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

[rileykifer]

I don't worry my story won't get popular, because I know it won't get popular. Nor do I care enough to put in the effort to try. Popularity involves writing what's, well, popular. I never like what's popular, and I refuse to write things I don't like. Popularity also involves time and effort promoting and doing review swaps and gaming the system. I'd rather dedicate all that time and effort towards actually writing. I'm introverted and hate hate HATE marketing and advertising. I hate being advertised to, and I hate advertising myself to others even more. I have no interest in getting published. I started doing this for fun and I want it to keep getting fun. Yes, I would rather have a popular story than a story nobody reads. But it's so easy to forget why you started writing in the first place once you get obsessed with stats and reads. If I get reads, cool. If I don't, oh well. The fact I've written things is satisfying enough.

 

[LeilaniOtter]

I don't worry much about that, no.
To be honest, all of my works have been very popular, in one way or another. So, I guess I'm brainwashed now into thinking I'll never have a problem with something I write not being well-received, so I just don't think about that at all.

I'm writing what I love to write, and that should be the main priority. Love to write, and love what you write.

 

[Omarfaruq]

I don't worry much about that, no.
To be honest, all of my works have been very popular, in one way or another. So, I guess I'm brainwashed now into thinking I'll never have a problem with something I write not being well-received, so I just don't think about that at all.

I'm writing what I love to write, and that should be the main priority. Love to write, and love what you write.

Your writing must be top notch.

 

[Dragonpig]

I like all the spectrum of answers I’ve heard so far, for the record. Not bad, people of Scribble Hub.

So here’s my little two cents. I’ve only been writing for a year, and I did all the research about the percentages of writers becoming successful and all that stuff. I’m pretty sure all of you have heard the stats. All that is well and fine, so this is my plan.

Do the best you can. Learn from others. Absorb information like the Borg from Star Trek. Decide how much effort you’re going to put into this writing thing. Mine is to see how far I can go. If I make it, fantastic. If I don’t, at least I tried and I’ll have no regrets.

Keep an eye on the writers who have become successful. Go to their book signings. Get a book signed by them, and make sure they sign it to my friend Dragonpig. That’s Plan A.

Now Plan B is this: wait a couple years until one of you becomes the old, wise author we all learned from, or go totally badass like Nightcrawler and infiltrate the White House, hopefully dressed like a ninja just to make a point. And then, when it’s all over, whichever way it goes, I’ll say, “Hey there, stranger. Remember when that writer guy became the one with the answers? Or did that cool thing at the White House? I have a book they signed. Do you want to touch it?”

And that’s how you start a cult.

And at the end of the day, I’ll be all right.

 

[LeilaniOtter]

Your writing must be top notch.

After doing it almost 40 years, it better be. ?

 

[Representing_Tromba]

Yes, especially after publishing it on Amazon.

 

[VanVeleca]

Honestly the reason for my rather slow-ish update schedule and hiatuses is exactly because of this. I want to create a story but it's difficult to find motivation to write everything down when very little read it.

I don't think I'm ever gonna cancel it? But that's the same thing I thought when I first started my webcomic so who knows...For now I'm still in a good mental space and wanna finish the story someday.

 

[RepresentingCaution]

Procreate, and then you'll be too busy to write.

 

[CharlesEBrown]

I always hope it does but expect it won't.

Procreate, and then you'll be too busy to write.

Working two (or more) part time jobs can have a very similar (and less rewarding, but generally less expensive) effect.

 

[writerwolf359]

Procreate, and then you'll be too busy to write.

That works for about ten years, and then they don't want anything to do with you.

 

[Rachel_Leia_Cole]

The only thing I worry about is if I’ve done my characters justice. I may only ever get a handful of readers, but if the characters resonate with those few readers then I’m happy. I never get a lot of traction on writing platforms…. do I care? Yes, of course. But I don’t obsess. If I did, writing would no longer be any fun, it would feel like entering a popularity contest. I write because it meant something to me. And if it means something to others, that’s wonderful. But it’s not the sole reason why I create.

 

[Eldoria]

The only thing I worry about is if I’ve done my characters justice. I may only ever get a handful of readers, but if the characters resonate with those few readers then I’m happy. I never get a lot of traction on writing platforms…. do I care? Yes, of course. But I don’t obsess. If I did, writing would no longer be any fun, it would feel like entering a popularity contest. I write because it meant something to me. And if it means something to others, that’s wonderful. But it’s not the sole reason why I create.

As Eldoria, I was touched reading this...

 

[gaylolis]

if my stories will never get popular that means less drama as well, yay :D

 

[Omarfaruq]

The only thing I worry about is if I’ve done my characters justice. I may only ever get a handful of readers, but if the characters resonate with those few readers then I’m happy. I never get a lot of traction on writing platforms…. do I care? Yes, of course. But I don’t obsess. If I did, writing would no longer be any fun, it would feel like entering a popularity contest. I write because it meant something to me. And if it means something to others, that’s wonderful. But it’s not the sole reason why I create.

It's the spirit ??

if my stories will never get popular that means less drama as well, yay :D

A postive way to see it ?

 

[LeilaniOtter]

Yes, especially after publishing it on Amazon.

Unfortunately, publishing on Amazon didn't really help any of our clients after a while. The problem is, it's Amazon. There's too many books out there. Unless you have a solid social media platform, a steady number of already-fans, and want to spend a fortune on Amazon advertising/promotions, it's usually dead in the water. There's just too much competition now. And not enough of our clients wanted to pay us for anything. I think after Amazon rolled around and took out Borders, we knew we wee finished as agents. ?

 

[FRWriter]

I never had that disillusionment in the first place. Honestly, getting a couple of hundred consistent, daily readers is much more than I ever expected.

 

[Ral_062]

My only goal is to make my story readable, i don't chase fame or anything. I make my story for myself and heck i don't care if i only get a single reader, if i at least made that one person's day great with my story thats fine with me.

But i'll be realistic, this doesn't pay me and when i really need to think about my future, i'll stop not for anyone but myself.

 

[RepresentingCaution]

That works for about ten years, and then they don't want anything to do with you.

You need to read “Parenting Without Borders.”

 

[Leti]

You need to read “Parenting Without Borders.”

And its sequel “Parenting Without Borders Carefully.”

 

[ViktorBloodfallen]

Truthfully, I expect nothing and would continue to write even if i never get engagement. I write the stories I wish to read.

It may sound foolish but I think if I had one fan. One person who engages in my work and is truly enjoying it, than that is good enough for me. To know that my work invoked feelings of sadness, melancholy, or joy in a single living human being is enough for me. I do not need wealth or fame to write. I write because i believe my purpose it to create.