Does anyone else psych themselves out after they've submitted a piece?

[crazyness1]

Just curious. I thought it would get easier the more I wrote but honestly it's gotten worse. I don't know how you guys who write such long pieces do it with such confidence. It feels like such a risk.

EDIT: Don't mind me, I just made this post earlier because I needed to destress a bit. After talking it out, I realize I was over-thinking it a bit. I didn't mean to make it sound so serious.

 

[Voyeurkenneth]

A risk for what? Negative reactions? Sometimes that can be valuable too. Lets you know your story struck a chord with some readers.

 

[crazyness1]

I suppose. I dunno, A while back I saw someone who wrote a 40k+ work in romance. He submitted it and after a day he had only one rating and it was a 1. That kinda stuck with me. Just stresses me out I guess.

It feels like there's not much constructiveness you can really get out of that other than to write something different.

 

[crazyness1]

You know what, I think you're right. Your post actually made me feel a lot better the more I thought about it. Thanks!

 

[OddLove]

Yeah, I hype myself up hoping people will like the stories I write. And I log in almost ever day, often multiple times a day... just to see if if anyone else favorites a story or left a comment.

I also got extremely lucky and my first six stories were rated highly. But I posted my seventh story and recently and it get a lower rating so then the other ones.

Giving a shit about whether or not people like your story is a double edged dildo.

On one side, it's feels nice feels amazing when people enjoy it and it can me a source of much excitement and fulfillment since you're getting feedback that you did something well

But on the other side, giving 'good feedback' and 'high ratings' the power to make you feel amazing will also give 'bad feedback' and 'low ratings' the power to make you feel worthless and bad.

So I'm thankful my recent story isn't doing as well, cause it's a wake up call to really stop giving the outside world that much control over my happiness.

 

[OddLove]

At the end of the day, the reason we all should be writing is because we like being creative and it's fun for us. And the only Real Risk is taking the ratings and comments so serious that negative feedback would discourage you from doing something you enjoy doing.

 

[crazyness1]

So I'm thankful my recent story isn't doing as well, cause it's a wake up call to really stop giving the outside world that much control over my happiness.

I had this exact sentiment a while ago. But now I'm back to psyching myself out. I think it has to do with writing in a different genre for a different audience.

At the end of the day, the reason we all should be writing is because we like being creative and it's fun for us. And the only Real Risk is taking the ratings and comments so serious that negative feedback would discourage you from doing something you enjoy doing.

That is so true.

I guess right now, I'm worried because I feel like my work is not going to be received well because of the ending and due to the genre I placed it in. But I also don't want to change the ending, because it just feels wrong. But I also put so much effort into this story.

You're definitely right though. I need to not take feedback so seriously.

 

[OddLove]

I guess right now, I'm worried because I feel like my work is not going to be received well because of the ending and due to the genre I placed it in. But I also don't want to change the ending, because it just feels wrong. But I also put so much effort into this story.

If the story has a tragic ending or something, I can understand feeling the pressure to change it to something else, or maybe adding resolution to the tragic ending if that's possible. But at the end of the day, it's probably best to write the story you're most excited about writing.

I had this exact sentiment a while ago. But now I'm back to psyching myself out. I think it has to do with writing in a different genre for a different audience.

Also, I've experienced this with exact issue. I wish we could select two categories for stories.

 

[SinclairGroupLLP]

For me, hitting that publish button is like a mini-orgasm sometimes. The feeling of relief, the “it’s done!’ and sending the story off into the world to sink or swim is a great feeling. But, like an orgasm, the feeling is fleeting.

It always reminds me of how how Clarissa Saunders described sending her Senator off into a party to get his heart broken in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington: “I felt just like a mother sending the kid off to school for the first time. Watching her little fella toddling off in his best bib and tucker. Hoping he can stand up to the other kids.”

And I have to admit, it’s nice to see the little guy when he makes it, but there are times he gets beat down by the 1 star crowd and you get it in the feels. But, at least for me, my own internal deadlines start kicking in and I don’t have time to grieve or celebrate too long. As one of my buddies in the newspaper business tells me all the time, “You finished, now it’s time to get started.”

 

[Cagivagurl]

Just curious. I thought it would get easier the more I wrote but honestly it's gotten worse. I don't know how you guys who write such long pieces do it with such confidence. It feels like such a risk.

OK...
Your post confused me at first...
Is there a risk???

The important question you need to ask is... "why do I write?"
If I ask myself that question. The answer is simple. "For fun."
If you are an amateur writer, like myself. I assume you do it for the same reason. It's fun, and it's therapeutic,

If, like me it's all about fun, then what happens after you press submit is irrelevant. You had a story you needed to tell. You enjoyed the actual process, and hopefully you have a certain amount of pride in the end product.
OK, all of us like to get positive responses, comments, feedback, emails, likes.
I'm like everybody else. I have an ego, and get a nice boost if I get good feedback..
If not, it's not like the end of the world.

It's not like you're not gonna get paid...
Sometimes, you just have to accept not everybody felt the same about your story.
It doesn't mean it's poorly written. It just means, on this occasion, you missed the mark.
Lesson learned for the next one.
I like to write, pressing submit, doesn't change that I enjoyed the process.

Cagivagurl

 

[SinclairGroupLLP]

Sometimes, you just have to accept not everybody felt the same about your story.
It doesn't mean it's poorly written. It just means, on this occasion, you missed the mark.
Lesson learned for the next one.
I like to write, pressing submit, doesn't change that I enjoyed the process.

This is easier said than done, especially when you've written a story you know is good - like, objectively, it's well written and even the folks who don't like it can't complain about the prose or the grammar. Maybe it just didn't push their buttons. But in the end, I hate the idea that because some reader out there didn't like it that I "missed the mark."

I didn't miss shit. It's the KIDS who are wrong, lol.

 

[Cagivagurl]

This is easier said than done, especially when you've written a story you know is good - like, objectively, it's well written and even the folks who don't like it can't complain about the prose or the grammar. Maybe it just didn't push their buttons. But in the end, I hate the idea that because some reader out there didn't like it that I "missed the mark."

I didn't miss shit. It's the KIDS who are wrong, lol.

The thing is, it's hard to be objective about our on stories...
If you sweated and toiled over it. If you love the story you've told, it hurts to see it disliked by the readers...
The thing is, you cannot please everybody, and regardless of the quality. Some people may not like it.
That's OK, it's there prerogative.
It's your story, so long as you like it. The rest is noise... Who cares if it didn't receive popularity. So longs as you had fun producing it, and feel comfortable telling the story...
Just my thoughts.

Cagivagurl

 

[crazyness1]

Also, I've experienced this with exact issue. I wish we could select two categories for stories.

^^Yes this! Or have a genre for high school or college teen romance or something. I'd really appreciate that.

 

[crazyness1]

I didn't miss shit. It's the KIDS who are wrong, lol.

Please tell me that's a Simpsons reference!

 

[crazyness1]

OK...
Your post confused me at first...
Is there a risk???

I guess I made it sound too serious. It's more just the risk that no one reads it or likes your work. For example, when I write a short work, I can just pretend when I get poor viewership/rating that it didn't matter because I didn't spend too long on it. But when I spend hours and hours of time on a work, it feels at least a little bad if no one reads it?

It's your story, so long as you like it. The rest is noise... Who cares if it didn't receive popularity. So longs as you had fun producing it, and feel comfortable telling the story...

I suppose that's true. I did really enjoy writing all of these stories. That is pretty important as well.

 

[SinclairGroupLLP]

Please tell me that's a Simpsons reference!

100%

 

[crazyness1]

Goated show, probably my most watched of all time. Been a while since I've seen someone quote it so it was a nice nostalgia trip.

 

[Norogaster]

I'm the opposite problem. I obsessively refresh the dashboard until my Pending work goes to Published with a future release date on it. Once I've got the piece done and submitted, I'm desperate for that first serotonin hit when the page views start ticking up. But then it took me 40 years to find an audience.

 

[Voboy]

No.

I hit submit, and by the time I do, I'm done with that story and on to the next. I check it for the first few days to make sure it's doing okay, and normally it is; when I've entered a contest, I follow it so that I can contribute to the Support Thread for awhile.

Other than that? Nope. I don't worry. I know my stories will find an audience; I hope they'll appreciate it, but that's not up to me. I've already done my part.

 

[Baztrachian]

"Does anyone else psych themselves out after they've submitted a piece?"​

Only with one story of mine, ""Father Goose". I wrote it, edited it, rewrote it, sent it to a friend to edit, and then submitted it worrying that it would be trashed. Turned out to be one of my more popular stories.

 

[rteny3245]

Even after publishing 11 stories, I still find myself anxious about the initial ratings. There's always that inevitable early 1-star rating or two before more reasonable readers come along. I know that obsessing afterward doesn't change the outcome and likely only harms my mental state. Eventually, things balance out, and I'm pleasantly surprised by how many people actually read, rate, and sometimes even comment on my work.

I should focus on being grateful for these readers rather than anticipating some miraculous outcome or huge change in my popularity. It's about appreciating what I have rather than stressing over what might be.

 

[Gamblnluck]

Just curious. I thought it would get easier the more I wrote but honestly it's gotten worse. I don't know how you guys who write such long pieces do it with such confidence. It feels like such a risk.

EDIT: Don't mind me, I just made this post earlier because I needed to destress a bit. After talking it out, I realize I was over-thinking it a bit. I didn't mean to make it sound so serious.

BEFORE i read what anybody else said, I will reply. It is a risk every time I offer a new story. I am not cavalier enough to just say, "I'm throwing this out and if they don't like it, screw them." I try my best to write the best story I can each time. I want to please my audience as much as I want to write the story I want to tell (for myself)
Can you imagine Anthony Hopkins say, fuck those watching my performance, I liked it. I did sort of rub it into their faces, but screw the ones who didn't like it.
My advice is to do your best each time. You are NOT gonna please everybody. But select your target audience (and that should include yourself) and go for it.

 

[Gamblnluck]

t's not like you're not gonna get paid...
Sometimes, you just have to accept not everybody felt the same about your story.
It doesn't mean it's poorly written. It just means, on this occasion, you missed the mark.

I wrote a sequel to a beloved story, that got CRUCIFIED. What did I do? I wrote the story from the other (cheating wife's) perspective. It was a kick in the teeth to get the response I did. But I left the story up. I also left each and every of the HUNDREDS of comments that the story received.
What many readers did not understand was, I was NOT writing from MY perspective. I was writing from the perspective of the character in the story, one who I thought was mentally ill and treated wrongly in the original. (I gave the original full marks for a score.)

 

[Voboy]

I wrote a sequel to a beloved story, that got CRUCIFIED. What did I do? I wrote the story from the other (cheating wife's) perspective. It was a kick in the teeth to get the response I did. But I left the story up. I also left each and every of the HUNDREDS of comments that the story received.

Just my opinion (which is worth nothing, really), but I think the mistake people make is reflected by your use of the word "beloved." If you let yourself get too invested in your story, then any amount of negative feedback will hurt.

I enjoy writing, and I'm proud of what I produce, but once it's out on the screen? That's it. It has its own life, independent from me and my emotions: it's no longer a part of me. I fling it out into the world like a monkey's turd, thence to find whatever target it can.

 

[Cagivagurl]

I wrote a sequel to a beloved story, that got CRUCIFIED. What did I do? I wrote the story from the other (cheating wife's) perspective. It was a kick in the teeth to get the response I did. But I left the story up. I also left each and every of the HUNDREDS of comments that the story received.
What many readers did not understand was, I was NOT writing from MY perspective. I was writing from the perspective of the character in the story, one who I thought was mentally ill and treated wrongly in the original. (I gave the original full marks for a score.)

Some readers struggle with the fact... It's just a story. They seem to get so angry, so irate they have to vent.
OK, maybe the comments ere negative and the score poor. I'd take that as a sign of good story telling.
The readers became incensed and angry. You hit a nerve, got them involved...
To hell with the score. Mark it up as a win.

Cagivagurl