Sigh.
One of the things that breaks my heart on this site is the tendency for new writers to survey their mutuals: “I have the urge to write this story, if I did would you guys read it?”
I’m an old with long-ignored rejection sensitivity issues. I’ve lived a long life forcing myself to find a glimmer of joy in the things I was good at to avoid failure (or some kind of flavor of this, I’m still trying to work it out). I know it’s scary to put your whole soul in the form of art out into the world. Honestly, if I had known how bad my rejection sensitivity was BEFORE I started writing and publishing, I likely would have never done it. Denial, my old friend, ironically served me well in this regard.
BUT.
Don’t put your art’s merit out for survey like that. Don’t ask people if they’d read it. Because, honestly, most will say yes and just not. Because life and a million others reasons that get in the way and the fact that people love to be supportive but also don’t always have the time to do the actual supporting. And then there’s the fact that these are strangers on the internet.
Share your art because you made it. Share your art because you were moved to create something from nothing. Share your art to immortalize the inner workings of your heart and soul. Don’t share your art because people said they would read it.
I understand wanting people to read and love your work. Every artist does. Just don’t start out asking for that reassurance. Be sure and reap joy from the reception you do get, don’t be unsure and tether the worth of the work to other people’s intentions to engage with it.
