable. I'm always looking for something to entertain me when I'm bored.  What better way than picking an article to teach you something new)?

I'm going to paint a picture for you to understand fully the pain a writer can go through and how you can help them …

Keep Reading

At eight, Dez drew characters that appeared in her daydreams.  As a creative child it had come naturally. Each character had a full profile:  Full Name, Age, Planet of Origin, Current Home Planet, Superpower, Fears, Strengths, and more.  One day a sheet of sketchbook paper wasn't enough. Her characters had a story to tell.

She felt like she'd burst if she didn't let them.  She chose notebook paper this time and a pen. The ballpoint tip moved over the fresh lined surface - not hesitantly - because the stories already existed.  Her characters came fully formed and so did the dazzling alternate worlds they lived in. The smell of the smog filled air, or the goosebumps that rose when their telekinesis moved an inanimate object across the room.

She knew that moving an object up and down were easier than moving it side to side.  She knew about duality: Ying Yang - or how things were never black and white, but that a gray area existed.

Meant To Be

At eight, with this kind of knowledge, how could one doubt this eight year old had been born to be a writer?

Eight year later, at age sixteen, she'd long since taken to using sketch book paper as a writing surface.  It gave more space than wide-ruled notebook paper. Folders and folders had been filled with stories. Many of them hadn't gone anywhere, except to gain better understanding of creating a full fledged story.  Her daydreamed characters hadn't quit demanding to tell their stories, but she wrote for herself as well.

That meant she had to lay everything out, plan it, so that it came out right.  At sixteen a friend asked her to read his story, but not just any story. A FanFic story.  It had been in the Fandom of Pokemon. She loved the story, but didn't fully grasp the concept of being able to continue her favorite books, movies, writing RPF's (Real Person Fiction), or creating AU's (Alternate World Fics) ...

Until she did …
 

Years Later

At twenty-nine, she had profiles on three main Fanfic websites, numerous ones she'd forgotten about, and so many stories that she refused to count them all.  And more importantly, she had Fans. At least one to two thousand loyal Fans, and those were just the ones Subscribed to either her Authored Stories (to never miss an update), Profile (so they'd be able to keep up with everything she did), Blog (so they could learn how-to info on writing, receive updates on upcoming or current unfinished stories, or share in fangirl/boy/non-gender specific gossip about their favorite Fandom's and Pairing's).

Her writing life had reached a point where she felt content.  Except for one little problem:

The Problem

Silent Readers were a thing.

She'd post story after story, chapter after chapter …

People Subscribed, left Kudos, Bookmarked things …

And occasionally she'd get the, "Thank you so much for writing this story."  Or, "This story is so cute, or awesome, or [add your comment here]."

Other than that, after the hours spent Drafting, Brainstorming, Creating Fic Characters that stayed true to their real personalities, or Creating OC's (Original Characters) that drew in people who normally avoided reading stories with them in it....

She also spent determined hours formatting each chapter and hitting that button that promised to keep her dream of being a writer alive: Publish

The readers response?

*Crickets.  Nada. Echo Echo Echo.

Discouraged

Did this lack of response mean that all of those readers, all of those people who Subscribed, left Kudos and Bookmarked her stories mean that they weren't really Fans at all?

Were they just selfish readers who didn't appreciate the hard work put in to creating those pieces of entertainment just for them?

Was she just wasting her time thinking that people really cared about writing at all?

Maybe they were bored and needed something to pass the time - so her stories became bland coping techniques.

Maybe a majority of those readers had just stopped in, took a peek at her stories and kept on moving.  The tool that showed her how many views each page got wouldn't know the difference. Maybe her dream had been nothing but a delusional fantasy.  Maybe…

Maybe she should quit wasting her time.

Quite hoping that one day all of that honing in of her craft would take her to higher places than just Fanfic sites:  Getting self-published, Having a book turned into a movie, Getting to work on a movie as a writer.

Maybe... she should quite writing …
 

Not Happening, Nope, Never

Thankfully, she didn't.  Giving up had never been in her blood.  She'd been the only elementary student in her school to receive an award for daring to be different.  Something that hinted at her being a special little cupcake with whipped strawberry icing on top (made by her mom, because no one made icing like her).

Being different, being a Writer had always been in her blood.  To have given it up would have meant emotional and spiritual death.  So she decided to tackle the problem head on.

She replied to the few that did leave comments, she combed through writing group conversations, asked direct questions.

What did she come up with?

• Most people were too shy to respond (she wasn't, but wasn't a people person either, so she understood).

• Some just forgot (some of them remembered to come back and even apologized for forgetting to comment), which she found endearing, because she sometimes did the same thing).

• Other people were unashamedly Just Readers and Would Never Leave Comments (this one irked her, but what could she do)?

Her mind had this habit of obsessing over things, especially if it irked her.  She'd read more than one version of a phrase that goes something like this: Writers never focus on the good things, always the bad.  They could receive a thousand positive reviews and be happy, but the moment they get one bad one they obsess over it, scream, cry and eventually want to throw themselves off a bridge.  (Ok, she may have paraphrased at the end there, but hey, her writer’s voice is strong... Luke I am your fatha ... )

*Crickets

Her mind is usually one step behind others, but it's like the Tortoise and the Hare.  She takes her time, believes in her own physiological process, and when her mind is ready to do it's thing - it does.  And it beats that Hare if it's meant to.

The Solution

What she figured out from that thing that irked her:  

Readers indulging themselves in stories - and never leaving a comment - giving back for the hard work that the writer has put in For Them ...

• Let people be who they are.  If you get angry because every reader doesn't leave a comment, you're setting yourself up for a lifetime of writer unhappiness.

• Communication is Key.  Understanding the Readers' specific problem can at least give you the closure you need to let the "being irked" go.

• Maybe these Silent Readers needed a little info to help them understand how important leaving comments is.  Maybe they need to be reminded that the writer of those words they consider precious isn't just a pen-name on a computer screen, but a human being.  Leaving comments fuels the writers with confidence.

Seeing messages like that:

"I love your story.  I can't wait to read the next chapter ..."

(An encouraging Fan)

Or this:

"I will hold on forever to read the rest of this story ..."

(A loyal Fan)

Dez had been blessed with a strong sense of self worth and even though she didn't give up writing, there may be a writer out there that aren't as strong.  One encouraging comment or loyal comment could mean the difference between them continuing to do the thing they love - write. Or them giving it up.
 

Is It Your Responsibility?

Why should you feel responsible if a writer gives up writing because of a dumb thing like that?

It's no ones fault if they give up.  It's their choice. But setting blame aside:  You could be just what they need. The hero. The light that leads them to the end of the dark and lonely tunnel.

Or not …
 

The Million Dollar Question(s) is ...?

The choice is yours.

• To be the light?  To take the light elsewhere?

Why Does It Have To Take So Long Though?

What is there to lose if you take a few moments to type up one sentence?  That's right. A comment doesn't have to be long …

It could be four words:  I loved your story …

Depending on your typing speed, you'd spend three seconds to thirty seconds typing it out.

You'd have done something great and at the most would only have spent a few seconds or just half a minute of time.  Another few seconds to hit Send and Bam: Hero. Good deed for the week.

That was very nice of you ...  🙂
 

So, Are You Discouraging Writers From Writing?

• Will You Be The Hero, The Light That Leads Them Out Of The Dark and Lonely Tunnel?

• Will you spend three to thirty seconds to type out that message?

• It's Not Your Responsibility, but the Choice Is Simply Yours …

Until Next Time,

~ Danae I. (Author)

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