My Post's are Finally Gaining some Success :) Yet I get almost No Feedback :(
I created my steemit account 57 days ago now and I have been actively posting an array of content as often as possible, in the hopes of gaining a following and getting some feedback on the fantasy novel I am writing on steemit.
So after a slow start and not much response I was thrilled when I got a few votes on a post, I wasn't and still am not on steemit just for the money - I came and have stayed for the possibilities steemit provides aspiring authors like myself.
I am firstly and foremost here to find people who like to read fantasy fiction and get their honest opinions on my work, I am after critiquing and opinions rather than just upvotes and no clue if anyone has actually bothered to read the content.
This was one of the things that really attracted me to steemit in the first place, most authors have to write a complete work only consulting with an editor before it can be published, then reviewed and given feedback. Steemit made it possible for authors to publish their work as they were completing it and be able to get instant feedback and react accordingly.
I was hoping that with posting good stories regularly and engaging with the community I would eventually achieve some success and be able to earn on my posts due to their popularity, interest and interaction about the material.
This hasn't been the case, now please don't get me wrong there are several people who have shown me amazing support giving me some feedback, kind words and support. These are unfortunately a minority and I feel in the constant stream of good content I am often missed , I just don't know why or what I can do to change that.
More often than not I am getting feedback from bots more than actual users, I also feel most of my votes come from other new users attempting to encourage a return vote on their own posts - I would believe most of these voters don't even read what I've written.
It's just a little disappointing and discouraging to spend around four hours completing each post, this does not include the insane hours I put into the backstory and worldbuilding information that hasn't been posted yet - to then get no real votes (real meaning genuinely felt it was worthy of voting on) and no feedback.
I am building all of this as I go, I haven't already written the story so this isn't just a copy, paste and format job for me. I am attempting to write a fantasy saga with a massively complex and long history/backstory I am creating new creatures and beings and abilities.
I had been thinking about writing a novel for years but I had no real plan for it just a stray thought here and there, I only put pen to paper earlier this year with some more general ideas. It wasn't until I found steemit that I started to work endlessly with the story, at first I started posting a spin off story set in the future because I wanted to be on here and participate but not jump into my story unprepared.
So far there are seven parts to this story:
Survival
Escape
Shelter
The Discussion
The Long Watch
The Kawahlin
But the entire time I have been posting I have also been actively writing and developing the story, histories and cultures of this world - I have ended up pulling more one nighters in the past 58 days since I started this account because I wanted to post on here and also keep the development moving with my writing.
I have stopped writing the series above as I realised the direction it was heading would start to divulge information crucial to my main story, I have decided to leave it for now and pick it back up when it won't ruin main plotlines of the original piece I wanted to write.
During this time I participated in the descriptionsonthespot competitions and ended up writing a piece about a character I plan to now include in my main story:
My story is able to be adapted and transformed and this is why feedback is so useful is readers don't like a direction the story is going i can engage with them and either explain my reasons or be able to adapt as suggested - if only I got some feedback like that!
So instead I have been posting information on the world through a book that exists in the story itself called "The Great War - The Kingdom of Valcanne's Guide to Keltorin" and so far I have posted six instalments of the story:
The Great War
The Great War - The Endless Stalemate
The Great War - The Battle of the Four Tides
The Great War - Forging of the Five Kingdoms of Balamy
Steemit is the first place I have published any writing like this, I was so nervous but I told myself to suck it up because I could and still do see the amazing potential this platform could provide - especially to authors and artists.
I have continued writing and I believe the curie team is responsible for this sudden burst in my payments and I am unbelievably thankful for it - with two disabled kids every cent counts!
However with this burst of votes I still feel unseen by actual readers people who value my work and appreciate the amount of hours that are going into every post behind the scenes, as I said I have two disabled kids I care for and I can't work because I always need to be on call for them . Steemit allows me to contribute to my family on my own time whilst doing what I'm passionate about.
I will continue writing and hope for some avid readers to appear, but I just want to know that at least some of the people voting on my posts take the time to read some of them. I have poured all my spare energy into creating this fantasy world, I just want some people to come join in on the adventures to come!
RIP Gene Wilder :'(
People don't comment because no one votes on comments.
I vote on comments.
I disagree I also vote on comments and make them regularly as well. I feel as though the issue lies more with people just wanting a simple vote back trade.
He made me laugh so hard so many times! RIP Gene.
lucky you on the Ned vote :P
I am in shock at the vote but mostly on the fact that he also started to follow me O_o
There are more than 80 thousand Steemit accounts at this moment. And there are around three thousand daily active accounts that produce the same quantity of quality content. If you dedicate eight hours daily you do not have enough time just to read the titles.
There is a big unbalance between the number of content creators and consumers. Everybody want to be content creator because of the possibility to receive the magic touch of the whales. And that is reasonable because, although Steemit has been promotioned as content platform, the reality is that content in Steemit is ephemeral. If you want to profit from your hard work, you only have 24 hours to reap as much as you can in SP, SD and steem. After that, if you are a lucky one, you would receive a second payment before your valuable content is frozen and buried in the blockchain. After 24 hours you can't edit or update your content, and after a month there are not more votes.
The reality is that content consumers are extremely undervalued in Steemit, and it is not profitable in anyway. Curation rewards are ridiculous small if you don't vote among the first.
Steemit need to change the creator/consumer ratio to be sustainable in long term.
I think every author right now in Steemit is mirrored in your words: I still feel unseen by actual readers people who value my work and appreciate the amount of hours that are going into every post behind the scenes.
I suggest to the Steemit community to becomes a consumer instead of content creator, and once a week publish that great content.
To build a great community we need that our members have a dual behavior, 80% as a consumer and 20% as a content creators.
Of course, we must take seriously the fact that there are not any kind of real incentives in Steemit to be a consumer, just the pleasure of a good reading or content.
I am a NNES
I agree with what you're saying and for the most part, that was what I was trying to convey in my post.
There are too many content creators - but a big thing is within those content creators, who is actually making steemit original content?
There is a lot of content being posted but some of it seems to be already completed and published works, yes originally written by the author but not only released on steemit.
Now I am not saying these authors don't deserve to ba able to publish their work and earn off of it, I do however feel it would be better for steemit as a community to encourage writers who haven't had the chance to be published and earn on their writing.
I make a point of trying to read others posts daily and provide them with feedback, but I am seriously time poor with two disabled kids and trying to write a novel and keep up with steemit in general.
I just wished those with the power, could spread the love to those who haven't been getting it on every single post they make and that users were somehow more incentivised to participate and comment on posts.
I am not sure how to incentivise commenting, but I really think it is an area of steemit that needs the focus of those with better minds than mine.
Sometimes it depends what state I'm in. At times I am super tired when I get a post done and I try to promote it but I'm too tired to comment. That happened to me this morning / last night when I got my Bitcoin ATM post up.
Yeah I know the feeling I am trying to dedicate time to commenting each day but I end up staying up all night and I just can't keep missing out on sleep.
I am trying to aim for 1 - 2 posts a day and then reading and commenting.
I wanted to reply on this much earlier, as I feel I had a more cohesive thought while I was at work than I do now, but I digress.
My whole point is: I feel your pain. All of the writing I've posted on Steemit so far was created after I made my account. Some of the pictures may have existed, but the writing is all new. I too see few comments on my work, and I'm pushing myself to create the best writing of my life, in the most original context I can manage.
The last time I did this much work creating content was in the earlier days of DeviantArt. There, I massed a decent enough following of a few hundred people, and out of those I would get maybe 15 comments per post, but this was enough to drive me on. Not every comment was from the same person, and a total of maybe 50 people out of a few hundred considered it worthwhile to comment.
On steemit, you can show "support" merely by upvoting. This takes some of the pressure off of someone by giving them the feeling of "well, I upvoted, so they know I care because I gave them my upvote". We both know that the comments are what drives us, but as a currator sometimes the feeling of SOME recognition (by giving an upvote) is better than none, which may be true to an extent.
I sometimes wonder though, if the comments would be better than the cash. Sure, I'm being paid more here than anywhere else I've ever posted, but at the same time, I'm being paid 10 cents or less on most of my posts. Is that all my writing is worth? Maybe.
The age and popularity of the platform must also be taken in to account. On sites with millions or billions of users, niche groups are easily formed and found, with hundreds or thousands upon thousands of supporters. On steemit, it's harder to find dedicated users who spend time in a select number of subgroups, and instead everyone is kind of shotgunning both their content and curation in hopes of finding the niche that works for them. For me, my most popular content has been DIY and general blogs, but my preferred content is fiction and music. So I move back and forth, a couple posts for me, a couple for the masses. And so it goes.
Overall, I suppose my statement is: Dont give up. If nothing else, be proud of the fact that you are creating, for that already puts you far ahead of many who are to scared to put pen to paper, fingers to keyboard, and then the courage to post it for the greater judgement of the entire planet. It's a big deal, and you've gotten this far.
@quantumanomaly thank you for such an awesome response I really appreciate it :)
I absolutely agree and I don't want to be misunderstood I am so thankful to finally be earning even a small amount on my posts - it all adds up and it is much needed and if there is a way I can get paid to do what I am really loving to do then it's even better!
I really never thought I would be paid anything to write, so for that I am already stoked beyond belief.
I have been trying to post in other areas as well an autism post has been by far my best post ever, it would just be nice to be able to get that sort of response a little more often - I had 8 comments on that post which is really good for my earlier stuff I felt as though it was a turn in the tide but it's never been repeated unfortunately.
I think there is a possibility that over time things will spread out and with more users we will get more viewers rather than people here just to create, I also wonder if the issue also stems from most of the larger users to be techy people interested in techy things more than fiction and perhaps that is where their votes head to as well?
I have decided that I am here not only to make money but stick to what I'm passionate about and write what I love, no matter what happens I will be writing this story I am so driven at the moment - my office is covered with papers and notes and folders with me trying to organise the scattered thinkings of my mind.
But every day I have something new I want to tell everyone about my world and I just hope that people can wait a little longer for the main story to pick back up, though I am also so inspired at the moment I have been considering writing both series side by side to see if this peaks people's interests.
I won't give up and I hope you don't either you're posting good content regularly and you deserve the recognition.
Well I wish you good luck on your project.
As for the commenting and feedback. I have the same thing. Maybe my material is too complex for most to comment. Maybe most people only vote to help me. Maybe they just vote to cash in on curation rewards. I don't know.
But like you say, many of them are just useless "thanks" or "Great post" and add no value or feedback or anything useful. These people are just trying to get rep from comments as I see it.
And yes, what someone said in the comments about people not voting comments anymore, is true. With the whole "5 vote per day" misunderstanding, I noticed people stopped upvoting comments immediately after that... it's sad :(
Take care. Peace.
@krnel thanks for taking the time to respond.
I find it so odd as until very recently one of my highest paid posts was a comment, I found value in leaving them early and I guess I'm trying to make it a habit and not get bogged down by the daily steemit grind.
"Great post" is the most common, I at least want some creativity in the non comment - comment ;)
I hadn't thought about the fact that with the voting changes people may have misunderstood how things were working, but surely when you see something you like you want to take a moment to tell the person that created it what you thought of it for more than just money's sake but to show your appreciation for what they had created.
Why does every thing even with the best intentions end up seeing people consumed by the lust for wealth and let common courtesy fade from our lives - I don't know if I was raised differently but life is about more people and if all we can offer is a kind word I feel it is worth the time and effort.
Yeah I don't know. But when I see "Thanks for the post", or "Great job", I get the possible appreciation, but also that it doesn't add anything. The votes themselves are the automatic feedback of being "kind" and appreciating the effort. If someone wants to express more about it, then please do, but not simple "great post" and the like. It looks like automatic commenting or a bot.
Yep I absolutely agree it just drives me insane - not really worth the effort and lack any worth to vote up to make it worthy of reward.
Just frustrating!
I would very much like to point something out to you. These people dont matter. Honestly. You better off actually getting less votes and comments. Do you really want the opinion of a twat ? You probably wondering what im talking about by now. Those people who spam votes and wrote crappy comments are never going to become successful and rich. A businessman understands quality over quantity. Anyone who repeatidly passes up oppotunity deserve to have nothing. So i wouldnt worry what small time small minded people think if i were you. You only need the minority. Because together the ants bring down the elephant.
Keep on moving as we all do .....
As I have and will continue to - I intend to complete this saga regardless of response on here it would just be nice is all I'm saying
Hmmmm..... Hmmmmmm...... I see.....
Let me clear this all up for you. ahem It doesnt matter if you the greatest writter on the planet. Without proper exposure you nothing. Its like this with everything. You guys are writters not advertising gurus. Besides you totally lpok at it in the wrong way. I dont want to post it here because it will be the key to your success. People want excitement they dont want to see a crap ton of freaking text. It puts them off right away. They want to relax not read a whole novel. Your talks amd stuff leave it for the diehard fans. There is nothing wrong with any of your writting guys. Your problem is your approach. I dont wanna say too much though. Send me a message if you interested in what i have to say. Im telling you nowz i can get you way more exposure.
@krystle so basically you want to be a gamemaster and the readers the players. Thats soooo wicked ! So its like an old school rpg game omg. No im sorry but thats awesome. I want to be able to influence the story. Let the readers decide what charactors do in certain situations like an interactive story. Being able to talk with the writter about the fantasy world you live in while you read is nice for both reader and auther. Im really wuite excited actually. Will you give me some time to catch up with the story please ? Ill comment as i go. :)
Sort of but a little differetn I did try and do a choose your own adventure series where the reader could participate a lot more, what I was trying to convey here is that as your reading if something seems off or you would have prefered it gone a different way, I can always explain and rationalise my reasons - or if it hasn't already happened readers suggestions can inspire the direction - I am not really meaning that the reader gets final say overall I still have to retain control to ensure the story progresses in the direction it is meant to.
I would love to hear your thoughts so far when you get a chance to catch up :) Sorry it took so long to respond, it's just been hectic here at the moment.