I am where writers quit. Writer’s block. Metrics fatigue. The feeling when you’re zoning out after watching too much TV. Whatever you want to call it. I started writing years ago and restarted last year. Each time I started, the shine of having a place to share my thoughts was amazing. I was always thinking of new ideas and it never stopped. No matter how tired or busy I was, I’d always make the time to write. I was always energized. It’s the closest I’ve ever felt to having a
I am fairly new to this platform so I will at some point probably encounter what you feel at this point, or not. What I do know is that you should only really focus on one audience, that audience being you, that is unless of course you are trying to make a living which is tough.
Didn't you write for yourself in the beginning, think how much fun you had reading your own work and while I acknowledge that we all at some point fall for the numbers (some strange poisoned fruit left hanging for us to eat from time to time), you must be at some level aware that you are being rather hard on yourself.
Take some time off to get into that frame of mind again, I don't think its easy, after all if it were, then many would not have the drive to quit but would have rather continued. Do something out of character to boot up some new perspective, something that nobody expected you to do.
This piece is great and brutally honest, a great reminder for us who are all still new to the whole path. That said, best of luck and hope you find your way out of this cycle of self doubt.
Great article, I enjoyed reading this. It's easy to see writing for yourself and shouting into the abyss as the only two alternatives, but (and I expect you do this already) it can be rewarding to create something for a specific person or small group of people. Keep it up!
It can take a lot of energy to share our writing, and even though it’s a rush, it can also be draining. So if we lose sight of what fills us up about writing and sharing, or if we aren’t prioritizing whatever it is we need to protect our energy, then I think the sharing drains instead of recharging. Finding that balance is hard! And one thing I’m certain of is that comparing ourselves to others is a guaranteed way to drain. But it’s so difficult not to - Especially when we are constantly presented with “success” stories.
The thing is, no one’s story will be the same, we all have something unique to offer, and the world needs your unique thing. Sometimes the world is thousands or millions of people, sometimes it’s one or two. Keep writing!
As creatives we easily put pressures on and compare our work to that of others. Keep it simple and fo what feels right in terms of what you write and what you put out. In the silence and the dark we rend to grow stronger. Give it time.
And as I read this post, I couldn't but think, I'm looking into a mirror.
I'm quite new to Substack - posting regularly for 4 months now - and I'm having somewhat of a writer crisis myself. Oh the joy! Sometimes I wish I had a "formulaic" blog where I wrote about the same niche thing every week, and then, I wish I could just write whatever I wanted and everyone loved it - lol!
At this point I'm energising myself by trying to focus on building connections on the site, really trying hard to find blogs that get me going. It's been surprisngly enjoyable. I've had amazing converations with compelte strangers. I've read a few of your posts and love the rawness of it all. I'm subscribing so I can get more of that stuff in my inbox, and hopefully some cool convo's on the way!
I have to second what CJ Heath said, if things ever feel stale or uninspired etc., I try to write something that is so far outside my comfort zone or normal style just to make things fun and fresh and new again. In fact, the piece I’m going to share this Wednesday is so different from everything I’ve ever written I don’t even really know where it came from. It’s kinda dark and graphic, but it was fun doing something different.
I am fairly new to this platform so I will at some point probably encounter what you feel at this point, or not. What I do know is that you should only really focus on one audience, that audience being you, that is unless of course you are trying to make a living which is tough.
Didn't you write for yourself in the beginning, think how much fun you had reading your own work and while I acknowledge that we all at some point fall for the numbers (some strange poisoned fruit left hanging for us to eat from time to time), you must be at some level aware that you are being rather hard on yourself.
Take some time off to get into that frame of mind again, I don't think its easy, after all if it were, then many would not have the drive to quit but would have rather continued. Do something out of character to boot up some new perspective, something that nobody expected you to do.
This piece is great and brutally honest, a great reminder for us who are all still new to the whole path. That said, best of luck and hope you find your way out of this cycle of self doubt.
Great article, I enjoyed reading this. It's easy to see writing for yourself and shouting into the abyss as the only two alternatives, but (and I expect you do this already) it can be rewarding to create something for a specific person or small group of people. Keep it up!
It can take a lot of energy to share our writing, and even though it’s a rush, it can also be draining. So if we lose sight of what fills us up about writing and sharing, or if we aren’t prioritizing whatever it is we need to protect our energy, then I think the sharing drains instead of recharging. Finding that balance is hard! And one thing I’m certain of is that comparing ourselves to others is a guaranteed way to drain. But it’s so difficult not to - Especially when we are constantly presented with “success” stories.
The thing is, no one’s story will be the same, we all have something unique to offer, and the world needs your unique thing. Sometimes the world is thousands or millions of people, sometimes it’s one or two. Keep writing!
As creatives we easily put pressures on and compare our work to that of others. Keep it simple and fo what feels right in terms of what you write and what you put out. In the silence and the dark we rend to grow stronger. Give it time.
And as I read this post, I couldn't but think, I'm looking into a mirror.
I'm quite new to Substack - posting regularly for 4 months now - and I'm having somewhat of a writer crisis myself. Oh the joy! Sometimes I wish I had a "formulaic" blog where I wrote about the same niche thing every week, and then, I wish I could just write whatever I wanted and everyone loved it - lol!
At this point I'm energising myself by trying to focus on building connections on the site, really trying hard to find blogs that get me going. It's been surprisngly enjoyable. I've had amazing converations with compelte strangers. I've read a few of your posts and love the rawness of it all. I'm subscribing so I can get more of that stuff in my inbox, and hopefully some cool convo's on the way!
Really enjoyed the piece despite the despondent tone.
An interesting and honest piece.
I have to second what CJ Heath said, if things ever feel stale or uninspired etc., I try to write something that is so far outside my comfort zone or normal style just to make things fun and fresh and new again. In fact, the piece I’m going to share this Wednesday is so different from everything I’ve ever written I don’t even really know where it came from. It’s kinda dark and graphic, but it was fun doing something different.
Hope that helps :)