RANDOM THOUGHTS ON A TUESDAY NIGHT
For some weeks now I have been out of touch with the steemit community. It is so bad that my posts have reduced drastically to one a day and I barely get comments on my posts anymore. What does this mean for my writing, I do not know. Has my writing deteriorated? Or did I ever have a readership base on the platform on the first place? I find that as my output reduced so did my readership thus my questions.
It is not just my output that is affected by the issues I am facing offline but also my interaction on discord. I have not being on some of my favourite servers for weeks. I have not chatted with friends like @amariespeaks, @tarazkp, @erodedthoughts, @jonmagnusson and so on. I have not been on discord shows that I used to be active on like Pimp Your Post Thursdays, @airhawk-project whaleshares show, @isaria’s art/music curation show for weeks now and as a result, it would seem like I have given up on steemit.
Have I really given up on steemit though? I don’t comment much on posts or even upvote much content as I used to. Is that why I don’t have visitors to my posts besides curation trails, community accounts and autovoters? Has the quality of my work deteriorated so bad that it is not worth reading no more?
I recently had a @curie upvote and one would expect that the comment section would be filled with comments from those who have read the post but no, the post was almost bare of comments. It is that bad.
So I can say that it is possible that my fans have left steemit or I have angered them somewhat, I think. I have come to the understanding once again of what @steemitadventure meant when saying that there are no quality content on steemit. It is more or less about the people you know, the community you are in and the backs you are willing to scratch.
Now I am not complaining about the state of things, I am just making an observation. A lot of persons see my reputation and they want what they think I have. But what do I have? I have a body of literary writings hidden in this cocoon called steemit. That is what I have. This body of work might never be read by the world because steemit is not yet a respected source of superb literature like say, The New Yorker.
Maybe the money aspect debases the purity of the writing that appears on the platform, maybe not but I don’t think the general literary community takes steemit writers seriously except they are also getting published outside steemit. Unfortunately for me, I have not had a piece of writing published outside steemit since I joined the platform. I have made money though but the money is fickle; it comes and it goes.
This makes me wonder about legacy. What am I leaving behind for posterity? I would love to be remembered as a poet who influenced a generation, who caused a movement to be, who made the world feel but I do not know anymore what motivates me to write. Is it the money or is it the dream, the passion, the love?
I have been busy, getting into other stuff outside the steem blockchain. I am trying to understand the cryptocurrency as well as the money market. I am no longer an artist, unmoved by the statistics and the profit margin. I am now hungry and writing is now a means to an end. Is this where I was headed when I started writing on steemit? No!
I had a plan. I had a plan to gather together a body of poetry and publish, if I could find an editor who would be willing to look at my amateur scribbles. Then, I still believed in the quality of my writing. Then, I still considered myself to be a pretty good writer but now I doubt myself. Why? Well take a look at my posts in recent times and tell me you do not see the difference.
Yet I am not fazed. I know that plans change and circumstances can bend our intentions in other directions. I also know that I have had awesome opportunities over time on this platform and those opportunities have molded me into the kind of writer that I am today. I still believe that steemit is a good place for a writer to groom his or her self into the kind of writer he or she would love to be in the future. I also believe that a skill once learnt, should be shared.
While I have been silent on discord, to the chagrin of some of my few friends, I have been battling some battles offline and I am still battling them. This is a phase and I am roaring to get back on track and get my steam on. Meanwhile, I will be writing my odd poem, fiction and nonfiction and I would be hoping that you’d find time to come and drop a line in the comment section. See you on the other side.
People come and go in waves, those who stick around through the downs usually make out okay. If you are here for just the money, you will feel let down during the dips and if it makes you leave your post bare, you may want to revisit what you are trying to do on Steemit.
I don't live anywhere that less than $150 to $300 per day will make much difference in my life as far as being a full-time Steemit user. I think as long as people don't look at Steemit as a job, they will be fine. It is not Facebook or Twitter but should be looked at the same way as far as income goes. What I mean by that is if your post would go unpaid on the other social media sites, chances are they will go unpaid here as well unless you have a support group.
I still find you one of the better writers on the platform, the curie vote without comments wrecks a lot of people as far as confidence goes. I know @imaginedragon had the same outlook, the money was a nice bonus but as a writer, the comments and reader value means more than the dollars that are thrown at a post.
Yeah @erodedthoughts, that curie thing just made me weak. It is a paradox of the steemit platform that a supposedly great post is not being read by anyone.
I think you are right about the money issue. It never used to bother me before, because I loved to write. I loved knowing that someone read my stuff and enjoyed it but the money makes one think that he or she is getting the attention but in reality that's not the case.
This is exactly what I am doing. I am reevaluating my reasons for writing as well as seeking out the passion I had for it. I think I got distracted somewhere along the line and it felt good to start finding my feet again.
I also took too much responsibility and I got choked. 😂 I am breathing again though.
Thank you @erodedthoughts for being a friend and for the advice. I am grateful
Trust me, we are all feeling it. I think it affects those of us who want to do more than those who just want to take and run from the platform.
I think it says a lot of positive things to be thinking things out and not making a rant, like many other's do when things get low. You are asking the right questions and that's good. Remember, if nothing else, you earned those words from your father with your steemit writing : )
I may not always answer you same day but you always have a friend here on discord or steem.chat.
yeah, a rant would be unfair to the platform because it is not really about steemit mantra the end of the day. It is more about my writing and social life.
Thank you eroded.
Some thoughts here... seems to me there is plenty of quality content on Steemit, but the quality of interaction and engagement has suffered... even just in the 4+ months I have been here.
The other thing I keep running into is the question of "quality" vs. "value." What are we adding? Quality almost always adds value, but value doesn't always mean quality... at least not in the traditional writing sense. Take the #ulog phenomenon... there's often value in those personal stories, even if they are not of very good quality.
For a very long time, Steemit has been promising "communities." I find it interesting that — absent a formal framework for these — the Steemit membership has pretty much found a way to "self-organize" into communities... we're no longer playing to a "general" audience, we're playing to our small cores of 50, 100, 500 people.
Ironically, found you via @amariespeaks... who was popping up on my list of "people I follow who haven't posted in a long time."
=^..^=
Yeah discord has somehow been able to help people find like-minded individuals who can share with them similar tastes in content creation and consumption.
Lots of persons are on break as a result of the slump in steem price that's why the engagement is poor. Hivemind and communities would probably bring invigorating activities on the platform. So let's hope.
@amariespeaks is a good friend and she has a kind soul. Don't let the redhead fool you. 😂
I'm glad even when I'm taking a vaca my blog can help lead people to awesome writers! @curatorcat thank you very much for the follow :) @warpedpoetic is a wonderful writer and artist so I know you'll enjoy any of his posts - whether new or old
It runs in waves here I find and often times, the trough is wider than then peak. Due to my own real world, I have been commenting a little less than I would generally but, if you ever want, you know where to find me in chat. I always make time for some people.
Thank you @tarazkp. I appreciate your friendship and advice too. Yes the low times can be really discouraging but one can always push as long as the will is there.
where can I find this chat? I don't have much free time but I think it might be fun to take part in that.
discord and steem.chat is what people generally use. there are hundreds and thousands of rooms i would say and each project generally has them running.
thanks for the info :-)
I know I can speak for some, not all though and say that one of the problems is that we are all so tired. Especially for mothers with the kids on summer vacations, we are running around even more, trying to find ways to keep the kids occupied and even now I am just too tired to make them supper right now.
Just like you I am not on much, commenting and upvoting as much either and I know I will pay the price but once my energy is back up there, my brain power will rise and begin to function once more and write some great comments. Thats how I was first known was through the replies I wrote.
I don't see it as a step back but as putting things on pause for now.
being tired and lack of time is true for me... a full time job and being a rather of an active four year old takes a lot out of me.
Yeah, you are correct @foxyspirit; A period to evaluate and fix the stuff that does not work too well and improve on that which works well.
It's difficult managing a home and at the same time running a blog especially in the holiday season. I don't have kids but my nephews are around, so I know tiring it can be too.
I think if the passion dies, then no matter how much money there's in it, it becomes a chore, a hateful one at that because you'd remember when you used to love to write.
Hope to see you commenting and upvoting again.
I have been on a similar path as of late. Made me very happy to see my name mentioned! Thank you for keeping me in your thoughts. I'm on the same wave length right now - I am questioning my motives, trudging through writers block and just don't have the creative motivation I usually do.. I wish I had some answers but at least it's nice to know you're not alone in the struggle :)
I have to say although I haven't been active on steemit for a while I do very much enjoying reading your posts, poems and stories and I know my votes and comments don't do your work justice. I wish I had the wallet to give you an awesome upvote and the time to write more comments! Looking forward to finding more spare time to get on and interact more again!
Thank you my favourite lady, @amariespeaks. Yes writers block is something I never thought I'd ever face in my writing life but there have been days when I have stood before my system and nothing came out. Some of those days I ended up with poetry; terrible poetry.
I think I will consider this phase as growing pains and hold on to the belief that a better me will break out of this chrysalis.
Thank you for being a friend and always ready to listen and chat. I am grateful.
Part of it is all my upvotes go to people in my feed and most days I don’t have enough votes for all I see and often miss things..if I see someone’s name pop a few times I will be like, oh yea I haven’t checked their post out.
But if someone is not posting as much I can often miss them.
Just keep chugging away and have fun with it, take a break when needed. You write really well and this only makes that better as well.
Thanks @steemitadventure. I intend to take those breaks and spend as much time as possible writing. That is something I can control 😂. I have also reduced some of my responsibilities on discord so I would have time for that writing.
Your thought needs a louder voice and some answers.
Well, this platform is still much active and have a listening ears to your thoughts. What you need to do is to push yourself above the ship and reveal your skills in writing. Have seen your works before and I know you have it. So, rise up and make hay...?
#bigwaves mode
Thank you @mediahousesent. I will definitely make hay while the sun still shines. Thank you for your words of advice.
You dig the sun, Lol
It is shinning now. You welcome man
I noticed since it's summer and people are away a lot the amount of interaction has decreased dramatically but I think it will turn again soon. Hang in there bro!
I hope so too @jonmagnusson. It feels good to see all you guys come out to say hi on my post. Thanks for the love.
It's raining here so it's kinda dreary. A good weather for writing, reading and couch hugging. I am taking advantage of that.
That's great! Here in Sweden it has been a crazy summer with months of dry and very hot weather. It's pretty nice but it really isn't the best weather for producing music and hanging on Steemit :)
Over here the rains make it difficult to hang out. The only good thing one can do now is create stuff.
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I think it is just a lull that a lot of people are going through, I know I myself have dropped off on the commenting side, a lot of that has to do with badge hunting, but even before the hunt, I was dropping slowly on my comment output and engagement. My time on discord is also like yours a little less. I have over the last two weeks because of the badge hunt increased some content output, but that is going to likely return to normal on Monday. So I think it is just a seasonal thing, and that things will pick up for most of us again in a little bit.