You know, my fics aren't even popular. But I enjoy writing them because I have readers waiting impatiently for me to post new chapters. So, just enjoy what you have, you will feel happy. If you keep thinking about what you don't have, you will forever feel depress.

Something i realized recently—i mean something concretely—is that popular works doesn’t always reflect to the author’s skills but the readers’ taste. Since after all it is the readers who made them popular. I mean like imagine all the good stories with a different idol?!?!? And the readers’ taste, that you can question. Its good that you know youre a good writer yourself, but keep writing. Comparing works to others is something something we should refrain from doing. And since AFF isnt as lively as before, we gotta do some hustlin if we want our stories to get readers.

I saw a movie with someone saying “What’s the point of all this art if it is not meant to be seen?” And i cant help but thinking (with a frown), art is a self-expression. Sure, artists enjoy the recognition they could get, but what is the point if youre not doing it for yourself? and you know what, the artist in that movie being told by that question quit the gallery the next day.

I feel so sad that people are missing out on your stories because they're so well written and there's so much thought that goes into them. I think readers on AFF don't take into account the quality of the writing unfortunately. And you need to promote your books often! I can't remember when was the last time you promoted your books here on AFF?? It's a start, even though i feel like no one really cares about good, well-written stories if it doesn't feature a popular idol, a Mary Sue OC, a plot that's cliched or a pairing. T.T

To be honest, popularity on AFF (and on many platforms) isn't necessarily about quality writing. I can only speak for this site, but I've looked at many of the well supported stories to find cliche or weak story lines, painful grammatical errors littered throughout, and people more interested in the fantasy (sel insert, bias, or pairings) than the merit of the story itself. That is all to say that unfortunately, for better or for worse, popularity is not an accurate nor particularly helpful measure of one's ability as an author.

While I toe the line of crossing boundaries, I hope that you may pause and step back to truly evaluate yourself and all of your stengths. If being an author is indeed a key part of your identity it isn't necessarily all I'd it.

Consider the saying of, "if a tree fall down alone in a forrest does it still make a sound?" It does. It's the same thing in our lives. Does our God given, intrinsic value deteriorate just because we don't receive the acknowledgment and validation we all want? No. AFF, and the world as a whole, is a fickle place. It means that popularity on these sites doesn't correspond to our writing abilities. A tree falls alone and still makes a sound, an author still composes their art because that is who they are-- no matter what the nature of their audience is.

Hey!
I’m not good with comforting
But, take a deep breath, inhale and exhale
Every writer has their own way to write it.