Looking for encouragement

[Testaccount]

Honestly, I don't really know what I'm looking for in this post. Today, I've been feeling like a crappy writer, and I started questioning if I should quit this whole writing thing.

I've been doing it for so long now, but I don't see any payoff. I feel like people don't like my work. They'll read chapters but never comment or give likes. I know those things are rare, and I'm not entitled to them, but it does help encourage me to keep writing.

Has anyone ever felt like this? After a while, did you quit and pull down your work, or did you keep pushing through? I feel if I quit this time, then I'm done for good. However, I made a promise to my old readers who followed me here that I would finish the stories.

At this point, I feel like I should finish the stories, wait for them to read them, and then perhaps leave the account (not delete).

I suppose my main question is, "Have you ever felt this way, and what did you do?"

I try to stay positive and help others, but today I'm just not feeling it...

[YangKoete]

YOU CAN WIN! YOU FEEL GREAT! YOU. CAN. DO. IIIIT!

No but in all seriousness; Take a day off if you need to. Do stuff you like, get other issues done, just try to relax.

It'll pass.

[KennDemon]

Honestly, I get the same feeling all the time. Off days happen, and there's nothing you can do about it. Just step away from writing for the day, maybe the next as well, and take a breather. Really, take as much time as is needed (being careful that it doesn't turn into procrastination, that's a fine balance). One off day should never make you give up completely.

Actually, feeling like you're not a great writer can be a good thing. It means that you see in yourself room to grow.

If you don't feel like you can continue your current work at this time, there's no harm in writing something else. You don't even have to post it. Just a breather and time to entertain a fresh thought.

[shaylafarley5]

Don't feel down a lot of artist/writers feel this way.
I'm going through the same slump to the point where I deleted my comic from other sites except here and webtoon.
But the few who do read my work enjoys it and that makes me happy.
Just push through and focuse on what you want your stories to be about, and how you can improve along the way.
Don't simply quite, because one day your story will make it big

[Testaccount]

Thanks...I already did the same thing so many times - I've quit like six websites before settling on Tapas. I was hoping Tapas would be better for me, but it doesn't seem that way.

We'll see what happens. I'll probably take a break from this site for a while.

[Canis]

Dont say that ;w; I know its hard to fight that feeling because I've been there with this account tbh but you have to realize that this is the hurdle that you have to fight through. It'll pay off you have to just keep on trying and waiting patiently. Keep being engaged with those who have subscribed to your work.

[WinterRobinhood]

I feel this way quite often, I try to encourage myself but sometimes things get rough. I've had over four hundred people look at my story and never say a thing and it makes me feel like I'm not good enough or not appreciated. But my friends always tell me to keep going.

I guess what I try to think is "I have a story to tell, and I'm going to tell it, no matter who listens."

I've read your work and you're extremely talented. I would be sad to watch you go, but I have faith that you'll make it big one day! Off days do happen, and we just gotta pull through them. But take a break if you need to, there's no shame in that.

[IdiotWithPencil]

get on youtube look for a video of a novel called the eye of argon(you will feel better just by knowing you aren't this person) after that get a coffe at starbucks and watch a rocky movie you will feel better after the montage, and lastly TAKE A FRIGGIN BREAK AND DO ANITHING ELSE seriously burn out is awful and you sound like you burned out

[sarahrebecca58]

I'm not going to lie, it sounds like writer's block. Some writers experience, others don't. Sometimes you need a short break before you can write again. I think the trade publishing industry doesn't do authors any favors by expecting a day by day, monthly output.

[Kabushi]

I've felt like this many times and continue to feel like it. I'm not sure any creative ever turns around and says "yep, nailed it. Everything I do from now on is perfect and I love it."

There's days I'll love what I'm writing and then (usually when it's time to publish it) I'll hate it and get hit with anxiety.

The trick is making sure the voice that tells you you're not doing well enough is muted by a voice that tells you to keep reaching. But that voice is only going to come from you and you've got to believe it. Feedback from readers is great encouragement but the biggest motivator will come from yourself.

And now I'm gagging on my Hallmark movie speech.

[anitacomics]

Oh my, it definately does happen to everyone! I guess it also happens to successful people.
When it happened to me, I stopped drawing and writing, guessing it was for the good. I found myself starting to do it again only for pleasure, confirming it's something I truly love. I stopped studying, decided I didn't give a heck about quality, and built some projects I just enjoyed. It payed off completely: I improved in the right spots, developed a style, and people started liking my stuff more than before.

So I'd say, just take a break, enjoy something else, and then see if you can come back to it. Rememeber it's not mandatory to produce art. You might be great at anything else, and that might give you more satisfaction.

Another thing I'd suggest: you owe nothing to no one. If you don't feel like finishing the stories, don't. Be honest with your readers and they'll understand. Forced writing usually ends up in low quality writing, and a bad ending is worse than getting no ending

[Testaccount]

Thanks, everyone! I've decided to take a break from Tapas for now. More than likely, I'll finish the stories and then leave the account behind. Thanks for all the support and advice.

I wish everyone the best!

[insomniascrawl]

Duuude, I feel like this all the time, sometimes the lack of response at times makes me doubt myself. Sometimes I wonder if I'm wasting my time and then one or two people come along and comment or contribute and you realize people do like your stuff, they just don't always realize that commenting, liking and contributing DOES make a difference to a creator.

Is tapastic the only place you post? I get different success depending on where I post and how much I promote on social media and whatnot.

Keep at it if you really want to do this! Try new and different ways to promote and involve people, and keep posting, you never know when things will take off!

[sarrowsmith10]

Thanks, everyone! I've decided to take a break from Tapas for now. More than likely, I'll finish the stories and then leave the account behind. Thanks for all the support and advice.

I wish everyone the best!

I started to read one of your novels you have posted, some time ago when you first started on the forums. And I never read novels ever. I should have left a comment, I'm so sorry about that.

I think a huge part of the problem is that Tapas is a mostly webcomic site. I know novels are starting to break in here, but I don't think its quite the right venue for writing yet.

I'd hate to see you leave tapas, as you have been a kind supporter and commentor on my comic. But perhaps finding a website better suited to writing, where folks are more interactive and leave comments would be more encouraging. I'm not sure exactly what that venue is, as I don't do any writing. I'll ask my writers for Lockhart and Goblins and see if they know any good places to post that will give you better feedback.

I think another good way to get attention would be to commission some artists to illustrate a scene or two (not in comic form, just individual drawings). This is how I got into Chronicles of Elantra, was by seeing some beautiful fanart. It would never have been a book I would have picked up otherwise. I've seen some novels online that have illustrations inserted directly into the chapter. Just something to think about. From what I've read of your work, I think it would lend itself nicely to something like this?

[lil-sea-salt]

I think the main thing is to make sure you're writing what's right for you. I wrote novels for the longest time thinking that's what I wanted to do, not realizing that isn't the right thing. Like you said it was exactly that, no one cared. You can look it up its called My Dear Mystery. I got a horrendous response on it. Then I started writing short stories and poems. The poems took off and slow but steady the short stories did too. Remember that at the end of the day this is for yourself, not other people, but in your 10,000 hours and you'll get the recognition you want.

[tayo_rafferty]

I know how you feel. I think you need to first question why you write. It's important, in my opinion, for the main reason to be because you love it. Of course you want an audience and money but you should love storytelling more than anything else. Secondly I think you need to properly manage your expectations and set realistic goals.

Example:
Expectation - No one owes me their time so I need to try my best and earn their attention.
Expectation - I am not going to get uber-popular overnight because most people don't.
Goal - I'm going to contribute as much as I can to the platform; uploading and helping other artists and advertise my ideas whenever an appropriate opportunity arises.
Goal - I'm going to work hard to gain at least 1 subscriber and 1 like per month. (Or per week if you're really ambitious)
Goal - I'm going to look outside of Tapas for ways to draw in a fresh audience to my work (twitter, tumblr, instagram, deviantart)

These are realistic goals and expectations for any new creative(s) on a platform.

[Testaccount]

Thanks so much! I love writing, so I do plan to keep writing no matter what happens, but I've always easily been discouraged by stats and numbers.

I wasn't going to log into the threads today, but I wanted to thank you for all the support you've given me =)

[Testaccount]

I've been on many ddifferent writing websites, but so far Tapas has been my favorite.

I plan to finish the stories, so we'll see what happens.

[Testaccount]

Thanks for responding to me. I wasn't going to log in here, but everyone has been so supportive and kind towards me.

I'll definitely look into commissioning some artists to do artwork for the stories =)

[Testaccount]

I've been writing online for years now, so I know how those things go. For some reason, stats and numbers always bother me.

I'm wondering if it's best for me to ignore the stats. Thanks for responding to me! I always do my best to support my fellow artists, and so many people have been kind to me here, so I don't want to give up on Tapas just yet =)