Heavy on “keep writing like no one will read it”, cos I cringe so much when I remember that my writing is going to reach some certain people, especially people I look up to.
Hi, Mira!!! That feeling is so valid, but i feel like everyone has different writing styles and different experiences so any kind of writing will be appreciated by someone! And you totally shouldn’t feel that way, by the way, because you’re just so gifted! We should be lucky that you’re sharing your gift with us!!!⭐️✨
I think about this allll the time. Sometimes I'm like, omg I want more readers, but then I've also seen how people put others on a pedestal online only to tear them down.
It’s so scary. It really is. Went through years of self reflection to come to this conclusion lol! I think that is just really easy to judge people online when you are not exposing yourself the way that they are, when you’re “shielded” by not having a profile picture, or any kind of content in any way… It takes a lot of courage to start posting things, but when you do, you always find people that are willing to listen and these are the people that you keep doing it for, right?
Your journey from niche to wider recognition is both inspiring and relatable. The anxiety of performance, the fear of judgment, and the struggle to balance personal passion with public perception—it's a rollercoaster every creator knows well.
It's refreshing to see your honesty about the highs and lows. From the comfort of niche writing to the overwhelming exposure and mean comments, you've navigated it all with resilience. Starting anew on Substack shows your commitment to growth and connection, honouring your teacher Akemi’s belief in your potential.
The words of the obscure yet insightful writer, Rainer Maria Rilke, come to mind: "Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror. Just keep going. No feeling is final." Your story embodies this beautifully—embracing the whole spectrum of emotions and experiences that come with putting yourself out there.
Writing for a larger audience does bring pressure, but it also brings incredible opportunities and connections. Keep creating, keep sharing, and remember that the journey itself is valuable. We grow, we adapt, and through it all, we find our true voice. Here's to the continual evolution of your writing and the new horizons it will undoubtedly reach.
Oh my god. Wow!! Thank you for such a beautiful comment, i don’t think i even deserve all this but i’m very thrilled with all of it!! Thank you so, so much again! You made my day so much better! :)
"I had tasted the sweet nectar of clout once, and i was never going to do this to myself again."
This reminds me of my own falling out with online clout lol, almost half a decade ago and it wasn't related to writing at all (that's always been something personal for me), but instead it was a Twitter account of mine that had 5k followers once. I got so happy people gave a shit about my thoughts and found me funny and agreeable, but then I took a break and left because it all got so overwhelming (and much like what you say made you leave Goodreads is what made me leave Twitter). The praise was great, the mean comments were not!
It's a double edged sword, when very few people know or interact with anything you've put out into the world it's sometimes nice, but then it begins to suck and feel like waste. Then, if you do get popular in some way, it becomes too overbearing.
Anyway, I'm slowly making my way through your articles and I genuinely admire how relatable your writing is! I'm the same age as you so some of the topics you write about helps me make sense of some of these things for myself haha.
OMG HI CHAR!! I love talking to you! You have the most articulate thoughts ever, of course you’d be known for them! And it’s so sad when people start with the mean comments.. But for me personally, seeing people like you on Substack makes me want to never stop posting! I get so excited to see such interesting, intelligent people share their thoughts on something that i wrote and it’s such a joy that i forget all about the mean stuff. Thank you for reading this and thanks for the comment!!!!
this was great, and you’re right: there’s always something that we want to do but we never do it, and we end up regretting it. That’s why I joined this app too, cause if I don’t do things for myself, who will?
Hi, Selene!! Your name is one of the prettiest i’ve ever seen in my life, by the way! And you’re totally right! Your life becomes so much brighter once you share your art and passion with people that are interested in it, and you brighten up their lives by doing it as well!!
I think that is why I started Original. It's an entity and not just me..I know who I am but to everyone who reads, I could be anyone! I could be tall, short, wear glasses, have pink hair.... I could literally be anyone.
But what I write about is real, it's my truth. If people can read it and like it, agree with it or even disagree with it, then I have fulfilled what I think is my life purpose.
I know I was born to write, about what? I am not too sure but I am a 20 year old in college with a lot of life experiences. So while Im figuring out why I was called to write, I can have fun and met people along the way. Great read!
Hi!!! Thank you so much for reading this! And exactly! And that’s so cool!! Reading about experiences and having other people read about yours is the best thing for me! It’s all about the exchange with people all around the world that you don’t get to have anywhere else!
Ahh you inspire me!! For some reason, things excite me until people see me do them. Some days I really don't want to be perceived, but at the same time I want to write and make content??
I'm sitting down in a cafe right now to write, and reading this was the perfect intro! Thank you for sharing <3
Arielle!! Thank you so much for reading!! It means the world to me! And i feel the same way some days too! But i think that i have met so many incredible people on here already and i have spent so many time and energy towards this that i just feel the need to share and to have meaningful interactions with these people being bigger than my fear of being judged. Somehow, we only think about the negative aspects of things first, rather than think about all the benefits of having a newsletter or blogging or being a content creator, right? But i’m trying to change that because the positive outcome (having interactions with people like you!) is so much bigger than what’s negative about it!
It was totally like: “ People are going to see me! 😩😨😨😣” at first, but now it’s like “People are going to SEE ME! 🥹🥹” This totally validates my theatre kid high school self who just wouldn’t stop talking for a minute.
yes exactly!! I love all the connection with others on here, puts a smile on my face every time! And I think that is a huge part of what subconsciously drives me to create stuff: I want to be understood, and I want to understand others. As much as I dislike being seen on some days, knowing that some people on here just get me gives me a lot of comfort.
love this so much! you are such an incredible writer!! as a relatively new writer i’ve been thinking a lot about what my writing is and means and i think it’s a nice reminder that we create not only for others and what we think they expect but for and through ourselves. thank you for such a thoughtful reflection 💕🌷
Hi, Maria!! Thank you so much for reading!!! I’m so glad you enjoyed it and it resonated with you. And yes, creating a world for yourself through writing is the reason why many authors do write! If you’re constantly thinking about others, it loses the magic, right? ⭐️✨🫶🏻💌
Amanda! You’re so real. I’m desperately trying to keep the pressure low on my Substack, and I think I’m weathering the storm. Thanks for saying what we’re all thinking!
HI ALEIKZA!! So glad you’re here!!! You’re such a talented writer and such a natural at it! Sometimes you just have to appreciate the beauty and immense quality of what you already have published out there instead of pressuring yourself into doing more, and i’m sure that there are more people like me who are willing to wait for however much time it takes to appreciate good poetry or good stories or good writing like yours! Quality beats quantity all the time for me!
i loved it i love you!! congrats on all of the new friends, you deserve everyone one of them :))) i'm so glad that you decided to start your substack for your late teacher Akemi <3
omg omg omg, i just discovered your substack account and i love it soo very much, you’re an excellent writer and i don’t think i’ve related to anything more than this article! (article? upload?) the way that you talk about being perceived and how scary that can be was so incredibly real to me, you put some of my thoughts into words and i just think that that is so amazing. the quote that you had in there (“those who are not seen are never remembered”) might just be my new life motto! i’m so grateful that i found your page and i’m looking forward to reading more of your stuff!! have a lovely day!
EVELYN!!! You’re going to make me cry!!! 🥹🥹🥹 Thank you so much! Thank you for taking the time to comment something so nice, i appreciate it SO much. Seriously. 💌🫶🏻
Heavy on “keep writing like no one will read it”, cos I cringe so much when I remember that my writing is going to reach some certain people, especially people I look up to.
Hi, Mira!!! That feeling is so valid, but i feel like everyone has different writing styles and different experiences so any kind of writing will be appreciated by someone! And you totally shouldn’t feel that way, by the way, because you’re just so gifted! We should be lucky that you’re sharing your gift with us!!!⭐️✨
I think about this allll the time. Sometimes I'm like, omg I want more readers, but then I've also seen how people put others on a pedestal online only to tear them down.
But speaking of you personally, you have a PHD. No one can tear you down. Period.
It’s so scary. It really is. Went through years of self reflection to come to this conclusion lol! I think that is just really easy to judge people online when you are not exposing yourself the way that they are, when you’re “shielded” by not having a profile picture, or any kind of content in any way… It takes a lot of courage to start posting things, but when you do, you always find people that are willing to listen and these are the people that you keep doing it for, right?
I saw a comment that said you have a PHD.....congrats? Like what? So huge!
One thing I like to think about, even if they tear you down. You are still writing, isn't that the point of it all! <3
Your journey from niche to wider recognition is both inspiring and relatable. The anxiety of performance, the fear of judgment, and the struggle to balance personal passion with public perception—it's a rollercoaster every creator knows well.
It's refreshing to see your honesty about the highs and lows. From the comfort of niche writing to the overwhelming exposure and mean comments, you've navigated it all with resilience. Starting anew on Substack shows your commitment to growth and connection, honouring your teacher Akemi’s belief in your potential.
The words of the obscure yet insightful writer, Rainer Maria Rilke, come to mind: "Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror. Just keep going. No feeling is final." Your story embodies this beautifully—embracing the whole spectrum of emotions and experiences that come with putting yourself out there.
Writing for a larger audience does bring pressure, but it also brings incredible opportunities and connections. Keep creating, keep sharing, and remember that the journey itself is valuable. We grow, we adapt, and through it all, we find our true voice. Here's to the continual evolution of your writing and the new horizons it will undoubtedly reach.
Oh my god. Wow!! Thank you for such a beautiful comment, i don’t think i even deserve all this but i’m very thrilled with all of it!! Thank you so, so much again! You made my day so much better! :)
"I had tasted the sweet nectar of clout once, and i was never going to do this to myself again."
This reminds me of my own falling out with online clout lol, almost half a decade ago and it wasn't related to writing at all (that's always been something personal for me), but instead it was a Twitter account of mine that had 5k followers once. I got so happy people gave a shit about my thoughts and found me funny and agreeable, but then I took a break and left because it all got so overwhelming (and much like what you say made you leave Goodreads is what made me leave Twitter). The praise was great, the mean comments were not!
It's a double edged sword, when very few people know or interact with anything you've put out into the world it's sometimes nice, but then it begins to suck and feel like waste. Then, if you do get popular in some way, it becomes too overbearing.
Anyway, I'm slowly making my way through your articles and I genuinely admire how relatable your writing is! I'm the same age as you so some of the topics you write about helps me make sense of some of these things for myself haha.
OMG HI CHAR!! I love talking to you! You have the most articulate thoughts ever, of course you’d be known for them! And it’s so sad when people start with the mean comments.. But for me personally, seeing people like you on Substack makes me want to never stop posting! I get so excited to see such interesting, intelligent people share their thoughts on something that i wrote and it’s such a joy that i forget all about the mean stuff. Thank you for reading this and thanks for the comment!!!!
Of course, you're so kind! <3
What a short but enjoyable read~ thank you
Thank you so much for reading!!! 🥹🫶🏻✨
this was great, and you’re right: there’s always something that we want to do but we never do it, and we end up regretting it. That’s why I joined this app too, cause if I don’t do things for myself, who will?
Hi, Selene!! Your name is one of the prettiest i’ve ever seen in my life, by the way! And you’re totally right! Your life becomes so much brighter once you share your art and passion with people that are interested in it, and you brighten up their lives by doing it as well!!
I think that is why I started Original. It's an entity and not just me..I know who I am but to everyone who reads, I could be anyone! I could be tall, short, wear glasses, have pink hair.... I could literally be anyone.
But what I write about is real, it's my truth. If people can read it and like it, agree with it or even disagree with it, then I have fulfilled what I think is my life purpose.
I know I was born to write, about what? I am not too sure but I am a 20 year old in college with a lot of life experiences. So while Im figuring out why I was called to write, I can have fun and met people along the way. Great read!
Hi!!! Thank you so much for reading this! And exactly! And that’s so cool!! Reading about experiences and having other people read about yours is the best thing for me! It’s all about the exchange with people all around the world that you don’t get to have anywhere else!
Ahh you inspire me!! For some reason, things excite me until people see me do them. Some days I really don't want to be perceived, but at the same time I want to write and make content??
I'm sitting down in a cafe right now to write, and reading this was the perfect intro! Thank you for sharing <3
Arielle!! Thank you so much for reading!! It means the world to me! And i feel the same way some days too! But i think that i have met so many incredible people on here already and i have spent so many time and energy towards this that i just feel the need to share and to have meaningful interactions with these people being bigger than my fear of being judged. Somehow, we only think about the negative aspects of things first, rather than think about all the benefits of having a newsletter or blogging or being a content creator, right? But i’m trying to change that because the positive outcome (having interactions with people like you!) is so much bigger than what’s negative about it!
It was totally like: “ People are going to see me! 😩😨😨😣” at first, but now it’s like “People are going to SEE ME! 🥹🥹” This totally validates my theatre kid high school self who just wouldn’t stop talking for a minute.
to be loved is to be seen (by people who really understand you for YOU) <3
EXACTLY!! 🥹🫶🏻
yes exactly!! I love all the connection with others on here, puts a smile on my face every time! And I think that is a huge part of what subconsciously drives me to create stuff: I want to be understood, and I want to understand others. As much as I dislike being seen on some days, knowing that some people on here just get me gives me a lot of comfort.
Yes!!! 🥹🫶🏻
love this so much! you are such an incredible writer!! as a relatively new writer i’ve been thinking a lot about what my writing is and means and i think it’s a nice reminder that we create not only for others and what we think they expect but for and through ourselves. thank you for such a thoughtful reflection 💕🌷
Hi, Maria!! Thank you so much for reading!!! I’m so glad you enjoyed it and it resonated with you. And yes, creating a world for yourself through writing is the reason why many authors do write! If you’re constantly thinking about others, it loses the magic, right? ⭐️✨🫶🏻💌
Amanda! You’re so real. I’m desperately trying to keep the pressure low on my Substack, and I think I’m weathering the storm. Thanks for saying what we’re all thinking!
HI ALEIKZA!! So glad you’re here!!! You’re such a talented writer and such a natural at it! Sometimes you just have to appreciate the beauty and immense quality of what you already have published out there instead of pressuring yourself into doing more, and i’m sure that there are more people like me who are willing to wait for however much time it takes to appreciate good poetry or good stories or good writing like yours! Quality beats quantity all the time for me!
i loved it i love you!! congrats on all of the new friends, you deserve everyone one of them :))) i'm so glad that you decided to start your substack for your late teacher Akemi <3
I LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!! 🥹🫶🏻💌✨ I’m SO grateful to have met you!!! ⭐️✨💌💌🫶🏻
omg omg omg, i just discovered your substack account and i love it soo very much, you’re an excellent writer and i don’t think i’ve related to anything more than this article! (article? upload?) the way that you talk about being perceived and how scary that can be was so incredibly real to me, you put some of my thoughts into words and i just think that that is so amazing. the quote that you had in there (“those who are not seen are never remembered”) might just be my new life motto! i’m so grateful that i found your page and i’m looking forward to reading more of your stuff!! have a lovely day!
EVELYN!!! You’re going to make me cry!!! 🥹🥹🥹 Thank you so much! Thank you for taking the time to comment something so nice, i appreciate it SO much. Seriously. 💌🫶🏻
OF COURSE girlie!! anytime!!
🥹🤞🏻💌✨⭐️🫶🏻
loveeee this
AWW THANK YOU!!! 🥹🫶🏻💌