A message to my fellow writers · 7:01pm Dec 26th, 2015
Yes, I know, there's already like a bajillion blogs about this. I just thought I'd my two cents, though. Throw my opinion into the hat, as it were.
Often times, a writer won't get much attention. I've seen a lot of people quit because their first few stories only garnered a few views, likes, comments, etc.
Some of these writers are unwilling to accept constructive criticism, but the bulk of them take the advice they're given. They keep writing because they know that, even if they don't get a lot of recognition, at least they're finally good at something they want to be good at. So why is it that some people quit on the site, or claim they aren't good writers, simply because they don't get many views? There are some people on the site who seem to put too much stock into followers, and I think a lot of users unwittingly buy into that and believe that, because they don't have many followers, they're not a good writer.
But I'm here to tell you that's not the case. Hell, my first few stories (which have since been deleted) were a lot worse than what some people claim are terrible, yet I was able to better myself from the experience and become a much stronger writer. What I'm trying to say is that you may think it doesn't get better, but it does. Hell, I'd trade all of my followers away just to be able to write as good as someone like Stephen King.
Basically, don't put too much stock into how many followers you have, because that hardly even makes a difference anyways. A true writer writes for the fun of it and to express his/her thoughts, not for the fame.
8-bit Adagio believes in you, and so should you
Here here!
Lack of motivation, primarily. I get inspired sporadically.
You would trade me for the ability to play the fiddle!?
3644352 Well I was just talking about those who want views and don't write just for fun.
But of course I wouldn't trade you bby <3
When I first got into writing, I will admit that I was a grade-A jackass regarding views and follower count. I used to think that having a good number of views and followers was my ticket to fanfiction fame.
But now, I don't care about either. Sure, I have a good fanbase - for want of a better word - but I write because I want to write, and not because I want to get featured or earn more followers and views. I'm perfectly happy to crank out the occasional silly one-shot or clichéd as hell piece of self-insert romantic twaddle, just as long as I am doing the thing I enjoy most.
Back when I first got featured, I was really happy about it and spent as much time as I could bragging to anyone who would listen. Nowadays, if I get featured, I just consider it to be a stroke of dumb luck — much like my EQD feature was (although I'm fairly certain that was not down to luck, and was actually their way of apologising to me for talking shit about one of my stories).
As for some writers being unable to accept criticism, I too used to be like that. But now, if I get a piece of constructive criticism, I will do my best to respond to it in an equally constructive manner.
People need to understand that even the likes of Pen Stroke, ROBCakeran53 and other well-known authors started out at the bottom just like them. It takes time and effort to get your work noticed in the world of pony fanfiction; you can't just write a story and expect to be famous overnight.
I started out at the bottom, thinking that I was no good at writing and that I should just give up. But I got feedback, I got better, I went on a few stupid ego trips — but then I stopped being a dickhead and I just kept at it. Now, I am proud of what I have achieved, and I laugh at the mere thought of giving up fanfiction.
So if you are thinking of giving up, don't. Keep at it, and you'll soon find the hard work eventually pays off.
Anyway, that's me put my two
centspence in the jar. I shall now take my leave.TL;DR - I agree with everything Seven has said, I used to consider giving up but I didn't, I used to be a massive bellend when it came to follower and view counts, and you need to invest time and effort to get noticed. Keep at it, and you will find it all pays off in the end.
3644911
This encapsulates exactly how I feel nowadays. I used to take a lot of stock in followers or views, too. The tipping point for me was when I wrote that HiE, "She's a Pony, He's a Human", which you may remember, and I just didn't find any joy in writing it. It had like 800 likes, but that didn't matter since I had no inspiration to write for it. Having a fanbase is great, but it's even better to have fans and be able to write the stories you want. Heck, I'd be happy just to have one person who read all of my stuff
You are awesome Seven, you speak the truth and only the truth. If only my brother in law had this advice when he wrote his first story. He had a few downvotes and criticism he told me, and because of that he deleted the story, i told him everyone gets shit on at the beginning and other stuff but he still hasn't put out another story, even though i know he has several saved on Gdocs. You give me such good advice for whenever i make my first story, which will hopefully be soon. Stay awesome
Where's a god damn "THIS!" button when you need one?
3645541 I'll definitely be sure to check it out when you do. We totally need to catch up on Skype at some point, if you have it, too.
3645592 I remember the first story I posted on here. I was trying to post a rather serious fic, but it was linked to someone else's story, sort of a shared universe with two main characters who meet occasionally. Problem was, I spent so much time trying to help with my cowriter's side that my story ended up just dying, and I never felt like finishing it. Now that story's gone, and others have come up, and are completed. Now I have so many different ideas, and quite a few story ideas that I can't quite get to pan out. I've started to think I'm more fit to be an editor or side-author for someone else. Marik_Azemus' The Elder Scrolls: Equestria was started by both of us, and I help cement ideas for it whenever he asks for my opinion.
I helped HenryAnthonyCourtler with a romance fic, and it was good enough that people were in tears when the main character, mentally locked as a mute from a childhood traumatic experience, tells Octavia he loves her. Sadly, since I lost my job I haven't been able to help, so no new chapters have really been made, which sucks, but he's never online the same time as me anymore, either way.
I even helped a friend whose username is Flame-LoneWolf write a fanfic that he's decided to rewrite as an original story. He's put enough thought into the backgrounds of all the OCs that he's actually got a lot of worldbuilding done, and he's been doing well with recasting new characters to fill roles such as the Mane Six and others without it being overly obvious where the source of these characters lies. All in all, he's getting better and better with the story, and I can't wait to see how it turns out when it's published.
My point with all this is that you've kinda lifted my spirits a bit. It doesn't matter how much or how little fame I get, I'm much more satisfied with watching my friends get famous, instead.