Worst experience as a writer?

[McPhoenixDavid]

Is the whole thing an option?

Eh? Sure, why not.

I have had, and still have bad experiences not just in writing.
It's just my luck, or life at this point, and because of it, I feel I'm incredible pessimistic, and cynical.

When I first started. Many harsh comments about grammar, and topics, and themes. They unraveled pretty much everything about my characters, and plots. It was beyond annoying, but I don't as much mind, "I think this character, scene, or action was dumb because ____". okay.. understood. But most were just "this part sucked." "I didn't like x character." and I would ask why? and never get a response, but they'd keep coming back nit picking about something else..

Been harassed by online mob mentality.
Had normal sfw, rule abiding stories flagged for seemingly no reason.
had accounts (multiple) banned.
accused of stealing when I didn't (just opening to the first pages of both stories would have proved to anybody with eyes that I didn't)
have had friends attacked online for no reason other than being associated with me
have had stories stolen and I was the one who got in trouble for PROVING I was right... wtf with that one

but to answer your thread question:
WORST experience as a writer?
Trusting an Ex to read, or learn anything about my writing hobbies. You think, okay, this person is really special in my life, and wants to know more about me. We've been dating a few months, and we've always gotten along.
SHE cheated, NOT JUST ONCE mind you. HER friend tried to make a move on me saying I deserved better, TRUE, BUT we were still arguing, and hadn't officially broken up, so, I refused, nothing ever happened not even a kiss (I get it, stupid me, I guess), anyway SHE broke it off saying I cheated?? So in her little twisted mind game. She remembered, and took note of online name, and started spamming my stories with negative reviews, bad comments, even attacking other commenters. I didn't know who this person was until they called me 'a cheater'. Which no. and second. it was her. but BECAUSE of her. other people also started accusing me of things. even other writers. which lead down the rabbit hole of most everything listed above. Wattpad sucks.
At this point I don't even care anymore about what happened, the only thing I do wish though: I wish I had saved my stories offline, instead of writing them directly on Wattpad. There were a few good stories I wish I could have shared here. I was dumb, and new to writing at that time. I don't normally call any of my ex's names, but she in particular, was a b***h, and a psycho. F*** you Chrissy.

Don't trust anyone with your personal hobbies... Those are for you.
AND save EVERYTHING offline, and keep backups. Losing work sucks.

That sucks. Damn.

Whenever I use my experience as an author to give a legitimate breakdown of another author's work, hoping to give some constructive criticism, writing an essay-length review, and their egos get in the way of taking the advice, just lazily dismissing the criticism by saying, "It's in the tags."

Like I can't critique your dense protagonist because you said the story had a dense protagonist in the tags, but that's not the issue. A story can have a dense protagonist and still have that protagonist develop into something more through their experiences in the story, but no if a character goes through no development, somehow I just don't know how to read.

This development issue is even worse when they try to write an overpowered protagonist, because a lot of them don't realise that character's still need to have development in some way even if they're an overpowered, strong from the start, strong to stronger, etc, protagonist, but often people who write over powered character's just turn their stories into lazy powerfantasies instead of making the protagonist struggle in some other way or pitting them against equally overpowered foes. If I claim the story is boring because it's just about the protagonist being overpowered, they say, "It was in the tags," ignoring the core of the issue. It's not the fact that your protagonist is overpowered alone that makes your story boring; it's the fact that you didn't do anything with your story but make the main character ram their way through every "challenge" they face, which makes the entire story feel the same. What is there to read after a couple of chapters? The beats of the story will just repeat anyway.

I see.

I don't know... whether this was a bad experience or rather a 'needed' experience. I opened the darkest pages in human history, such as the holocaust, the atrocities of war, and the oppression of tyranny, then I narrated the dark story as if I saw or felt it myself (as a character). I was deeply depressed after writing these chapters... and stopped writing for a few days to a week.

I may be exaggerating, but I am the type of writer who writes with "conscience" rather than just rationality. Often I also suffered, cried and depressed with the characters I wrote. I didn't like it, but I had to write it.

A couple years ago, I got to a point where my story was going to have a scene with a depiction of torture. But I couldn't actually bring myself to start it.

Writer’s Block and uncertainty on what the hell I wanna do story wise. So for my one story I used to have on her, I merged the plot with another story I was gonna do.

These all sound like personal/internal conflicts rather than external forces. Still, I can relate.

• Community members who don't understand why you don't want to Roleplay "since you already write"

They never do.

Building up a thick skin for constructive criticism and learning how to apply said criticism are two of the hardest things I've had to go through on my writing journey, b/c you won't believe how much of a weaboo whiny attention-whore I was back when I started writing and posting online. It was painful getting over my own foibles and ego.

Relatable. Really painful.

The experience of the deafening, gaping, cavernous silence after talking into the void and hearing nothing back.

But then again I haven't been mobbed either so I guess it could be worse?

I know, right. You poured your heart and soul into it but in the end, all you get is a void: silence.

 

[Avarice_Of_The_Seven]

Every time I have to talk to my parents about it and my dad throws a fit because the only reason to do anything is to make money. Lately he's been sending me links to vanity publishers and telling me to submit to them. I've explained more times than I can count that those are scam artists, but for some reason the guy who hates reading and has never written anything thinks he knows more about the publishing industry than I do.

People have such different personalities and worldviews, yet why do all the parents I hear about sound almost the same?

 

[Worthy39]

People have such different personalities and worldviews, yet why do all the parents I hear about sound almost the same?

Wow, really? My entire family has been really supportive of me experimenting in writing. They said I should aim to try and publish someday, but not until I'm sure I'm ready.

Anyway, as for my worst experience, it's just been a lack of motivation. At first I was having a lot of fun writing, now I'm struggling to sit down and write anything. I have ideas, I just don't feel like sitting down and writing them.

 

[Avarice_Of_The_Seven]

Wow, really? My entire family has been really supportive of me experimenting in writing. They said I should aim to try and publish someday, but not until I'm sure I'm ready.

My family is weird in a different way. Whatever I do, they start encouraging me excessively. like; if I do drawings for fun then they tell me "Why don't you become an artist?" If I make some youtube videos for fun then they start saying "Why not become a youtuber?"

They do this for everything I try or take an interest in.
And the worst part? They aren't even joking, they are serious.

It's so weird, like; I'm happy with my job, why do they want me to become something else?

 

[McPhoenixDavid]

My family is weird in a different way. Whatever I do, they start encouraging me excessively. like; if I do drawings for fun then they tell me "Why don't you become an artist?" If I make some youtube videos for fun then they start saying "Why not become a youtuber?"

They do this for everything I try or take an interest in.
And the worst part? They aren't even joking, they are serious.

It's so weird, like; I'm happy with my job, why do they want me to become something else?

The exact opposite here.

 

[Kitsuna]

Just annoying readers. Like this guy asking if my characters are 'overdeveloped 8-year-olds' while sounding like an overdeveloped 8-year-old...

 

[McPhoenixDavid]

Just annoying readers. Like this guy asking if my characters are 'overdeveloped 8-year-olds' while sounding like an overdeveloped 8-year-old...

Pfft

 

[oussama_schrodinger]

As a writer, you must have had at least one bad experience.

Comments too harsh?
Fell for "art commission"?
Story got taken down?
Banned from site?
Maybe something else?

when someone try to promote his story, by hating yours online.

 

[McPhoenixDavid]

when someone try to promote his story, by hating yours online.

Woah

 

[AnEmberOfSundown]

when someone try to promote his story, by hating yours online.

This post sucks, mine are waaaaay better now gimme them internet dollars.

 

[oussama_schrodinger]

This post sucks, mine are waaaaay better now gimme them internet dollars.

haha, way worse.

 

[McPhoenixDavid]

This post sucks, mine are waaaaay better now gimme them internet dollars.

Lol

 

[fcures]

Just not being able to write more and edit.

 

[Sylver]

Just a lack of comments x) I have good views but I wish people would be more vocal and comment more. I like being social maybe it's cuz it has a smut tag that people get shy? Idk.

 

[FRWriter]

Just a lack of comments x) I have good views but I wish people would be more vocal and comment more. I like being social maybe it's cuz it has a smut tag that people get shy? Idk.

Sorry :(

From now on, I won't just press F5 for an hour; I'll also leave some comments.

On a more serious note, why don't you add polls from time to time?

People almost always share their opinions if you address them directly. Many people just dislike commenting for the sake of commenting. However, if you ask them a question directly, maybe more people want to share their thoughts.

 

[AstreiaNyx]

Just a lack of comments x) I have good views but I wish people would be more vocal and comment more. I like being social maybe it's cuz it has a smut tag that people get shy? Idk.

Me realising I have never made a single comment on all those webtoons I read over the past decade

 

[Representing_Tromba]

Got sent art of my main heroine wider than was tall as a threat.

 

[SirContro]

Got sent art of my main heroine wider than was tall as a threat.

And I'll fucking do it again!

 

[Sylver]

Sorry :(

From now on, I won't just press F5 for an hour; I'll also leave some comments.

On a more serious note, why don't you add polls from time to time?

People almost always share their opinions if you address them directly. Many people just dislike commenting for the sake of commenting. However, if you ask them a question directly, maybe more people want to share their thoughts.

Oooo I like your suggestion, but um, what would I add for Polls? Hmm, maybe a vote for your favorite character?

My story follows a cat girl and her past coming back to haunt her and it includes romance, smut, magic,medieval fantasy and action scenes. Maybe it's cuz I just got back from work so I'm tired, but my poor head is a wee bit empty on poll ideas x)

 

[Representing_Tromba]

And I'll fucking do it again!

I don't remember it being you... unless it was an alt. Though please don't.