Doubt about your own work

[Stimtheone]

Now, I assume not all authors are alike, but did you ever think your work was not AS good as you might imagine, thinking as you send it off that it might be boring and unappreciated, done just to be done and possibly buried?

And, while thinking that have people come and practically love it? I thought that about my newest stuff and two days later it's at 4.58 with twelve ratings and over two thousand reads. I know most struggle to get that Hot denominator, but I sure was not expecting it for this thing.

 

[StillStunned]

Usually when I submit a story for publication, I think it's the best thing ever written.

Now I haven't published anything for a month, and I just *know* everything I've ever written is total crap and everyone hates it.

 

[AchtungNight]

Congratulations.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Now, I assume not all authors are alike, but did you ever think your work was not AS good as you might imagine, thinking as you send it off that it might be boring and unappreciated, done just to be done and possibly buried?

And, while thinking that have people come and practically love it? I thought that about my newest stuff and two days later it's at 4.58 with twelve ratings and over two thousand reads. I know most struggle to get that Hot denominator, but I sure was not expecting it for this thing.
View attachment 2308261

Congratulations

Someone I respect recently told me to treat the surprise good and the surprise bad just the same. It’s all just opinion.

I get it. ND types like me can take criticism - even as impersonal as a low vote - way too personally.

It’s hard to suppress the reflex. But I’m really trying to rely on feedback only from those who I respect (or who make cogent points well in comments).

I publish all sorts of things with all sorts of effort that I have put into them. I cover kinks from mainstream to niche. Including ones that are off-putting to some. I experiment a lot with different styles and subject matters and types of stories. I’m finding my way. My writing is highly variable. More misses than hits. It’s unsurprising that the feedback is also variable.

But… with a few exceptions, I like what I write. It pleases me. And I don’t like to write to an audience. This is a hobby, it has to be fun for me. If others like it, that’s a bonus, not the central point.

Emily

 

[Djmac1031]

Oh, I absolutely understand and relate.

There have been several times I've published a story despite having personal doubts about whether it was any good.

Did it accomplish what I set out to do?
Was it actually interesting? Entertaining?

Was it silly? Repetitive? Unrealistic?BORING?

Moat notable on this was My Daughter The Nudist, a story I struggled to write because I couldn't choose a path. And then I changed the path. And rewrote the thing several times. So many times I found myself exasperated reading it.

But finally I had something I felt was worthy of publishing, although I was still uncertain that readers would agree.

Turns out... most did. Not my strongest performing story. But certainly not a failure or embarrassment.

Putting aside that self doubts and fear of failure can be difficult. But it's the only way we can do this.

 

[lovecraft68]

I have the pattern of always thinking the story sucks, what am I doing, who wants to read this? Then when its finished I sit on it a few days, then go back and edit and re-read and it turns into, "Hey, this isn't bad at all!"

My wife is fond of the "what you think about, you bring about" mantra, so if you expect something to fail, then you're part of why it will.

 

[Stimtheone]

But… with a few exceptions, I like what I write. It pleases me. And I don’t like to write to an audience. This is a hobby, it has to be fun for me. If others like it, that’s a bonus, not the central point.

Oh, I also write what I like, but this particular project is more something I put myself to do rather than the result of a really good idea, and I struggled a lot to get it in this form. I still thought I could do better and to just put it out as it is. Heck, there's even a bit at the start of me saying "beginnings are boring" and the next chapter is actually much more intense... and the third is even MORE intense.

But still, I had serious doubts about it.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Oh, I also write what I like, but this particular project is more something I put myself to do rather than the result of a really good idea, and I struggled a lot to get it in this form. I still thought I could do better and to just put it out as it is. Heck, there's even a bit at the start of me saying "beginnings are boring" and the next chapter is actually much more intense... and the third is even MORE intense.

But still, I had serious doubts about it.

I tend to park stuff if I feel like that. I’ve come back to things months later and restructured. If I’m not feeling it, I let it be for a bit.

Emily

 

[Priscilla_June]

I 100% always feel doubt. As I am writing it the feel and flow feel so great, but once I hit submit I wonder if my reading comprehension has failed me and I just published a snoozer, or worse.

I think recently Ive been living and writing by the mantra of “write like you are the only one reading it”, and I think that's important as to not needlessly self sabotage your own creative process.

 

[StillStunned]

If I’m not feeling it, I let it be for a bit.

Hehehe, you said "feeling it".

 

[sister jenny]

With me it’s like this.
I can get 10 really nice comments from real people.
Then I get one bad from someone Anonymous and it kills me. I focus only on that one. And I can’t write anymore. I forget all the good ones.

And yes, I’m working on it.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Hehehe, you said "feeling it".

I guess my comment was susceptible to that interpretation. And - viewed like that - it’s kinda tautological.

Emily

 

[EmilyMiller]

With me it’s like this.
I can get 10 really nice comments from real people.
Then I get one bad from someone Anonymous and it kills me. I focus only on that one. And I can’t write anymore. I forget all the good ones.

And yes, I’m working on it.

It’s a very human reaction. Unless you have some personality disorder. We all do it.

Emily

 

[StillStunned]

I guess my comment was susceptible to that interpretation. And - viewed like that - it’s kinda tautological.

Emily

Any comment is susceptible to that kind of interpretation if you just try hard enough.

 

[EmilyMiller]

Any comment is susceptible to that kind of interpretation if you just try hard enough.

You said “hard”

 

[32aa]

But… with a few exceptions, I like what I write. It pleases me. And I don’t like to write to an audience. This is a hobby, it has to be fun for me. If others like it, that’s a bonus, not the central point.

Agree totally!!!

 

[StillStunned]

You said “hard”

"Hard enough", as befits a middle-aged bloke.

 

[MyBareTorso]

With me it’s like this.
I can get 10 really nice comments from real people.
Then I get one bad from someone Anonymous and it kills me. I focus only on that one. And I can’t write anymore. I forget all the good ones.

And yes, I’m working on it.

Even if comments and scores etc aren't the be all and end all, the bad ones still hurt...you are not alone in feeling the sting, and *please* don't ever let it stop you writing!

 

[sister jenny]

Even if comments and scores etc aren't the be all and end all, the bad ones still hurt...you are not alone in feeling the sting, and *please* don't ever let it stop you writing!

Thank you so much

 

[samhasstories]

Usually when I submit a story for publication, I think it's the best thing ever written.

Usually the same for me right up until the moment it posts. I'm all excitement and satisfaction, but the moment it's too late to make any more edits I assume it's a work of complete garbage that I should've spent far more time on, if not just scrapped entirely.

 

[KeithD]

As long as my writing excites me . . .

 

[Devinter]

With me it’s like this.
I can get 10 really nice comments from real people.
Then I get one bad from someone Anonymous and it kills me. I focus only on that one. And I can’t write anymore. I forget all the good ones.

And yes, I’m working on it.

It’s a very human reaction. Unless you have some personality disorder. We all do it.

Emily

This is true - though not to the exact same effect. We've done some studies and managed to measure this through various psychological experiments, and generally speaking, the average human essentially needs four times as much "good" to balance out one "bad". So if you go about your day, and something that really dampens your mood happens, you need four uplifting things to get back to neutral afterwards, on average.

Some people need significantly more than that, especially when it comes to things which are labelled as personal. Someone questioning your personality, your actions, or your work - such as a story. That tends to hit harder than, for example, walking outside in what seems to be great weather and ten minutes later it starts to rain on you heavily - since something like that doesn't scream "fuck you in particular".

 

[EmilyMiller]

This is true - though not to the exact same effect. We've done some studies and managed to measure this through various psychological experiments, and generally speaking, the average human essentially needs four times as much "good" to balance out one "bad". So if you go about your day, and something that really dampens your mood happens, you need four uplifting things to get back to neutral afterwards, on average.

Some people need significantly more than that, especially when it comes to things which are labelled as personal. Someone questioning your personality, your actions, or your work - such as a story. That tends to hit harder than, for example, walking outside in what seems to be great weather and ten minutes later it starts to rain on you heavily - since something like that doesn't scream "fuck you in particular".

Sounds vaguely familiar.

Emily

 

[jomar]

Not so much doubted as I recall kind of anxiously, excitedly and obsessively refreshing to check the reads and scores. Been a bit since I’ve submitted a story.

 

[jomar]

With me it’s like this.
I can get 10 really nice comments from real people.
Then I get one bad from someone Anonymous and it kills me. I focus only on that one. And I can’t write anymore. I forget all the good ones.

And yes, I’m working on it.

Anonymous tend to be trolls and I hope sweeps take care of some. But yeah, negative comments often come from idiots who expected one direction and got another. They have no idea of or respect for the effort it takes to write a story. I mean i once got a one vote and nasty comment because I didn’t mention it was a chapter story in an authors note. Another time the story took a turn and the troll called me a goober gobbler-that was special.