Yeah, I guess it does start from a place of love. But then maybe along the way, we start thinking too much about what people would think and that starts swaying our work.
I do. I've written books that not even my family or "friends" have bought. Sometimes it's just for challenging myself and sometimes they are just not the ideal audience for them. Would I buy them if they were the writers instead of myself and I weren't the right audience? Absolutely. I've done It, in fact, even though I wasn't very interested in the book itself. I'm Here for supporting others, but that's just the way I am, I never ask for the same.
The paradox at the centre of this is the one every serious writer lives with. I write novels by hand mostly which means nobody sees anything until I choose to show it. That privacy is where the work becomes itself. The moment I start imagining a reader, something shifts. Not always for the worse, but it shifts. What Maier understood, maybe without knowing it, is that the work and the sharing are two separate acts. Both matter. But they cannot happen at the same time.
I agree. You have to create purely for yourself in the first place. Then only will it have a chance of connecting. You can’t think of the audience when creating - that kills the process.
Yes. I would write but I would never fully finish any one piece, save for the occasional poem.
I know this because nobody ever sees my poetry, and I still write poetry, just rarely to the point of completion. Poems will occasionally insist that I do finish them, lest they withhold whatever emotional/existential payout I am looking for.
That's amazing. I think writing, in and of itself, has value for the writer. I hope you keep writing your poems and keep finding joy from the gift of writing. :)
I don't think that's any reason to stop. One person might not like your work, but thousand others might like it. It's subjective. I don't think we should let some people dictate whether we create or not. What do you think?
It’s emotionally draining to engage in conversation and meet in a way that give indication that care is there and then to see a stark insult to what is being shared by having to swallow what is being thrown at you without help to see why it got to that point does some shifting in how we perceive what we do for others
As a fellow writer, this is a thought that hits deep. I’m starting out my blog and I relate to the apprehension of “what if no one reads this”. This post gave me a whole new perspective.
I fear the only reason why i dont publish as much is the fear of getting witnessed. But creation, oh it's coming in hot. It's just that most of the things ive created are hidden still. I resonate so much with how you wrote about Maier. I create my stuff purely because I love creating them. And it's the outside influence, the pressure to be liked, or not get canceled is getting in the way. I guess it is the courage part that i need to work on.
I’m so happy you took something away from this piece. I think you have got the main part sorted - the creation. Seems like you are working on your craft. You can share your work with world when you want, no rush. Take your time. :)
Fabulous article about this "Nanny".
As for writing purely for myself... Absolutely. Is it not what we do until we dare to show and or publish our work?
Yeah, I guess it does start from a place of love. But then maybe along the way, we start thinking too much about what people would think and that starts swaying our work.
Thank you for this✨️
You're welcome. I'm glad it resonated. :)
Well, currently I have the feeling nobody reads my work, but still I keep writing, there’s no other way 🖋️
Exactly, there’s no other way to live. Keep creating. :)
although Likes and feedbacks encourages, but writing is like meditating… do it for self… world can decide to read or ignore
💯
I will write about everything until there’s nothing left to write about. Writing is cathartic to me, even when nobody reads it.
Love the energy. Keep writing and creating. :)
I do. I've written books that not even my family or "friends" have bought. Sometimes it's just for challenging myself and sometimes they are just not the ideal audience for them. Would I buy them if they were the writers instead of myself and I weren't the right audience? Absolutely. I've done It, in fact, even though I wasn't very interested in the book itself. I'm Here for supporting others, but that's just the way I am, I never ask for the same.
That's lovely to hear. I hope you keep creating and showing up. The right audience will find your work. :)
I’d have to say yes, as I’m pretty much doing it now 😀
Awesome. Keep creating Ian. :)
I already do hehee
Nice. Do you plan to share it or is it purely for yourself?
The paradox at the centre of this is the one every serious writer lives with. I write novels by hand mostly which means nobody sees anything until I choose to show it. That privacy is where the work becomes itself. The moment I start imagining a reader, something shifts. Not always for the worse, but it shifts. What Maier understood, maybe without knowing it, is that the work and the sharing are two separate acts. Both matter. But they cannot happen at the same time.
I agree. You have to create purely for yourself in the first place. Then only will it have a chance of connecting. You can’t think of the audience when creating - that kills the process.
Yes. I would write but I would never fully finish any one piece, save for the occasional poem.
I know this because nobody ever sees my poetry, and I still write poetry, just rarely to the point of completion. Poems will occasionally insist that I do finish them, lest they withhold whatever emotional/existential payout I am looking for.
That's amazing. I think writing, in and of itself, has value for the writer. I hope you keep writing your poems and keep finding joy from the gift of writing. :)
not until someone explicitly comments “no one cares about what you’re saying”
I don't think that's any reason to stop. One person might not like your work, but thousand others might like it. It's subjective. I don't think we should let some people dictate whether we create or not. What do you think?
It’s emotionally draining to engage in conversation and meet in a way that give indication that care is there and then to see a stark insult to what is being shared by having to swallow what is being thrown at you without help to see why it got to that point does some shifting in how we perceive what we do for others
Feedback is how we get better and improve. Got to keep a thick skin. This is the cost of connecting, I guess. :)
For some of us, that’s the only time we create!
I’m sure some people purely create for themselves and would love to keep it for themselves.
As a fellow writer, this is a thought that hits deep. I’m starting out my blog and I relate to the apprehension of “what if no one reads this”. This post gave me a whole new perspective.
I’m glad that you found this valuable. The more you write (practice) and show it to the world (for feedback), the better you’re going to get. :)
Perhaps the challenge is to write in solitude and publish in hope.
yeah, write in solitude and for yourself and of course, then hope that it connects with another being.
Btw u wrote this so well! Thank u for your writing
Thanks Phoebe :)
I fear the only reason why i dont publish as much is the fear of getting witnessed. But creation, oh it's coming in hot. It's just that most of the things ive created are hidden still. I resonate so much with how you wrote about Maier. I create my stuff purely because I love creating them. And it's the outside influence, the pressure to be liked, or not get canceled is getting in the way. I guess it is the courage part that i need to work on.
I’m so happy you took something away from this piece. I think you have got the main part sorted - the creation. Seems like you are working on your craft. You can share your work with world when you want, no rush. Take your time. :)