As I joined I hoped for a platform with good writers, entertaining posts, texts good to trigger my fantasy, food for the brain and... interesting people who have something unique to share.

I hoped for storytellers

to find stories I never heard of before and although it all sounded promising as I was asked to join, after all these years I only occasionally met one of those persons skilled, funny, entertaining writers. I noticed many give easily up on stories because it's not rewarding, and hardly read. It feels as if it's all about answering the same questions over and over again.
This engagement Q&A contest, for example, leaving less room for one's fantasy, is asking the same as I at least answered three times before during the past three months.

There are no challenges to face on Steemit since those who live in most countries in Europe will never earn enough to make a living no matter how hard we try. Next to that for a writer the contests sponsored by Steemitblog are not about (improving) good writing skills or unique written content. No one cares about creativity it's engagement that counts, engagement if it comes to leaving a few (AI-created) sentences behind. Thirthy should be doable. Is it?

It takes me 1 hour to read and answer at most 4 entries, that is if I do not need to translate and the internet is stable. It takes me longer to write a comment than to read text.
If I join an engagement contest I need 1 hour to write - 3 hours to edit and add pictures, links, and and and next to that the X struggle and after that, it's reading, upvoting, commenting for at least 8 hours (total of 12-13) I do not call that doable. Not if you have a life, a job, a family.

Engaging is not worth my time if it comes to what I read (I changed that and am more picky) and what I receive in return (positive vibes, energy, and great ideas to write about).
I drastically limited my writing hours, and my creativity, to read and comment on others. Just like before I can say all those comments of mine are rarely an investment if it comes to meeting new Steemians and I know I am not the only one so why am I still investing so many hours in writing them? To be honest I rather write myself or read some good books.

_{On my way to the station}

The only goals I set for this year is to write daily

and to invest more time in stories since that's what I care about.

Shouldn't investing that many hours on Steemit as I do, or with Steemit on my mind since I do not write online, at least bring me something?

I don't have the illusion I will be rich and famous due to all those hours on Steemit but I keep hoping to meet some special writers and some more story writers. People who won't leave from one day to the next. I noticed too even those once being very motivated gave up on storytelling. It easily happens since joining contests like these is way easier. So I need to tell myself frequently to invest my time in writing and writing what I like most.

Steemit is the platform I spend most hours on but it isn't the only one. I am not the social media type but for writers Steemit isn't very inspiring. Some contests are, like those hosted by @solperez (it takes me 2 days to write an entry) and the @freewritehouse and other prompts (mainly because they rarely ring a bell).

I've set new goals.
Next to achieving dolphins, I am growing my hive. I have no intention to host contests with it because I do not want anyone to post in it except me but I will grow my Tales&Stories to upvote stories and creative, entertaining content plus I'll collect stories I read and like in this blog.

_{I wonder what this means. Inspiring enough for a story.}

My happy Steemit experience?

It's meeting creative Steemians like @mariannewest @jaynie @patjewell, my old friend @el-nailul and those writers who can make me laugh, think, consider, and cry like @ibesso, @yaladeeds @fadthalib @blessedlife and a few more. For sure it's not easy to find these people especially not if the time is lacking to search for them in different communities but it is good to know they are there and we might meet one day by reading each other.

A plus is Steemit comes without a chat and since I do not use Discord and rarely other social media Steemit is the only place to engage and keep conversations which is what I do.
I am not sure what the reason is, perhaps the fact there is much to do if you want to follow each rule set but for sure the platform is addicting. The best thing for me is to not start my day with it since once signed in it's hard to put a hold on reading and commenting. Since I use my phone for writing I write offline to limit distractions. If I run out of time I do upvote but I skip answering comments and do it the next day.

Today I visited a friend, I will not edit this post for too long.

Contest hosted by @hive-180106

Header/Photogrid: Canva
1-5-2024
I am a mobile phone user only

I upvote comments and (good) entertaining stories. @hive-169911 is my hive (community). I will grow its SP to upvote stories only. Please, do NOT post in it!
If you wrote something good you can tag me, original (no AI-written) stories/tales only. You do not need to join a club to be read and upvoted and you can post wherever you like. I suggest the freewriters or @hive-107855 the Dream Steem. Use the tag # story
Happy Writing @wakeupkitty

25% - @ null
10% - @worldsmile
10% - @hive-180106
15% - @ hive-169911

#steemexclusive #steemit #kittywu #opinion