Writing is a craft. Writing is art. Though it seems simple to sit down behind a computer screen and press the buttons on a keyboard, it takes true skill and dedication to become proficient in entertaining readers with your writing.

The art and craft of writing cannot be picked up by anyone who has never seriously attempted to do storytelling before.

That said, like any art or craft, writing is a skill that can largely be trained and practiced to a proficient level.

I like to compare writing to other expressions of art such as painting or playing the piano. It takes years for painters and pianists to become skilled enough to reach the level of a professional, or at least someone who can earn the audience's appreciation.

Therefore, don't think that the low entry barrier of writing means that writing a good or entertaining story is also easy. It takes effort, creativity and skill to write a story that can do well on Webnovel or as a published book.

Just like any other form of art or craft, you can train your creative writing skill in a focused way.

You can read lots of good novels to train your story awareness.

You can start writing fanfiction, which is not only easier than writing an original story, but also allows you to shape your writing style in a more tolerant setting. It is easier to attract readers if they are already fans of the characters you include in your story.

You can also buy books or watch online videos that teach you how to write a story. I believe Brandon Sanderson has a good lecture about this on YouTube.

Whatever method you choose, if you are truly serious about creative writing, then you need to realize that you have to put some serious effort into becoming good at it. After all, you can't expect a random stranger to become a good pianist in just a few weeks of practice, right?

While it doesn't take a decade or so for someone to become good enough to do well on Webnovel, in my opinion it does take at least a few months to a year to reach a point where earning money on this platform become viable. From the other original authors I've interacted with, I believe this is very much possible for anyone who is truly willing to commit to this craft.

Therefore, if you reach a point where you are seriously questioning whether its worthwhile to continue writing, you just need to consider whether you are motivated enough to work hard in raising your writing ability to an acceptable level. Anything possible as long as you have the passion in creative writing.

To me, it doesn't matter if I were a underdog, bad or whatever. What matters is that people read my story and I can share a very entertaining one to them. If I can evoke powerful emotions, make these people relate with the story I want to tell then for me it is a success.

Writing for fame is just not my cup of tea. It may be part of success but don't forget that you are writing because of your stories. You write because you have a story to tell. You try to connect with people through it.

Therefore, just focus on what you are good at and where are you happy. The rest will follow.

Janettejustynne
@HotRedFlaming

I have lost my confidence in writing many times. I lost count in how many times I questioned myself, am I not good enough?

I think I work so hard. And maybe I work harder than the others. But why I didn't get a result I wanted?

It is really hard, since there are many writers better out there.

But I keep believing that my hard work would paid off. Maybe it's not yet my time. Or maybe we are lacking with luck.

There are a million reasons that would push us to quit in writing. And we forgot the very excitement we felt when we first wrote the first chapter of our novel.

But think about this, if you write daily, even just one chap, with just your opinion and excitement brimming, just enjoying yourself because you wanted to continue the story and gave its ending, who knows, someone might read your story and unexpectedly found it as a gem.

its better to think, that the story you write existed even with just a hundred of views. Becasue you can come back to it everytime and feel again that wow, I actually wrote something like this.

For me, to get my confidence back, I am rereading the good reviews and comments that I made the readers felt immersed.

It's long yeah. Pardon me. But gambatte!

      I've been doing the craft for, well, some time. My work has seen small praises, been virtually spat on, ripped off by vanity presses, stolen, heavily rejected and mostly ignored. I even had an age when spambots was my only reader. And a chorus of slamming doors on opportunities. I've queried over a 100+ agencies and publishers across the years globally. Every single one a rejection. I've still to achieve what some peeps here would term success.

      Yes. I'm quite a familiar customer of failure. As such the voices in my head and externally from those who matter would constantly nag at me to give up.

      Why bother? if no one is reading my stories that means I'm a bad writer. "So just give up."

      Needless to say, I'm still writing. This is because of my mindset fixed on a reason. I stubbornly hold to a belief that one day I'll write a great story that people would want to read.

      Someone once said to the lines of "there's no such thing as a bad writer, but there's definitely inexperienced ones." That's true.

      For most writers, it's experience that ensures their success according to their goals. For me, resilience and persistence was also needed to hone a skill and style that's my own. It was only possible after experiencing failure and setbacks, which I had acknowledged what those meant to me and chose an approach to either learn from and continue or stop writing.

      My advice to new writers. It's ok to fail and doubt. These are experiences to ponder and expand the thought process. Doubts are sense checks and good if they would lead to development.

      Keep going. A setback can lead to another opportunity awaiting.

      My two cents advice. Take it for what it's worth.

      Hi, I'm feeling the same though. I'm new here. It's been three weeks when I started but I couldn't get why there isn't much feedback or reads on my book. But I just hope for the best since I wrote it from my heart and my purpose was just to express myself, since I was not very good in public speaking, I just pour myself into writing. Let's all hope for the best and not give up on this. ❤️

      LinYang The same thing I am trying to remind myself. Actually the novel I started now is my third work but it is also lacking in many places. Some people are liking it but I can count them on fingers. Honestly speaking now what I want is readers for my story and not those silent one... I want those readers who can open up their mind for my book. Believe me it is difficult for me to pen down so many emotions and when I do it I expect some praising words but I guess I am lacking somewhere...Can't blame for not liking the book but I still want honest reply from them...A review or commets will do but I should continue writing for my sake only.

        Avalondra You rock...💖 Your novel is one of the best I read in romance genre...I don't know how long it took you to get this far.... But yeah now I read yours and think that I should write a novel like this.

        Well everyone should have felt like that when reading at least one novel.

        Any form of inspiration can keep you pushing to write... Even if it's your favorite author/novel.

            LOVE097 This is so sweeeet thank you 🥰🥰 Your words gave me a lot of motivation 💖 I already save your book to my lib, I will be waiting for your story and more chapss~ fighting for us!

                Let me apologize in advance. I'm about to be that one person who breaks the streak of encouragement so...go ahead and skip this.

                Okay, Ima be frank.

                I started writing because I wanted people to know my name. In the world of weebs, k-pop fans, and anything where Asia is involved, I want people to know my name. I want people, in the middle of a conversation about how Sasuke could've been the MC of Naruto, say: "Yo, did you read that one story from FMA" or " Yo, did you hear that FMA is about to do an animated series"

                I didn't start writing because I want to perfect my craft, I started writing so that I could be known as the next Iseyama or Togashi. I didn't start writing because I wanted to find my purpose, I started writing so that that one YouTuber does that one review about why "Loose Screws Sucks and Here's Why".

                Even though I want to tell a story that makes a person look at life in a different light, I didn't initially have that thought. I wanted to be idolized. I want my work to be up there with Bleach, One Piece, and Pokemon. Hell, I even want my work to be apart of Boku No Pico or Overflow.

                Tower Of God and God Of Highschool are getting a hella lot of attention. I want to be apart of that. But what gets me down isn't the lack of attention I'm getting on my novel. What gets me down is the fact that SIU and Youngchan Hwang weren't known until years went by or even a whole decade. Even Solo Leveling took time until it got recognition and became a comic and even into an adaptation.

                I'm an impatient person, I want to instantly get put in the spotlight, and what gets me down is the fact that I'm only known to a few authors or people. What gets me down is the fact that no one is talking about how intricate Loose Screws is. What gets me down is the fact that I'm not getting reviewed by Scamboli Reviews his damn self.

                As an underdog writer, I have to accept the fact that it will take time for people to recognize my potential. So to all my underdog writers out there, keep this in mind:

                It will take time, but you'll get the attention that you wished for.

                Now, if you go ahead and drop a story that could've become the next Death Note, go ahead, but when Loose Screws is up on its pedal stool and so many other great works, don't start complaining, because I already told you...

                You just have to wait.

                I started writing for fun and to pass time. I've now gotten more serious and I would like to have some feedback for my stories. I mean I've put so much effort in my chapters and I usually say I rush it in the authors note. I want to keep writing but when you get almost zero feedback from the readers and only four collections it gets pretty annoying. I've been debating on stopping the story but those four people who added it to their library are who I'm writing for now. I don't even know if they have read the story or just added it to their library because it looks interesting. I understand I'm not the best at writing but I've tried so hard to make myself and the people around me happy with the stories I make. I feel so joyful when someone adds my story to their library and then after one collection I don't get one for another month or longer. When I don't get any feedback from the reader I can't improve my story. I've read some of the top stories and most of it is romance...which I suck at writing so I rather not write a cringe worthy book. I know I'm rambling and some of this doesn't make sense but I promise I'm just getting my frustrations out. I also don't even know if I'm a good writer or not. My grammar is decent but is it enough because I'm not very good with describing emotions.

                Reading all your post have touch my heart. To tell you the truth I only stumble upon this trend because Future_M_Animator reviewed my book .

                English is not my first language so you all have to bare with me about grammar. When I first started writing it was like most of you, it was for fun but as I continue writing my novel I got addicted to views and collection. I know that this is wrong but what can I do I'm hook. Everytime I post a chapter and It didn't get collection I got depress. It's not like I was complaining about my writing, I actually know that I'm no good but I can see myself getting better in every chapter I posted. My problem is the feeling inside of me that wants some validation for the work I created. Because come on, is it difficult to comment a simple thanks? I would even take exp. I just want to see that sweet notification alert and I'm good to go :)

                    9 days later

                    LinYang This is truly inspiring and factual. I can relate to it 100%! It's true that when writing, you always need to go back to your first goal before you even started working on your first novel/book.

                    If you want to increase your fan base, you have to insert your 100% effort to promote your stories. Do the extra mile of promoting it to social media or even family and friends. If you write just because you love writing and it's your passion, then forget about reviews and huge views/reads. As you've said, one reader who is touched by your masterpiece is already enough.

                    We all have our own goals in writing, but let's not forget to have fun. After all, we are not here to find jobs. We are here to share our expertise and inspire others. Once soul is already very precious. So, enjoy and have fun! :)

                      Initially, when I started writing, I was happy even if one person read it. But slowly the staggering number affected me. Maybe my story is of no worth. It doesn’t have what it takes to be a good book.
                      After months of procrastinating, I realised the numbers didn’t matter, at least to me. There are books that became an instant hit, but I am not in that league.
                      I enjoyed writing. I should continue doing it, no matter what happens. So, I tried writing again. I realised my story was so much messy. I am trying to improve it. Whether anybody reads is another issue.
                      Also, I am a very awkward person both in real life and about promoting my story. I rarely did any promotion, hoping that someone who really likes reading just magically stumbles on it and read it. Maybe all those numbers that accumulated are the accidental readers. But at least they are considering reading my messy novel. I personally do not even look at such messed up stories. Because a few times I did, I started enjoying it even though it was messy and was left on a cliffhanger as they discontinued the story. I don’t want my few hard-earned readers to feel that way. So I am continuing it, improving parts that were messy. I even pat myself because I am not giving up.

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