Have you ever thought, “What if my story never gets popular?”

[Omarfaruq]

Have you ever thought, “What if my story never gets popular?”
Genuine question.
If your story doesn’t get many readers, no traction, no spotlight—
would you:
1.stop writing it?
2.put it on hold?
3.or keep writing anyway?
At what point does motivation shift from “I want readers” to “I’m writing because I need to”?
I’m curious how other writers deal with:
1.low engagement
2.slow growth
3.or feeling invisible despite effort
No judgement here—just honest answers.

 

[Hans.Trondheim]

Have you ever thought, “What if my story never gets popular?”
Genuine question.
If your story doesn’t get many readers, no traction, no spotlight—
would you:
1.stop writing it?
2.put it on hold?
3.or keep writing anyway?
At what point does motivation shift from “I want readers” to “I’m writing because I need to”?
I’m curious how other writers deal with:
1.low engagement
2.slow growth
3.or feeling invisible despite effort
No judgement here—just honest answers.

A lot of times. Even despaired about it.

However, I eventually learned to accept that things won't work the way I wanted to oftentimes, and I cannot control everything around me.

So for the question what I did when my novel I worked so hard for never got traction?

I despaired.

But I also...

Continued writing it. This time, I'm writing to finish something with my name on it. The feeling of accomplishment when I finally finished 21 books, 400+ chapters and 1.2million words is insane. ?

How I deal with:

Low engagement. I suck at advertising, which was made worse by my introvert behavior. So, I dealt with this by just continuing to write and not looking at the stats.

Slow growth. Slow is still growth, and I prefer to attract serious readers than horny soy boys who want to goon on my novel.

Feeling invisible despite the effort. Or worse, my effort amounted to nothing. Well, it is what it is. Sad, but I can't do anything about it. I can't even count on my friends to support me, but it's alright. Life is ups and downs.

I just shifted my reasons for writing. I want to tell a story. I'll finish a story I started.

If you're curious if I really mean my reply here, check out my page at the main site. For such a long story, my novel has low reader count and lotsa drops.

But, as I said, it's fine. I will still write because I love writing and telling stories.

 

[L1aei]

No judgement here—just honest answers.

Sorry, not laughing at you but at the idea I ever cared about readers; I write for fun.

 

[Omarfaruq]

A lot of times. Even despaired about it.

However, I eventually learned to accept that things won't work the way I wanted to oftentimes, and I cannot control everything around me.

So for the question what I did when my novel I worked so hard for never got traction?

I despaired.

But I also...

Continued writing it. This time, I'm writing to finish something with my name on it. The feeling of accomplishment when I finally finished 21 books, 400+ chapters and 1.2million words is insane. ?

How I deal with:

Low engagement. I suck at advertising, which was made worse by my introvert behavior. So, I dealt with this by just continuing to write and not looking at the stats.

Slow growth. Slow is still growth, and I prefer to attract serious readers than horny soy boys who want to goon on my novel.

Feeling invisible despite the effort. Or worse, my effort amounted to nothing. Well, it is what it is. Sad, but I can't do anything about it. I can't even count on my friends to support me, but it's alright. Life is ups and downs.

I just shifted my reasons for writing. I want to tell a story. I'll finish a story I started.

If you're curious if I really mean my reply here, check out my page at the main site. For such a long story, my novel has low reader count and lotsa drops.

But, as I said, it's fine. I will still write because I love writing and telling stories.

You have an indomitable spirit ??

Don't let anything ruin your indomitable spirit ever.

Sorry, not laughing at you but at the idea I ever cared about readers; I write for fun.

I know you are a humorous guy.

 

[Hans.Trondheim]

You have an indomitable spirit ??

Don't let anything ruin your indomitable spirit ever.

Aye, I don't. I wanna be a good example to my students, too. ?

"If Sir Hans didn't give up, then I also won't give up." is something I always love to hear them say.

 

[Failnot]

It'd be about what I expected

 

[Eldoria]

Have you ever thought, “What if my story never gets popular?”
Genuine question.
If your story doesn’t get many readers, no traction, no spotlight—
would you:
1.stop writing it?
2.put it on hold?
3.or keep writing anyway?
At what point does motivation shift from “I want readers” to “I’m writing because I need to”?
I’m curious how other writers deal with:
1.low engagement
2.slow growth
3.or feeling invisible despite effort
No judgement here—just honest answers.

I don't know who your question is for? For general authors or for your personal reflection as a new author. If the answer is the second, I can say your fiction engagement is quite good. I saw your fiction enter a special trending list yesterday.

If you set the genres that can be displayed on the latest updates page through the Release Filtering feature, it's possible you could see your fiction trending again in the future.

For the first answer, I always say that internal motivation is stronger than external motivation - at least for me. I may be tired, exhausted, frustrated seeing my fiction stagnate. And I might take a break for a while.

However, I will not abandon my fiction. She is like my own daughter (feel free to think I'm weird for thinking fiction = child). I want to raise my daughter even though it is difficult. I love my daughter and want to care for her with all my heart.

For me, fiction is not only about engagement... it is also connection of my soul and my inner voice that grows outside of myself and becomes my daughter.

 

[Omarfaruq]

It'd be about what I expected

Looks like you are a fortune teller ?

I don't know who your question is for? For general authors or for your personal reflection as a new author. If the answer is the second, I can say your fiction engagement is quite good. I saw your fiction enter a special trending list yesterday.

If you set the genres that can be displayed on the latest updates page through the Release Filtering feature, it's possible you could see your fiction trending again in the future.

For the first answer, I always say that internal motivation is stronger than external motivation - at least for me. I may be tired, exhausted, frustrated seeing my fiction stagnate. And I might take a break for a while.

However, I will not abandon my fiction. She is like my own daughter (feel free to think I'm weird for thinking fiction = child). I want to raise my daughter even though it is difficult. I love my daughter and want to care for her with all my heart.

For me, fiction is not only about engagement... it is also important the connection of my soul and my inner voice that grows outside of myself and becomes my daughter.

It's the reason why I respect you the most here ?
Your way of thinking is something i look up to.

 

[MFontana]

Have you ever thought, “What if my story never gets popular?”
Genuine question.
If your story doesn’t get many readers, no traction, no spotlight—
would you:
1.stop writing it?
2.put it on hold?
3.or keep writing anyway?
At what point does motivation shift from “I want readers” to “I’m writing because I need to”?
I’m curious how other writers deal with:
1.low engagement
2.slow growth
3.or feeling invisible despite effort
No judgement here—just honest answers.

At what point do any of you write for the sole reason of the story getting "popular"?
For me, the thought has only ever been a conditional.
If it happens, great.
If not, whatever.

I write because I have stories in my head that simply must be told, and writing them is the only way I can (effectively) do so.

The goal isn't to get famous, or have the stories get popular. It is, and has always been, to create something that will outlast me, and maybe one day might inspire others to do the same in the only way that I truly can, and whatever happens from there will happen.

 

[Omarfaruq]

At what point do any of you write for the sole reason of the story getting "popular"?
For me, the thought has only ever been a conditional.
If it happens, great.
If not, whatever.

I write because I have stories in my head that simply must be told, and writing them is the only way I can (effectively) do so.

The goal isn't to get famous, or have the stories get popular. It is, and has always been, to create something that will outlast me, and maybe one day might inspire others to do the same in the only way that I truly can, and whatever happens from there will happen.

Great way of thinking ?

 

[Thiris]

I started to write here basically in the middle of the night on a whim. I had no expectations for how many views I would get. So when I got the first reader, it already gave me a huge motivation boost to keep going.

I write because I enjoy it, so even if I only had that one single reader, I would keep writing. I mostly write to myself. I just blurt the words out. But now that I have gained some readers, I have started to think about my way of writing. My head has always been filled with stories. They are just some bedtime stories that I create for myself every night when trying to fall asleep.

So basically, I don't need readers to keep me writing. I will write as long as it feels fun for me. But readers give me motivation to be better at it; they make me want to actually be good at what I'm doing.

When I finished my first novel and noticed that people were actually waiting for the next one, that was the first time that I really realized that someone actually enjoys my writing. But it doesn't matter whether it's five or twenty people who want more. I have noticed that my second novel is much slower to write, since I pay attention more at how I write things. And at some point I will go re write my first novel, wanting to put more effort into it too.

 

[Cardon]

No. I write for myself, partially as a device to commission cool art.

And even so, my shit bangs.

 

[L1aei]

No. I write for myself, partially as a device to commission cool art.

And even so, my shit bangs.

I like your attitude.

 

[Omarfaruq]

No. I write for myself, partially as a device to commission cool art.

And even so, my shit bangs.

First time heard such a reason but it sounds as cool as ice ?

I started to write here basically in the middle of the night on a whim. I had no expectations for how many views I would get. So when I got the first reader, it already gave me a huge motivation boost to keep going.

I write because I enjoy it, so even if I only had that one single reader, I would keep writing. I mostly write to myself. I just blurt the words out. But now that I have gained some readers, I have started to think about my way of writing. My head has always been filled with stories. They are just some bedtime stories that I create for myself every night when trying to fall asleep.

So basically, I don't need readers to keep me writing. I will write as long as it feels fun for me. But readers give me motivation to be better at it; they make me want to actually be good at what I'm doing.

When I finished my first novel and noticed that people were actually waiting for the next one, that was the first time that I really realized that someone actually enjoys my writing. But it doesn't matter whether it's five or twenty people who want more. I have noticed that my second novel is much slower to write, since I pay attention more at how I write things. And at some point I will go re write my first novel, wanting to put more effort into it too.

To put it simply it was for fun at first and then it turned into passion, nice ??

 

[Shamiko]

Yeah, many times. I’d probably feel a little disappointed, but I’d keep writing it for my existing readers and for my own improvement. This would hopefully impact later projects in a positive manner, making it even better than the last one.

To cope with it, I’d simply remind myself that I’m doing this for me, nobody else. If it makes me feel fulfilled, theres no reason to stop.

 

[Fairemont]

I worry that the quality of my writing/story will be too good that people wont be able to properly appreciate it until after I am dead.

So, not really.

 

[CinnaSloth]

1.low engagement
--> I've only been engaged once and that ended bad lol

2.slow growth
--> I stopped growing in highschool

3.or feeling invisible despite effort
--> Pretty sure I died a few years ago and nobody cared

Write to leave a story to be found. Don't write expecting for anyone to give a sh**. If you expect instant gratification pick up something else. Most things in life are Gacha, and luck. Life is full of disappointments.

 

[JKKnotts]

it's stopped bothering me so much, because i know my story will have some attention. that little bit will matter more to me than really big numbers because it'll be those few people who saw my stuff and went "this is my jam"

like, what even does it mean 1000 people love your story? it just means its popular, not a statement about its actually quality—and I am delusional enough to say my work is amazing and i love it. i mean, you kind of have to be at least a little delusional when it comes to writing, or just making anything, so long as you're able to register basic reality.

and while yes, we humans are attention-seeking freaks, i don't see why my stuff not being popular is any reason to stop. if anything, that'd be throwing the baby with the bathwater. nah, just let the baby grow, help nourish it, get better skills over time.

and the big reality is a lot of popularity is more about just being as annoying as you can shoving your story into people's faces, and get a ton of attention. also, it's worth noting a lot of the big stories have a ton of views on their pages, but most stories won't even convert 1/10 total viewers into readers, and then it's another 1/10 of that who become dedicated. keep in mind what i say next is my subjective opinion: but fourth wing and those kinds of books are exceedingly popular, but godawful: poorly written, more plot holes than my city has pot holes, but still beloved.

also, sites have specific niches. royalroad is also really huge as the litrpg place, wattpad is romance, ao3 is fanfic, etc. i just post my story wherever i think it'll get attention.

as my friends like to joke: "readers are the lowest form of life"... so don't get too fed up with how much they care about what you make. if you're in it solely for the attention, maybe you should be evaluating why you're writing and what you're writing, and if your heart is really in the best space for that.

for me, i'm just going to write my stupid werewolf smut and no one can stop me but the internet provider putting me in time out.

 

[Jerynboe]

I made a promise to myself when I started writing.

“I’m doing this for me. I’ll stop when I’m not having fun.”

I enjoy engagement and have been blessed with fans of my work that occasionally even comment. I have a modest patreon, even. I will not write something I don’t enjoy, nor will I allow my fans to push me into changing my story into something I won’t enjoy long term. My first story was a 330 chapter long self indulgent fanfiction, and I’m still proud of it.

When I stop having fun, I’ll stop. If I ever make enough money to quit my day job, I’ll reconsider so I don’t turn into George RR Martin and obsessively work on any project other than what my primary fans are asking for. (Looking at you, Elden Ring.) But until this is how I bring home the bacon, this is a hobby that I share with strangers on the off chance they might care.

 

[Joyager2]

I've only ever written for other people. Writing is a destructive process--you can't ever fully take what's in your mind and put it into someone else's. When you write down your ideas, they, by necessity, become flawed in some way. If it were all about me, I'd keep my ideas in my head where they're perfect. Instead, I put them on the page because I want to share my ideas, to entertain and delight and make others feel and think. As long as at least one person is interested in what I'm writing, I'll keep writing it. If it's not working and no one at all anywhere is interested, I'd stop and think about what's working and what's not before retooling.